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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 247, 9 December 1880, Page 2

We understand that at the monthly meeting of the Committee of the Institute yesterday evening: the question of keeping open the free public reading room was discussed. The funds of the Institute are seriously crippl.d by the withdrawal of the Parliamentary grant, which. was upwards of £80, while the subscriptions to the reading room have also been discontinued. Nevertheless ihe Committee were desirous of still keeping the room open to the public free of charge, if practicable. A larger accession of uew subscribers to the library will render this possible, and it is in this maimer ;that it is hoped the difficulty will be solved. Three of the members of the Committee volunteered to canvass the town with this view, and we cordially wish them success. When ib is considered that the use of au excellent coilee tion of booka, and one to which additions are constantly being made is obtainable at the cost of less than threepence per week, we can scarcely suppose thnt any one will refuse to enrol himself as a member of the Institute.. Wb are glad to learn tbat Messrs Topliss and llichmond were successful in their mission to Wakefield yesterday and that after a little pressing tbey were able to induce the two Fowlers and T. Eden to consent to form part of the cricketing team which is to visit Wellington, Wangauui, and Blenheim at Christmas. Should nothing occur to prevent all those whose present intention it is to go fro'rn taking part in the three matches, we feel perfectly sure that our eleven will be ableto give a very good accountof themselves to and maintain the prestige that Nelson bas already won iv the cricket field. At the adjourned meeting held last night, the following were selected to go into practice for the tour: — Messrs Firth, Balmain, F. Greenfield, Halliday, 11. and E. Boddington, Holcecs, Wigzell, Naylor, Lawry, S. and J. Fowler, T. Eden, S and D Bolton, Burns, and Barnett. Mr. John Graham was nominated this morning as a candidate for the vacant seat iv ihe City Council. The names of Messrs Bethwaite and Crewdson are also mentioned in connection with the vacancy. The meeting of members of the Rifle Association and others interested in the matter, advertised to be held last night, was but thinly attended in consequence of other meetings that were fixed for tbe same evening, aud it was therefore decided to adjourn. The following cases were disposed of at tl-.e 13righ twater Court yesterday: — Charles Frost, charged with assaulting Thomas Murcott, was fiued 5s aud costs £2 14s. Mr P. Adama appeared for the complainant, and Mr Bunny for the defendant. — Stanley v. Trower for £12 lOs 9d, and the same v. Boyd for £7 12s 3d. Mr P. Adams appeared for the plaintiff, for whom judgment waa given in both cases, with £2 4s costs in the first, and £2 5s in the second.— W. D. Harkness v. Tovey for £12 4s 4d for meat supplied. Judgment for plaintiff with costs £2 12s. Mr P. Adama appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Pitt for the defendant. Two other cases were adjourned to Nelson. The performance at the Theatre last night of J. H. Byron's beautiful drama " Tbe Lancashire Lass " afforded ample proof that i. is not only in comedy or burlesque that the Compauy at present in Nelaon shine, but that their abilities are of a more varied character than might be supposed from the title they have selected under which to band themselves together. The plot of the drama is just sufficiently complicated to make it necessary to keep the attention fixed upon it throughout, and this, with such acting as we were treated to last night was not only an easy matter, but formed an exceedingly pleasant task, to tho repetition of which we venture to say that not one who was present would bave the slightest objection. The interest was thoroughly well sustained throughout, all the characters being well represented, some of them, of course, better thau others, but there was no such contrast aa to show any to disadvantage. Tue part of Roth, the heroine, was of course, entrusted to Miss Lizzie Morgan whose acting was dimply charming, and she was ably supported by Miss Johns and Miss Lawrence as Fanny Danville aud Kate respectively. The manner in which the piece waa placed on the stage reflected the greatest credit on the Company, whose efforts to please laat night were so successful that they have been asked to repeat the drama this evening which they will do to, we hope, a crowded house. We understand that Mr Pitt will appear for the Government in the railway compensation cases to be heard at Bleuheim next week. Charles Cavendish Hurrell, clerk to the Court at Ashburton, died at Coker's Hotel, Christchurch, yesterday from the effects of an overdose of laudanum taken to obtain relief from neuralgia.