Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 24, 28 January 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1881.

The Australian cricketers, we understand, propose playing hero about the 9th of February if possible, and bave placed themselves in communication with the agents of the Anchor Line of steamers, asking if they can make arrangements for bringing them over from Wellington and conveying them hence to Wanganui. It is high time that steps were being taken to select the Nelson team and to make some arrangements for preliminary practice if our local cricketers wish to escape from such a defeat as that inflicted by the Australians on the Timaru players yesterday. The erection of the Presbytery at St. Mary's station is about to be commenced without delay, Mr C. W. Moore having secured the contract. We learn that letters of administration in the intestate estate of the late Captain James Dillon have been granted by the Chief Justice to the Public Trustee.. .

Tns ooncert under the auspices of the City .Rifles, which promises to be one of the moßt successful that has been given in Nelson for Boine time, will take place. afc the Theatre to-night, in the presence, it is hoped, of a crowded audience. The promoters, at all eventp, have the satisfaction of knowing that they are able, with the assistance they are receiving, to announce a pro gramme that must ensure the satisfaction, of all who attend the entertainment. A Ti-mpekance meeting, which is sure to be very numerously attended, will be held at the Provincial Hall to-night, when addresses will be delivered by tnany of the visitors who are now in Nelson attending the Wesleynn Conference. We understand that Madame Cecilia Summerhayes, the pianiste aud teacher of the piano who has been expected here from Sydney for so long, arrived in Wellington yesterday and will reach here by next Tuesday's steamer. Nelson will be fortunate indeed in securing a teacher of such undoubted ability. From the frepVri; of the meeting of the Committee of the Rifle Association beld in Wellingion last night, which appears in our ♦elf grams, it seems that the next meeting is likely to prove a thorough y successful one, aud that there is every prospect of the prizes offered for competition increasing both in value and in number, as in. addition to those offered by the Associations subscriptions are being solicited frota the public to aid in swelling the list. Messrs Hobson and Co., of London, milirnry outfitters, by whom Beveral of the New Zealand Volunteer companies' uniforms have been made have announced their intention of presenting silver cups, and altogether there appears to be every probability of substantial inducements being held rut to the crack shots of the colony to at'ond the Brightwater meeting commencing at the end of next monthi A vert interesting lecture on his recent experiences in England was delivered last night by the Rev. J. Buller in the Theatre Royal. The audience, strange to say, was somewhat limited, but the greater interest was displayed in the reverend gentleman's narrative by all who were fortunate enough to be present. The Board of Revi wers continued their sittings yes'erday afternoon to hear the cases from the Borough of Nelson, of which four were heard, and decisions were reserved. Twelve others were called, in which the .■bjectors did not appear. The Board sat again at II o'clock to day, when eight cases were call, but none of the objectors appearing the Board adjourned until the same hour on Monday, when the cases in the Borougii of Nelson which have been postponed in consfquence of the non-appearance of the objectois will be again called ov. r, and every case will be struck out in which the objector does not appear himself or by an agent. It, wil' be seen by our telegrams that the fir t instalment, of the tax will be payable on the 8 ih, and the second on the 22nd of March next. A recent Chris! church telegram says : — The sons and daughters of the late Mr George Rhodes (who built the cathedral tower at his "wn expense) have generously c.ffered to build 'bp spire at a cost of £2120, the height of the tnwer to be 96 feet from the ground line, and to 'he top of the spire will be 210 feet. The Auckland St'tr hag a facetiouß correspondent in N£.' ISO n, who wires the proceedings of '.'ue Weßleyan Conference and other •lttle matters of gossip connected therewith. The following are extracts from bis teleerams t— " There are four candidates for ordination — Messrs Griffin, Lawry, Feet, and Neilson— who were put through a severe examination. All were accepted. Some had to be pulled through by friends at Court The examination papers were terribly defective. Sympathy won them their position. It is reported that one of the candidates sported flowers and white vest at examination." — It may have been observed by those who carefully peruse the reports which have from day to day appeared in our columns that reference has been more than once made to the principal meal of the day. The correspondent from whom we quote to some extent accounts for this. He Bays: — " A new batch of Nelson Indies daily preside at the Conference dinners, and are very fascinating ,"-tu one of the messages, under the somewhat sensational heading in large type " Elderly Preacher going to marry a rich Nelson lady," the following appears:— "lt is reported that an elderly preacher is going to be comforted by marrying. It is thought tbat she is rich." — The correspondent curtly disposes of tbe first day's proceedings as follows : — '• The Presidential speech is considered meagre nnd poor. A considerable time was occupied in speeches and votes of" thanks to each other. It is rumored that tbe retiring President refused to accept a vote of thanks unless certain documents were withdrawn. Referring to maladministration of affairs in Dunedin, appearance shows the utmost brotherly love. The first draft of stations put up the backs of several of the laymen ." We clip the following paragraph from the Auckland Siar : — " A curious rumor has been gaining increased currency during the past few days aa to the real purpose of Sir Arthur Gordon's visit to Kawau. It is that Sir Arthur's object was to see, on behalf of the Imperial Government, whether Sir George Grey would be willing to return to Ilis old governorship at tbe Cape, with a view to settling the increasing difficulties between the Boers nnd the native tribes of the interior and the colony. Certainly, from the universal respect and affection felt for Sir George at the Cnpe, no one could hope to cope with these difficulties so successfully, or to secure confederation so rapidly as he could. It is further rumored that Ministers were made aware by Sir Arthur of the purpose of his visit io Kawau before proceeding there." There are a great many in New Zpaland, including a large majority of the 11 Liberal party," to whom Sir George Grey is a stumbling block, who would be very pleased indeed to find not only that the above rumor was true, but that Sir Arthur had been successful in persuading Sir George tbat duty called him to the Cape.