Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1881.

A fire broke out shortly before three o'clock thi^ morning in the premises occupied by Mr Christopher Webb, shoemaker, in Hardy-street. A man named Fralcr who was at work aI. Mr Trask's was the first to discover fhc flames and at once gave the alarm which was speedily taken up by the police, the hells were rung, and Constable P hair, who was on duty, proceeded at once to the scene of the fire where, with (he as sistance of Mr Frater and others, he succeeded in saving a quantity of the furniture. The Brigade were very speedily on the spot, considering that they all had to be roused from their beds, and in a few minutes were working splendidly, and had three jet.9 of water playing on the burning house, which, as it now sMnrfs, is well won h visiting as ■being a remarkable testimony to what can be done with the water power of the town It appears that Mr Jame» Webb, who was sleeping upstairs iv the next room to thai occupied by hi 3 brother and his wife, was awakened by the. roar of the flames which started in the kitchen at the back, where there had been a fire during the afternoon, and aroused the rest of the inmates who had only just time to make their escape without beiog able to save anything from upstairs. A stiff breeze had been blowing all the evening, and there was a strong gust or two just after the fire broke out, but fortunately there was a temporary lull, owing to which, and the plentiful water supply, and the willing hands that directed it, the neighboring houses occupied by Mr Salter and Mr Wright were quite uninjured, notwithstanding the fierce flame that wns at one time raging between them. Captain Lightfoot desires us to express his great admiration of tho manner in which lh<.>. members of the Brigade worked as well as his sense of the valuable aoi vices rendered by the Salvage C>rps, who rendered material assistance to the Brigade by keeping the crowd back, and thus securing free access to the hoses and valves. The house, which was the property of Mr Arthur Collins, was insured in the South British for £150. Mr Webb, we are sorry to learn, wp.s uninsured, and consequently is a considerable loser.

The Waugapeka Prospecting Association is actively at work as will be seen by nn advertisement which appears in another column calling for tenders for continuing the tunnel on Doran's claim A meetiDg of the shareholders is called for to-morrow after noon when a full attendance is requested «s there is business of importance to transact.

The Comedy and Burlesque Company returned to Nelson last night by the Grufton after a most successful season on the Coast. They will reappear to-morrow evening at the Theatre Royal in the well and favorably known drama of •' Struck Oil," and from the golden opinions they won for themselves during their last season here, we have no doubt that a crowded house will greet them on their return.

The Confederate Diorama advertises a "monster gift night" this evening, which will be the last opportunity afforded to the people of Nelson of seeing the diorama, listening to the clever ventriloquism of Lieut. Herman, and carrying off a good prize at the close of the entertainment.

The committee of the Nelson Cricket Club at their meeting last Saturday evening, decided that the money subscribed on the ground by the public, upon the occasion of the recent maich with the Australian eleven should be devoted to the purchase of suitable trophies as a memento of the match, and the following players were declared to be worthy of them: - S. Fowler for batting, H. Halliday for longstopping, and Messrs G. Fowler and Burns for bowling. It is intended to present these trophies in Victory Square on Saturday next at the conclusiou of the match between the Nelson and Star Cricket Clubs.

A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Pangatotara school- room on Thursday, the 10th of February, for the purpose of considering the appropriation of certain moneys by the Motueka Highway Board, Mr D. H. Jennings in the chair. Mr Thomas Grooby, the member for the Pangatotam sub-district, said that the Nelson Highways Act of 1872, under which the Motueka Highway Board vtob constituted, provides (section 25) that " When a district shall have been divided in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the rates raised within the limits of each sub-district shall, after deducting a proper proportion of the general expenses of

the Board, be spent within such sub-district together with such portion of the sum (if any) voted by the Provincial Council and of such portion of the other revenues of the Board »b the said Board may seem fit." Now,, some two years and a half ago tbe Wotuckn Highway Board appropriated money due to the sub-district of Paugatotara to tbe use of the other sub-districts and within the last three months, certain subsidies being duo to the Board and divisible among the subdistricts, the Board resolved to appropriate the whole to pay off liabilities incurred in the sub-districts of Motueka, Mouterc, and Riwaka, and contrary to tho Act, thus depriving Pangatotara of its share of rates and subsidies, so that the sub-districts containing the most valuable property and so raising the most money by rates, &c., were depriving a poorer district of its fair share even of its own funds. Resolutions were passed condemning the Board's conduct and to the effect that steps be taken to obtain a more eqtutnbic division of funds for the future. Mkssrs Sharp and Pickering advertise that (heir sale of valuable jewellery, &c., will be continued to-morrow at half-past one. As this will be positively the last day's sale persons desirous of purchasing some really first class goods at very low prices are advised to avail themselves of the opportunity. — Advt.