Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 47, 24 February 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1881.

Thb railway traffic returns for the four "weeks ending the Bth January have been published, and on the whole show satisfactory results as compared with the corresponding period of 1879-80. Taking the Nelson section first we find a satisfactory increase in the receipts, which are set down as £683 as against £614. There is a slight decrease in the number of first class passengers but an increase of 600 in the second class. The Picton section shows a considerable improvement, the receipts having gone up from £433 to £670, the increase showing itself in both passenger and goods traffic. Westport, too, shareß in the general improvement, the receipts having considerably more than doubled, the rise being from £175 to £447. This improvement is chiefly due to the increasing coal traffic, 1058 tons having been carried in the four weeks against only 89 in tho corresponding period ot the previous year. Wellington has improved to the extent of £800, Napier of £600, and the great Southern line of £1400. The total receipts for tbe current financial year from the 1258 miles of railway open are £624,210, and the total expenditure £403,310, the expenditure thus amounting to 6455 per cent of. tbe receipts. The total receipts on the Nelson line for the nine months were £6120, and the total. expenditure £4815, or 78 68 per cent. The receipts of the Great Southern line for the same period were £671,741, the expenditure being £292,433, or 6P99 per cent. Twenty-seven representatives arrived by tbe Wanaka this morning from the north to take part in the Rifle Association's meeting next week, namely seven from Taranaki; nine from Auckland, and eleven from the Thames, the latter being accompanied by Capt. Wildman who takes a deep interest in his men and comes with them to the firing every year. Ifc appears likely that there will be Borne delay in the arrival of the southerners who were to be brought over in the Penguin from Wellington and Picton on Saturday, nut as the Tararua in which they were to come np the coast only leaves Dunedin this afternoon, it is impossible that she can reach Wellington in time to catch the Penguin, Wbich leaves there to-morrow night. The recently published vital statistics for the month of January show the highest death rate for that period to have been at Hokitika where it was 3 per 1000, Wanganui being next with 216. The lowest was at Invercargill where it was 0-47. At Nelson it was 147. The total number of deaths in the principal towns in tbe colony during the month wbb 164, being an increase of five on

the number in December. The total number of births in the same boroughs was 439 agaiuafc 4G3 in December. The cricket match between the publicans and brewers which was played iv the Botanical Reserve yesterday, resulted, in a win for the brewers -who scored 99 arid 53 against their opponents' 81 and 34. A scratch, game took place afterwards in which,the result was reversed, the publicans scoring 55 against the brewers 51. The band played during the day and several spectators visited the ground. The whole proceedings passed' off most pleasantly, both on the ground and afc the Trafalgar Hotel, where the two teams sat down in the evening to an excellent dinner provided by Mr Disher. There was a large audience at the Provincial Hall last night, when Madame Summerhayeo made her first appearance before the Nelson public. She received valuable assistance from a number of local amateurs, most of whom were heartily applauded at the close of their songs. The principal attraction was of course Madame's performances on the pianoforte, which were listened to with intense delight and the closest attention, and that they were warmly appreciated was clearly demonstrated by the enthusiastic applause accorded to her. Hers execution was most brilliant, and at the same time entirely free from all unnecessary display, and it evidently is her theory that it is better to coax the tones she requires from the instrument than to hammer them out of it. Although not the most classical, decidedly the most popular piece she played was the " Laughing Water." " Laughing piano !'• it seemed to us would have been a more appropriate name, for it was as though the instrument were being tickled, and responding with a rippling, musical laugh, so merry and so joyous that it could not fail to communicate it- j self to the listeners, on the face of almost every one of whom Was to be seen a sympathetic smile. The final piece was Thalberg's ! " Home Sweet Home," during the perform- j ance of which tbe audience seemed to hold ! their breath, only to burst forth into vociferous applause as the last note died away, while more tangible proofs of approbation in the shape of beautiful bouquets fell iv showers on the stage. Madame Summerhayes has every reason to be pleased with the reception accorded to her last night. We yesterday paid a visit to Mr P. Frank's vineyard in Hardy-street, and were glad to find that he has succeeded by frequent applications of flour of sulphur to preserve bis grapes from the blight which has proved so disastrous to the vines for the last three years. By incessant care and attention Mr Frank ha 3 contrived to savo his crop this year, and his perseverance has its reword in the rich clusters of grapes which are to bs seen hanging from the vines, In our advertising columns will be found the very liberal programme provided by the Wellington Naval Brigade Band for Saturday af ternoou, which should be sufficient to attract a very large audience. The Band, which will comprise twenty-five instrumentalists, has the reputation of being the best in New Zealand, and the musical treat afforded will be such as the people of Nelson have not before had an opportunity of enjoying, and should offer sufficient inducement to residents jn the Waimea to come into town for the purpose, tbe time for the performance. having been so appointed tbat tbe greater portion of the programme will be completed before the afternoon train starts for the country. On Saturday evening it will be seen tbat there is to be a soiree dansante in the Theatre Royal. This will probably be largely patronised. * i m