Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 63, 15 March 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1881.

The estimate formed by the Colonial Treasurer that the Property Tax would yield £300,000 does not at present, appear at all likely to be realised, the first instalment having yielded only £70,498, towards which Canterbury contributed a larger amount than any other single district, namely, £19,249. The other districts help to make up the total in the following order:— Wellington £17,^27; Auckland £14 623-, Otago £12,400; Hawkr-V Bay £5216; Nelson £-2989; Southland £2757; Waitaki £2?44. The com| aratively small amount, paid by Otago is giving rise to some comment in the absence of any explanation. The second instalment of tbe tax will be payable on Tuesday next, the 22nd inat. The tax voluntarily paid by Mr Tollernache, aa telegraphed the other day, namely £1600, represents a sum of £384,000. Makt of our readers will regret to learn that Mr Welford, merchant, of Picton, dropped down dead last night shortly before the Hawea left that port. To all who are in the habit of travelling by steamer in that direction, Mr Welford, who was the ngent ibr the Union Company, was well known, and his attention and readiness to oblige rendered him a general favorite. We are requested to correct an error •which appeared in the mail notices in the Colonist this morning, in which it is stated that a mail will be despatched by the Wanaka for the United Kingdom, India, &c. The words " United Kingdom " should have been omitted. Trie half-yearly meeting of the Naval Brigade waa held in tbe Committee Room adjoining the Drill Shed last night, when there were forty members present. Tho report and balance sheet were read by the Secretary and adopted. The former Btated that the Brigade had been in existence six years, and during that period it had expended tbe large sum of £1078 19s lOd. General, Pange, and other Committees were elected j

' ix the ensuing twelve months, also two ! auditors. Lieut. Simpson was unanimously 1 i-e-elfcred Sooetnry. The suV.jtct of. a I'ife jundDuun Baud for the Biigade was discussed Jifc sc»:e length, and ultimately it was delved to form a Band it being stilted that there v/cre several musicians in the company. After tho formal business of the meeting had been transacted the election of a sublieutenant took place. Thero were four candidates, and on a ballot being taken Beamau Fathers was declared to be elected by a large majority. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman, Capt. Drsiko. A Dukedis Association telegram makes the following remarkable statement:— The Wellington correspondent of the News wires:— "A n:;w loan of £3,000,000 is to be raised as so;>n as time allows. The necessary papers left by the outgoing mail. It is stated that the Government have also prepared an exhaustive report re the value of the propony mid works of the colonial railways, which is thought to indicate selling the lines to the Brogdens, and the formation .of. a syndicate in 'opposition to Sir J", Vogel." No one would ever believe that such a statement was entirely true, and as an authoritative contradiction to it in every particular has b. en given by the Post, we may presume that in this instance> Viven the the old proverb " Where there's smoke there must be fire " docs not npply, A dramatic entertainment in aid of the Bind fund ia to be given in the Theatre on Thursday evening by the members of the H Battery, for .which a farce nnd a burlesque are in rehearsal, and a capital evening's umuaement may be at^icipated. It is intended, we understand, To place the Band on an entirely new footing, nnd to increase its numbers, so that tha funds raised will be devoted to a very e.xcelleut purpose* The Rev C. M. Pym is Holding a scries of mission services this week at Christ Church and All Saints' on alternate evenings. A v<-ry numerous congregation assembled at Christ Church last nigbt, aud listened to the preacher with marked attention. Prayer meetings in connection with the mission will be held" in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12 to 12 45 p.ni , to which all are invited. Insurance rates 3re surely reduced to their minimum in Wellington wheie the Norwich Union is offering to insure first class dwelling? for half a crown. The City Council of Wellington appears to bo a charitably disposed aud long suiHering bid} 7 . They have allowed the arrears of ra'es to accumulate until they have reached a total never known before, no le3S than £10,000 being now due to the Corporation from this source. One Councillor Allen was rash enough to suggest at the last meeting that steps should at once be taken to recover the arrears, whereupon he was rather jumped upon by a brother Councillor who expressed his opinion that he did not think they should 'rush" the ratepayers. Most people would think it high time a " rush " began when the arrears had reached such an enormous sum. Mu. Wir.Kiß has received a telegram stating that the only first prize for family sewing machines in the Melbourne Exhibition has been awarded to Davis' Vertical ITegdi Those who are about to chip by the E!ectra to Lond^ u jU bo interested f.a the follow^ paragraph clipped fro'nl the t'vriOotouyk Expresls x—-" We are informed by Messrs Fetl Bros, aud Co, that they have received accounts of salea by 'Frisco mail, tor an experimental shipment of 1000 sacks of barley made last October. Barley, described as "fine condition and colori and very bold grain," sold, as high as ii'a per quarter of 4481b5, which price returns to the t;rowfr 3s 2d per bushel. This must be regarded nS most satisfactory, considering that at the lime of shipment the grain was unsaleable here at 2-i 6d per bushel. Wa understand that quit^a btnk business is being done at the Post Orlice in the Bale of the Savings Bank cards tu which we drew attention the other day. At tho dinner hour a considerable number of children attend each day to purchase the caids, a fresh supply of which from Wellington will he rendered necessary if the present demand continues, •An advertisement appears elsewhere announcing that Madame Summerbayes, who baa delighted all who have heard cer by her exquisite playing, intends giving a series of j.i>-.nof >r.te recitals in the Harmonic Hall. The very low rate of admission charged will pliice these recitals within the reach of all. Madame Summerhayea, we understand, intends visiting Richmond for the purpose of giving lessons every Saturday afternoon should she receive promises of sufficient support of which there can be little doubt. At the Resident Magistrate's Court tbi* morning the following cases were heard : — W. A. B. Adams v. Maurice Doolau, for £22 10s interest due. Judgment for amount claimed and costs £3 12s. Mr Percy Adams appeared for the plaintiff. — W. M. Sfcantou v, James Lukins, for £34 43 6.1, amount of dishonored promissory note. Judgment for amouut claimed and costs £3 7». Mr Moore appeared for the plaintiff, acd Mr Percy Adams for the defendant. We clip tho followiug from the Westport Tunes of the 4th instant :— As each fruit season comes around, we, of the West Coast, hear accounts from Nelson of the marvellous cheapness of fruit there, and that tha growers are at their wits' ends to get rid of the products of their orchards with any drgree of profit. At the present time the tale is again told, and it has given rise to the enquiry, Why dou't the Nelson growers deal di'ectly with Coast fruiterers in the dispopal of their goods? which would be productive of benefit to both parties. Westport men in the trade, doiug business with Nelson fruit ajjents, inform us that they. are compelled to pay excessively high prices, and that, after freight and other incidental charges have been liquidated, the profit falling to them is ridiculously small. This should not be so, and surely some arrangement might be made whereby tho growers would obtain a better puce and the retailers get their fruit cheaper. The aid of a middleman is certainly not required. These remarks explain the reason why, if fruit is 'dirt cheap' iu Nelson, it is not so in Weatport and other West Coast towns.