Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 177, 27 July 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1881.

A vert interesting lecture occupying nearly two hours in its delivery was listened to by a very large audience at the Theatre Royal last night, when the chair was taken by Mr J. H. Cock. The lecturer was the Rev J. Berry, who a short time since acted as emigration agent for New Zealand in England, and ia now the minister of the Wesleyan Church at Richmond, and the subject was " What I saw in America iv 1880." We cannot undertake to give even a summary of a lecture which was so carefully prepared that it would be necessarily spoiled by condensation, and which proved deeply interesting to all who had the privilege of listening to ifc. At the close of the lecture, which is to be repeated in various country districts when we would recommend all within reach to be present, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Rev J. Berry on the motion of the Rev W. Lee, seconded by the Rev J. Beckenham. Votes of thanks were also passed to the Chairman, and to the members of the Wesleyan Church Choir who sang atintervals, accompanied on the piano by Mra Hadfield. Three of the Anchor Line of steamers arrived from Wellington thia morning with cargoes of tea ex Bowen from Hong Kong to the order of Messrs Sclanders and Co. and Messrs J. H. Cock and Co. In Melbourne it appears that it is the practice of some of the firms to receive consignments which are forwarded as a speculation from China, the stuff sent being of such a class that it can be sold in Melbourne at 3jd per lb in bond. After examination the Government analytical chemist pronounced this rubbish to consist for the most part of "decayed, exhausted, or foreign (other than tea leaves), foreign stems, tea sweepings held together in Hi tie nodules by starch paste, aod pieces of bark, husk, and nutshells. All this rubbish was faced with plumbago to give it a black appearance, and was totally unfit for dietary purposes." This ia the soit of stuff the people in Victoria have had offered to them under the name of tea. A meeting of the members of St. Mary's congregation and a number of other citizens was held in the Convent schoolroom last night for the purpose of welcoming back the Key, Father Mahoney from his tour on the West Coast. After tea, at which about 200 sit down, the chair was taken by Judge Broad, who read a letter from Father Garin expresaing regret that ill health prevented hia beiDg present, and referring with gratitude to the success met with by Father Mahoney on the Coast, where in ten weeks he had collected £500 towards the fund for re-building the Church. The reverend gentleroan desired to return his sincere thanks to their good friends on the West Coast, as well as those of other denominations in Nelson, who had so liberally rendered assistance. Judge Broad fully endorsed the expressions of gratitude contained in Father Garin's letter, and then proceeded to present Father Mahoney on behalf of the congregation with a copy of " Tertnllian." The Rev. Father Mahoney returned his hearty thanks for the gift and for the kindly feeling displayed towards him He then referred at length to hia visit to the Coast, making grateful mention of the kindness he had received everywhere, and of the liberal response made by Catholics and Protestants alike to his appeal for aid. He concluded by expressing his deep regret at Father Garin'a inability to be present.— Thb Chairman then proposed the following resolution, which was carried by acclamation:— "That the congregation of St. Mary's, Nelson, desire to publicly express their great thackfulness to the Clergy, Catholic laity, and Protestant friends who have so generously assisted in repairing the drtmage3 caused by the late fire, and especially to their West Coast friends for their most liberal assistance " — His Worship the Mayor expressed the pleasure it had afforded him to be present on the occasion, and to hear of the success that Father Mahocey had met with— Mr Bunny proposed a vote of thanks to the Sisters, and the ladies who had provided the refreshments, and assisted them by their musical performances in passing bo pleasant an eveniDg. A vote of thanks to the Chairman and the singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close. A ncmber of cases were set down for hearing at the Magistrates' Court this morning but the whole of them were withdrawn without troubling the Justices to decide upon their merits. A large amount of very interesting news by the San Francisco mail will be tound elsewhere. Da Henry, late M. H. R. for the Buller. haa commenced practice as a medical man in Wellington. Thb NZ. Times cays that a heavy fall of earth took place on Monday on the Rimutaka railway abont a quarter of a mile above Cross' Creek, causing a culvert to overflow and its outlet beiog blocked, the water forced a channel for itself under the line, which quickly deepened to a depth of 20 to 30 feet and destroyed the formation for about two chains, leaving the permanent way suspended across the breach formed.