Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 308, 28 December 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1881.

■ The Hon Mr Rolleston arrived from Wellington in the Pet'guiu on Monday evening, ard is cow on a visit to Motueka aud Coriirgwcof!.

Yesterday wbb generally obsefved £8 a holiday, and picnics wnrs u'gain ths order of the day, tbe wsat'jer being all that could be desire*. At 930 p.sa the Grafton s.arted for Wellington with the excursionists who arrived on Sunday in the Wf stport, including tbe Wellington cricketers who we.rt 's'&cortod to the wharf by members of tta NdUon Cluba. AHout midnight the Penguin also sniUo. for Ftc'on aisd Welli&gtoe, having at the formsr port to pick up a »cry large addition to her already large human freight, a great number of excursionists having gone scross ia her from Wellington ou the previous day.

A coxcfßT is to be giveft to-morrow night on which occasion there is likely to be as large an andicuce as has ever assembled within the walla of the Theatre, for the attractions are threefold. First there ia an exceptional array of tale at aa any one can see by a glance at <he list of these who have promis-d their service?, among them bdag Mr Walcot, a very old favorite in NVlson, who has come np from Timaru for the special nnrpose of being present on this occaeioa. Id tho nsxt place the concert is to be given to assist a lady who baa for a great Dumber of years occupied a prominent position in the musical wcsld of Nelson, At one lime the arrangements for & dauce were never considered eorn;l«jtf uuleas the services of Mrs Scaife had been secured for the piano ; the FLrmonle Society is largely indebted to her ior its puat euccese ; ber old pupiis are still to be Humbert d by scores if Dot by Hundreds iv Nelson ; in f^«t) for any one who "has resided htre ior any length of time, and □as a.,y jiarti-ility for music, to say tbat he roes not know Mrs Sccifo is to argue himself ur known. We hare mentioned two attritions, but avast n>t oaiit the third, which is he opportunity of saeiug so large ;i number of people gathered together. There is always something inspiriting in being one of a large audience, ahd that he or she will be so may be safely calculated upon by Everyone who takes "a ticket for tomorrow night's concert. It will *J9 seeu by the advertisement that Aiadatne Summerhayes, Mrs George Cotterell. Mr and Mrs Barnett, Mr Walcot, and Mr Oakey have all promised their assistance, but this by no means Completes the list, for there are several others who, while giving a helping hand to an old friend, will afford much pleasure to those who hear them. There will be a rehearsal at the Theatre thi3 evening.

All who have attended tho Exhibition now bfing held in the Provincial Hall must have pause i to admire the beauiiful collection of pictures exhibited by Ilerr G- isler, and many of ihaao who saw probably experienced a df fiire to become the owners of one or more of them. If so they will be g!ai to learn that there is a chance of iheir being able to gratify that desire, an the pictures are to be disposed of on the Art ULiaa piiaciple, the requisite permission having been obtained from the Colonial Secretary. Full particulars will be found in an advancement which appears in to daj^B issne.

We ufcdei stand that Mr Adolph Wiesenbavern has disposed of ths leaee of the Tcphouse reserve, comprising 28 748 acres, tcgether with his sheep and horses, to Mr W. L Fowler, of Stanley Vale, Amuri. Mr Wiesenhavera retains the lands south of the Tophoase.

A cricket match between elevens chosen frGni tuo Colonist end Evening Mail offices was played in the Botanical Reserve yesterday, when the former proved too strong altogether fir their opponents, who were beaten in one innings by 30 runs.

Mb. Edward Ererett will be formally installed as Mayor at a special meeting of the City Couccil to be held for that purpose at seven o'clock this evening. The Exhibition still continufs to attract a large number of sight seers, the Hall last night beirg crowded to excess, &nd very general satisfaction is expressed by all who pay it a *isi;. It will reaiaie open for a f«w days louger, and we recommend all who have not yet avaiied themselves of the opportunity of examining the contents to do so while they have the opportunity. The expenses have necessarily been heavy, and the promoters trust to ihe public appreciation of their eff >rU to protect them agaiaat loss.

Yesterday being St. John the Evangelist's Day, the brethren of the Southern Star Lodge of Freeniißona esseojbled in the Masoaic Hall at 3 p.m , when Brother W. B. Senly was installed as Worshipful Master, and the following ofScere were invested • Bro. G. Naylor, I.P.M. ; Bro. Cant Webb, S.W.; Bro. S. Bolton, J.W. ; Brb. W. B. Scaly, Treasurer : Bro Tuos. Scott, Secretary ; Bro. T. Wimsett, S D. ; Bro. W. Kadford, J.D. 5 Bro. A. Eobinson, T.G. ; Bro. Hargreates, Tyler. At 5 o'clock the brethren to the number of 59 attended Chriit Church, where there was a choral iervice and the ser' mon was preached by the Biibop of Ni-laon. At 8 o'clock a large number sat down to an excellent banquet prepared and put on the table in first class Btyle by H )St Tregea, and from grace before meat to Auld Lang Syne, all present thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Hospital Committee desire to thank Miss Gaseoigne and her pupils of the Toi Toi Valley School for their seasonable present of fruit again this year, which they understand has been specially subscribed for hy them for the patients. They also thank Mr Jackson for a present of Christmas cards and periodicals.

In his evidence at the enquiry into the death of his wife in Wellington, Mr Anthony aaid :-In te6tiog the powder, he founi the c napound went off too quickly. It " flashed ' too quickly, so he did ntt send it to the railway station as ordered. After tea-time, wit neei took the mortar containing the mixture into the back yard, in oider to destroy it by burning it. He scooped the mixture out of the mass, and in simll quantities fired it on the ground. It "fizzed " eff, and did not explode, and no sound was occasioned. It was getting dark at this timp, and his wife was lookir g through the kitchen window. Deceaßed went to the back door aDd inggested that the compound should be put down tho drain iDßtead of burning it, as being an easier way of getiing rid of ie. Witness told decfased not to touch ifc, as he was going to light up the shop, and w >uld return and finish it. He had lit one light iv the shop, when he heard a loud explosion, and thinklDg it to be that of a cannon, he went to the ahop front door and Icokfd up and down the street. On crossing the private entrance, he saw imoko riding from the biek of tke premises, and the thought of the fire striking him he ran to the back. Before he reached the yard, and while in the passage, he found bis wife's hand in the passage leading to the back door He picked up the portion of the limb, and called out to his wife by Dame. He saw her then lying on her back in the gutter leading to the drain in the yard. Witness saw that both arms were blown off, and he ran into the street and asked a policeman to go for Dr. Diver. Witness was alone on the premises, except the niece of the deceased, Miss Clara Walkden, and his little boy, a child aged two years and two months. Iv replying to the charge brought against him of double voting at the late election, Mr Pbarszyn in Ihe Magistrate's Court related his proceedings during the day showing that after voting for Mr Levin for Thorndon he had intended to vote in the Te Aro district but had gone to the wrong booth. He then said:— "l did Dot hear the result of the eh ction tiil the f.dlowitig morning, when I went aud congratulated Mr Johnston on hi 3 BUCC633, and thank. d him lor sending his cariiaK'-, althojgh I would only have been too glud to bave wu.ked and voted for him. Mr Johnston said th.t I must have made some mistake, as I had c.mo out of the wrong door. The wtole muter then dawned upon me that I had mistaken the election bootb. It wag careVaß *f ma, and I deserve r^rcth'a in-t ■: elm-it, kr cc it girting so ijiu^e an crroi." ;