The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 150, 29 June 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1867.

/ The Directors of the Provincial Land and Building Society Permanent, attended f at the Golden Fleece Hotel, last evening, for the purpose of paying off the first series of shares in this Society, when upwards of £3,500 were paid away withiu the space of an hour and a half, a very \ gratifying proof of the benefits which it is \ calculated to confer upon the community. y The monthly inspection of the various City Volunteer Companies took place yesterday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens. The weather was anything hut favorable, and, owing to some unexplained circumstauce, the Hou. Major Morse, the officer commanding the District, was not present. The force was therefore, under the command of Captain McTavish, and went through the various evolutions of forming companies, wheeliug into line, opening ranks, presenting arms, and closing rauks, with their accustomed precision, after which they marched through the town, preceded hy the band of No. 1. Company, City Rifles, to the Depot, where they were dismissed. The muster of the Rifle Cadets was far less numerous than is usually the case, a circumstance attributahle to the absence of very many of its members in the couutry for the holidays, and also, in some measure, to the very unfavorable state of the weather. We understand that a new bell has lately been presented to St. Mary's Church by the Rev. Father Royer, of Greymouth, which was rung for the first time on Thursday afternoon. It appears that the tones of this bell are somewhat similar to those of the Fire Bell, and in consequence no little alarm prevailed in various parts of the city on the occasion alluded to, the general belief being that a fire had broken out. These apprehensions, however, were speedily allayed, but we think it right to allude to the circumstance, iv order to guard against the possible consequences of its recurrence. In the Revising Officers Court, Motueka, on the 25th June, there were 45 new claims, 7 of which were rejected, by reason of insufficient or illegal claims, arising in part from the old printed forms being used. There were 15 objections made, 4 of which were retained, the change of residence heing supplied to the satisfaction of the Revising Officer. The remaiuder. were struck off through having sold out or died, with the exception of'R. Aitkin, ''Waimea Roll." W. F. Little's name was struck off, he having died since the objections were published. A telegram, received from Hokitika, states that the Panama Company's steamer Egmont arrived off that port from Sydney, late on Thursday n ight ; her arrival here to day may therefore be expected. The polling for the contested seat in the House of Representatives for the Waimea District took place yesterday, and resulted in the^re'turn of Mr Baigent, M.P.C, by a majority of 28 over Mr Sheppard, and 67 over Mr Kelling. The following are the numbers of votes recorded at the different polling-places :— Baigent. Sheppard. Kelling. Richmoud ... 20 28 28 Spring Grove ... 42 18 3 Upper Wakefield 32 22 l Motueka 5 3 o 99 71 32

■ "■'■ ' "' ■'-"■"— ■■■— — »m»t*w«— «. The Maungatapu Mouument Committee have received an addition of £19 Os. 9d. to the fuud, beiug half the proceeds of the eutcrtaiumeut liberally giveu ly the Nathan Troupe ou Tuesday evening last. The acting throughout on this occasion was especially good, and was highly appreciated by the audience,, the reading by Little Marion of the affecting letter causing visible emotion among those present. The power which this little child possesses thus to stir the fecliugs of her audience: her wonderfully clever impersonation of Andy Blake ; and the equally clever mauuer in which she sustains the very opposite character of the Princess iv Codadad, evince a very high order ! of talent, indeed it is not possible to convey intelligibly auy idea of the pathos with which she iuvests the lirst character, sustaining the brogue to the end, or of the archness and vivacity which she threw into that of the Princess. She must be seen and beard to be appreciated as she deserves, and wherever she may go she may be quite certain that she must become a great favorite. . Selina also possesses talents which, although differing in character, are as exceptionally great as those of her very gifted sister Marion. It is much ta be regretted that the attendance on that occasion was not larger, not only because the performance in itself, to say nothing of the generosity which prompted it, merited a warmer recognition on the part of the Kelson public, but also because it augurs somewhat unfavorably for the success of the efforts which the Committee are making to raise the amount required to defray the expense of the erection of the Monument, aud for other purposes. It has been suggested to us, and we think the hint may prove of some service to the Committee, that the people of Marlborough Province^ to which the victims of the tragedy belonged, might reasonably be asked to contribute to the fund, and the more especially as the heavy expenses attendant on the appreheusiou and trial of the murderers, as well as on the imprisonment of Sullivan iv the Nelson Gaol, must be borue by this Province.