The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 243, 16 October 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1867.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Waimea West took place on Saturday evening last at the Schoolhouse, for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the Association Committee at Nelson, consisting of Messrs Elliott, Luckie, B. JacksoD, andM'lntosh. The weather had been very unfavorable during the day, and the attendance was consequently not numerous. Mr White, M.P.C., took the chair, and the members of the deputation having respectively addressed the meeting, resolutions were unanimously passed, recognising the propriety of reduction in the taxation of the colony, and of constituting a branch of the League in the district. The meeting separated between nine and ten o'clock, a vote of thanks having been previously passed to tbe deputation. Owing, we conclude, to the fact that several public meetings took place last night tbe attendance at the Oddfellows' Hall was not so numerous as on the preceding night. This circumstance however appeared to exercise no prejudicial effect whatever on the performance, which passed off very successfully. The entertainment consisted of Planch6's two-act drama Grist to the Mill, the plot, which is the slightest, but which abounds with sparkling dialogue, hinges on the efforts made by Francine (Mrs W. H. Newton), a miller's daughter and cousin to the young Thierry Dumont (Mr Manton) to reconcile her relative with his rich but miserly uncle, the Marquis de Eicheville (Mr Sefton) from whom he has been estranged through a mesalliance contracted by Thierry's mother, the sister of the Marquis. An opportunity presents itself at the house of M. De Merluchet, the Vidaroe of Poitiers (Mr Seymour), and the Marquis not only pardons his nephew, but also marries Francine. The latter part especially affords scope for good light comedy acting, in which Miss Annie Merton appeared to great advantage. Mr W. H. Newton appeared as the Prince de Conti, who has been commissioned by the King to examine the Marquis as to his qualifications for an office for wbich he has applied, and though the character does not call for any especial exercise of histrionic effect,. Mr Newton brought it into prominence and made it effective. The otherparts were very satisfactorily sustained. A musical interlude followed* during which Miss Merton sang Jessie's Dream, and, in response to the encore which resulted, Baroey.O'Hea, which was also very warmly received. Two capital songs, one having reference to local events and celebrities, and the other to the Fire Brigade, written ahd sung bj Mr Manton, called down tbe loudest applause, and were received with the greatest favor. The entertainment concluded with Maddison Morton's capital farce Betsy Baker, Miss Merton playing the irrepressible, laundress, and Mr Newton appearing as the susceptible Marmaduke Mouser. Tbuse who haye seen thia most ! amusing farce — and who has not ?— will i understand the unmitigated delight which ! its excellent performance afforded to the ■ audience last night. The Empire Company will uot appear to-night, the use of the Hall being required by the Oddfellows, but a strong bill is announced for tomorrow uight, iucludiog Chartes Daiiae'a

elegant comedy Delicate Ground, another - local song an<| Planchl's pretty operetta The Loan of a Lover. We mentioned in our issue of Friday last the probability that an opportunity would shortly be afforded our local sportsmen of taking part in the amusement generally known a^ a' drag r or 'paperhunt/ We are informed that the kind permission of several of the proprietors of land at Stoke having been obtained for the purpose, arrangements have been made so that the hunt will take place at that village to-morrow. The hounds will throw off (if we may be allowed the expression), about 3 o'clock, and we understand that it is intended that the Kelson sportsmen who purpose taking part in the sport shall assemble at the Trafalgar Hotel at 2 o'clock, and proceed together to the * meet.' Great sport is anticipated, and we are especially enjoined to state that all owners of 'likely ' horses are invited to join in the hunt. A Government advertisement which has appeared in our columns gives the new rates of pilotage, which will come into operation on and after the Ist proximo, and which, as we have already stated, are reduced nearly one-half to vessels trading regularly with this port. We find that a very widely-spread feeling of dissatisfaction prevails with reference to the ruthless but irretrievable step taken by the Board of Works in destroying | the fine old pukatea tree on the banks of the Maitai, to which allusion was made in our columns yesterday. As we have reason to believe that the Secretary to the Board is not the party who is responsible for the execution of this act of Vandalism, as has been currently reported, we think it only just to state that we have the positive ; authority of a gentleman, who is ready to give his name in support of the statement, ! that a written guarantee was given by him | for the payment of £5 to the Board on condition that the tree was left standing; that the terms of this guarantee were known to at least two members of the Board, and that it was placed in the hands of Mr James Hooper for presentation at the next meeting, who however, for some reason unexplained, failed to keep his promise in the matter. It is notorious that more thau one member of the Board was decidedly hostile to the proceeding, the execution of which was purposely delayed by the Secretary, in deference to the wishes of the public, who, we believe, will not be satisfied until this delinquency is brought home to its proper author. The absurdity of the assertion that the tree had become dangerous from decay may be proved by a personal inspection of it as it now lies on the bank of the river. A meeting of members of the Anglican Church was held yesterday evening at the Bishop's Schoolroom, on the invitation of Bishop Suter, for the purpose of taking into consideration a proposal made by his Lordship having for its object the appointment and support of a clergyman for the western parish of the city. Mr James Burnett $ Churchwarden of the western parish, took the chair, and about thirty persons were present. Resolutions were n passed affirming the expediency of appointing a clergyman solely for the western parish, in which the Bishop expressed his full concurrence and his readiness to contribute £100 per annum for two years from private sources placed at his disposal, and it .was calculated that the weekly offertory and collection at the evening service would amount to at least £100 annually, and that £100 might be raised by subscriptions; of which upwards of £60 were promised in the room. It was unanimously determined that measures should be immediately taken to carry out the object of the meeting, and it is understood that the Rcf, B. J. Thorpe in likely to be appointed to tiio iucumbeucy of tiie parish.

We hate made inquiries at the Govern 1 inert offices as to the name of the successful contractor for the laying, of the pipe* for the Nelson Waterworks, the tenders for which were to be sent in yesterday to; the Provincial Secretary's office, but have; as yet been unable to obtain any information on the subject. ' We desire to remiud the lovers of cricket that the meeting for the purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Committee appointed at the preliminary meeting held ou Thursday evening, and for the inauguration of the new club, will take place this evening at the Trafalgar Hotel, when it is confidently expected that the attendance will be both influential and numerous. The party organised by the Pakawau Coal Committee for the purpose of visiting the new coal seam at Pakawau start on their trip this evening by the Ladyßarkly at 8 o'clock, and will, we hear, probably include about twenty persons. It ia a well-known fact that discoveries of platinum have been reported in various parts of the Middle Island, and especially in Southland, and in some instances indications of the existence of this very valuable metal in large quantities were established. In order, to ascertain its marketable value,Mr Louis Louguet, of Campbelltown, in that province, communicated with Messrs Johnson, Mattheson, & Co., of London, the proprietors of one of the most eminent manufactories of platinum in Europe. By the last English mail Mr Longuet received a letter ia reply, of which the following is an extract: — * Wo are duly favored with your letter of -the 10th April, and have great pleasure ia sending you prompt information on the subject of your inquiry. The samples you inclosed to us are varieties of impure native platinum, to some extent a rare metal, though the produce has greatly increased of late years. We need hardly say that any large discovery, such as has now been made, will naturally affect the market value of what now finds its way to us, and we would be very glad to receive large ariivals. The market price has been for the last fifty years very variable; sometimes 3s per ouuce, sometimes much higher. We should be glad to learn to what extent the supply is likely to extend, whether it can be sent forward in pounds, hundredweights, or tons. If you can forward to us a working sample, say of one or two tons, of the cleaned metal like your sample, we should be glad ; and for such we authorise you to draw upon us at the rate of fifteeu hundred pounds (£1500) per ton (22401b5), payable in prompt cash upon receipt and examination of the consignment. The business, if promptly taken up by you, might doubtless prove of great value, and be a satisfactory one ia every respect.' We understand that a sompany is to be formed for the purpose of collecting and exporting the metal to England.