RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 71, 27 March 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Before J. Shabp, Esq., RM. This Day. James Kowland charged with being drunk and incapable, was fined 10s. and costs. ABSOIOM V. HELPS. Claim for £4 7s lid for meat supplied. Dr Combe appeared for the defendant. In this case the prices charged for the meat were disputed. After hearing the evidence of flereral butchers as to the customary charges, bis Worship gaye judgment for the plaintiff for M 4s Id and costs, 9s.

Provincial Council. — A Bill wiil be introduced into the Council at its next session, commencing on 27th April, in which it is proposed to reduce the number of members from 29 to 19. This will, to a great extent, meet the views of the inhabitants of tlie West Coast who will thus have five representatives in the Council, or rather more than one-fourth of the whole v umber. Govkknmknt Wharf. — This wharf is to be let by auction on Monday next, at 12 o'clock. We understand that great satisfaction has been given by the reduction in wharfage and storage rates which is to date from the Ist April next. Visit of H. K. H. the Duke of Edinburgh. — We are informed ihiit the Volunteers of the Nelson District are to be called out on the arrival of the Duke for the purpose of forming a Guard of Honor on his landing, when a detachment from each of the three Artillery Companies will place their suns in position, in onier to reply to the Royal salute from the Galatea- Orderlies and Sentinels will be on day and night duty at the. Duke'd residence during bis slay in Nelson. The Coming Ball. — We understand that a memorial is to be presented to the members of the Ball Committee at their meeting this evening, requesting them to hold the ball in the Hospital instead of at the Provincial Hull as has been already decided. As to which would make the best Ball-room, the Provincial Hall or the room at the Hospital there can be but little doubt ; the one is well proportioned and lofty, tlie other Unj, narrow, and low; the one is well lighted by elegant chandeliers, the other wouKl have to be lighted by single lamps fastened to the walls ; the Hall is in a central position, the Hospital, in the event of its being a wet night, would be practically inaccessible. it is urged as a reason why the Ball should not be at the Hull, tluit if it is held there, it will be a limited and comparatively exclusive affair, but we canuot help thinking that. were it held in the Hospital where two rooms, completely separated and distinct from each other, would have to be use 1 for dancing, it would be found that the one which contained the centre of attraction would be filled to inconvenience, while ihe other would be comparatively deserted, aud that the fact of there being two rooms would gire the affair an appearance of exclusiveness which if not heard of before ihe ball, would be loudly complained of after it was over. But whatever the respective merits of the two buildings, we shoul J imagine that it must be now too late altogether to make .vny alteration in the arrangements, and the presenting of a memorial to that effvet, after it has been advertised for a fortnight that the committee have decided upon holding the ball in the Provincial Hall, appears to us to be at least ill-timed. The committee published their decision as soon as it had been arrived at, and in the meantime have gone on wiih. their work, and have entered into contracts which cannot now be set aside. In fact, preparations have been made to the extent of erecting the supper room, so that the memorialists can hardly expect, their request to be granted, and we feel convinced, that they will ou consideration, see that it is now impossible to make the alteraton they suggest, and we even venture to predict that thr must determined advocates of the Hospital, will ou the night of the bull allow that the committee acted wisely when they came to the conclusion that the Hall would he the best, the cheapest, and the most convenient room that was to be found in Nelson, for so important an event as a ball to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Accident. — An accident of a serious nature occurred on Thursday last, to a young mau of the name of W. Har«;reaves, who, in wrestliag wiih another mau fell, and in doinjjso, dislocated his collarbone and first rib. Dr Cotterell was at once sent for and succeeded in reducing the dis location of the collarbone, but that of the rib is likely to prove a more serious and tedious affitir. X Register Your Votes. — We would remiud our readers that the time appointed for the registration of votes expires with the current month. Ifc should be borne in mind that the election for the Superintendent and Members of the Provincial Council will take place at the cud of the prese it year. Oil Colored Photographs. — To such of our readers as are fond of inspecting protographs we would recommend a visit to Mr Dxvis' photographic gallery in Trafalgar-street. The numerous cartes

de visite that are to be seen there are generally very good, but it is not of these that we would now speak. The pictures t > which we desire to particularly call attention just now are the photographs colced in oil, some of which are most perfect specimens, not only as speaking likenesses, but also as works of art, in addition to which recommendations they p >*sess this advantage, that whilst in the c >urse of a few years the ordinary pliotagraph will fade away, these pictutes, being colored in oils, will retain their freshness for any length of time. Cricket. — A match was played yesterday between the Stoke Club and an eleven from the sunounding district including three from the Nelson College when the following scores were made : —^toke, first innings 61, second innings 59 ; Country eleven, first innings 15, second innings 94. The Stoke Club consequently won the match by 11 runs. Another match was played yesterday at the Moutere between an eleven from that district and the same number from Moiueka which resulted iv tho defeat of the latter. Stoke Sunday School. — The anniversary of this school was celebrated on Tuesday last, by a Tea Party aud public meeting. The children sat down to tea at 4 o'clock, after which the public were admitted to a tea which was laid out for them in the schoo'r >om, which was £rnily decorate I with shrubs aud flowers. The meeting under the presidency of J W. Baruicoar, Esq. was then held, at which the annual report and cash account were read by the Secretary. The children recited several pieces in a most creditable manner, and interesting and appropriate addresses were delivered by Messrs Hill, Avety, and Campbell. A vote of thanks to th« Chairman aud those who had interested themselves in the meeting, brought the proceedings to a close. Motueka Concert. — We would remind our readers that this Concert is to take plane on Monday evening n^xt, and that, the Lady Barkly sails at 9 o'clock on the morning of that day. No doubt as Easter Monday is pretty generally observed as a holiday, a gieat many will avail themselves of ihe excellent opportunity thus afforded of visit jug the pretty village of Motueka, aud attending the Concert, where, as wo are informed, the best of our amateur musicians ac to give their assistance towards the charitable purpose for which the Concert is to be given.

The last remains of the unfortunate jnekey, Henry Thomas Biootnfield, were interred in the Greymouth cemetery this afternoon. The cortege moved from Johnston's Melbourne Hotel and was attended by a large concourse of boih foot und horse meu, among the latter of whom were the stewards and several of the committee of the Jockey Club. The coffin was carried by six jockeys dressed in their several colors, and wearing white crapp, und were preceded by a brass band playing " The LVad March in. Saul." Following the c»ifin was the brother of the deceased as chief mourner, then the foot passengers and horsemen. The various hotels and business places closed their doors as the funeral passed, and a deep gloom seem to pervade the town. The deceased was 21 years of age, unmarried, and a native of Tasmania. — Greymouth Star. Poisoning Socks. — The Hokitika correspondent of the Greymouth Star writes : — ''A case of virulent poisoning from wearing those fancy, highly-colored socks has recently occurred in this town. The sufferer is Mr Alfred Dyson, mine host of the British Empire. It appears that on last Thursday week he purchased several pairs of socks, and put on a pair of them the same day. The color of the feet of the socks was magenta. Thioaghout the day he experienced an uncomfortable sensation in his feet, which he describes as similar to that resulting from wearing tight boots. At night, on removing his socks, he found the soles of his feet and that portion of their sides which had been in contact with the magenta, all red and covered with small pimples. In the morning the pimples had increased to large pustules, which shortly afterwards burst, and his feet presented a most alarming appearance. Dr Derraott was called in and at once defined the cause to be the magenta socks. Mr Dyson has since been under his skilful treatment and is recovering, but it will be a c msiderable time before he is able to get about, as the skin on the soles of his feet has entirely peeled off, leaving a rawness which precludes him from standing. This should be a caution to wearers of ' pretty' socks and stockings. The Greymouth Star ventures to take a different view of Mr Lowe's Wardenship from that taken by the other journals in the district. It says : — " 3?rom his previous intimate knowledge of ihe district, and his recognised ability as a mining surveyor, Mr Lowe will bring a practical knowledge to bear upon the questions at issue before him, perhaps, greater than is possessed by any Warden on the West Coast."

Dancing Mad. — We have often heard o young ladies, who. after being for a long time deprived of their favorite pastime, -would " give anything for a dance," but we must confess to being a little surprised at finding that the editor of a newspaper, popularly supposed to be one of the most sedate of mortals, should be so devoted a worshipper at the shrine of Terpsichore as to plead the following, as an excuse for a ball : — It is now some time since there has been in Westport a ba'l or other amusement for a benevolent or charitable purpose. As charity begins at home, what say the benevolent to the good work of aiding the Separation Movement? The Committee will want funds very badly, and, as the subject is now fairly recognised as an institution amongst us, may we venture to say that it would be a " happy thought " were we to remember the Committee and the cause by holding a Separation Ball ? It is difficult to guess, after reading this paragraph, which of the two must be the most hard up— the Editor of the Westport Times for a dance, or the Separation Committee for funds. Surely the former's centre of gravity must have been upset when he was. driven as a last resource to suggest that the only means by which Westland could attain its wished for goal of Separation war) by the centrifugal force of the valse a deux temps. Fanny Fekn ox Dress. — Must a woman wear a thing because every other woman does? Can't a sliort woman forswear big plaids? Can't a tall woman eschew striped garments? Can't a blonde let yellow alone? and can't a brunett2 turn off her eyes from pale blue? and can't a woman be w orthy of respect, though she may choose to wear no trimmings ar, a I on her dre<s, no matter what milliner or modiste shall have decreed to the contrary? Well, well, > he remedy for all is brains. Now, who is going t» furnish them? The mothers of the present day can't, judging from present appearances, nor can the fathers-, so that, upon my word, I can't see where the promised millenium is to come from. Nobody can tell how glad lam when I hear thar, a woman in any part of the wide earth has painted a picture, or written a book, which is creditable to her, in the lenst degree. Anything— anything but this eternal withering, soul-destroying adoration of dress. Fanny Kkrn. >•. The surest way to hit a woman's heart is to take aim kneeling.