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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 16, 19 January 1875, Page 2

Naval Brigade. — A meeting of those interested iv forming a Naval Brigade will be held at tbe Custom House Hotel this evening. St". Maby's Schools. — The prizes will be distributed by Bishop Redwood, at seven o'clock this evening. The Executive. — We understand that Mr Shapter has resigned his seat in ihe Executive as Goldfields Secro- " tary. There is a rumor abroad as to hiß pi obable successor, but it requires confirmation. Missionary Meetings. — A meeting in connection with the Melanesiun Mission will be held at Spring Gvove this evening, and at Waimea West to-morrow. Mblanesian Mission. — The meeting last night was well atteuded, the Hall being quite full. The chair was taken by the Yen. Archdeacon Thorpe, who introduced the Rev C, Bice, who described at length the objects of the Mission, and the manner iv which it was being carried out. At the conclusion of his address a vote of thanks was accorded to him en the motion of Mr C, Hunter Brown. Auxiliaby Fire Brigade.' — At a meeting of this Brigade held at their Hal), the Port, last evening, the following oflicera were elected for the ensuing year: — Captain, J. Garrard; Secretary, W. Akersten; Trensurer, W. Duokett; Lieutenant, J. Tuttyj First Hydrantman, J. Lukins; Second Hydrantmau, W. Simpson; First Branchman, J. M. Calder; Second Branchman, J. Infield; Foreman Hook and Ladder Company, F. Atkinson; Foreman Reel Company, T. Calder; Engine House Keeper, B. Mitchell; Assistant Secretary, C. Silcock. This Brigade is now ouo of the most 'flourishing in. the colony. During the pofit year the members have purchased the Bethel Chapel, and converted it into a Fire Brigade Room. We trust that they will always remain in the same state of efficiency as that of which they can boast at present The Late Me. Saylb.— A full account of the lamentable accident by which thia gentleman, who was well known in the Nelson province, lost his life will be found in the fourth page of to-day's issue. Nelson Regatta. — Mr Leathes, tbe secretary of the Regatta Club, appears to be sparing do pains to induce competitors from other promises to visit Nelson at the forthcoming regatta. In several papers published in various parts of the colony we notice acknowledgments of the receipt of letters from hint calling the attention of the public to the fact that valuable prizes are to be offered for competition. Tha Canterbury Preas, after enumerating the list of prizes, Bays : — cs lt will be seen by this that a very liberal programme has been prepared, and, if possible, we hope to see the invitation of our Nelson friends responded to heartily by soma of our creWl here." The Karamea. — The special reporter of the Colonist furnishes that journal with a lengthy account of the new settlement. He states that it is progressing favorably, and that those who have remained are well satisfied with their prospects; Fire at the Lower Moutere. — Between teu and eleven o'clock last uight a Gre occurred at the Bridge Inn, the property of Mr Samuel Carter. It appears that Mr Carter was at work in the front part of tho house, when,

in turning rather suddenly round, be unfortunately knocked over a kerosine lamp that was burning on a box close by. Finding it was impossible to put out the flames he ran -upstairs for two of his children who had retired to bed, the youngest being fast asleep The fire quickly communicated with the other portions of the house, and raged for about an hour, and before twelve o'clock the whole structure was levelled to the ground. Mr Carter, with the assistance of some of bis neighbors, succeeded in saving a portion of the furniture, and also prevented the fire from spreading to the out-building8 o — Communicated. Mutual Life Insurance. — The well-known '• Equitable Assurance Society " haa just paid a claim under a policy which must be one of the oldest in the world. The policy was taken out in December, 1795, for £1000, on a life then aged thirteen, at an annual premium of £18 16s. It has now become a claim, after existing for 79 ye ars, and tho sum paid is £7905, to which amount it was increased by bonuses, being nearly eight times the sum origiually assured. — English paper, Maori Good Templars.— The following characteristic address has been presented to Mr S. D. Hastings by the Maori members of this Order :— "Oh, friend — We Maoris welcome you on your arrival among us. As head of the Good Templars, you have come here to bring peace to the people of New Zealand, and to extend and encourage the efforts of the Good Templars to promote the feeling of love which now exists between the Pakeha and Maori, We rejoice to see the light of your Order spreading over this our country. Many will be found to assist the great work of regeneration, that the gods of darkness may be forgotten, and that the great God of Light may bo worshipped and glorified, through the mercies of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the dear sake of whom our white missionaries study to purify us Maoris from our former bad deeJs. Again we beg to welcome you among us, and assure you thv.t we shall at all timeß be willing and ready to give you our assistance to develop tho resources and promote the spread of Good Templary in these islands— (Signed) Na Paotia Matuakore." — " Good will to men.*' The Auckland correspondent of the Olago l^aity Times is responsible for the following: — Mr Russell's, furniture was sold to-day, and in connection with it I miiy inform you that a report is in circulation here that he is to remain in England for the next two years as Agent-Genernl. I ana inclined to believe the report true, as it is current in regions where it would probably bo contradicted if there were grounds for doing so. The Auckland Star of the 12th inßtnut says : — We have much pleasure ia stating that the list of signatures to the requisition asking Sir George Grey to allow himself to be nomiuated for City West this morning exceeded the largest number ever yet polled by any candidate in an election in this conetWuency. The lists are still going merrily round, and will probably in a few days include the names, with very, few exceptions, of all electors within reach. At Tokomniriro, the other day, Patrick Humphries surrendered himself to the police. He says, he and a number of men got on the spree at .Bendigo ; their money was pretty well run through, and one of thorn filled in a cheque for £16 or £17, which be (prisoner) signed in the name of Robert Patterson, squatter, Bendigo, and whose place he had been shearing at. It was cashed in v draper's shop at Bendigo. He then made for Melbourne, and hud been roaming about ever since, never doing a day's good as the crime troubled him. Latterly he could stand it no longer, and gave himsalf up. He was remanded, pending communication with "Victoria. The London correspondent of the Auckland Star writes as follows : — Rather an awkward announcement is made by a correspondent of the Times. He declares that according to the accounts published in accordance with the Life Assurance Company's Act, 1870, by certain companies, some of them doing a large business, actuaries have come to the conclusion that the companies in question are hopelessly insolvent. Actußries cannot waiu tbe public of these companies and their condition because they would lay themselves open to an action for libel, and tbe iuaolvent conditions of. the companies would be very difficult to demonstrate matbemntically. Actuaries would not join in taking such a step, and the only conclusion is that policyholders rouat protect themselves, and before they insure must satisfy themselves 88 to the position of the companies in which they desire to insure. Tbe outlook is not pleasant for young men who have insured their lives for their families' benefit. A Wairarapa contemporary says :— A Scandinavian named Steffinson, in the employ of Mr Bannister, Masterton, committed suicide on Christmas Eve by hanging himself on a tree beside the Waipone river. Deceased was about forty-five years old, and had often talked to his acquaintances of hanging himself. A Napier paper regrets to learn that the light crop of hay that alone was calculated upon this season, has been, for tbe most part, opoilt by the late continuous rains. There is every prospect of hay and grass seed being both scarce and dear.