The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 226, 19 October 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1876.

The Diocesan Synod was opened at tbe Masonic Hall at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large number of the public. His Lordship the Bishop read a lengthy address on matters connected with the Church, which we shall publish in a supplement to-morrow. A vote of thanks having been accorded to his Lordship for his address, the Synod proceeded to the election of officers, and the following were appointed : — Clerical Secretary, Eev W. Bonaldson; Lay Secretary, Mr A. B. Oliver; Chairman of Committees, Mr J. ,W. Barnicoat. The report of the Standing Committee for the year was then read, and, after the appointment of tbe usual sessional Committees, the Synod adjourned until four p.m. to-day. We have been requested to correct an error which appeared in our report yesterday of the .Regatta Committee meeting, wherein it was stated that it was decided that the four-oared gunwale gigs engaged in race No. 5 should not be covered. The question was brought forward and discussed but no decision was arrived at, the matter being left to the Sailing Committee. St. John's Parsonage, Wakefield, will be opened by the Bishop of the Diocese ou the 27th iuataut. Arrangements bave been made for a specia train to leave town at two p.m., stopping at the different stations, and, after landing passengers at the Wakefield station it will run on to Foxhill, returning from' thence at 315 p.m., thus affording an opportunity to many persons to take a trip to Wakefield and to be preeent at the ceremony. The return train will leave for Nelson about 9*30 p.m. The order of proceedings will be as follows: — Dedication of the parsonage at 4 p.m. ; tea in tbe Government schoolroom at 5 p.m., and after tea addresses will be delivered by his Lordship the Bishop of Nelson and by members of the Synod. The appointment of Robert Pollock, Esq., as auditor of the public accounts of the province of Nelson is gazetted, We notice with regret the death of the wife of Police-Sergeant Nash. Deceased, who was a daughter of Mr Samuel Newport, a veteran of 84< years of age, armed in Nelson when quite a child in IS'JS, and was consequently one of tbe pioneers of the province. The entertain ment which was to have been given by the member* of tbe Wesleyan choir on the 25th inst. has been postponed until the Ist November on account of the anniversary tea meeting of the Baptist Church having been arranged to take place on the day previously appointed. The Patea Mail has learned by telegram that Mr Eyes, of Opunake, met with a serious accident on Thursday last, having sustained a compoucd fracture of the leg.

In its report of tho opening of the boating season in Auckland, tha Star says : — " There are Borne big prizes knocking round at Nelson and elsewhere, and we hope our boys will put m a claim." Are out boys going to put in a claim for any of them? If so, is it not high time they commenced practising. Why should we not open our boating season with some parade and show as has been done elsewhere? The Pest concludes au article on Sir George Grey aa follows:—" We really wish that Sir George Grey would rusticate and leave his Parliamentary duties alone for a little time. The Wairarapa people are very anxious to see him and have a talk about old times. Hie trusty friend, the editor of the Standard, declares that his very soul i« yearning for a visit irom Sir George, and if he wili only make it he will receive quite an ovation, enjoy a most pleasant sojourn, and return decidedlybetter in health, temper, and spirits. We wish Sir George Grey would entertain this proposal. Parliament would get on ever so much better just at present without him, and he really, as things stand, can do no good in it. Clearly, Sir George should go to the Wairarapa, and escape all present disagreeables, not the least of which is, according to his own account, the imminent and deadly danger in which he hourly stands of having his life taken by Major Atkinson." Tha Grey Argut relates that at the Distriot Court during the trial of G. Knopp, and while the Crown Prosecutor was examining a witness, bis Honor Judge Weston suddenly interrupted tbe proceedings by remarking: — ''Mr, Guinness: It is a most indecent and improper thing to wink at the jury, and I must request you to stop." Mr Guinness: "I did nothiog of (he sort. If your Honor ie in the habit oi doing so, lam not." Hia Honor: "Is that a proper answer to give a Judge of this Court; to give the lie direct? I saw you wink, Mr Guinness, and I have seen you do it before, and if you address the Court again in the manner you have done, I will not allow you to appear in this Court at all." Mr Guinneas subsided. The San Francisco News Letter thus discourseth respecting tbe projected visit to that city of the murderer Sullivan:— *• The bloodiest murderer known to tbe nineteenth century is shortly to arrive in San Francisco. The scene of his atrocities was New Zealand, and his name is Sullivan. Fitting preparations for his reception are to be made, and 900 convicts from Ssn Quentin will be drawn up on ihe wharf upon his arrival, each dressed in his best prison uniform, and adorned with handcuffs, and a ball and chain. After proceeding to tbe City Jail in state, a banquet of bread and water will be provided, when an address of welcome will be lead by the oldest " lifer " present, and several speeches made by prominent criminals. At the conclusion of the ceremonies Mr Sulli van will return thanks in a neat and appropriate manner, and, as the platform on which be is to stand is expected to give way during his remarks, a wellsoaped rope will beattacbed to bis neok to prevent his falling to the ground. The company will then disperse leaving Mr Sullivan to enjoy the rest he so much needs." A bill of indictment against a dead man is a novelty, but one was recently presented to the Grand Jury in Dunedin. The prisoner had died in gaol, and the Crown Prosecutor was not informed of the fact. When he was he withdrew the bill, remarking that the prisoner was no longer within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Stockwhip, a weekly paper published in Sydney, and principally supported, it was said, by atheists and infidels, has ceased to exist, from lack of funds to carry it on. The Australian Witness congratulates the public upon the demise of so detrimental a print to the interests of morality.