Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1883.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 222, 21 September 1883, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1883.

The oaiy evidence of any importance taken at the inquest yesterday after we went to press was that of William Page, an A B on board tho Wanaka. He saw the pilot boat leavo the steamer aud the mon pulling the oars afc about 30 yards distance when he lost sight of them in the darkness. He afterwards heard cries 80 or 100 varda away. Whilst helping to clear the lifeboat he heard a cry from astern •• We have lost our oars." The sea was very rough and breaking over the ship, and if they had attempted to lower tne boat she would have been swamped, even if the steamer bad been brought head on to tho sea. They wero in shallow water and the steamer bumped twice. In reply to a question from the foreman whether, if the ship bad been wrecked, the boat would have been of uo use, the witness replied that they would have had to nut the ship ashore as the boats could not have lived. He could not say whether it was prudent to send the pilot boat away from the steamer, at all events he would nofc have liked to be one of her crew.— lfc was then decided to adjourn the inquest until the Bth [November in order that Pilot Low mighfc be examined. Ix these degenerate days a fight afc sea usually consists of the combatant ships engaging in the very uninteresting occupation of firing afc one another from a distance of a mile or two, instead of muzzle to muzzle, yard arm to yard nrm. with a desperjte fray between the boarders from one ship and the defending crew of the other as a finale. Ifc is therefore quite refreshing to hear of a naval engagement similar to those of the good old days of Nelson, and such an one it appears took place on one of the fishing grounds in our usually peaceful Bay ou Sunday last. There had been a race oufc between two boats, oue manned by the Italians W r et and Mal.imo, and the other by the Englishmen Hart and Norton, and the Frenchman Utrange. The latter won, and one of the crew waved his hat and shouted, *• hurrah." This was regarded as a challenge rather than as a token of victory, and consequently the Italians bore down upon the Anglo-French alliance, ranged their boat alongside and a desperate encounter ensued. Malamo was armed with a paddle and Hart; with a jibboom, somewhat slightingly described in j the information ns a " manuka stick." Bufc before these deadly weapons could be used, Wet— better kuown a3 " Tony "—boarded the enemy, battered Hart's figure head, and threatened to throw him overboard. However, he did nofc proceed to this extremity, but satisfied with the punishment inflicted and the honor of the Italian flag being ( upheld, he withdrew his warship, and the battle terminated, only to be renewed in the Magistrate's Court this morning when, as will be seen by our reporfc, fche tables were turned and the Italians were made to pay a war indemnity. Raineb's diorama of the American War was exhibited at the Theatre last nighfc, and, combined with a liberal gift distribution, attracted a large audience. The diorama, explained as it was by Mr Stuart, who is one of the besfc lecturers of the kind we have heard, appeared to give satisfaction to all, and the presents most certainly did to those who were fortunate enough to receive them. To-morrow afternoon there will be an exhibition for children, when all in attendance will be presented with a prize. In the evening the programme will be changed, and the diorama of the Russo-Turkish war will be exhibited. If the posters on tbe wails in any way indicato the character of the diorama itself, some very thrilling incidents should be graphically depicted. Tiik temperance meeting afc Richmond last night was, considering the short notice given, very well attended. Mr Pickard occupied fche chair, and in doing so fully recognised the good work being done by the local Temperance Society. The Rev John Beckenham spoke afc lengtb on the Blue Ribbon movement, and showed how the littb division of fche army thafc had been started in Nelson had been the means of getting the movement on foot afc Takaka, Westport;, and Karamea. Mr D. C. Cameron maintained that fche Good Templar Order was a religious organisation. He thought one Order should not be set; before another and unfavorable comparisons drawn. There was a sphere of usefulness for each, and they should help each other. Ho stated he had travelled about a good deal in fche South, and he had found the most earnest workers in the Blue Ribbon movement were in many instances old members of the Good Templar Order. Mr W. T. Bond considered all should work heartily as allies. He urged the young to commence life with total abstinence principles. He had never met a man who regretted having become a total abstainer. Mr J. H. Harkness moved a vote of thanks to the chairman. Ho wished the Good Templars every success. He thought the Blue Ribbon movement had enlisted the sympathies of those in the temperance cauhe, who would not have been secured by other movements. The vote was carried by acclamation Several signed tho pledge were enrolled as members of the local society, and donned the blue. Ax ordination was held bv the Bishop of Neison at Christ Church this rnornino- when the Reverends T. B. Maclean, of Collingwood and Takaka, Arthur Hermon, of Spring Creek, Marlborough, and W. Sfc Clair T. Tisdall, M.A., of Wakefield, were admitted to the order of Priests, being presented by the Ven Archdeacons Butt and Mules. The sermon, on Hebrews iii, 12, was preached by the Rev J. L. [ Nightingale, M.A., of Richmond. The Bishop was assisted in the laying on of

hands by the Archdeacons, and the Revs J Leighton, E. I. Jones, T. A. Bowden. M.A., J. L. Nightingale, M.A , and E. Nightingale, A trotting match has beon urran-red to take place next Monday afternoon between Mr Norgßle'u grey geldiDg Tommy aud the black gelding Jack named by Mr J. Kerr, the former to be ridden by young Gardner and the latter by 11. Richardson. Mr Stevenson acting* as referee for Mr Novate and Mr C. Harley for Mr Kerr. The match is to be for £25 a side and the course will be from tho Wairoa Bridge to thn road leading to the Oddfellows Hail at Richmond. A good deal of interest is taken in the match ni sporting circles, and Richmond promises to be unusually lively on the day named. Fkom our telegrams to-day it seems that tho telegraph officer afc Cas tie Point who created so much excitement throughout the colony yesterday by his reported discovery of a ' very large comet" was mistaken, nothing of the kiud being seen last night of the mysterious visitor, although a sharp look out Was kept on all the East Coast stations. Messks Maurice Richmond and J. J. Moynihan, who recently passed their law examinations, have been sworn in and enrolled as barristers and solicitors of the Sui reme Court, and Mr Moynihan to day proceeded to Westporb where he intends commencing the practice of his profession. We wish him ever/ success in his undertaking. Thirty-six entries were received last night for tha Carbine Club's Handicaps, th* firing for which will commence to-morrow afternoon and continue at Oa.m. on Monday. The handicaps ore as follows .-—Gunner Wimsett, Corporal Clouston. Pnvate Jones, Seaman Hunfctr, Lieut Rowlings, JGunner Ruddiiigton, Privato Oldham. Corporal Batchelor, Private Giblin, Private Wratt, P.O. Fathers, Mr Greenfield, and Gunner Johnson, al: scratch ; Sergt Bird, Lieut Malcolm, 2 points ; Lieut Wimsett and Corporal Doyle. 3 points ; P.O. Watson, Sergt Wimsett, P.O. Aisher, 4 points ; Corporal Alhorough and Lieut Topliss. 5 points; Gunner Small, 0 points ; Lit ut' Harkness, 7 points ; Sea i an Barltrop, Gunner Smallbone aud Mr Shallcrass, 10 points ; Private Lightfoot, 11 points; Bir Cresswell. Gunner Broadwood, Private Guy. Gunner Robertson, Sergeinfc Louisson, and Seaman Rutkdge,' lo points -, Mr M'Guire and Private Stringer 10 points. 1 in-: Conference in connection with the Baptist Union of New Zealand is advertised to be held in Nelson on October 15, 16, 17, and 18. It was feared at one time that the Rev. Mr Spurgeon would not be able to attend, but we understand that be will be t resent and preach in the Baptist Church on Sunday e-veuing, October 14th. It is uotified that there will be no meeting of the Richmond Abstinence Society this evening. A farcei. of 1000 ?acks of Nelson grown barley was despatched by the Rotorua today to Auckland by Messrs R. C. Parker & Co. A conference of the clergy of the Church of England iu fche diocese" was held at Bishopdale yesterday, when fourteen attended. The following, which is the Wanganvi Herald's version of fche dfaniif-r* in t'>e ivcr-n** football match, will no doubt prove interesting to our players and to those who were witnesses of the game:—Whilo the scrimmage was on, the ball was taken by Powell from the Wanganui men who had held it, and (unknown to the Nelson, men who were still in fche scrimmage) he ran towards the Nelson goal line, being well foliowed up by Jerry "Coakley. Powell was stopped by Walker, bufc immediately passed the ball to Coakley. who was caught; by Baddeley (the captain of the Nelson team). By adroit passing, however, Powell again got the ball, and (the others still scrimmaging) rushed towards the Nelsoa goal posts, hotly pursued by Walker and Baddeley, who failed fco catch him, and he obtained a try. The Nelson men called out thafc he was " Off-side," fcelliug him to stop, but afc the word from the Wanganui umpire he continued his rnn, and got the try. It was impossible for the Nelson umpire to see whether Powell was off-.'••id?, as he was on the western side of the scrimmagers. nor had he any right to interfere with the eastern side, ot which the Wanganui umpire had charge. A dispute arose over the point, neither umpire giving in, and after a considerable argument, the crowd having gathered round, the Wanganui captain retired with his men from the filed. Tli3 crowd commsneed to hoot, but they were immediately sil-need by Mr Cross, who said—" I am a native of "Nel**ou, ani played many years both in cricket and football, bat I never kuew Nelson pernio hoot their -visitors before." This had the desired effect, for the hooting was immediately turn ed to cheer.**. The Wanganui Herald of Monday last says :—The footballer*, apart from the matcb, appear to have had a jolly time in Nelson. While a number of Wanganui gentlemen were stopping in an hotel there, a well-known Nelson identity came iu and make a bet of £5 over the event. A iocal sport who bad £5 to loso, immediattly produced the necessary amount, but fche Nelson gentleman ssid it would be best to make it £10 or £20. This was done, and tbe worthy gentleman, who apparently had not expected such a warm reception, tried to do a little " bluff," and wished the amount to be £50 or £100. Not to be beaten, the Wanganui men clubbed together, and produced £100 in notes, but the sight of the money was too much f r the Nelson gentleman, and he quietly walked off. We ( Wanganui Herald) understand fchafc while in Nelson. Mr C. S. Cross negotiated the lease of Mr Harlev's brewery in Wilsonstreet to Mr J. P. Wafcfc, who intends reopening ifc for