Nelson Evening mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1885.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 3, 5 January 1885, Page 2

Nelson Evening mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1885.

Mil FujiL started by the Wanaka on Saturday night to join Mr Scla>iders at Christohurch, and together with him to conduct the negotiations re the Nelson, West Coast and Christchurch railway. The Wanaka was to leave Wellington for Lyttelton at 11 a.m. yesterday, so that she would arrive there early this morning, and consequently Mr Fell would be in time for th^ meeting of the Canterbury Committee which was to be held at 11 a.m. to-day. We can but trust that the visit of these two gentlemen will be attended .with the success which all interested in Nelson must heartily wish to the efforts now being made to secure the long desired railway communication with the rest of this Island. The Customs receipts at the Port of Nelson for the year ending 31st December, 1884, amounted to £41,481 16s 4d, being a slight decrease on those of the previous year, which were £43,366 83 Bd. Tbe principal falling off was in ad valorem duties, which for 1844 were only £9901, againsb £12,441 in 1883. The work of the Blue Ribbon and Salvation Armies is beginning to tell its tale, as there was a decrease in the duties on spirits of £817, on wine of £90, on Australian wine £140, and on imported beer £337. On the other hand tea yielded £1409 more than in 1883. It may be, however, that the latter item was duo to a considerable extent to the large clearances effected immediately prior to the delivery of the Financial Statement, when a rise in the duties was expected. On tobncco there was an increase of nearly £800, notwithstanding that ils use is forbidden by the Salvation Army. Sugar showed an increase of £450, and " goods by weight " a decrease of nearly £500. This following acceptances for the Brightwater Jockey Club Handicap to be run afc the meeting on Thursday next were received on Saturday night :— -Lady Grey, Rustic, Matai, Dangerous, and Billy Kraft. As the two top jveights, Miroi and Oeo, have not; accepted, the highest weight, that of Laoy Grey, will be raised from Bst 2lbs to Bst lOlbs, and tbe others will each be raised Gibs. — The acceptances for the Hurdle Handicap were : — Daybreak, Hope, Oeo, Leo, and Rustio. We are requested to call attention to Messrs Reeves & Co's sale of shares to-mor. row afternoon, when 834 shares in the Johnston's United Gold fining Company, seized under distress warrant, and 400 shares in the United Copper Mining Company will be sold without reserve. At the Police Court this morning Gibson wag again remanded for a week on a charge of attempting to murder Joseph Buecb. Annie Taylor was sentenced to three months imprisonment for vagrancy. We have been requested to remind the Provisional Directors of the Nelson Cricket and Athletic Sports Ground Company that the adjourned meeting will be held at the offices of Messrs Fell and Atkinson to-mor-row at 4.30 p.m., when it is hoped there will be a good attendance, as the matter is one of considerable importance to the town. THE RAILWAY NEGOTIATIONS. [From our own Corresponleut.J Christchurch, 2.50 p.m. The Committee has agreed to one contract for the whole line subject to the approval of a general meeting of guarantors to be held tomorrow afternoon. No difficulty with them is anticipated. "•^ 0