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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 113, 14 May 1890, Page 2

A speoial servioe will be held in the Cathedral this evening when the Bishop of Nolson specially invites all those who havo been confirmed by him in fchafc building to be present.

Saturday the 24tk inst. being a public holiday a late train will be run on the previous evening. There will be excursion traias afc convenient hours on Saturday to suit holiday keepers.

Thk Help Myself Society will give another of their popular entertainments at the V.M.C. \. Hall to niorr.)w evening, when th© programme will include violiu and organ solos, two dialogues (one in which eleven boyß and girls are to take part), songs, recitations, and new selections ou fche hand bells. Aa the publio will be admitted on payment of any eilver coin tha Hall will doabfcless be filled.

The Royal Rink will be opened for skating to-morrow evening, aud on every subsequent Tuesday and Friday evening and Wednesday afternoon until further notice. The Bijou Band will be in attendance, and no doubt this favourite pastime will, under suoh favourable circumstances, reassume some of its former attractions.

Our readers, whatever may be Iheir opinion on the Irish question, will enjoy a perusal of correspondence whioh recently took ijlaoe between Profassor Tyndall and Mr Gladstone, and is oopied in our issue of to day from 'The Times." The powerful attack and the short, curt, reply are2both of them gems in their way.

A meeting of tradesmen is to be held in Sigley's room to-morrow to discuss the question of the Queen's Birthday holiday.

TllE firsfc meeting of the Winter Evening Debating Society was held la3t night. The Bishop of Neleon waa in fche chair, and he thanked the members for re-electing him to the ofiioe of President. Tho subject of fche debate was, " That it is desirable that New Zealand should jointhe proposed Australasian Federal Union." After a rather lively dis enssion the motion was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman. The next meeting will be held on fche 27th May, when Mr Bellamy's book "LookiDg Backward" will form the subject of debate. It is intended to invite representatives from the Motueka Debating Society to a friendly debate in about five weeks' time.

The Post of Monday says :— .Unless an unexpected improvement takes place in Sir Harry Atkinson's health within the next week or two, it seems to be generally understood that he will not attempt to meet Parliament as Premier. In fact it would be madness for him to do so, as he would inevitably break down altogether if exposed for a single week to the work and worry necessarily incidental to the position. Who, then, is to succeed him? The idea at one time entertained that Mr Bryce would fill the vacancy has we imagine, been abandoned. Mr Bryce would nofc consent to act as an " emergency man," or to head what he would think a, " scratch team." If he took office he would demand the right of leconstructing the Cabinet, and would insist on bringing down a policy of his own, on which be could if need be, go fco the country. This sort' of independence would not at all suit the gentlemen now in office, and if unfortunately deprived of their present head we do not think they will appeal fco fche member for Waipa. They are much more likely to look for aid iv "another quarter, and to put themselves under the protection of their faithful old dry nurse, Sir John Hall. ***** A good many troublesome affairs would be got over in this way. Sir John Hall would probably not go very far wrong during the olecions so far as admiuistration is con* oern.id, nor would he permit his colleagues to do so, ;:'or when ia office he insists on going into every detail, and keeps a tight rein on his colleagues. He is probably as safe a man as could be entrusted with the Premiership as a temporary -expedient, aa „

the members of the Ministry will be fortu" nate if they secure him as a lea ; er when deprived of Sir Harry Atkinson's services. We clo not anticipate that Sir John Hall would object to the arrangement, and indeed rumour says that he has already been approached upon it, and been found willing. It will be a strange freak of fortune which takes him down from the shelf and places him once more in the moat prominent position in the political show window.

Captain Cotton, well known in Christchurch, has received an appointment on the staff of Commander Cameron, the African explorer, and writes to his friends in Canterbury that the expedition will be a large one, and be away from England two or three years.

The coal trade .at Westport is assuming lnrge dimensions, and in order to provide the fullest facilities for tho loading of vessels of big tonnage extensive works are about to be proceeded with. A new staith is about to be erected, and dredging operations are to be commenced at once, so as to enable the larger class of flteamers to lie alongside the staiths at low water without fear of Bfcraining themselves. It is also intended to form a basin so as to enable vessels of even larger tonnage than those now visiting the port to load with safety at all states of the tide. The new staith will have a storage capacity of about 1500 tons, and is to be ereoted at an altitude which will enable the coal to be shot into the holds of the larger vessels with the greatest ease. Mr C. Y. O'Connor, who has just been appointed Marine Engineer to ihe colony, will proceed to the West Coist in about two weeks f >r tho purpose of tak ing charge of the several harbour works, and it is probable that he will have to reside there for the greater part of each year. — Fost.

A recent Australian telegram says : — Lh a meeting uf thn Manng'-moub Oommifcfre of the Rugby Union, iwo member;- cf *-><• Gr. fto'i 'earn, L ,-ky sud Killing-, were -.■.ensured for Laving diripat-d the referee's ilecision ond n**ed insulting language during « m=toh on Siturd y, and were) informed tnat a r?p ti ion of such conduct wou'd refu't in their mepension from play for the rema>od'r of 'be season. A similar oautiou was given fo Gash, ot the S Uvya to;U3, forough pl«-y. A complaint w-s made agai'. st oue of ih' spectator* of a match that he hadinsul .d the referee. It was resolve) tha r - the offender ba called upon ta prompt'y es-nd ft b .i-f-.c >-ry «polo:.'y through thUi.ion, failing which he le refused a roi^■iioii to the ground*! in fu'nro.

Messes Sharp and Sons will sell the furniture and effects belonging to Mr C. McGee at his residence, the Wood, ou Friday next. The lots include an easy pony carriage aud good pony. The following day they will offer some valuable properties in the Wood belonging to Mrs W. R, Sc >tfc, who is desirous to clear off all her properties before leaving Nelson. The two lots will be sold cheap. Mr Geo. Williams' properties will be sold on the 31st May. Plans are nearly ready, and full information can be obtained from the Auotioneers or bhe Agent Public Trustee.

Men's 35s overcoats for 17/6 ; Boys and youths' do at half price. Another large assortment of fiDgering wools at 1/11 at the Auckland Olothing & Drapery Go.' sale.