Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30; 1890.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 178, 30 July 1890, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 ; 1890.

Spbakino of the land arrangements with the Midland Railway Company, Mr Fell at the meeting on Monday night gave the following explanation : — The land within the reserved area is all arranged in.blocks of all Borts of shapes and sizes, A ccording to the original arrangement the Company, when it had, by the construction of a portion of the railway, earned any one of these blocks it was to be handed over to them, but in the course of the negotiations it became evipent that if that were to be adhered to it would be impossible to sell in small quantities as required by those wishing to become settlers in any part of the country, until the whole of the blocks had been earned. Matters threatened to come to a deadlock, when Sir H. Atkinson made a proposal which was subsequently elaborated and ultimately accepted by both parties. In its present form it stands thus :— A person desirous of obtaining land goes to a representative of the Company and says, I want so many acres in such a place, and he fills up a form. The terms are then agreed U p O n it may be for purchase or lease — and the application is sent to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Government has then two months in which to grant or refuse the application. They consider whether the price is sufficient - and it is scarcely probable that the Company would err in this direction — and whether the land is likely to be required for gold mining purposes. On being satisfied they make out a grant in favour of the applicant, who is put in possession of his land, and the money paid for it goe3 into a suspense account pending the earning by the Company of the whole | block in which the purchased land is situate. The price asked by the Company is what they consider will be the value of the land when the railway is complete, and ! hence the question put by Mr Avery the other night becomes a very pertinent one— " suppose the railway is never made 1 " The 1 only answer is that the applicant makes the purchase with his eyes open, and knows the condition when he buys. This, however, will prove but poor satisfaction in the event of the suggested contingency becoming a reality. It will be an intense relief to all concerned, directly or indirectly, to see the work being pushed on through the Buller Valley, where many a settler will be able to make a comfortable home as soon as railway communication is provided.

Stanley's new book, "Darkest Afrioa, " has not yet, we believe, reached New Zealand, but the Sydney Morning Herald contains a review of the work, in which are included copious extract?. S>me of theae will be found on the fourth page of to-day's issue, and if they give a fair idea of the general contents of the book, it is certainly going to prove of absorbing interest. The publishers state in a note that no work of travel of the same magnitude was ever before produced in so short a space of time ; indeed, as a matter of fact, the first portion of the manuscript was only placed in the printer's hands on the 12th Maroh, and the last proof sheet was returned for press on the 3rd June, by which date all the illustrations— many of them from sketches and photographs taken during the expedition — had not only been engraved, but woven into the text. Certaia'y no book of travel has ever been bo eagerly looked for by the public, and no author has ever before received anything approaching the same remuneration (£40,000) for a book whioh oooupied leas than two months in the aotual writing. There must, however, be taken into consideration the weary months that were expended upon obtaining the materials which have been worked up in so fascinating a form.

The following is a list of aßsets and liabilities in the estate of Thomas Payne, furniture dealer, a bankrupt: — Liabilities— Secured Creditors: Mrs E. B. Scaly (secured by mortgage over part section 444, with shop and dwelling, valued at £850), £763; Edward Moore (Jenniugs 1 estate) (second mortgage over the above, and part sections 623 and 445), £130; S. B. White (mortgage over part section 445, with cottage valued at £450), £280; Eliza Salniond (mortgage over part section 623. with cottage) valued at £250, £211. Unsecured Creditor.— Buxton & Co. £260, Hinohc iffe £20 14-s &i, 3, P. Oooke £12, Beaver, Dunedin £i 4s, John Scott £4 la Bd, Joseph Harley £5. " Mercantile Gazette" £5 ss, Jamea Webb £2 2', City Council, raleS £6 0s 4d, H. HounSQll £2 lla sd, " EveniDg Mail " tt, " Colonist " £1, A. Piddinßton £20, Alex Brown £12, .1. Sherwood £8, G. Britt £4, It. Gilmer £98, Geo Harper £44 19s 6d. Balph Prater £4. Total, £514 18s sd. Total liabilities, i'lß9B 18s sd. Assets— Value of" securities, £1550; stock-in trade, £200; book debts (£23 4s fid), estimated to produce £20. Total, £1770. Dcii ciency, £128 18s sd. The first general meeting of creditors will be held at the Court House to morrow afternoon at 3 o clock.

An error crept into our report of the R.M« Court yesterday. In the case of Loveday Bros. v. L. Lipscombe, the amount should read £1 4s lid not £14 11s.

A meeting in connection with the Farmers' Co-operative Association will be held at Richmond at 7 f 30 this evening, when it is hoped that there will be a large number of farmers present from all parts of the district.

Last night the Christmas tree and fairy well entertainment at the We3leyan school" room was an unqualified success. All the tickets for the " Tree " were readily sold, and the " Well " had to be refilled no less than three times. Everybody was so pleaaed, that, in response to a general desire, the "fairy well" will be refilled and awaiting " dippers " to-night. The refreshment stall will also be in full swing. The reoeipts last night amounted to £27.

The Masonic Ball, which' is advertised for the 6th of August, promises to be a greafe suooees, as the committee have already disposed of a large v umber of tiokete. They have decided to alter the hour of opening from nine o'clock to eight. The ball will be given in the Provincial Hall and the numerous details suoh as music, refreshments, etc., have been left in the hands of an efficient committee, so that an enjoyable danoe may be anticipated, _ _

The Bey. F. W. laitt will deliver asleoti:ra in the Stoke Public Hall to-morrow evening on "Fred Douglas, Slave, Orator, and Emancipationist. " Wo strongly advise all the looal residents *o avail themßolves of the opportunity thus afforded them of hearing this able and entertaining leolurer.

A young man named George King was yesterday afternoon brought before the Resident Magistrate, charged with stealing a £1 note and ten shillings, the properly of Mr Fanzelow, of Hope, and pleaded guilty. A previous oonviotion having been recorded against him, on which ocoaßion he received a aenter-ce of two months for larceny, he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

The Rev. Thomas Bray will preach in the Baptist Chapel, Richmond, to-morrow (Thursday) evening at 7 p.m.

There was a larger attendance than ever at the concert given in the Shelbourne street schoolroom last night. The perform era included Herr Von Zimmerman n, whose violin playing wns immensely enjoyed and vociferously encored, Mesdames Houlkcr, Watson, and it. Kingdon, Miasea It eves, C. Richmond, and M. Greenfield, the Rev. J. P. Kempbhorue, and Messrs Joynt, Grace, aod Von Stunner. Anthems were also sung by the choic, and the whole affair passed off most successfully.

Monday's Post says : — Sir George Grey hns been approached by several gentlemen in Wellington with a view to his addressing a public meocing at an early date upjn the political situation. Sir George has promised to do s-o if arrangements can be made for the meeting, but nothing has yet been definitely agreed to.

Mr Cornish, landlord of the Nelson Hotel, had an unpleasant awakening about one this morning. It appears that one of the men who were lately exhibiting the bear about the town, has recently returned from the West Coast, and lodge! for anight or two at the Nelson Hotel ; but for some reason was cleared out yesterday morning, taking his swag with him. Last night Mr Cornish retired to bed about 11 "30, and an hour later was awkened by hearing a slight noise in his bedroom and called out " Who's there, " and at the same moment struck a light, when he discovered a man, whom he iden'ifiad as the " bear " man whom he cleared away in the morning — leaning on the drawers, and without boots. Oa being questioned by Mr Cornish, the intruder gave an unsatisfactoiy account of himself, and Mr Cornish there upon ejeoted him from the premises. It was subsequently discovered by Mr Corni3h that a small sum of money, a pair of boot", and other articles were missing. Tb po ice were then informed of the matter, and search was made for the accused, and Constable Phair succeeded in arresting him this morning at the Port, and on searching- him the boots, a pair of gloves, a shirt, and other articles belonging- to Mr Cornish were found in his possession. The accused, who gave the name of Harry Beliu, and says he is a Frenchman, was brought before the Bench this afternoon, and on the application of the Police was remanded to Friday next.

The Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press telegraphed at the end of last week :— Doubta have been raised as to whether the New Zealand Midland Railway Company are proceeding with ail reasonable despatch in the expenditure of £60,000 for the construction of that part of the Midland Railway from Belgrove towards Reef ton in accordance with clause seven of the Midland Railway Amended Contract, 1888, seeing that two years have now elapsed since the said contract was entered into, and up to the present nothing has been done, although the contract from Springfield for the expenditure of a similar amount has been for some time past under construction. It is urged that if the Government are not satisfied "that all rea.onabe dispatch has been used bhey ought to insist on the work being at once proceeded with, and notice to that effect should be served on the Company,