Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1890.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 193, 16 August 1890, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1890.

"~~A stkono protest was read in the House last night from Mr Fitzgerald, the Controller General, against the reductions that have been made in the Estimates for his depart* ment. So great are they, and apparently so ill judged, that the effect will, he alleges, be to renuer it impossible to carry out the work of the office. This is a proof of the ignorant manner in which the notorious skinflints have been exercising their privileges as members of the House -cutting and slashing away without knowing in the least what they were, doing, or caring for the results. It was alleged in the House laat night that the Department was useless. That is a plain and intelligible position to take up, but the statement should have been made and followed by an enquiry before the Estimates were dealt with. If the audit department is not required, which we can scarcely believe possible, by all means sweep it away, but it is the height of folly to admit the necessity for its existence and then to set to work to reduce it to a state of complete inefficiency and inability to perform us work. It appears that a Commission is to be appointed to enquire into tho usefulness or otherwise of the ollice, but as this is scarcely likely to report before the House rises, it is only fair that a sufliciuncy of officers should be granted in the meanwhile

A gen him r, feeling of intcn.se relief will he experienced throughout the colony when the news contained in a Dunedin telegram which wp publish to-day becomes generally known, the purport being that the threatened strike has been averted, the Maritime Council having decided to confino hostilities to the firm with which they are at variance, The conclusion they have arrived at is certainly a most reasonable one, and will assuredly find favour with the public, whom it would have been diflioult to convince that there was any right or justice iv causing the immense inconvenience, and inflioiing upon the colony tho serioua injury that would have been involved in a general strike. With Messrs Wbitoombti and Tombs the Oounoil may fairly oarry on the struggle, the progress and result of whioh will be watohed with a considerable amount! ofgjintorest.

Our Sydney telegrams, strange to say, are silent on the subject of the marine officers a,nd seamen's strike which was to take place to«day, the reason perhaps being that the hour appointed for the men to go out waa later than that at which the messages usually leave Australia .

There was a large attendance at the weekly meeting of the Help Myself Society held in the V.M.C.A. Rooms on Thursday when singing, recitations, and an address on " Bees" formed the programme. It waa reported that the financial results of the late Lime Light Exhibition were satisfactory. A letter was read from Mr Morrison, Superintendent of the Asylum, thanking the Society for inviting the patients to the exhibition, which they much enjoyed. Arrangements are being made with Mr Holland for another Lime Light Exhibition consisting of some beautiful scenery in Scotland and Ireland, A short programme

of vooal and instrumental music will also be arranged.

Am unitti'l prayer meting will ba held ii h- V.M.C. I. ; -Vi>Kns n AJorr'tiy rvi'n.i.g next at 8 o'oloe!;.

"Wrc have b.-ca shown a programme or the concert to be givun at the Boys' College on Monday night, and can safely B^y that the euloi'taiumeat will be the bett^of tho kind thut hatt bffin civan iv Ne'^on fur a long iime. The li«*i. of pai'foi tueis inoludea the names of Mrs Houllmr, ifpxv Zinamormanr. and a num'ji-r of leading ama>ein's, Theie in every probability of the acooinmodation e Horded by the large schoolroom beiag put to a severe tost.

TnosK who have not yet Been Miss dame' exhibition of p?i>)ting?i of wild flowers should avail themselves of tiw opportunity of doing so ihij evening, when the fShelbnorn.i strict schoolroom will be opeu uuiil ti;n o.olook. Therf) were a large number of vißitarw yesterd-iy, both in the afternoon and evening. Ou account! of the wet weather, Mies Hurria has decided to keep tho exhibition open on Monday afternoon and oveni^g.

Therk was a large attendance at the All Saints' schoolroom last night at the meeting of the Young Men's Institute, Mr Washbourne, one of the Vice Presidents, occupying the chair. Dr Cressey an interesting paper on " ' he history of a Hone," and also gave another reading-. A recitation was also given by Mr. Patterson, and on the whole the entertainment went off most successfully,

Mr. J. i-5. Bryant, of Motueka. announces to day that hu has started a roller mill on the Hungarian system, therein displaying an amount of enterprise which should ensure him a large amount of custom. The mill, though small, is one of the most complete of its kind, aud is provided with capacity for turning out stone as well as roller flour. The purifier was made by Mr G. G. Peart, aud the silk dresser by Mr J. P. Miller, both of Nelson, and both are doing their work in the most satisfactory manner. Mr Bryant is turning out two different brands, the " Snowdrop roller flour " and the " Golden Dust, ' and we trust that his enterprise will be rewarded by a plentiful return of the latter, though of a different colour and higher value than that which he sends out of the mill.

The Auckland Star commenting' on Mis 9 Marsdeirs rem irkable account of her ad" ventures in New Ze.Jand says : - The romantio Btory saemg, a : . all events, to have served Mies Kate Marsdeo's purpose. She has cajoled the Autocrat of Russia into paying the expense of her leprosy oomuiission to the remotest bounds of his vast empire. Miss Marsdon will doubtless gain a mass of valuable information during her tour, and if she embellishes it after tua mauner of her New Zealand reminenoes, ie wid be really interesting reading. It would be highly instructive were dha to undertake a lecturing tour of this colony to enlighten ua on "Leprosy in Russia." Perhaps the enter* prising E. 3. Smy the will get hold of the much-travelled lady and perßuade her to oome. The Takaka News of Thursday says:— lt is with great regret that we have to announce to our readers that Mr Eiohmond Hursthouse has decided not to oome forward as a candidate for tha BuUer seat in thn House of Representatives, at the forthcoming general election. Several circumstances have deterred Mr Hursthouse from wooing the suffrages of the BuUer electors, and though we fool sure that the great majority of the electors at this end of the constituency will regret the fact he has altered his mind with regard to his seat, they will be glad to hear that there is every probability of his endeavouring to secure election at the hands of the men of Nelson City. THE CHURCHES. The Rev. W. A. Evans will preach in St. John's Wesleyan Church to-morrow morn" ing, and the Rev. P. W. Isitt in the evening. The Rev. F, W. Isitt will preach in the Congregational Church to morrow morning, and the Rev. W. A. Evans in the evening. The subjects of the addresses to be delivered will be found in our advertising columns.