Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 27 February 1896, Page 2

A communicated article on the scheme of Municipal and State Fire Insurance discussed at Ilie last meeting of the Nelson City Council, will be found on page 4 on this issue. In regard to the vacant Attorney-Gen-eralship, the Napier "Daily Telegraph" says — " Wo shall not be surprised if Mr H. A. Cornford, is appointed Attorney-Gen-eral. Mr Seddon, it is reported, has exhausted his ingenuity in seeking to induco Mr Downie Stewart to accept that position, but so far without success. Under the circumstances it is not at all unlikely that Mr Cornford may have the refusal of the portfolio. There is just ono difficulty about the Ministerial position, howover, that will not be easy to get over. The law allows only six Ministers to be paid. There are six paid Ministers already — Messrs Seddon, McKenzie, Carroll, Cadman, Ward, and Hali-Joncs. Thore are also two unpaid Ministers, Messrs Walker, and T. Thompson, if an AttorneyGeneral is appointed ho will make tlio seventh paid Minister, unless, indeed, oue of the existing half-dozen retires. Can it be tbat Mr Ward is about to resign, and that Mr Seddon will be his own Treasurer'; He has 'confidence' enough to try it." Heavy rain fell in Nelson and surrounding district for some hours last evening. It was vory welcome. To-day tho weather is cool, with a high wind blowing. Tlio Harmonic Society will meet at 8! o'clock to-night to practise "St. John's Eve.' At the invitation of Cr Baigent, the Mayor aud Councillors, ex Councillors, and a number of friends pic-nicked yesterday on Cr Baigent's land at Pigeon Valley, about five miles from Wakelieid. Tlie party were conveyed lo the locality in traps furnished by Mr J. Gay and JMr H, Mellett, a d after an inspection of Uie sawmill they went into the blißli. Hero a plentiful and tastefully laid lunejieon was spread on tables, much to the surprise and delight of the visitors. The Mayor (Mr Trask) occupied the chair, andCr Everett (the " father of the city fathers," the vice chnir. The Mayor, in proposing the toast of "our host," eulogised Cr Baigent and his family for their enterprise in developing the timber trade. Mr Trask also spoke highly of Cr Baigent's liberality and public spirit, expressing the hopo that he would one day occupy the Mayoral chair. Crs J. Harley, Akersten, aud Everett, Mr Bethwaite, and others also spoke. Mr Hanna, Government Inspector of fire appliances, who was present, complimented tho Mayor fl-iitl Council on Nelson as being the prettiest imd cleanest little city he had sjeen. Cheers were then given for Cr and Mrs Baigent. Or Baigent, in his response, alluded to the Mayorship, and said any one who followed Mr Trask would have a (jiflicult task to perform, as the duties had hitherto been done so well. Tho picnic party then spent a jolly day in the lovely forest land of Pigeon's Bush, and a start for homo was made at 5*30. Tho rain overtook tho travellers, and they were wet through, but they did not mind that for they had had a really "good time." Says tho Lyell " Times " * - " We have at last to acknowledge that we want rain. The weather for somo lime past has been extremely hot and disagreeable, and in fact throughout the district the waut is a general one for rain " The Seoretary of the Committee having tho arrangement of St Patrick's Day sports reports that as a result of a canvass of a part of the town, £15 is in hand. An assembly dance will bo held to-night in the Becbabite Hal). Dancing from Bto 10 o'olock. Tho Christchurch "Star" gives currency to the rumour tbat a protest has been lodged against the leturn of Mr Lewis for Christchurch by ono of Mr T. E. Taylor's supporters, tho ground being that tho M to Z division of the polling |ioot)i was closed for about ten minutes while the deputy-returning ollicer and his ass'stants went out to got some refreshments. Hero is a tall dog yarn aa told in tho latest London " Eeforeo," and in which a Nelsonian is mentioned :— "Two friends of mine— Mr Alec Eoss, C.E. , of Greymontb, and Mr Edward Clouston, of Nelson, New Zealand— had tboir attention drawn to tho top of a red pine trts by the persistont gaze of their dog— a very clover retriever. Thoy then peioeived n pigeon, but as it was the olose season thoy took no notice of the bird. Presently Iho dog \yns missing. On their way homo thoy met tho dog laboriously < drugging towards them a gun which ho liad i fetched from tbo hut in whiob tbey were l living." i 1 A man named Archie Thompson, while s carting timber in Brown's bush for the I Waihi aaw-mill, with hii team, liad a ' narrow escape dining the bushfires in the 1 north. He was oti a bush road, and found I that someone had liied Iho bush ahead, blocking his progress. Uu attempted to turn bark, and discovered that a lire had started in the rear, hemming him in completely. lt was a case of facing tho less f of two evils, nnd as ho did so the horses stopped in tho midst of the llames. Thompson, to savo the animals, rushed into the fire and managed to cut them loose. Ho was badly burned on the arm, liands, and face. Tho horses were all more or less seriously injured. In a conversation upon the peculiarities in the construction of human legs-arti-iicial and otherwise— which a representa- ' tive of the Mail had to-day with Mr J. A. Packer, of Bridge Street, a large amount of iul'ercsting information was gleaned. Mr Packer is famed throughout the colony as v maker of artificial legs, and his success ls chiefly duo to the scientilic study of the peculiarities of the genuine article. The knowledgo thus gajned lias enabled him to construct an artificial leg which approaches wonderfully peai' to the natural limb. Ilia latest leg — made to the oider of a Wellington' lady -weighs altogether only 3Jths, and from the knee to the onklo it is constructed of wood, tbo portion aboyo tjio knee being

nade ot a soft leather. The great advan- i nge of tho leg under notice is that by a ( iniple contrivance— the nature of which ( bis not yet desirable to make public— it ] an be lengthened to suit the growth of he patient. The contrivance, which Mr 1 'acker has invented, does away with any 1 msigbtly blocking of the sole of the foot i vhich has generally been done when a ] eg became too short. By means of rnbber I luflers tho toe and heel joints can be I vorked with ease and comfort. Mr 1 'acker, who is making still further im- i irovements, deserves every success io his I mterprise, not only from a business point ] >f vie\y, but for the sake of those of his i ••How-men and women who, but for such ! irtificial limbs, would bo at a great dis- i idvantage. i A large party of children who attend the Nelson School Society's School, accompanied by teachers and friends, were Iriven out to Dencker!s Bnsh, Wakapuaka, yesterday afternoon for their innual picnic. The drive and the games indulged in at the picnio grounds were thoroughly enjoyed. Before leaving on the return tiip the children were Addressed by the President (Mr T. Field), and Messrs Scott, Blick, and Boyes, and several of their hymns were sung, Cheers were eiven for all who had assisted to make the onting as pleasant as possible, ond in this connection should he mentioned Miss Karsten, and the lady whoso grounds were placed at tho disposal of the party for the day. The committeo a'so desired to acknowledge the kindness of Mr Snodgrass in supplying crockery without charge. Mr G. A. Kissling, recently appointed accountant of the Nelson Branch of the Bank of New Zealand, arrived here on Tuesday on transfer from Dunedin. He takes the place of Mr Harris, who is retiring at bis own request. Messrs Bisley Bros' sale of tbe Hon Jos. Shephard's freehold property will be held on Saturday, 7th March, uot next Saturday as was advertised. The Committee of tho Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club met last evening, Mr Mercer presiding. The following new members were elected .-—Messrs L. Sigley, J. Petrie, M. C Ancell, H. Harris, I. Brown, and H Gully. An offer by theFrossard Cavour cigar agents of 400 cigars for a cycle r«ep, was accepted with thanks. It was decided that a two lap raco be added to the programme, 240 cigars first prize, 120 cigars second prizo, and 40 cigars third prize, the competitors to pass the winning post with a cigar alight. It was resolved that Lieut-Colonal Pitt bo asked to act in- the capacity of judge for the military events at the forthcoming sports next month. In answer to a question from the ohair, tlie Secretary reported that there wero 107 paid up members belonging to tho club, and betwoen 50 and 60 outstanding subscriptions. Tho Athletic and United senior elevens will continue their matoh at tho Park on Saturday. This match was begun early in the season, and the state of the game at present is United Ist inniugs 86, Athletics lst innings 63 for 9 wickets.— The Brightwater juniors were to have played their Junior Championship match with the Nelaon seconds on Saturday, bnt have now forfeited the engagement to the latter club. In consequenoe of this the Nelson ond United second* will play a match. Tho latter will be represented by Gibson, G. Stiles, P.ige, P. Barnett, W. Dee, W. Cbisnall, Pellew, Webley, Lipscombe, Young, and Hall ; emergency, Frank,— The College and Belgrove are to meet for the Junior Champinuship on Saturday at the Park.— The Nelson and College first teams continue their Senior Championship match on Saturday on the latter's ground. Complaints havo been made of the care, less way in which steamers leaving Wellington for Nelson have been reported lately. The latest instance is that of tho Wainui, whioh was reported as having sailed at G-15 last night, whereas she did not leave until early this morning. As she waß supposed to leave again at 8 a.m, to-day, people who had business to do in oonneotion with her had to be at the wharf at an early hour, and were much annoyed to lind that sho had not arrived. It is to be hoped that repre. sentations will be made to the authorities at Wellington, and that in future the departure of Bteamers from there will be more oarefully reported. A wire received in town yesterday stated that destructive bnsh fires were raging in the Takaka district, and that the trees on Mr Catley's forest land were likoly to be greatly injured. Owing to the extremely dry weather and the wind some burns havo not been very successful, the Haines not only rushing through without doing their work completely, but also endangering property. _ The Registrar-General's return of vital statistics for January gives the number of births and deaths, and proportion of deaths to 1000 of population, as follows :—

Mr Mils, M.II U, for Waimca-Sounds, with Mrs Mills, left for Havelock this morning. Mr Mills has made a fairly complete pre-sessional tour of his electorate. Mr H. Sharp, of M'lntyre aud Sharp, barristers and solicitors, Blenheim, is about to leave the colony for South Africa. The business at the Magistrate's Court to-day occupied less time than it took to write this. Tho Clerk of the Court called upon the case, the constable replied " No appearance Your Worship," and the case was struok out. The case in question was one ln which the City Surveyor had laid an information agaiust a person for driving a cart npou a footpath. Mr Alfred Greenfield, S.M., leaves for Wellington this evening to take v the Magistrate's Court work in Ihe temporaiy absence of Mr J. C. Martin, S M. Tbo H Battery of Artillery will have a groat turn-out on Saturday afternoon, whon for the first time the Nordenfeldt guns will be fully horsed and harnessed. The Cattery will meet at the Drill Shed at 2 o'clook, and proceed thence to the north end of Collingwood-street for Morris tube and shell praotice. After that thoy will maroh through the principal streets back to tbe Drill Shed. The usual parade of the Battery will be held to-nigbt. Owners of boats are warned to keep oloar of the lino of fire on Saturday, which' will be jn a northerly direction from Collingwood-street. Consequent on the discovery of goldbearing stone in the Lyell Creek Extended Company's winze shares quickly advanced last week from ls to 2s, and later could not be obtained locally at 2s fld. So great is the faith of shareholders in the future prosperity of this mine that tbey show a reluctance to part with their interests, and tbe local paper says that the Company's stock Is very largely held in Lyell. "I know an old soldier who had chronic diarrhcea of long standing to have boon pormantly ourod by taking Chamborlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrluea Remedy,' says Mward Shumpik, a prominent druggist of ' Minneapolis, Minn, ''I have sold tho romedy in this city for ovor sevon years and consider it superior to any other medicino now on the market for bowol complaints." This remedy for salo by J-nnos Boon.

ProBirths, Deaths, portion. Thames . . ig 4 o'Bs New Plymouth.. 14 G 1-59 Napier . . . . 2G 23 24G Wnngamu ..14 8 l'4O l'almerston N. . . 1G 2 030 Blenheim ..11 3 O'Ol Nelson ..23 6 o'9o Greyraouth . . G 2 052 Hokitika 5 1 0 40 Ljttelton ..14 7 171 Tiniavn,.. ..JO 2 052 Oamarii.'. ..13 -1 o'6B Inveroargill ..8 4 0-09 Tho figures for the four prinoipal cities were : — Pl'OBirths, Deaths, portion, Auckland -.83 37 1-16 Wellington „91 40 1-12 Christchurch „39 19 J-07 Dunedin .. 50 15 o'o2