NOTES FROM NELSON.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 278, 19 June 1886, Page 2

NOTES FROM NELSON.

(FIIOM our own correspondent.)

The F-ruptions.

The excitement of the week lias been the volcanic eruption in the North Island. From the comparatively imperfect particulars to hand the scene must have been a grand- and terrible one. Grand in the immensity of its extent and power compared with any thing poor humanity is capable of producing, either as a spectacle, or in completely altering the appearance of the face of nature for a wide area in its vicinity. And terrible in its power for destruction to life and property, more terrible still in the unknown and mysterious strength of the forces under the crust of the earth causing such phenomena. To fully appreciate it, one requires to re-read the last days of Pompeii, or rather, it would require another Bulwer to have been on the spot, and possessed of the requisite descriptive power to give an idea of the spectacle. The historical Roman sentinel would have been absent, but in his place would be a hero more to be admired, since his heroism took the form of action, not of standing at his post. We read of heroes of chivalry, warfare and tempests, and wrecks, but in the whole category of warriors whose deeds have been rewarded with statues and histories does any one stand out in a more noble light than the daring and heroic actions of M'Rae at the scene on that eventful night. Think of the many horrors, any one of which would makS an ordinary man lose his head and his courage. First, earthquakes, then the roar and flash of the burning mountain belching forth what must have seemed like the interior of the earth being hurled in a molten state into sqace. Then the descent of hot mud, and incandescent rocks, followed by thunder, lightning and Cimmerian darkness ; then the crushing in of the buildings, the belief of the party that their last hour had arrived, and the struggle through the war of elements to another place of doubtlul salety; and then, after reaching what seemed to be better shelter, the return of M'Rae to discover the missing ones of the party, and the subsequent search aud labor, resulting happily in the rescue of all who were still alive. These are deeds to make one still believe in humanity as having still some sentiments left in them beyond mere money grabbing.

The Moribund Council. A majority of the municipality seem determined, before their final extinction as borough councillors, to spend as much of the ratepayer's money as they can without any consideration as to the future requirements of the city. So as to make an excuse for pitching away as much of their fnnds as possible in the short period which remained to them of office. They struck the Nile street bridge on one side of the street, and then got up a howl that it wasn't wide enough. It has over 30 feet of road-way, and there is ample room for any two vehicles to pass, and the traffic there is not one tenth of what it is 011 the Haven road which is only 21 feet wide in places, but this lop-sided business was a peg to hang an excuse on to spend some more money, and they carried it by a narrow majority. Councillor Levien, who has more business knowledge than all the rest of the corporation put together, protested in vain, for although he had the matter on the tapis a second time, the Nileists again beat him, and not only beat him but called for tenders to be opened at a special meeting called for the purpose at three day's notice, so as to get the thing settled before the new council could inteivene and stop the wasteful expenditure. To say that their action was for the benefit of the ratepayers and the good of the city would be a subterfuge. It was a positively indecent action, prompted by the desire to leave all their sins to be atoned for by the new men, and with as little in the treasury to do it with as they could leave.

Parliamentary.

So far the session has not produced anything sensational. In fact the daily telegrams announce very little but rumours of something portentous about to happen which is usually contradicted a day or two afterwards. One rumour, howevar, seems to have some sort of probability about it: Many members feel it to be just about as certain as fate that they will hot be reelected ; they are consequently anxious to have another pull at the colonial milch cow before retiring to private life. They are particularly anxious to have another sess.'on next year, at a cost of 200 guinea* to the Colony. I firmly believe they will succeed. As a matter of fact there are members in the house who would cheerfully vote for three sessions a year, and then prate about the sacrifices they make for the land of their adoption.

Mr Burnett's Apologists. " Raspberry Vinegar " and 44 Blueßibbonite " are faithful if indiscreet supporters of their apostle. J fully agree with their sentiments as to the efforts made by leaders ot the temperance cause in endeavoring to combat the evils of intemperance, and I appreciate their labors the more so, as I was once in that line myself. Yes, dear readers, you need not smile for I am not firing off a 44 goak" at you. During two blissful years of my existence I wore on my massive breast a gorgeous purple collar, and enough pewter letters on it to bankrupt the alphabet; the said letters indicating my elevated position as Grand something or other in the good templar brother and sisterhood. As I was the boss templar of a very wide district, it was my mission to travel round (at my own expense) to eight lo<V es » conlerritig degrees, giving praise to the faithful, hope to the-weak kneed, granting dispensations to this one, and lending halt' crowns to that,

until I found that what between the travelling expenses and cash lent, I was likely to find my last state worse than my first, when my medical adviser providentially came to the rescue with a notice to "pit out" of that company.

Mr Burnett's apologists seem to think I have a down on the man. No such thing. It is the humbug of intemperate temperance I feel riled at. Is it right for Matthew Burnett to claim to have rescued these thousands of souls Irom the degredation of the drink fiend, when we very well know that the majority ot his signatures are young children who have previously signed similar pledges with Booth, Ben Crisp, and anybody else who came along with a couple of inches of blue ribbon or a tin medal. Is it not a fact that the greatest of their apostles in this Colony, Sir William Fox to wit, who in his day was one of the brightest ornaments of the legal and political world, so far forgot himself in his intemperance as to slander one of the most respectable publicans in Wellington, and had to eat very humble pie indeed to save himself from being held up to scorn, derision, and loss for his injudicious utterances in favor of the cause he is pleased to call temperance. " Blue Ribboner " indignantly asks me if I never heard of the Twelve Apostles ? Well, to tell the truth, I never took the scripture history prize at school, but if your correspondent will kindly refer me to any authentic works bearing on those gentlemen's literary attainments, I will gladly devote some hours of study to enlighten myself. As it is my knowledge of them in that line is slightly hazy. It is on record that one of them held the scrip ; but the records do not state whether the companies it was in paid dividends or made calls.

Now, without wishing to take up too much of your space with this explanation of mine, I can only express my regret that the five minutes I spent at Matthew Burnett's lecture led me to form wrong conclusions, but as "Raspberry Vinegar" says, that rheumatic affections are the cause of his drooping his h's. I "can only apologise and take back all I said, but I must say it seems a queer kind of place for a man to have the rheumatism. So gentlemen, thanking you for your kind attention to me, I will conclude with a couplet from Byron: " A man must 'serve his time to every trade save censure — Critics all are ready made."

Korari.