The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 48, 27 February 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1867.

For some time the political news from Europe has ceased to be of a very sensational character. Yet appearances are proverbially deceptive, and there is no kuowing how soon the present calm znuy be followed by a storm. The Continental

Governments continue lo reciprocate civilities and interchange goo! oflices ; but the people themselves live iii constant dread of the future wars which the utmost ingenuity and hypocrisy of their rulers find it in vain to convince them are uot yet in store for unfortunate humanity. It is impossible to reconcile the immense military preparations which are being made by all the Governments of Europe, with the assertion that they are anxious for a permanent peace ; and few will doubt, that they are all perfecting their military organisation, improving their modes of war-

fare, and accumulating resources of every kind, for any other purpose than to come off best ar the trial of strength whicli, according to the best authorities, will not be long postponed. France, with prosperous finances, is yet increasing the army under pretence of assuring the tranquility of the empire. Austria, though humbled by her late reverses, is causing every workship aud arsenal in her territory to resound with the clank of fire arms, to be ready for the contest in which she hopes to recover the grouud she lately lost. Prussia as the head of die North German Confederation, in whose name she will assume the command of a vast and disciplined army, aud be supreme iv the right to declare war and sign treaties, may well excite the mercurial temperament of the French nation, who have been compelled by the recent course of events, much to their chagrin and disappointment to play a subordinate part iv the great political drama which has just been enacted by Prussia with such consummate skill, and been followed with such unexpected and unprecedented success. Happy will il be for Europe if the opposition which has sprung up against the war party iv France shall prove sufficiently strong to neutralise its efforts and prevent the flames of war from bursting forth. It is not easy to understand, from the contradictory statements of the English press, what is the real position of the Reform movement. In some quarters the numbers, influence, and enthusiasm of its advocates, are probably as much exaggerated as in others they are depreciated. The difference between the present movement aud that of thirty years ago is, that it is principally confined to the operative classes, whereas the former and successful measure was the result ofthe united action of all classes of the Euglish people, with the Whig aristocracy to lead them on. The populations of large and wealthy cities were unenfranchised, and the political power and influence wielded by a score individuals of the school who believe that "they should take who have the power, and they should keep who cau." As a large portion of the wealth and intelligence of England was unrepresented under that regime, it was not possible for the aristocratical rulers of the day to withstand the opposition to their rule, backed as it was by masses of the people. Thirty years have rolled away; and it is now found that the multitude are excluded from political influence, and in their efforts to gain it, do not receive the sympathy and support from the enfranchised classes which they were glad to invoke in their extremity. The movement of the operatives now is, however, sufficiently powerful, sustained as it will be by a large and influential class of intelligent persona whom the fact of their nofc being householders deprives of the power of voting,

and we do not doubt that a large instalment of reform will be the result of the agitation, whatever Ministry is iv power. The menus at the disposal cf the people for influencing Government are much more potent than they were in oldeu times ; aud no Government, whether Conservative or Tory, can long resist the demands of a million of intelligent men, many thousands of whom are the voluntary defenders of the country, aud could, if they chose, dictate the terms on which they would consent to be treated.

The colliery explosions in Yorkshire and Staffordshire, are truly heart rending occurrences, which have spread dismay io huudreds of happy homes. The inquiries into the causes of these calamities have not resulted in the acquisition of much knowledge beyond the fact that the miners are as a cluss ignorant and careless, and that the lives of hundreds of men may at any moment be sacrificed by the recklessness of one. Unfortunately the dreadful secret frequently perishes with the author of the evil, and it is only the fiudiug of a lamp near the place where the explosion occurred, without its top, with the top not .blown off. but only unscrewed, that the conclusion is arrived at that the man unscrewed the lamp to light his pipe and caused the explosion in which he perished with hundreds of his fellow workmen. There really seems no remedy for such disasters till the miners are sufficiently well educated to be induced to conform to the very simple regulations required to mau age the safety lamp, by au intelligent use of which perfect safety is insured. The munificence of the English public bears some proportion to the mag_ nitude of the calamity, and all that wealth aud sympathy can do to administer consolation to the bereaved families will be cheerfully and promptly rendered.

The Fenian movement is said to be paralysed, nevertheless the Government are unsparing in their precautions, and strong in their preparations to nip the foolish affair in the bud. It is clear the movement is not supported by the bulk of the Irish people, who notwithstanding their causes of dissatisfaction and complaint, would be as loyal and devoted as any other subjects of the empire, if the ruling powers kuew how to manage them a little better. It is strange the Euglish Government have not suggested that Queen Victoria should visit Ireland before, aud it would be stranger still, rlthough a thing quite to be expected, that her visit should put a stop to the Feuian nonsense.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, today, the following cases were heard : — Walker v. Audrews ; judgment for plaintiff for £2 1 35., the amount admitted and paid into Court. W. Hargreaves v. W. Hooper, claim £6 ls. lis., goods sold and delivered ; Mr. 11. Pitt for the plaintiff, Mr. Keon for def'eudaut. For the defence, Mr. Keon contended that the debt was not contracted with the plaintiff, but with his brother, who was a bankrupt ; and the plaintiff being unable to explain the account from the books, the Magistrate dismissed the case. C. W. Moore v. W. Jones, claim 12s. for six weeks' rent of a stable. Defendant called a witness named Richard Stevens, who said the stable was of the most primitive kind, and not worth more than 6d. per week in rental. His Worship held that, as theie was no agreement, he must treat the case qnantum meruit, aud decide what rent musfc be paid. The only evidence was that of one witness, who said 6d. a week would be a fair amount to charge. Judgment for plaintiff for that amount. — N. Edwards and Co. v. J. Lynes, claim £6 125., balance due on an acceptance ; judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed.

The return cricket match between the Wakefield and Albion Clubs, is expected to take place on the Victory Square, on ' the 6th March. The challenge from Wakefield was to play on the 7th, bufc as the Motueka anniversary fete takes place on that day, it has been proposed to play ou the day mentioned. It is to be desired that

Nelson should organise a good team for the occasion. The match at Wakefield was a close one, Wakefield winning by 13 runs only, yet the victory was sufficiently marked, and it, should induce tbe AlbijOii Club to strive for a differeut result at the approaching match.

The West Coast Times of; the 15th says : — The arrival of three vessels from Tasmania, laden with the produce of that fertile island, has quite glutted the market wiih fruit and vegetables, which for a time at least should be obtainable at moderate prices. Fourteen hundred aud ninety cases of fruit in au excellent state of preservation, were lauded on the wharf and sold by auctiou yesterday at rates that we fear will be hardly considered remunerative by the importers, as the prices realised for ca-es of beautiful plums, apples, and pears did not exceed 7s 6d each ou au average. We, Grey iiiver Argus, of the 19th, notice that Mr. Charles Broad, lately iv charge of one of the Otago gold-fields districts, has been appointed Resident Magistrate at Brighton (Fox's), and has commenced his duties there- It was very generally believed that this appointment had been, or was to be, conferred upon Mr. Harry Keuriek, aud that gentleman hns certainly reason for considering himself trifled with iv lfis matter. The appointment of Mr. Broad has, we believe, been made by the G-meral Government without consulting the proviucial authorities. Mr. Commissioner Kynnersley had definitely offered the post to Mr. Kenrick, and urged him to proceed to Brighton without waiting for the appointment being gazetted. Fortunately, Mr. Kenrick did not do so ; and fortunately, also, for Greymouth he is not vow likely to leave the district.

Later accounts from (he Haast have been furnished to the West Coast Times by Mr. Cooper, of the survey department. The most important news is the discovery of a new patch or lead of gold upon the terrace next inland to the gully that was first opened. The prospects obtained were not very rich, but promised small wages, and the diggers were sanguine that much better results would be obtaiued as the ground was worked into.

The West Coast Times of the 16th says : — A very narrow escape from a serious conflagration occurred yesterday afternoon on the premises of Messrs Towers and Evereste, Weld-street. Ifc appears that Mr. Towers was using a kerosene lamp for the mixture of a decorating preparation when his artention being diverted he turned suddenly, thus upsetting the lamp which shivered to fragments, and the liberated oil being ignited by the burning wick, burst into a furious flame. The lining of the shop aud ceiling immediately caught fire, and the destruction of the building seemed iuevitable, but help being at hand and water available the catastrophe was happily averted, although not before the interior of the shop had been partially consumed. A recent number of the Brighton Times states, as an illustration ofthe richness of the ground, tliat Geordi's claim yielded last week no less than 90 ounces, less 13 dwts., of fine gold after going through th© process of retorting. This was the result of eight days' work of four men, and from the nature ofthe ground, the shareholders anticipate a dividend of no less than £1500 a mau. By the ship Holmsdale have arrived in Melbourne 24 eighty-pounder rifled guns, with a due proportion of powder, shells, fuses, &c. ; also a sample of converted sixty-eightpounder carriage, to serve as a guide to the artificers in the local Military Store department, in the alteration of the carriages now in the batteries, so as to adapt them for the new guns.