The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 74, 29 March 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1867.

The election for the Superintendeucy resulting in the return of Mr. Curtis, has not surprised anyone who thought carefully on the circumstances of the contest, but the large majority has, we think, surprised the friends of both candidates. It was freely admitted by all that the town was the stronghold of Mr. Curtis, whilst it was as generally credited that the country would poll to such an extent for Mr. Barnicoat, as to reduce greatly the town majority his opponent was sure to gain. It turns out however, that with tbe exception of Richmoud, where Mr. Barnicoat lias been long and deservedly respected, the country polling places have not placed him much ahead of his opponent, and at Motueka which was assumed to be the place where the Saunders' party possessed the greatest influence, Mr. Barnicoat, is, to use a sporting phrase, nowhere, upon the poll. The returns that have to come in are not worth mentioning, as they are not likely to affect the results which have been obtained in the most populous districts of the province. The present majority of 165 in favor of Mr. Curtis may be regarded aB decisive of the conviction of the electoral body that he is » fit and proper person to fill the ofiice the vacancy in which rendered the election necessary. All sorts of reasons will probably be assigned by the losing party, why the election has not terminated in their favor, but the fact must be accepted, that the province has spoken in favor of Mr. Curtis being the right man in the right place, and we doubt not thot this decision will be regarded as final, and as binding both friends and foes to a cessation of the criminations and recriminations which have characterised the struggle, and which have been anything but calculated to promote the public interests. Under the circumstances, it was hardly reasonable to suppose that Mr. Barni-

coat would poll such a number of votes in the country, as would enable him ;to neutralise Mr. Curtis's town majority. A. large number of Mr. Blackett's followers both in town and country did not see their way to transfer their allegiance to Mr. Barnicoat. The difference between him and his opponent was not so great as to induce them to make great efforts in the contest, aud a reference to the numbers polled by Br. Barnicoat on former occasions proves, that without some such adventitious aid, as was predicted he would receive at this election, the numbers he has polled were not sufficient to wairav.t his followers in supposing that he was as powerful in the country as his rival was in the town. Mr. Barnicoat has polled more votesat this than at any previous election, and this seems to prove that the apathetic people of Nelson, have taken an unusual interest in the contest. In 1861 he polled 240 against Mr. Robinson's 684, and in 1865, 434 as opposed to the 454, polled by Mr. Saunders. A glance at the electoral roll will show that only half the constituency have voted at this election, a fact little creditable to the body, and suggestive of some cause or causes apart from the determination of some of Mr, Blackett's friends to take no part in the contest. Possibly the poverty of some readers them unwilling to offend persons who exercise influence over them, and they maintain a surly neutrality and avoid giving offence to their patrons. There is a class, we know, who care nothing whatever about politics, and would not lose a moment's time in order to record their vote. Until the electors become more fully alive to the responsibility of possessing the franchise, we shall have to complain of this apathy ; and until the ballot gives perfect independence to the electoral body, a great number of poor and honest voters will be afraid to go to the poll.

Passing by the secondary causes which have led to the result of the election, we cannot for a moment doubt that the chief cause is the wish of the electors to have a change of policy. Even honest Aristides became at length displeasing to his compatriots, and the reason assigned by an electoral clodhopper for ostracising him was that he was disgusted with hearing him incessantly called just. When men have failed to obtain health from the ordinary medical practitioner, they are ready to throw themselves into the arms of any one who acts energetically, and promises fairly. The election of Mr. Curtis is, no doubt, the verdict of the electors, in favor of a policy more progressive than has characterised former Governments. The question of the absorption of provincial institutions by the General Government is subordinate to that of developing the resources of the country, and stimulating commercial enterprise which is in so languishing a state. That a Superintendent can work miracles no one in his senses will imagine, aud he will not be able to spend a single penny without a vote of Council. It is well, however, to have a man at the helm of provincial affairs who has enlightened conceptions of the public requirements, an^ who will set to work with a will, to make the most of opportunities and advantages. The fear is, that Mr. Curtis has overrated his powers to carry out the public works on which he has set his mind, but this is no reason why he should not receive credit for good intentions, or not be backed up by the co-operation of the entire community in the herculean task which must be performed if the province is to emerge from the clouds that overshadow it, and rise superior to the obstacles which impede its progress. We are sure that the people will not refuse to the Superintendent elect, the legitimate corollary of the electoral verdict — which is all that he can require — a " fair stage and no favor."

The following is:, the polling at th Q undermentioned places : —

We learn by telegram from Wellington, that a meeting of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company was held yesterday, for the purpose of taking votes as to the desirableness of an amalgamation between it and the Panama Company. The number for the amalgamation was 471, against it 1314. We understand that a challenge having been scut by the Town School Club to the Nelson College Cricket Club, and accepted by them, the match will be played tomorrow (Saturday) afternoou, on Victory Square. Wickets to be pitched at two o'clock. The revenue (says the Canterbury Times of the 16th inst.) arising from stamp duties, judged by the issue of stamps for the first month of the year, would be greatly in excess of the estimate made by the Colonial Treasurer ; but there are many reasons for supposing that £30,000 a month is far beyond the average. Mr. Fitzherbert's estimate was at the rate of £100,000 per annum, and there is good ground for believing that the actual returns will not exceed that amount. The revenue returns for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1866, shew a steady increase over the whole colony, while, so far as they relate to Canterbury, they prove that this province contributed rather more than one-third of the amount which the General Government retains for colonial purposes. The Canterbury police lately made a clever capture of a gang of horse-stealers. These men had stolen a mob of twentysix horses from a paddock near Hokitika, and drove them across Browning's Pass to the plains, losing eight by the way. The members of the Court Queen of the Isles, No. 2703, celebrated their fifth anniversary at their new hall, Lyttelton, on Friday evening week. The Tuapeka Recorder has been amalgamated with the Bruce Herald, and the latter journal is considerably enlarged, in order to supply ample intelligence for both the gold-fields and farming community of the surrounding districts. Mr. Bradshaw has withdrawn from the gold-fields election, Otago, and will contest with Mr. D. F. Main the seat for the Manuherikia in the Provincial Council. We (Timaru Herald) have been authorised to state that the charges on the shipment of grain at this port has been reduced to ss. per ton. At the Dunedin Licensing Meeting on the sth instant, Mr. Strode ruled on a very important point, where applicants in several cases who bad been too late on previous licensing day, had been keeping open their respective houses by permission of his Honor the Superintendent. The Daily Times reports : — " Mr. Strode said that this permission was no protection, and that the applicants were in the same position as sly-grog sellers. If brought before him they would find that their protection was of no use to them. It was an irregular proceeding, ahd the Court would not have its powers interfered with. If an offence against the Licensing Ordinance had been committed,

the police could not have come upon the occupier, for he could have said that he ■was not the holder of a license. The whole proceeding was irregular and illegal."

An excellent beginning of a Library for the Police Force has been made in Dunedin. There were received recently, by the Caribou, about 390 volumes, all half-bound iri calf and cloth, lettered and stamped ; the purchase money having been supplied by a fund specially contributed by the Force. Monthly additions are to be made to the library, which is to be sustained by a small contribution from each member of the Force.

Mr. Macandrew has been entertained at a public banquet at Dunedin, held in the Central Hall ofthe Provincial Government Buildings.

The Provincial Government (says the Otago Daily Times) having projected the opening of a track between Lake Wanaka and the .West Coast, near the Haast river, found it necessary to communicate with the Government of Canterbury, in consequence of a portion of the track passing through that province, to obtain their concurrence to the work being performed. A reply has been received from the Canterbury Government expressing satisfaction at the prospect of an increase in the means of communication between the two proviuces, aud cordially assenting to carry the road wherever it may be found necessary. Writing of the Greymouth Hospital the Argus of the 19th inst. states: — The report read at the annual meeting states that there is at present very great and prevalent sickness, aDd at no period' in the history of the Institution have the demands been so severe and numerous. The energies of all connected are strained to the utmost, and unless helped by those outside, the efficiency of their services must be seriously impaired. Such an appeal ought not to be made in vaiD. No less than 298 patients have been attended to during the year, the great proportion of whom were miners.

The completion of the Greymouth arid Saltwater Creek Tramway was celebrated an the 16th inst, by the formal opening of the line by his Honor the Superintendent, who had come up from Hokitika specially for the purpose.

Brighton (says the Times) now can, boast of an excellent dairy, a very enterprising man having brought over several fine milch cows, by which those of our townspeople who indulge in .the luxury of new milk can be supplied every morning. Three shillings per quart, -Which' is the present tariff for the article is, viewing tbe question on all sides, perhaps a little stiff.

A rather important point of law affecting both shippers and consignees (says the Brighton Times) was raised in the Resident Magistrate's Court recently. A large number of packages of merchandise had been shipped at Hokitika by Messrs. James Chesney and Co., consigned to Mr. Cole at Brighton. The bill of lading stated on the face of it that the contents were to be delivered at the port of Fox's River, or at the consignee's desire at Pakihi. The consiguee elected to have his goods delivered in Fox's River, but instead of complying with his instructions, the captain landed them at Woodpecker Bay, and Mr. Cole as consignee sued for damages to the amount of £80. The question raised by his Worship was, had the charter contract been faithfully performed by the captain landing the goods at Woodpecker Bay ; or did the words " delivered at the port of Fox's river," mean the port of the towD, or the river on which the town is situated. It was a question which Lis Worship said he was not prepared to decide. He would instance a case. Supposing a bill of lading

directed, that goods c should be landed a t the. port of Melbourne, the captain of the ship was certainly not bound to take them up the Yarra,} but .the goods would have to be taken from the ship's side^" without it was otherwise specified in the bill/oflading. Woodpecker Bay was looked upon as the port of Brighton, but he' had no doubt that from the wording of the bill, of lading in the case which was before him, together with other written documents put in, it was intended the goods should be taken from the vessel's side on the river. This decision, however, was not intended to commit him as having authoritatively decided whether the " Port of Fox's River" was intended to mean the port of the town, which is certainly understood to be Woodpecker Bay. We have drawn special attention to this matter, because it will be well for shippers always to have their bills of lading so distinctly worded that there shall be no room for a doubt to be raised whether the river or Woodpecker Bay is to be the place of discharge.

The meeting of the Marlborough Provincial Council has been postponed until the 16th ultimo for the convenience of some members who will be unable to attend until that date. Private James Gane, of Blenheim, member of the Volunteers, is the "representative man" for Marlborough Province in the forthcoiping rifle prize competition. A man named John Holly has been committed for trial at Wanganui on the charge of shooting at a boy named Henry Woods with intent. The wound inflicted was not of a dangerouß character. We (New Zealand Advertiser) are glad to learn that a movement has been set on foot for the establishment in this City of a Mariners* Provident Society, and that it is meeting with every encouragement. To Captains Kreeft, Francis, aud Kennedy is due the credit of promoting this undertaking, and we hope they will be successful. Amongst the arrivals by the Phoebe at Wellington, are Mr. and Mrs. Woodroffe, styling themselves " The Bohemian Glassblowers." The choice of a successor to Dr. Woolley, as Classical Professor at the Sydney University, has fallen on Dr. Badham, head master of the Edgbaston Proprietary School at Birmingham. Dr. Badham is not a young man, but he has the reputation of being one of the best classical scholars in England. It is said to be the intention of the Victorian Government to employ young .ladies in the different telegraph offices scattered over the colony, in place of the present telegraph masters. The Queensland Government have offered a reward of £3000 for the discovery of a goldfield in thafc colony, twenty miles from any known goldfield, and which shall have sustained a population of 3000 for six months before the reward is claimed. It is said that Mr. Curran, a farmer residing at Shelbourne, Victoria, has this season produced 125 heads of wheat from one grain of seed. The wheat is of very superior quality. The cultivation of tobacco is answering exceedingly well on the Franklin River, Gippsland. The leaves attain an immense size. . The richest crushing known in Gipps Land was finished by the Homeward-bound Company, Upper Dargo, at the Eureka machine, last week. From 13£ tons of stone, they had 1000 ozs. of amalgam aud *48 ozs. of retort gold, or over 33 ozs. to the ton. — Age, March 1 .

The Sydney Sporting Life says that Mr. Abrahams, proprietor of the Metropolitan Music Hall, Poplar, London, has effected an engagement with the renowned

Jem Mace, late champion of England, for a tour of the Australian colonies. Mace's tirrie being for tbe present full, but he will sail about the middle of March for Sydney direct, whence he will make the grand tour of all the colonies.

The amount of bullion known to be still at sea from Australia is about £300,0- 0.

MajoritiesPolling Places. g § g g g « S « fc> -<i E> <J O W O B Provincial Hall 242 73 169 — Oddfellows' Hall ... ; 93 62 31 — Stoke 13 16 — 3 Richmond ... 6 108 — 102 Wakapuaka 32 16 16 — Spring Grove 34 52 — 18 Waimea West 24 31 — 7 Upper Wakefield ... 21 46 — 25 Upper Moutere 22 13 9 — Lower Mout ere 17 4 13 — Motueka 96 11 85 — Riwnka 19 27 — 8 Motueka Valley 9 4 5 — Totals ... 628 463 328 163 Majority for Mr. Curtis, 165.