The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 230, 1 October 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1867.

It is satisfactory to find that, in spite of the alleged deterioration in English horses, there is no corresponding retrogression on the part of the human species in the old country, and that the gentlemen of England are more than ever prepared to hold their own in feats of bodily skill, activity, and endurance. We are told, on the best authority from home, that the muscularity of Christianity has vastly improved within the last few years, and that, instead of aspiring to habiliments of outre pattern, or the inordinate consumption of tobacco, the descendants of fine old English gentlemen are more worthily employed in tests of physical endurance and pluck. The general tendency of the pecple of these colonies to revert to the national sports of the mother country must be no less a source of gratification to all who acknowledge that the pastimes of a people constitute one of the expressions of its national character, and who are anxious to see that of the Anglo-New Zealander remain true to the British type. Irrespectively of the illustrations that out-of-door pastimes, such as cricket, afford of national habits and characteristics, they are not altogether destitute of significance as indices of the social condition of a people. To possess the leisure to enjoy them, denotes that the bulk of those who do so (and all classes come within this category in these colonies), are iv easy circumstances, and can surrender half a day and an occasional evening once or twice a week to this sort of recreation without injury to themselves or to their families. This was the case, it may fairly be presumed, iv the mother country in former times, when the struggle for subsistence was much less fierce, and when it was unnecessary to work the hnman machine at its highest pressure and its utmost speed, from daybreak on Monday morning until nightfall on Saturday evening. It was then that our native isle received its appellation of ' Merrie England,' and we have only to look through any book of sports, aud observe the number of holfdays and festivals which were formerly celebrated to be convinced that the epithet was not improperly bestowed. If we can revive this spirit among ourselves we shall be the gainers by it iv many respects. We shall benefit by the cheerfuluess of mind and health of body which it would induce; by the fusion of classes which it tends to promote; and by the absence of those unnecessary lines of "demarcation which it helps to efface; by the alacrity with which it enables us to discharge the secular duties of our daily life, on the principle that the occasional relaxation of the bow improves its elasticity and strength: and by bringing us face to face as well with the aspects of nature as with our fellow-men under circumstances calculated to exhibit them in their more general and least artificial moods. We must honestly confess our regret that our local cricketers have as yet shown themselves so apathetic a 9 regards the promotion of that noble game during the coming season. Cricketers are generally an impatient set of fellows. The season never opens soon enough, and the grounds never dry quick enough for them. They long more anxiously for the Ist of October than do the knights of the trigger for the Ist of September at home. B..rometers,

which have hung unnoticed on the walls during the winter months, are all at once consulted with interest, changes of the moon and tides are watched most keenly, and Saxby's calendar is eagerly scanned to gain, if possible, some idea as to when the weather is likely to become ' settled.' Unfortunate secretaries are assailed at every turn by questions from enthusiastic batters aud bowlers, as to when the club is to commence practice, when the first match is likely to take place, or whether it is probable that the new bowler from home will fulfil all the sanguine expectations formed of his powers. But here in Nelson, consistently with our traditional apathy, we take our pleasures even more seriously than our countrymen generally are said by foreigners to do, and that period of the year which is anticipated with so mnch anxiety in other parts of the colony, comes upon us without ruffling the even tenor of our way for a single instant. The effort which was made a few days since to call into action the dormant energies of our cricketers proved a dismal failure; but we are told that this result was attributable to causes altogether extraneous to the object for which the meetiug was convened. We trust therefore that before many days have elapsed we. shall be able to announce that this reproach has been removed, and that- steps have been taken to place the Nelson Cricket Club on a permanent and efficient footing.