The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 89, 16 April 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1868.

Although the rain fell' iu torrents during the night, the day dawned brilliantly ou the public holiday to celebrate the opening of the Waterworks. Shortly before 11 o'clock, the hour appointed for the departure for the Reservoir of the various functionaries iuvited to take part in the proceedings, a considerable number of persons had assembled in the precincts of the Government Buildings, and in about half an hour afterwards the party left for Brook-street Valley, in carriages provided by the Government for the purpose. His Honor the Superintendent, with the Provincial Secretary and Solicitor, and Bishop Suter, occupied the first carriage, the other members of the Executive, the Resident Magistrate, and the representatives of the several departments of the General aod Provincial Governments, following, with other public officers. The party are expected to return to Government Buildings about half-past 1, where the remainder of the programme will be carried out. Being anxious to afford our employes an opportunity of partaking in the general holiday this day, we issue this journal at an earlier hour than usual, and must therefore postpone our report of the remainder of the proceedings until to-mor-row's issue. The Mail from Europe via Suez is due at the Bluff on Monday next, the 20th inst , and unless one of those provokiDg accidents occur, which have so frequently befallen the telegraph line ou similar occasions, we may hope to receive our telegrams of horae news on or about that date. We learn that a telegram has been received from Colonel Hauitain, the Defence Minister, directing that 50 stand of rifles shall be forwarded to Mr Commissioner Kynnersley at Westport by the first opportunity. They will therefore probably be forwarded by the Kennedy, which leaves to-morrow. The Nathan Troupe (whose departure froin Nelson has been necessarily delayed in consequence of the Tararua not calling at this port), will give another entertainment to-night at the Oddfellows' Hall, under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent. The performance will consist of 'His Last Legs,' in which Little Marion's impersonation of Felix O'Cailaghan created so much astonishment as well as merriment ou Monday night, with a farce and also a ballet. This, we are informed, will positively be the last appearance of the Troupe in Nelson, 'prior to their departure for San Francisco, and the entertainment will form a very pleasant finale to the holiday. Mr D. Moore announces that tbe Grand Stand and booths on the Race Course at our approaching meeting wili be put upto auetion at noon on Monday next, at his rooms, in Trafalgar- str eet. Each lot will be put up at a reserved price, and as the Spring Races will undoubtedly be the best which have ever taken place in this province, a spirited competition may be anticipated. A match was played at Wakefield on Monday last between the married and siugie members of the Wakefield Cricket Club,, in which the Benedicts sustained a decided defeat. This was the closing game of the season. For once something startling comes to us from that quiet little place, Napier. We learn from the Hawke's Bay Herald ©f the 4th, that a pnblie meeting, very numerously attended, was held in ' the Council Chamber on the Ist April; to prepare an address tp the Prince on his late escape from assassination. Daring the

evening the Resident Magistrate, Captain Curling, a retired Indian officer, and formerly Aide-de-Camp to Sir Charles Napier, is reported by the Herald to have uttered the following words: — 'Perhaps he was now addressing Fenians. He d*d not feel the same utter repulsion from Fenianism which had been expressed by some of the speakers; and did nofc connect this outrage with Fenianism. All great causes had been disgraced by ruffians, and he hoped that if there were any Fenians present they would shake this disgrace from their name as they would shake off a filthy and venomous reptile.' Upon this the Provincial Solicitor, Mr J. N. Wilson, expressed his opinion that some explanation was required from the speaker, who, he hoped, did not consider Fenianism a great principle. Upon which Captain Curling went on to say that the Fenians seemed to him to be a class of men who had certain objects in view, and gave utterance to certain principles, such as 'a republic for Irelaud,' and ' Ireland for the Irish.' He also said. that worse things than this were taking place in France at present, iu the Republic, (?) of Germany and iu Prussia. The Provincial Solicitor afterwards said that it had been asked what Fenianism was, and to this he had a very ready answer — it was treason ; he did not believe it was a great cause ; he had never seen anything great about ifc, for all its actions had been dictated by treachery and cowardice. Further allusion was also made by Mr Justice Ward to the strange lauguage usqd by Captain Curling, who was for some time a member of the Legislative Council, and probably this is not the last which we shall hear of his extraordinary expression of opinion ou this occasion.

The New York Times states that the Emperor Maximilian, whose remains have only recently been interred at Vienna, is already worshipped by a great portion of the nations as a god. The poeple having implored the Archbishop of Mexico to procure his body for their veneration in the cathedral ; the women in all the cities draped in mourning for his loss, and the wailings of the poor wretches in many of the towns, such as Queretaro, are heard night and day. They wear his photograph around their necks, kneel before his image and hang his picture on their walls. Our correspondent wrote to us the other day that all business was at a stand still, except the sale of pictures and images of the Emperor. The old Mexican superstion of prophecy of three centuries ago. that a good ruler would be sent them from a far country, and that he would be slain by tbose whom he came to save, is applied to the Austrian Prince, and the feelings aud fears of the Indian part of the population have been specially wrought upon. If in face of all these things Juarez has been elected President, it must be remembered what a Mexican election is, and how it is couducted. At all events, there is no doubt, from what we learn through our correspondents aad other sources, that Maximilian has been apotbeosised even before the removal of his body from Mexican soil. •

' What do you mean by a cat and dog life ?' said a husband to his augry wife. ' Look at Carlo and Kitty asleep on the rug together ; I wish men lived half as peaceable with their wives.' — ' Stop,' said the lady ; tie them together and see how they will agree.'

Ex-Governor Briggs, of Massachusets, used to relate the following, whieh a correspondent avers has not been in print : — 'In the old stage-coach days an Irishman was travelling in New En giaud. Arriving late at the town where they were to spend the night, Pat discovered, to his dismay, that his only chauce for sleep was to share the couch of a colored brother. The natural repugnance of his race made him loth to accept the situation, but, being very tired, he submitted with as good a grace as possible. In the night some mischievous, boys blackened his face. In the morning fifteen miles had to be travelled before breakfast. Our Celtic friend was wakened just in time to spriug into the carriage as it was moving off. At their stopping place he found no convenience for washing. Stepping up to a glass to arrange his hair, he started back in horror, exclaiming, 'Be jabers, you've woke that dirty nagur, and left me fifteen miles behind !' — Harper's N. M. Mag.

During a cruise of one of our men-of-war the sailors saw a comet, and were somewhat surprised and alarmed at its appearance. The hands met and appoint-

ed a committee to wait on the commander to ask his opinion of it. They approached him, and said : 'We want to ask your opinion, your honor.' — ' Well, rny men, what is it about ?' 'We want to inquire about that thing up theae.' 'Now, before I answer you, first let me know what you think it is.' — ' Well, your honor, we have talked it over, and we think it is a star sprung a leak.' A Quaker gentleman, ridiog in a carriage with a fashionable lady, decked with a profusion of jewellery, heard her complain of the cold. Shivering in her lace bonnet aud shawl, as light as a cobweb, she exclaimed, ' What shall I do to get warm ?' ' I really don't know,' replied the Quaker solemnly, ' unless thee should put ou another breast pin.' Somebody wants to know the name of the tuue which was ' played upon the feelings,' and if the 'cup of sorrow' has a saucer. The same inquirer would like to know 'if the light of other days ' was of gas or electricity. Also if the girl who ' clung to hope' had not a slippery hold, and if people do uot get, fatigued ' by the act of forbearance.' • A learned clergyman was accosted in the following manner *by au illiterate preacher who despised education : — ; Sir, you have been to College, I suppose ?' ' Yes, sir,' was tho reply., 'I am thankful,' rejoiued the former,' that the Lord has opened ray mouth to preach without any learning.' ' A similar event,' replied the latter, ' occurred in Balaam's time.' To dream of policemen is a sure sign of the ' blues.' To dream you are a monkey is — to say tha least suggestive — To dream your head is being * punched' and on waking to discover that such is not the case, is lucky — for you. To dream you bave eloped Avith a wicked female ghost is a sure sign you have taken bad spirits (the over night). If a * gentleman of the press,' dreams of donkeys, it is called a ' neddytorial ' vision. To dream of suet shows a fat-uous mind. Why does time pass swiftly with heavy slumberers ? Because they sleep so fast. Why is old cheese better than cold steel ? Because it is mightier than the sword. Why is a lady, while decorating her fingers, like one in distress ? Because she is wringing her hands. Supplies of sand have been served out to the men-of-war on Irish stations, in order to be prepared against attacks of Greek fire. An immense amount of mischief might be produced afc a cheap rate by such displays of Fenian chivalry, and it is fortunate that it can be counteracted by so simple an expedient. An Ohio paper contains an advertisement of an enterprising tradesman, who, at the end of it, announces : — ' Ministers of the Gospel supplied with goods at cost, if they agree to mention the fact to their congregation.' The number of workmen, together "with their wives and families, employed on the Australasian and Argus newspapers, amounts td about 400 persons.

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