The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAT 12, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 111, 12 May 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAT 12, 1868.

We have been reminded, in reference to a paragraph quoted from the Southern Cross, which appeared in our issue of Thursday last, stating that the manufacture of doormats, from New Zialai^d flax, had received considerable encouragement in Auckland, that flax mats of the same description were made in Nelson some 16 or 17 years ago, but the enterprise did not prove so successful, as money was scarce at the time, and the 'truck system' prevailed very generally. No inducement sufficient to warrant perseverance in this branch of industry offered, it was therefore abandoned. Our informant states that one which he possessed made at the time to which we allude, was quite equal in strength to those made of rope or cocoanut fibre, and certainly as durable, for it was iu constant use for two years. A correspondent, under the signature ' Crede experto, wishes us to remind our fellow-citizens that, now the efficiency of the Waterworks in case of fire has been so satisfactorily illustrated, but a limited number of hands, under proper direction and control, are requisite to carry out the necessary operations, and that the general public very frequently by their presence on such occasions only impede and retard the movements of the Brigade. He suggests that at all events the first fact to be ascertained when the locality of a fire has been determined, is the quarter from which the wind is blowing at the time. Should it happen to blow in the direction of thei rhomes, people would do well to remain in their immediate neighborhood, for the sparks flying from a large fire are carried to a surprisingly long distance, and by this means, should means of prevention not be promptly at hand, a shingled roof might easily become ignited. Our correspondent instances his own experience on the occasiou of the late fire in Hardy-street, as a case in point, "when, like others, having left his house to visit the scene of the conflagration, he returned to find his neighbors engaged in throwing water upon the roof of his house, which had taken fire during his absence' in the manner we have described. An event of considerable interest in a family which ranks amongst the earliest and most widely respected of the Nelson settlers, was celebrated yesterday, when the eldest son of Henry Redwood Esq., M.P.C. attained his majority. The auspicious event was duly commemorated by a ball at Hednesford, for which a large number of invitations had been issued, and the festivities were kept up with unflagging spirit until a very advanced hour of the morning, a large number of the guests reaching town sometime after daybreak. At the supper, wliich, we need hardly add, was most profusely and elegantly furnished, the health of Mr Joseph H. Redwood was drunk with great enthusiasm, and appropriately acknowledged by this promising representative of the third generation of a most worthy stock. The healths of his father, and of Mr Redwood, sen. (who, with Mrs Redwood, remained among the merry dancers up to a very late hour), were given with all the honors, aud the occasiou will long be remembered not only in connection with the happy event which it was intended to commemorate, but also as one of the most agreeable social reunions which has taken place amongst us for some time past. As we stated in our issue of yeßterday, a "demonstration' will take place this evening with the City Rifles and Artillery Companies, should the weather prove favorable. As our readers may bs glad

to kuow somewhat of the programme, we i may state that it is intended that the two companies having 'fallen in' on the Parade Ground at the rear of the Institute, about 8 o'clock, under their respective captains, shall exercise in volley firing, aud give a 'feu de joie' afterwards. They will then 'fall out;' the Artillery, preceded by the band, will march to the Church Hill, Trafalgar Square, where they will be posted with sentries and advanced piquets to wait the attack of the Rifles, who will come up by Trafalgar Street, and drive in advanced guard and piquets. Indiscriminate skirmishing, advancing and , retiring, alternately changing front, relieving skirmishers, &c, will be ended by No. 1, City Rifles charging the hill, driving the Artillery behind the fences at Forebank, where they will make a stand, The Rifles will then retire on the Church, aud the firing will cease, the band playing ' God save the Queen.' Should the evening be light, doubtless a considerable number of spectators will avail themselves of the opportunity of witnessing the 'demonstration.' The sporting members of this community, amougst whom steeplechasiug has become of late so much in vogue, will probably thank us for directing their attention to some steeple-chase saddles just received per Charlotte Ann by Mr Charles Landon, of Trafalgar-street, from the well known firm of Hewitt and Sons, Birmingham. The design and workmanship of these saddles are stated by those competent to give an opinion on such subjects to be far superior to anything of the kind which has yet been offered in Nelson. It is stated in the account of the Champion Rifle Shooting at Wellington, which appeared in the Examiner this morning, quoted from tbe Independent, that the fiist Cadet prize was won by Private Tait, ' a small boy irom Blenheim.' It is only just to the Nelson Competitors to say thtt this statement is by no means a fair one, Tait being not only considerably older, but also a much stouter lad than either of those who represented this province on the occasion. The Provincial Council meets this evening at 5 o'clock. Shares to the amount of £5000 have already been subscribed for in the Wellington Water Works Company, and the company has been registered under the Limited Liability Act. The Lyttelton Times hears from the Waitaki, that an elephant which was being brought up to Christchurch overland from Dunedin, has died from eating tutu. This is perhaps the strongest proof yet known of the virulence of this vegetable poison. A curious fact connected with this subject is, that horses never touch tutu. The Governor of South Australia has received a despatch from the Colonial Secretary, expressing the satisfaction of Her Majesty the Queen at the handsome ■manner in which the colony has received and entertained Prince Alfred. A Melbourne telegram says that the Bank of New South Wales has agreed to reduce their rates of discount to 6, 7, and 8 per cent, for two, three and four months' bill respectively. The Hon. W. J. T. Clarke, M.L.C, purchased from the Colonial Bank of Australasia the whole of the shares held by the bank in the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Compauy. The price paid for the shares was £47 10s., and the entire transaction amounted to £80,000, for which the purchaser gave liis cheque. Private letters received from England by the last mail state that several members of the present Opposition in the House of Commons are strongly in favor of a complete revision of the Victorian Constitution Act, as being, under existing circumstances, utterly unworkable. There is no idea of any reversion to the old system, but a thorough reform in both Houses is held to be absolutely necessary. Mr P. B. Coglin, of Adelaide, proposes to raffle his well-known racing stud, cattle, sheep, mineral and other lands and farming implements, in 1350 shares of £10 each. There will be 201 prizes, valued at £14,700. The drawing is to take place within three months. The Geelong Woollen and Cloth Factory is now fairly established. The Advertiser states that the spinning or weaving room appears to be a very hive of industry ; and the looms are now in such good working order that the cloth is being turned out very rapidly, and is undergoing the finishing touch for the market. A

large quantity of cloth is in the storeroom, ready for disposal as soon as the company may think fit; aud its quality and texture will be sufficient to recommend it to the most fastidious. Two more of the machines — a scribbler and a condeuser — are now at work ; and with these extra appliances the looms are kept employed. Prince Arthur will leave the Royal Military Academy in June, and receive his commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. The London Field states that poultry, properly fed, will acquire all the fatness needful for marketing purposes in a fortnight or three weeks at most. Their diet should be Indian, bat, and barley meal, scalded in milk or water — the former is the best, as it will expedite the fattening process. They should be fed early in the morning, at noon, and also in the evening just before going to roost. A plentiful supply of pure . fresh water, plenty of gravel, and sliced cabbage or turnip tops. If the fowls are required to be very fat, some trimmings of fresh mutton suet maybe chopped up and scalded with their other feed, or they may be boiled in milk alone and poured over the meal. This renders the flesh firmer than it otherwise would be. When fit to kill, feeding should be stopped for 12 hours or more, that the intestines may become comparatively empty. There is every possibility of the celebrated author, George Augustus Sala, paying these colonies a visit in the course of a year or two. In a letter to a friend, drawing his attention to some pleasing notice of his works, he says, "I was very agreeably disappointed when I came to read the colonial gentleman's lucubration; we will shout a 'snake valley' to him when we make Melbourne. I shall be ready to start on Ist January, 1870. Seriously, I am under engagement for three years to the , but I dare say they will let me off the last year if I purpose doiDg India, China, Japan, Sandwich Islands, Australia, California, and so through the West Indies, home."