THE LATE CASE OF FRANCIS V. WATKINS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 204, 31 August 1869, Page 2

THE LATE CASE OF FRANCIS V. WATKINS.

To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Mail. Sik, — Will you be kind enough to insert the following remarks in your widely circulated paper ? First, in your issue of the 21st insfc., in the case of Francis v Watkins, registered owner of the schooner Amateur, your reporter omitted to give the evidence of Mr M'lntosh, the agent of the vessel, in which it was stated that the ship was in debt to the amount of £33 for j the four months and a half for which I was in command of her, while at the same time the Bench, after scrutinising the acaccounts, allowed £161 Bs. to credit. In addition to this, the crew's wages for six months are charged against four and a half month's earnings, which makes a difference of not less than £60 to the ship's credit. , ! "VVm. Fbancis, late Master. [The case in question was too lengthy for us to report it in full 5 we therefore preferred not to give any of the evidence. ■— -En.!?. KM], . . ■ ' '

The " beginning of the end " of ths session is now distinctly visible. Those who profess to be the best informed on the subject say that the prorogation 'will not be delayed beyond next Thursday at the furthest. Like many other sessions, the early part of this was wasted in faction fights, and the real business kept accumulating to such an extent that a large portion of it will not be disposed of.— Evening Post. Our contemporary regrets the departure of the Challenger, not so much on the merits of the vessel or of her officers, as from the change that the occurrence will necessitate in the "piquaute additions to fair ladies dresses which are universally adopted in the best English society as a pretty l'ecoguitiou of the high place which the naval profession holds in die estimation of the fair sex." We bow to the superior knowledge of the Independent, in reference to matters of taste and fashion in polite society, especially in the millinery department, but we certainly learn for the first time that it is the correct thing in " the best Englsh society " for ladies to wear sailors hatbands ronnd their hair, and blue pilot jackets with brass buttons and bands round the waists. It used to be commonly supposed that the red coats carried the sway with the fair sex, but things apparently have changed. However, as the naval geutlemen have gone, and it is likely that we will have a regiment here for a permanency, the ladies might possibly console themselves, and supply the desideratum of " piquante ornaments," by wearing the regimental colors in lieu of the hat band, and adopting red instead of blue for jackets. And as the Ghoorkas will doubtless be all the rage (when they arrive), the well-known long knife, worn instead of a feather in the bonnet — or apology for one — would prove a pleasing addition to the tout ensemble of the fair leaders of ton in Wellington. W. Post. Payment of the "Loeds." — The Wellington Post strongly objects to the i payment of a guinea a day to the members of the Upper' House and suggests that, although the Council can never hope to aspire the dignity of the House of Lords, it might cease to trumpet to the world the difference which exists between them by receiving their pay. "The Council," says our contemporary, "is supposed to represent the monied and landed interest of the Colony ; a seat is conferred more as an houor than any thing else, and no gentleman has a right to accept one, unless he can afford to dispense with the payment of a guinea a day from the not over weighty public purse. An air of meanness hangs about the receipt of this honorarium, which tends much to derogate from the dignity of the Upper House. The wife of Ngairo, a native chief in Wairarapa, lately died, and her body is kept in a coffin, with a glass door. Some Maoris from Rangitikei have been in the district this last week, to condole with Ngairo on his loss. They passed through G-reytown on Tuesday last. — Mercury. The fine screw steamer Auckland, the pioneer boat of the new line which the A. S. N. Co. intend running between Sydney and Auckland, arrived at the latter port on the 20th instant., under command of Captain Charles Blick. She made a rapid passage of five days, and brought a full general cargo, and several passengers. A meat-preserving-plant has been imported to Canterbury, and a company is expected to commence operations in three months or so. The Canterbury Press is informed that on the 19th instant a new ship will sail from the old country, commanded by Captain Rose, late of tbe Mermaid, and which will bring to our shores 280 Welsh immigrants, the larger proportion of whom are about to establish a flannel manufactory whilst the remainder will embark in farming pursuits. Sir George Grey does not seem to have forgotten us. In England as formerly in New Zealand, he uses every effort in his power for the advancement of the country he takes so deep an interest in, and raises his voice to denounce any attempts to slander or injure it. The European Mail, in the report of a meeting of the National Association for the promotion of social science, says:— • " Sir George Grey undoubtedly made the speceh of the evening. He referred more especially to Lord Granville'a late, despatch to the Governor of New Zealand, and asserted that ifc would probably lead to fresh massacres. ( He characterised it

as "a series of misstatements from - - beginning to end.' 'My heart,' he exclaimed, 'is almost breaking at the accounts I've lately received from New Zealand.' The veteran Governor spoke so quietly, and yet so eloquently, that he , evidently carried the meeting with him. He went on to state that, in his opinion, the Colonial Secretary ought at least to have a council, like the Indian Secretary, to advise him. Untold injury had accrued, he asserted, to the Colonies from • the ignorance of the heads of the Colonial Office, who were appointed to their high duties frequently without the least previous training." The Town Council of Alexandra, Otago, appears to be auything but a " happy family," judgiug from the description given by a correspondent of the Tuapeka Times, of a Ecene which took place during a recent meeting of thafc body. It appears that in the course of a discussion one Councillor Jack made some remarks which were distasteful to the Town Clerk, whereupon that functionary jumped from his seat and struck Councillor Jack in the face with his fist. The Mayor was the first to interfere. He caught the Town Clerk, and with some difficulty kept him off Councillor Jack. The blood flowed freely from Councillor Jack's nose for some time, and the floor of the Council Chamber, I believe, had its first coat of paint in the shape of blood." Meat-Preserving in Victoria. — The progress of meat-preserving in Victoria appears to have increased the demand for stock in North Australia. A Queensland paper states that four agents are already in that colony, on the lookout for fat cattle on behalf of the Eamornie and several Victorian firms, by whom they are accredited to purchase on a large scale. It is stated that one firm anticipate disposing of 20,000 head of fat cattle for the purpose, which will, without doubt, have consider- , able effect on prices within a limited period. The late news, setting forth how highly the preserved meats are appreciated in England appears to have had a very favorable effect on squatting pursuits in Queensland. When, asks a Melbourne paper, will the inhabitants of Ballarat be spared the horrible sight of lepers in the street ? This morning we noticed one poor wretch in the Main road, whose ghastly face caused a thrill of horror to run through us, and we are told it is not by any means an uncommon occurrence to meet one of the poor outcasts tottering from house to house begging. In the name of Christian charity let us ask that something be done on their behalf. A number of scientific men have examined the Armidale diamond, t|.but the result has not yet been published. In the meantime the stone is being exhibited to the public at an entrance fee of half-a-----crown. Good judges pronounce the gem to be nothing else than a piece of quartz *brystal. The Australian Diamond Mines Company lately received forty-four of these compact treasures, which are so pleasant to look at and so precious to possess. One of them is the largest hitherto found in this part of the world, weighiug five carats and a half. It is an almost perfect octahedron, and will scarcely require to pass through a lapidary's bands in order to qualify it to sparkle in a ring or glitter in a necklace. Germans as Colonists. — The Germans are proverbially supposed to be rather a slow, dreamy, be,er-drinking and pipe-smoking people. It is an abominable calumny, and we have proof of its being so under our eyes. The German families are continuing to migrate from South Australia to the wine-growing districts of the Upper Murray, with their blue eyes very wide open indeed to the advantages of the liberal land law of New South Wales. See them, wagon after wagon, steadily keeping up a line of invasion into the new land, the new homestead, the new industry, and the new turn in the tide of their worldly affairs. Mark how their solid and calculating minds are penetrating the prospects of the future, and looking forward to the day, not so very far off, when they will be occupying the wine markets of Victoria, and converting the Murray into another Khine, and making another " Vaterland" of their own in the sunny plains and hillsides (where there are auy) of those inex- ~ haustible miles and miles of virgin territory. It is John Bull who is slow, and .dreamy, and heavy, and not Mein Herr and the Fraulein and bar pretty blue-eyed brothers and sisters. The admirable organi-

sation of the German families will stand them in good stead. They are indefatigable, industrious, and they strive together for the common benefit with an union of shrewdness and simplicity of character which renders them positively an attractive social study. Being of a kindred race they mix easily with the English, and can teach them many a lesson of social and domestic economy, which we shall assuredly be the better for. — Melbourne Telegraph. A Submarine Steamship. — The accounts given of the new submarine steamship invented ty Otta Vogel sound fabulous, and yet the Berlin Borsenzeiiung asserts that the Prussian Admiralty has approved of the plans submitted to them for inspection. The vessel, covered with strong plating, is entirely below the surface of the sea, with the exception of the deck, which is surmounted by a vaulted iron roof of immense strength. Beneath this covering heavy guns are placed, so that the whole greatly resembles a firstrate ironclad. It is said, however, that besides all the advantages of such men-of-war, the new ship may be entirely submerged, and in this position is so completely under command that it can outweather a storm or attack an enemy with submarine cannon and torpedoes. Mr. Vogel is now engaged in constructing a large model, 24 feet in length, which will soon be finished. Ball Programmes. — The newest programmes are made in the form of a butterfly, the list of dances on one wing, and the engagements on the other. No Good. — A woman being enjoined to try the effect of kindness on her husband, being told that it would heap coals of fire on his head, replied that she had tried " boiling water, and it didn't do a bit of good." " Doctor, whenever I lean my head on my arm in this way, it pains me. What shall Ido ?" " Stop leaning your head on your arm in that way, madam."