Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 36, 12 February 1870, Page 2

The Twa Lions.— J. C. Firth, Esq., representing the "British Lion," and Te Kooti, Esq., the " Native Lion," at the Trysting Place, viz., the Monument of William Thompson. Probably the latter gentleman has borne out his name and character by acting Too Cute, I, by half. Ms. Bagox, Secretary to the Victorian Racing Club , arrived by the Gothenburg, and is prepared to make advantageous offers to such gentlemen as intend sending race horses to "Victoria to compete at any ■ of the meetings of the club for the season 1870. Messrs. M'Meckan , Blackwobd & Co. have agreed to carry free from New Zealand and back any horse winning and receiving first money in any of the thirtyseven races embraced in a programme, which can be seen at the New Zealander Hotel. — West Coast Times.

On Monday last Mr. Pitcaithley, of the hotel, at Pigeon Bay, Port Cooper, killed a sheep, which after being dressed, weighed no less than 129flbs. Mb. Button, late of Hokitika, has been examining the goldfields of Tasmania, aud summarily he thus expresses himself on them : — " From what I have seen of the gold-bearing districts of Tasmania, I have come to the conclusion that gold- producing will be for the future one of the permanent industries of this island, but I have seen nothing to justify the idea that gold will le found in payable quantities as it has been obtained either in Victoria or New Zealand. However so little has been done towards opening up the reefs already discovered, that it is quite impossible to say how rich some of tbem may turn out." The Government s.s. St. Kilda was to leave Wellington a few days ago wii£ some eighty cases of material for the lighthouse in course of construction at Cape Farewell, and also a large beacon to be placed on the Abouka Rock, in the Astrolabe roads. Captain Johnson, the Nautical Assessor, was to accompany the vessel to superintend the adjustment of the lamps in the lighthouse, at the exact .angle at which they would be most effective, and to ensure the carrying out of minor details. The St. Kilda was to proceed to Nelson from Cape Farewell, and may be expected here during th 6 course of to-day. There is some talk of forming a company in Wellington with a view of establishing a cloth manufactory in that province. The Advertiser, in discussing it, speaks in the following high terms of our energetic townsman, Mr. Webley : — Without any bonus or protective duty, he has succeeded in . constantly supplying his customers with an article of superior quality, at a price not exceeding that of English cloth professing to be as good. It appears, indeed, that the demand for such an article as he makes is greater than he can supply ; and that the consequent attempt even to imittte his cloth, and supply it at the same price from home has proved a failure. There is no doubt but that he thoroughly understands his business ; aud we would not recommend that any endeavor should be made here to imitate him, except through the instrumentality of a thoroughly experienced manufacturer, whether as partner or manager. A correspondent, writing to tbe Daily News on the subject of Dr Featherstone's mission to England, says : — " lam glad to see tbat Dr. Feathers tone is on his way to England to plead the cause of the colony in person. If any one man knows more about the necessities and the resources of New Zealand thau another, it is he. I am not sanguine enough to hope that his mission will produce any effect, but the fact of its failure will leave the Colonial Office and its self-satisfied supporters without excuse, and will remove all Elaine in the eyes of thinking men from the colonists if they should transfer their allegiance from a mother who will do nothing for them, to a cousin, who will do all. Bitterly grieved as I should be at such an end of New Zealand as a British colony, I should not be surprised to see it, and I for one should consider the Colonial Government fully justified in taking steps to bring about this result." The Spectator comments thus on Mr. Wilson's letter to the Timest-^-Mr. Edw. Wilson, an eminent Australian colonist, aud one of the chief proprietors, we believe, of the Melbourne Argus> — the greatest of the colonial newspapers, — wrote a very able letter to Wednesday's Times on national disintegration, particularly in relation to the case of New Zealand, in which he shows with great force that the danger of losing our colonies by our present policy is not the chimerical danger which it suits the Times to consider it. He shows that the late Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. Stafford, had used language which was, in effect, a denial -that there is any Imperial Government of the colonies — any Government at all except that of a British Government eager to disavow all ties and duties ; and he showed, also, that the other colonies are taking alarm at this policy, and rapidly making up their minds that it is our, purpose and policy to break with them. The Times was evidently at first alarmed at this influential manifesto of colonial opinion,, and on Wednesday was anxious to insist bn the .ease with which Lord Granville's policy could be reversed. But by Friday it had. gained, heart again, and was all hector tmce more* It is, in fact, a far more critical situation than the

English people at all suspect, as we shall know before long. The Colonial Office know it already, and desire the crisis wliich they are urging on. When it comes, we shall see how far England is prepared for it. The Duke of Edinbuegh, says the European Mail, has made a profit of £200,000 by a fortunate speculation in mining shares in New Zealand. Advice xo Bachelors. — Have you a sister ? Then love and cherish her with a holy friendship. If you have not a sister of your own, then love somebody else's sister. " Sambo, is your massa a good farmer ?" " O, yes, massa f us-rate farmer — he make two crops in one year," " How is that, Sambo ?" " Why, you see, he sell all his hay in de fall, and make money once ; den in de spring he sell the hides of all de cattle dat die for want of de bay, and make money twice — dats two crops."