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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 64, 17 March 1870, Page 2

TnE New Lead at Brighton. — We have received a telegram from "Westport stating that the Brighton lead is turning out a true one, and is likely to support a large population. The schooner Mount Maclnren, which arrived from Nelson at the early part of the week, has changed hands for the sum of £280 ; her present owners, we understand, are Messrs. Rebmaun and Holmes. — Fiji Times. War Expenditure. — The; Napier correspondent of the Otago Daily Times makes the following statement which is considered to be "a reliable approximation (o the truth": — "The number of troops on actual service is 1000 Europeans, and 2320 natives, besides 350 men in the transport service, or acting as militia and volunteers. The cost of these 3700 men is estimated at £1500, a day, or £45,000 a month." Commenting on this, the Lytlellon Times says: — The first reflection that will probably occur to the public is, that whether the stutemeut be exactly true or not, it is sufficiently unfortunate that it should be possible to advance such figures with any shadow of truth. Under the most tavorable circumstances we must be spending at the rate of more than a quarter of a million t\ year upon war purposes. And the worst of it is there is nothing to lead one to suppose that the expenditure has rot taken a thoroughly chronic form. Whether Stafford or Fox holds the reins the result is much the same to the people of this island. One may spend the money a little faster than the other, but under any circumstances it is sure to be spent at last.