CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 108, 9 May 1870, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

*** We are desirous of affording every reasonable facility for the discussion of public subjects; but it must be understood that we are in no way responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sik, — Will you kindly oblige me by the insertion of a few lines in your valuable daily paper, in answer to Mr. Austin's kindly-meant application to the public on my behalf. During a residence of upwards of twenty years iu Nelson, I am proud to say that I can name a goodly number of tried friends, and amongst them are Mr. Austin, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Wilkins, and Mr. J. P. Black, to all of these gentlemen I tender my warmest thanks for the kind interest they have taken in myself and family in our late heavy affliction, but I must decidedly refuse any pecuniary aid. ' Although comparatively a poor man, I I am Scotch to the back bone. Your's, &c, James Simson. Hopefield, May 7, 1870.

The steamer Taranaki arrived safely at Dunedin from Wellington on Friday last. During the last 12 hours of the run she made 10 knots an hour. Election for Omata. — Mr. Carrington has beaten Mr. Carthew for this district by 42 votes to 35. Mr. Sewell, who had published an address offering himself as a candidate, had not arrived at Taranaki by the nomination day, and was not proposed. The Otago Times says .that the captains of whaling vessels at the Bay of Islands haying offered a reward of £4 ahead for the recovery of runaways, the Maoris there, aided by their dogs, have gone actively into the business of mancatching. They are said to show but little discrimination as to the persons they seize, all pakehas at a distance from the settlements being apparently runaways in their opinion. Canterbury Railways. — The railways in Canterbury appear to afford one more proof of the assertion that increased facilities for traffic will always create trade. During the month of March the Ly ttelton and Christchurch line conveyed 13,148 passengers, 250,000 bushels of corn, and 2120 bales of wool; the receipts for that period showing an excess of £2000 over the corresponding month of the previous year, The receipts of the Great South line showed an increase of £600. The Provincial Treasurer's statement contains some most satisfactory figures with reference to these railways, the receipts for the quarter ending 21st March, amounting to £14,070, being £4632 in excess of working expenses, stores, maintenance, and contingencies for the same period.

The Earl of Cavan has been preaching to large congregations at Newcastle. Our correspondence from Natal contains loud complaints against the land and immigration schemes got up for the purpose of inducing persons to try their fortune in that Colony. The promoters of these schemes, it appears, have very elastic consciences. They publish in the English journals reports purporting to come from Natal, calculated to deceive intending emigrants into the belief that that the country is'much richer than it really is, snore especially in regard to its goldfields, concerning which stories have been told in the , London papers, that have greatly astonished the actual residents i n the neighbourhood of those fields. It was stated, for example, in the Mor?iing Star, of September 23, that a digger named Rockey, had brought 61bs. of gold from the Satin fields to Natal — the fact being, as our correspondence states, that not six ounces have, been obtained there by the smiled labour of all the diggers, nor is there a probability that enough gold can he obtained to pay for the cost of working. The old established colonists are concerned for their reputation iu consequence of such statements. Many persons have been induced to go to Natal both from England and from Australia, and have met with bitter disappointment, for which not the settled colonists, but the schemers who promote the emigration and colonization companies are blameable. The fact cannot be too clearly stated to persons intending to emigrate, that the goldfields of South Africa are worthless. There is a fine pasture country in the upper portion of Natal, where wheat is also grown of excellent -quality. In the midland district horses may be bred to almost any extent ; and on the coast large quantities of sugar and coffee are >- produced for remunerative prices. The country is by no means to be despised, but there cannot be a greater injury to a young country than to pour apon its shores through false representations, hundreds of intending colonists, who have no capital, who are not adapted for servitude, and whose presence can only be a misery to themselves and a burden to the public. — Methodist Recorder, Feb. 18, 1870. " AND AM I ONLY BORN TO DIE ?" — One incident out of many may be briefly alluded to, to show the power and influence of this hymn. A young lady in America, of high position, and who had completed a thorough course of education, leaving school with certificates of the highest merit, had become the centre of a large and fashionable circle of friends. This gifted and accomplished young lady went to hear a sermon preached by the venerable Bishop Asbury. The voice, manner, and earnest solicitude of the man of God fixed the truth so firmly on her mind that she sought and found pardon through faith in Jesus. She at once gave ap her worldly companions and pursuits. Her fond pareuts used their utmost efforts to win back her affections to the world f>ut in vain. As a last resort, her father gave a large party to the most worldly and fashionable persons in the city. A more busy scene of pleasure-loving gaiety was xtever witnessed. During the evening it was arranged that their daughter should he invited to sing and play on the piano one of those fashionable airs to which they had so often listened with delight. Led by tier father to the piano, she took her seat, and sang in a strain the most touching, because it came from the heart, and with a full, clear voice, that part of Charles Wesley's fine hymn which commences — No room for mirth or trifling here, For worldly hope, or worldly fear, If life so soon is gone. §he had not sung through one verse before 3ier father, who stood by her side, drooped tiis head. Every whisper ceased, and the most intense feeling pervaded the whole ■company. Every word of the hymn was spoken distinctly, and heard by every one present, each seemed an arrow from the Spirit's quiver, going directly to the hearts of the hearers. Her father retired to his room to weep for his own sinful folly with a deeply-stricken heart. Mary had conquered. For many years she lived to adorn her godly profession, and she passed away at last in triumph to the skies. — The Methodist Hymn-book audits Associations

Two little girls were heard one morning engaged in a dispute as to what their "mothers could do." The dispute was ended by the youngest child saying: *' Well, there's one thing my mother can do that your's can't— my mother can take •^very one of her teeth out at once."