The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 204, 30 August 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1870.

Motueka. Wharf. — The lease of this wharf, for one year, was yesterday sold by auction to Mr. J. S. Cross, juu.-, at the upset price of £100, there being no competition. Acclimatization. — We are requested 1 by the Secretary of the Acclimatization Society to state that nine brace of the Australian brown quail were sent over to Motueka by the .Lady Barkly yesterday, and turned out upon Mr. F. Greenwood's farm, where it is hoped they will be allowed to remain quietly, in order that this valuable class of birds may be propagated throughout the country as speedily as possible. Excursion Tuir. — An excursion trip to Wellington is advertised by the Phoebe which sails at 9 o'clock this evening, passeugers to be brought back by the Airedale on Saturday, single fare being charged for the return trip. The presence of seven men of war, including the Galatea, in Wellington harbor, is a great attraction, md will no doubt induce mauy to avail themselves of this capital opportunity of paying a visit to the Empire City. Winter Evening Entertainments. — The programme prepared by the committee for to-night is without doubt one of the most attractive that has yet been published. Iv addition to the readings of Mr. Maclean, and the Rev. G. H. Johnstone, which of themselves are sufficient to draw a crowded audience, the musical portion has been carefully selected, and comprises so many popular pieces that we have no doubt the assemblage will be even larger than usual. We are requested to state that under no circumstances can the doors be opened before the advertised hour of half-past seven. H.M.S. Galatea. — The Galatea, Captain H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Clio arrived at Wellington on Saturday last, when the Prince landed and was received as an ordinary captain of a man-of-war. A grand ball to Commodore Lambert and the naval officers on the station is to be given on Thursday next. Resignation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. — We learn with the greatest regret that Sir David Mouro yesterday announced that it was not his intention to again offer himself as a candidate for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. We venture to say that there is not another pnhlic man in New Zealand whose retireraeut from the office he occupies would be felt so greatly as will that of Sir David Monro from the Speaker's chair, which he has now for so many years filled with credit to himself and with the greatest advantage to that branch of the Legislature over which he presides. Of all the Parliaments in the Australasian colonies, that of New Zealand has been long and favorably known as by far the most orderly in its discussions, a state of things which is to a very large extent attributable to the able and dignified manner in which it has been presided over by its two Speakers, Sir Charles Clifford, and Sir David Monro, and we are sure that universal regret will be expressed throughout the country when it becomes known that the present holder of the office has announced his intention of retiring from public life. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell. — A large audience was attracted to the Oddfellows' Hall last night by the announcement that Mr. and Mrs. Darrell were to give one of their exceedingly interesting and clever entertainments. The performance commenced with " Mr. and Mrs. Darrell at Home," which was capitally rendered, and caused an immense tmount of amusement ; but it was in the next selection that Mrs. Darrell showed to the best advantage, and we may safely say, after witnessing her "Lady Macbeth" of last night, that she is decidedly the best actress that has appeared on the Nelson boards ; Mr. Darrell, too, acted the part of Macbeth with considerable spirit, and iv a manner that showed he had spared no pains in making himself fully acquainted with the character he was representing. The next item on the programme was Mr. Darrell as " The Young Girl of the Day," and a cleverer or more life-like impersonation we have never witnessed, in fact it was with the greatest difficulty that the audience could bring themselves to believe that they were not looking upon a re-

markably pretty specimen of a fashionably dressed young lady of the present day. The dress, movements, and sieging of this fascinating young creature were perfect, and it is scarcely necessary to say that she had to make her appearance before the curtain a second time, and to make her graceful acknowledgments of the somewhat noisy demonstration of admiration that her charms had called forth. We are unable to notice at length all the various items on the programme, but we cannot close our notice without bearing testimony to the absolutely perfect manner iv which Mrs. Darrell recited that strangely fascinating poem " The Bells," which to our mind constituted the gem of the evening. We understand thnt an entertainment is to be given every eveniug during the week. Annexation of the Grey to Nelson. — We take the following from the Greymouth Star of Friday last : — The Chairman of the Paroa Eoad Board has received this day the following telegram from Wellington, forwarded by Mr. W. H. Harrison : — Annexation will not take effect until the Ist January, 1871. That it should not take place until January next will be with the annexntionists a subject for regret; but we believe the cause of this is attributable to the opposition raised by Mr. Curtis, Superintendent of the Province of Nelson, who did not wish such a measure rushed through the House until the Nelson Provincial Council and the people of Nelson had had sufficient time to consider the change in all its bearings. Steps we believe have been taken to prevent Mr. Hoos, the Couuty Chairman, from doing any mischief during the remainder of his j term of office. The question of annexation is undoubtedly disposed of; and, on and after the Ist January next, Westland from the Teremakau, north, will form a portion of the Province of Nelsou. The Present Session of Parliament. ■ — A correspondent of the Auckland Herald writiug from Wellington, says — This is the first session I have seen about which there is nothing to tell beyoud what is to be found in Hansard. Hitherto, there has been always a secret history, known of by the iuitiated only, which swayed the course of events more than the votes in the House — a second current flowing alongside the maiu one, like the waters of the Waikato aad the Waipu below Ngaruawhia, without mixing. But this session little or nothing is done behind the scenes, consequently your correspondents — even those who used to be admitted to the arcana — have nothing to tell." Auckland. — We are indebted to Mr. Ferrar of the Aucklaud Evening Star for the following late items of northern news: — A fire broke out in the ship Excelsior on Friday night, and damage was done to the amount of £500. The ship wa3 insured in the New Zealand, Pacific, aod Southern Companies. The origin of the fire is unknown. — The Golden Crown Company has declared a dividend of £25 per share. — The s.s. Rangatira was lately shipping cattle at the Waitara, when the yard broke, wounding one of the men dangerously and slightly hurting two of the passengers. — Mr. and Mrs. Steele are playing to crowded houses. Education. — In an article on a colonial system of education the Canterbury Press says : — lt is true that over a great part of the colony education has been shamefully neglected, but that is not the case everywhere. In three provinces, Canterbury, Otago, and Nelson, complete systems of popular education have been elaborated, aud are working with considerable success. The experience thus gained is invaluable. It removes the whole question out of the domain of theory. We have not to invent new machinery for our purpose ; but, starting with a certain amount of machinery in existence and doing good work, so to enlarge ifc, with such improvements, as may be necessary to extend its operation over the whole colony. Canterbury, Otago, and Nelson have solved the problem for New Zealand. The system established in these three proviuces are founded on principles so far identical, that it cam be no hard task to frame a colonial system which can bo brought into force at once in the provinces where no educational provision has been made, and in which the local systems of the other three may be included without the disturbance of a single essential feature. H J

Wellington. — la the debate on Mr. Oeighfcou's motion regarding the Waste Lands of the Colony, the Province of Wellington was thus described by Mr. Stafford: — The province was a byword throughout the colony for being unable to meet its daily engagements. It could afford no assistance to local boards; it could not contribute anything towards the education of its people; while the place in, which its lunatics were confined was a disgrace to humanity. A Special commission has been appointed by the Otago Provincial Goverumeut, to report on the best means for effecting a retrenchment in the provincial expenditure. Floods in Auckland. — There have been great floods iv Auckland. Cobb's coach had to stop at Mercer, and the passengers bad to take refuge on the high ground. Grahamstown has also been partly flooded. A Traveller from New Plymouth to Opun;ike, writes to the Taranaki journal : — " The flax leaves are so high in some places that you are not able to see your companion on horseback, although he may be within half a dozen yards of you. These flax plains are miles in extent, and have thousauds of pounds worth of valuable material waving in the air. Latest Native News. — We (Taranaki Herald) have b^eu informed that intelligence has been received in Auckland to the effect that the Maori King will come to N^aruawhia to meet the Governor, when terms are to be offered, for the establishment of a lasting peace. The news comes via Raglan, where a large native meeting has been held lately, and this determination of Tawhaio has emanated from it. Embezzlement by an Army Officer. — Francia Lines, employed in the service of her Majesty's Commissariat Department, and ranking ai Lieutenant, has been, arraigned at the Auckland Police Court, charged by Heury Clutterbuck Lewis, Assistant -Commissary-General in her Majesty's service, with having embezzled £50, monies received withiu the last six months, by applying the same to his own use. The Crown Prosecutor, in opening the case for the prosecution, said tie indictment only nominally charged the prisouer with embezzling the sum of £50, but he would prove to the Bench that in January, 1889, the prisoner was deficient iv the sum of £1000, and in June £500. Prisoner was committed for trial, bail being accepted, himself in £1000 and two sureties of £750 each. Kereopa the Rebel in Wanganui. — The Wanganui Chronicle states that the miscreant Kereopa, whose evil fame is spread widely over the Colony, accompanied by Kepa, was actually seen by Captain McDonald, Mr. Woon, Mr. Moor, Mr. Handly, and a host of other people, who are prepared to make affidavit of it, walking in the neighborhood of Wanganui. "It is likewise a notorious fact," says that journal, " that having been met by a European and taxed with his cannibalism, which had been exercised upon the body of poor Sergeant Menzies, he, gloryiug in the deed, complacently stroked his stomach, smacked his lips, and replied, ' Kapai the Pakeha,' in remembrance of his horrible act." Recently the Rev. E. S Foulkes, who joined the communion of the Church of Rome some years ago, was received back iuto the Church of England. The service took place at the parish church of St. Mary the Less, Lambeth. An Advertisement appeared in the Neapolitan papers a short time since to the following effect : — " After having been closed for 1,800 years, the theatre at Pompeii will be reopened with the 'Daughter of the Regiment.' The manager, Signor Laumi, trusts the public will extend the favor to him with which it honoured his predecessor, Signor Marius Quintus Monitius, who perished by the eruption of Vesuvius, A. c. 90." A Dilemma. — While a country parson was preaching, the chief of his parishioners, sitting near the pulpit, was fast asleep; whereupon he said, "Now beloved friends, lamiu a great strait ; for if I speak too softly those at the farther end of the church cannot hear me, and if I talk too loud I shall wake the chief man in the parish." For remainder of News see Fourth page. J,

In a recent report of the New York Association for improving the condition of tlie poor, we find a statement made regarding the distress prevailing among the woiking classes of that city, which vvil[ not. a little astonish tliose who suppose that laborers have hut to emigrate to America to secure « competency for life. It is asserted and the assertion seems to be accepted by the press generally as correct — that early in I'eeernber last it was estimated on trustworthy data that. 50,000 men, and at lesist as many girls and women, dependent on their daily toil for subsistence, were without employment in, the city of New York. High as the wages appeared of tliose who had work, the report adds, the purchasing power of these wages whs not commensurate with the incieased cost, of living. The seemingly ample remuneration of labor fails to put the laboring classes in as favorable a position as they occupied before the war.