The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 217, 14 September 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1870.

Nelson and Foxhill Railway. — We are indebted to the Legislative Council for the fact of this line being struck out of the list of railways to be shortly commenced. Artizans' Society. — The quarterly entertainment of this association will be held at the Oddfellows' Hall, to-morrow evening, for which occasion a most attractive musical programme has been provided, in addition to which, a new and most amusing farce entitled " Watching aud Catching," will be acted. The Gourlay Family, —We would remind our readers that this talented family will perform at the Oddfellows' Hall, this evening, when they will give an entire change of programme, comprising a well selected miscellany, and concluding with an amusing sketch entitled " The Rights of Women." Return or the Members. — Our Nelson representatives arrived by the Phcebe this morning, together with several of the Auckland members, who are on their way home. No doubt meetings will soon bo called of the various constituencies, in order to receive an account of the votes and proceedings of their representatives during the past session. Winter Evening Entertainments. — The wretched weather that prevailed yesterday evening prevented so Jarge an attendance being present at the Assembly Room as on previous occasions. The programme was, nevertheless, well carried out, an interesting lecture being delivered by Mr. Wakefield, and the musical portion of the entertainment being executed in a most spirited manner, the numerous encores that were demanded being sufficient indication of the satisfaction experienced by the audience. The next entertainment will consist of a variety of reading's, recitations, and musical pieces, vocal and instrumental. We are requested to remind those who are to take part in it thai the usual practice will take place at the Harmonic Hall, at 7 o'clock, to-morrow evening. Nelson and Cobden Railway. — News was received by the Suez mail that all difficulties in the way of signing the preliminary contract for ihe construction of the Nelson and Cobden railway were removed, and that possibly it might be forwarded by the Californian mail, to leave on the 18th July. It is, hovever, to be feared that the fatality which has attended this scheme from its commencement has not yet deserted it, as on the day on which Mr. Morrison's letter containing this intelligence was written, war was declared between France and Prussia, affecting the money market to such a degree that it is only too probable thafc the signing of the contract would be still further delayed. We learn that letters have been received by the Government from the Commissioners corroborating the intelligence contained in Mr. Morrison's letter. Prorogation oe Parliament. — Parliament was prorogued at one o'clock yesterday. We make the following extracts from the Governor's speech : — I sincerely hope that the large measures which you have passed for the purpose of promoting public works, encouraging immigration, and developing the resources of the country, will be the means of reviving that spirit of colonization which led to the foundation of the colony, and which must be the basis of its future prosperity. When I consider how small a portion of the country has been colonized, and how small a population occupies it, I cannot fail to observe that the responsibility of a great work rests not only on this but on future generations. By measures of such a character as those you have lately passed, the redundant capital and population of the parent country can be made available to supply the wants of the colony. * * * The adoption of the Torrens system of land transfer which has for some years past been worked with great success in South Australia, and other neighboring colonies, will no doubt be attended with the same advantages here as well as elsewhere j it will simplify the complicated law of landed estate, and make it as easily

transferable as any other species of pro perty. Although apparently a mere admi nistrative improvement, this measure really embodies a great social and commercial reform. City Arabs. Few of our readers will be prepared for such a disclosure as was made in the Police Court this morning relative to the lives led by some of the boys ofNelson,. Thefollowing report of this morning's proceedings before the Resident Magistrate will show the urgent necessity for some steps being taken to prevent the youth of the colony from proving, on their attaining to manhood, a curse to the country in which they are reared : — Neil Mathieson, Frederick Stock, William Hart, and James Fowler Clifford, lads of some 12 or 13 years of age, were charged with stealing some ducks, the property of James Donaldson, on the 12th inst. The case was clearly proved against the three last mentioned boys, who were found on the premises with two ducks in their possession. It came out in the evideuce that these children were in the habit of prowling about the streets at night, sleeping in outhouses and stealing anything on which they could lay their hands. They had been kuown to lead a gipsy life away from their homes for a week together, sleeping at night uuder the Baptist Chapel in Hardy-street, and lately they had taken to sleeping in the stable of the Board of Works, and, with the exception of Mathieson, were known to the police as thoroughly bad characters. Mathieson was discharged, there being no evidence to prove that he was on the premises on the night when the theft with which they were charged was committed. The other three were sentenced as follows — Stock to one day's imprisonment, Hart to two days' imprisonment, aud Clifford to three days, each of thera. to be whipped by the turnkey of the gaol before being discharged from custody. His Worship said that if parents would not take upon themselves to correct their children, it became incumbent upon the Court to do so, and he would take care to be present himself and see that the punishment was no sham, but was administered in a proper and effective manner. The Annexation Bill — a Scene in the House. — True to the promise, made the preceding night, of offering every possible obstruction to the Government proposals, unless an opportunity was afforded of discussing the Westland Boundary Bill Messrs. Harrison and Kynnersley opposed the motion for going into committee on the Railway Bill, the two standing alone in the division, and 24 voting on the other side. On the question of postponing the enacting clause, one of the most purely formal motions known to the House, Mr. Kynnersley again called for a division, and, this time, Mr. Brown voted with him, Mr. Harrison being prevented voting as he had paired. This division was 32 to 2. Then Mr. Harrison insisted that each clause should be read, and on the short title another division was called for and taken, 24 to 2. On clause 3, Mr. Kynnersley intimated his willingness to stay there night and day for a month, if necessary, and to divide on every clause aud every line. He declared that no contract with the Government, whether as to railways or anything else, could be regarded as of the . slightest value, after the breach of faith the Government had been guilty of towards him and his constituents, in the matter of the petition for annexation to Nelson. Mr. Yogel rose to order, and denied that the Government had been guilty of any breach of faith. The Chairman ruled that Mr. Kynnersley must confine himself to the clause, and Mr. Yogel, after some further discussion, said the hon. member could only divide and be obstructive, as he lacked the ability to speak or argue. Mr. Kynuersly rejoiced that some people were gifted with ability, and some with honesty. Mr. Yogel characterised the opposition as lawless and disgraceful, when Mr. Harrison said he was only following an example set by the hon. gentleman himself in a previous session,. Several members said that, however much the course pursued was to be regretted, it was not lawless, as it was in strict accordance with the rules of the House. Mr. Swan reminded the Government of the night in 1868 when it had kept up a similar arrangement to ten o'clock next morning, when Mr. Fox reentered the House expressed and his full approval of what had been done. Mr. Fox denied that he had done so, but his voice was drowned by cries from all parts of the House, corroborating what Mr, Swan had

said. Mr. Bunny and Mr. Hall urged the Government to come to some compromise, but Mr. Yogel refused most positively. The Westland members said they would be satisfied with an opportunity of discussing their little bill, and Mr. Harrison warned the Government thafc if this was not given, very serious disturbances would probably occur on the West Coast Goldfields, and that the people there not having Mr. Yogel as Provincial Treasurer to set them an example, might not stop short at turning the Wardens out, and locking up the offices, as Mr. Yogel did in Otago. After a good deal more discussion, Mr. Yogel promised to make the Westland Bill the first order for next day, when he said he would move that it be discharged from the paper. Mr. Kynnersley and Mr. Harrison at once accepted the concession, and the business was allowed to go on in the usual way. The Bill was brought up the next night and thrown out. A Good Suggestion. — Australian advices inform us that the Victorian Government contemplate sending a dispatch-boat to Galle, to bring immediate intelligence of the fact, should England unfortunately become involved in the Continental war. Could not our Government make some provision for bringing the like intelligence here without delay ? The Euglish mail often arrives at Melbourne in tbe early part of the week, and, as the steamers only sail on Saturdays, there is frequently several days' delay. A bonus offered to Messrs. M'Meckan and Blackwood would, no doubt, induce them to despatch one of their steamers for New Zealand immediately after the arrival of the next English Mail, and, considering the great importance of the intelligence which that mail will briusr, a sum of money so expended would be well bestowed. — Post. Mr. George Cotterell is performing before large audiences on the West Coast. Messrs Nancarrow and Henderson of Greymouth, have been fined £l and costs, on the information of the Inspector of weights and measures, for selling 96 tous of coal to the purser of the Charles Edward, by measure and nofc by weight. Manuka. — The sporting correspondent of the Australasian says : — " The Maori, who looks first-rate, has not the appearance of having gone through very much preparation, but there is lots of time yet, and he is not one to bear hurrying."