The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 261, 7 November 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1870.

Wednesday next being a public holiday, the Evening Mail will be published at one o'clock on that day. Cricket. — A challenge has been forwarded from the Nelson to the Motueka and Riwaka Cricket Clubs, the game to be played within three weeks from this date, Wangapeka Land Purchasers. — We call attention to the advertisement calling a meeting of those interested in the purchase of land at Wangapeka, to be held at the Club Boom, Trafalgar Hotel, at 8 o'clock this evening. Wesleyan Sunday Schools.-A public tea meeting in connection with the above schools will take place in the chapel at Spring Grove, on Wednesday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, after which a meeting will be held, when the children will recite various pieces, and several Ministers and friends will address the public. The Superintendent at Charleston, — From a telegram received yesterday we learn that the Superintendent met with an enthusiastic reception at a public meeting held at Charleston on Saturday night. His Honor, and the members of the Executive who accompany him, proposed visiting Brighton 10-day. The Karamea. — Information has been received from the master (Capt. Lambert) of the Woodquest, that there are between

30 and 40 diggers at work along the beacb at the mouth of the Karamea, who are mating good wages. We hear that Mr. Wake intends to take provisions down this week, with a view to starting a store there, and trust that he may not be disappointed in his undertaking. Election News. — Whilst other provinces have been bestirring themselves in bringing forward candidates for the representation of their various electoral districts in the next Parliament, Nelson has hitherto remained comparatively idle. However, as the time draws near when the elections must take place, a lit t lo more iuterest is displayed in the matter. It has already been stated that Messrs. Curtis and Shephard are likely to walk over for the town, and that the same good fortune was in store for Mr. F. Kelling for the Waimea and suburbs; but wo hear that he is likely to meet with a formidable oppoueat in the person of Mr. Ralph Richardson, barrister, of this town, who proposes entering himself for the prize. Of Waimea South and Motueka nothing definite is yet known; Golden Bay, from all we can hear, is well satisfied with Mr. Collins, its present member, while Mr. Donne is j favorably spoken of for Wesiland North. English Mail. — Numerous are the enquiries that havo been made at our office as to when the next San Francisco j mail is due, but once and for all we must} decline committing ourselves to an expression of opinion on this subject. Ou enquiry at the Post-office we learn that it is due in Auckland on Thursday next and once having stated this, we consider that our readers are quite as capable as ourselves of forming an opinion, with regard to when it may be expected here. The mail has never yet arrived iv Auckland within four days of the date when it is due, so that if the boom of the Phoebe's gun is heard before the loth iust., we may consider that we are fortunate beyond our deserts. — With reference to the late Suez mail we may state that the Marseilles bag of letters i& missing , but as the New Plymouth bag, which is usually sent via Auckland, arrived by the Rangitoto, it is presumed that our mail has by mistake been dispatched to Auckland, and consequently may be expected here by the next boat. Our Volunteers.— We have at various times called attention to the wretched failure of our voluuteer system as at present carried out, and from the following remarks which recently appeared in an article on " Colonial Defence," in the Auckland Herald, it would appear that the inefficiency of which we have so frequently complained is not confined to the Nelson brigade, but that our Northern neighbors have also discovered that the movement in its present state is neither more nor less than a ridiculons farce. The extract which we now publish, although it does not go to the root of the evil, furnishes some very useful hints with regard to the manner in which the existing state of things might to a certain degree be remedied: — "We are very much afraid that the absence of ' public spirit,' or some other cause, in our prominent citizens, has a great deal to do with the present state of our volunteers. The movement has not been taken by the hand by outleading men as it ought to have been and as it must be, if it is to be of any real value. In this, as in political movements, success greatly depends on those who do or do not come forward as leaders. If the men of position and influence hold back, and leave their natural places to be occucupied by inferior and less influential persons, the natural result will follow. We shall have nominal forces inefficient and comparatively worthless. There will be paper companies ; men on the roll, but not on the parade ; and to trust to the nominal roll will be to trust to a broken reed. Now we have only our various corps of volunteers to depend upon for defence, and such war vessels as may be in these waters. The Rifle Volunteers ought to be in a very different state to that in which they are at present. A visit to the parades of the force will show, that in point of numbers, it is a mere sham. The officers are by no means so efficient as they ought to be ; and the parades are chiefly conspicuous by the absence of men. A fictitious state of things exists, which requires strict investigation. Government ought to carefully examine the nominal strength on the rolls, with the attendance of each individual member ; and every officer should go through a course of instruction to fit

himforhis duties. Mereautomatou officers, for a force of this kind, are worse than useless. ... It should be clearly understood that the Government will expect efficiency in both officors and men, and will expect to have the suggestions of their Inspecting Officers properly ( attended to. We are not quite sure that this point has yet been kept sufficiently in , view, but yet it is one of no small importance . Those appointed by the Government to inspect Volunteers are supposed to be practical men well acquainted with their profession, and their opinions must have that weight to which they are fairly entitled. The officers of Volunteer corps, ; in England, are generally noblemen aud gentlemen of independent means, who are both willing and able to spend a good deal of time and money in securiug the efficiency of their respective regiments. This is a vast gain, not only in a pecuniary sense, but in another very important point : it enables the Volunteers to send , men of position aud influence to advocate their cause, and to bring the requirements of the force before the general public and the Imperial and local authorities. And in a social force of tins character we must , not lose sight of the value of such a state of things. The natural leaders iv the community become the leaders of the Volunteers."