Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 300, 21 December 1870, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1870.

So far as the immediate object of those who signed the requisition to the Superintendent is coucerned, the meeting of Monday night can hardly be looked upon in aoy other light than that of a failure. None of those wwhso s had appended their names to the requisition were prepared with resolutions, nor indeed were they, with one exception, in attendance" to furnish information or to offer suggestions. This one exception consisted of a gentleman who made a few unintelligible remarks with refereuce to draining some of the tracks, and there all action on the part of the requisitionists ceased. Possibly, they themselves knew what they wanted, but they took no means to enlighten the Superintended or the public on the matter, and we must still adhere to the opinion we exoressed on first hearing that a meeting was spoken of, Damely, that a deputation of miners from the Upper Buller District would have been far more efficacious in making known the wants of residents in that, part of the country than j any public meeting could possibly be. At | the same time, it is by no means to be regretted that the meeting was called, as it lias given the people of the town an opportunity of showing to their neighbors in the couutry that they are by no means iudifftrent to their welfare, hut, on the contrary, are inclined to look upon the town interests, and those of the outlying districts as identical. And that they are identical there can be no manner of doubt. The town of Nelson is just vow languishing for the want of some more means of support than those at present open to it. The very limited districts of the Waimeas, the suburbs, or Motueka, do not furnish sufficient nourishment to keep the heart beating as soundly and strongly as f should be the case in a healthy body, and consequently we must extend .our feelers into portions of the country that have been hitherto comparatively neglected. In the Upper Buller we are frequently assured that there is ample room for large numbers of men to earn a living, if only they have the means afforded them of moving about the country and getting their provisions to the spots whence they obtain their gold. If this be the case, and we believe that it 13 so, it must be to our interest to afford these men the very moderate conveniences for which they ask, and it is a matter of congratulation to the town as well as to the country that, the Government are so evidently disposed to do all in their power in the direction of opening up the communications in these out districts. Another advantage resulting from the meeting was that the Superintendent had the opportunity of announcing his intention with refereuce to the apportionment of the £4800 voted by the General Assembly to the Road Boards of the province, and, from the manner in which the announcraent was received by parties of all shades of political opinions, we have no hesitation in saying that the Government proposition will give the greatest, satisfaction throughout the country. It is just possible that, at first, some little disappointment may be experienced by the various Boards who have been anticipating the handliug of a portion of that money, but ou second thoughts they cannot but admit that money thus expended will tend to the prosperity of their constituents far more than if laid out in improving their present roads, or even in opening up new ones in their immediate districts, for, by encouraging a body of men to populate the wilderness that is now yielding next to nothing to the general welfare, a new market will be opened to our farmers, and this, we take it, is what they require far more than increased facilities in getting their produce to the only market that at [present exists. At present we have

plenty of producers of a certain kind* what we now want is consumers, meu who will buy our wheat and flour, our cattle and sheep, and will barter for them the metal they wresfc from the earth iv those parts of the country, which although they are totally unfitted to yield crops or to depasture flocks and herds, are believed to be teeming with that without which the fanner cannot carry out his operations nor the tradesman prosecute his business with any degree of success. Holding such view 0 , we cannot but express our satisfaction that the Government have determined upon expending the money placed at their disposal in the manuer indicated by the Superintendent, instead of subdividing it, to suoh an extent that its benefits would scarcely be perceptible in those districts where it was spent, while the more remote parts of the province would remain iv the same unsatisfactory condition that now gives rise | to so much complaiut. Pleasure Trip. — The Taranaki is advertised for an excursion trip to Wellington and back, starting from Nelson at Sam. to-morrow, and returning early on Sunday morning. The Regatta. — The yacht Minnehaha, recently built at Motueka for the express purpose of competing with the Red Jacket for the Nelson Challenge Cup, arrived iv harbor yesterday, and is pronounced by competent judges to be au excellent model. Electoral District of Westland. — A very numerously signed requisition to Mr. Lowiher Broad, inviting him to allow himself to be put in nomination for the jiliove district, appears in the Charleston Herald. We learn, however, t.hat he has definitely refused the proffered honor. Caledonian Sports. — The sites for booths at the Caledonian Sports were sold to-day by auction by Mr. Mabin. The licensed victuallers booth under the grand stand was sold for £7 155., to Mr. Thos. Askew, and Mr. Dmue was the purchaser of the other booth for £4. The sites for two refreshment booths were boih purchased by Mr. I. Johns for 30s. aud 17s. Gd. Harmonic Society — The customary Christmas concert, consisting of selections from " The Messiah " with orchestral accompaniments, will be given by this Society to-morrow evening, when, from the time and strict attention that have been devoted to the practices, we may expect to hear this noMe oratorio rendered in a style hitherto unknown in Nelson. Found Drowned. — We learn that Mr. Morse, who has just returned from the Wiiirau by way of the Top House, brings word that iv crossing the river near the Manuka Island, he found lyiug on the sbingle the body of a man who had recently been drowned. The corpse, which has been conveyed to the Top House, proves to be that of a man of the name of WakefieH, a resident of Richmond, and the W <iine.i South constable has been despatched to the spot to make the necessary inquiries. A Petition has been addressed to the King of Holland, praying the Crown to give up the right, of making war and peace, and to transfer the power to the nation. Killed by Lightning — Mrs. Cormers, of Panmure, Auckland, whs killed in her house by lhihtninir on the 7th inst. A child which was in her arms was unhurt. In the henring of an insolvency ense at Charleston, Westlund, before Judge Ward, the insolvent B>iid he had only filed his schedule when his creditors bewail to press him. His Honor paid : — I suppose they For remainder of IVew/s see. Fourth jxiqe

wanted their money. It is strange that with insolvents a man who is wicked ■enough to want his 1110111-7 is looked upon as a persecutor. It should be iemembered that when a man comes before the Court, and asks thr.t his debts should be wiped out, he stands in the position ofaculptit, and unless he can show that his insolvency was caused by misfortune, he is not •entitled to sympathy. American Whalers continue to mnke ■■a harvest of New Zealand waters. Two lately anived at Ilobart Tour, bin ing obtaiu^l between them 675 barrels of sperm and 300 barrels of black oil, besides about 15001ns. of whaleboue, ciF the New Zealand coast. Proposals have been received from Melbourne to construct the Clutha (Otwgo) railway on the Provincial guarantee, or to Land over £-100.000 to the Provincial Government to construct it on its own account. Mr. CifAKLKS Gaunt, merchant of L.aunccston, has been arrested in Hobarton, on a warrani, charging him with embezzlement in the year 1868, when employed as a clerk by Mes&rs. Fye.h and Co. ; the Ginouut is stated at £300. Gaunt failed latterly lor £30.000.