The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 56, 7 March 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1871.

! At the last Christmas distribution of prizes at the College, a suggestion was made by the Bishop of Nelson that prizes for swimming should be added to those offered for excellence in athletic sports, to which the bead-master replied that he was as desirous as anyone of seeing such prizes instituted, but that, unfortunately, there was no place in which the matches could take place, nor indeed where the necessary training could be gone through. This remark of the Bishop has been called to our mind by reading iv a Geelong paper au account of certain matches that recently took place there, which were as follows: — Boys under 10 years to swim 50 yards, under 12 years to swim 100 yards; under 18 years diving for distance, under 12 years diving to find and pick up as many of'six eggs as they could; men's swimming match 250 yards, for amateurs only; youths under 16 years to swim 200 yards; graud <:bampion match, open to all comers, to swim 450 yards, boys under 8 years to swim 50 yards, under 14 years to swim 150 yards, and so on. Now there can be no doubt that such matches got up here, among the boys at the College and Government schools, would be attended with very beneficial results, as it would encourage them in acquiring a knowledge of an art that, in New Zealand, above all countries in the world, is most essential, and should form part of the education of the rising generation. A return moved for by Mr. Stafford in the last session of the Assembly showed that since the colony w, s founded no less than 1115 persons have lost their lives by drowning. This is adduced by Mr. Stafford as a reason why bridges should be erected over the numerous rivers that have to be crossed by the overland traveller in New Zealand; but surely it furnishes quite as strong an argument in favor of spreading a knowledge of the art of swirnmiug, for who shall say how many valuable lives have been lost owing to those to whom the accidents have occurred having been ignorant of the first principles of self preservation in the water? The provinces j of Nelson and Marlborough alone can furnish many instances of lives having been, we may say, unnecessarily lost, more particularly in the Wairau River, and we could name many who, within our own knowledge, might have saved themselves had they been as much at home in the water as they were on the land, and this, we contend, should be the case with every man. But, to revert to the first difficulty in ihe way of teaching boys to swim, namely, the waut of some proper bathing place — and our remarks just now refer especially to the town boys. It has been said that there are plenty of holes in the Maitai River where swimming and diving could be carried on to any extent, but this is quite a fallacy, as there is not one place where a dozen or so of strokes can be taken without bringing the swimmer into shallow water. Then, again, it may be argued that no finer bathing place could be found than the Nelson harbor, but it must be remembered that it is by no means a safe place, as sharks abound there, and no one who had charge of boys would undertake the responsibility of allowing tbe.m to expose themselves to dangers against which none can be secure. In Otago, the Provincial Government have made provisions which render it safe for anyone to bathe in the sea, they having fenced off a portion of the harbor, in which the citizens can at any time indulge in a favorite and useful pastime, aud we can see do reason why some similar arrangement should not be made here. There are portions of our harbor which could be effectually barricaded against sharks at a very trifling expense, and the interest on the

first outlay would bo amply provided for by making a small charge for those who avail themselves of such a convenience, 1 and by this means the boys who we see growing up around us would have au opportunity of perfecting themselves in an accomplisha»ent of which none should be ignorant, especially those whose lives are (o be spent in a country that abounds with iflvevs to such an extent as New Zealand. The expense would be but very (rifling, and we would suggest it to our town members as being an item that might we'll occupy a place in the next Appropriation Act.

Supreme Court. — The only case set down for trial at the civil fiittiugs of the Court, ou Thursdaj^lrext, is that of Leary versus Benrrett & Sytnons, and arises, so far as we can learu, out of the .shipment by plaintiff, through defendants :is his agents, of a quantity of wheat which was burned on board the Hera, nud which plaintiff alleges the defendants ought to have insured. The Telegraph department must be in a most flourishing condition, pecuniarily sneaking, as we. find that the posts in Bridge-street which have only been erected four or live years, and are perfectly sound, with the exception of perhaps half au inch on the outside, are beiug taken down for the purpose of being replaced by new ones. There may be some very excellent reason for such expenditure, but to the uninitiated it looks very like a downright waste of public money. Sutherland Gold Mining Company. — We { Marlboroitgh Express) notice that the Legal Manager, at the request of the directors, has convened an extraordinary meeting of shareholders for the purpose of authorising a loan of £500 and increasing the capital. At the formation of the Company,- it was generally understood that the outside cost of gettiDg the mine to work would not exceed the £2000, and we aro therefore surprised at the movement. All we have heard of the proceedings of the directors hitherto, however, leads us to the belief that, economy has been practised, and the business judiciously mannged, we are therefore hopeful that a full explanation of the necessity for the step will bo given when tho shareholders meet on the 24th. iustant. Perseverance Company. — A meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing a director iv the place of Mr. A. Sclanders, resigned, will be held to-morrow evening. The following is a list of those who hold the necessary number of shares to qualify them for the office: — Messrs. T. Adams, G. Burnett. C. Brown (Taranaki), F. H. Blundell, H. Buckeridge, H. E. Curtis, 0. Curtis, J. Carter, A. Le Grand Campbell, S.J.Dick, H. Goulstone, G. Gillow, D. Gorrie, J. Harley, G. H. Johnstone, W. S. Mortimer, H. Moore, C. L. Macleau, D.M'Donald, J.Macmahon, H.E. NathaD, T. Oldham, W. Popple, P. Poulsen, F. Roach, D. Ross, F. Simmons, E. W. Stafford, W. W. Squires, J. Sharp, G. Thompson, W. T. L. Travers, J. Watkins, T. Wright, J. Williamson, and B. Worth ing ton. Stoke Farmers' Club. — The monthly meeting of this Club was held in the Schoolroom last evening, when several members were present. It was resolved to hold a ploughing match, to be open to all in the district under 25 years of age; the particulai'3 of which will shortly be published. A lengthy discussion took place on the cultivation of the sugar-beet, several members being of opinion that large quantities of the beet would be grown if there were a certain market for it. The great difficulty, it was thought, would Be to raise the necessary capital for the purchase of machinery for converting the beet into sugar. It was resolved to procure as quickly as possible some seeds, iv order to make an experiment on a small scale. It was stated that there were in the district a great many acres of laud suitable for its cultivation, and that if an effort was made it would no doubt be crowned with success, and would prove of considerable advantage to the farmers. Statistics. — The Gazette of the 25th February contains a return of the value of imports and exports at the various New Zealand ports. The following refer te«tbe two Nelson ports of Nelson aud Westport: —Imports for the quarter ending December 31, 1870— Nelson £45,703; corresponding quarter of 1869 £70,452; Westport £25,467; corresponding quarter of last year £17,019: total for 1870-Ne150n £224,282, Westport £66.562; total for 1869— Nelson £273,899, Westport £92,961. Exports for the quarter ending December 31, 1870 — Nelson £lß, 466, Westport £84,670; for the corresponding quarter of 1&69 — Nelson £16,637, Westport £64,675: total for 1870 —Nelson £64,822, Westport £304,937; total for 1869— Nelson £59,926, Westport £344,045. Total imports into the colony for 1870, £4,639,015 ; for 1869, £4,976,126. Total exports, for 1870, £4,819,148; for 1869, £4,223,923.

The Karamea. — The Westport Time* says : — A good many miners are at present in town from the Karamea district, some of whom have not visited Westport for the past eighteen months. As a general thing, the meu express themselves satisfied with the workings in that locality, aDd it is confidently anticipated that fresh discoveries will follow upon the efforts of the numerous parties prospecting in that district. The want of a track where the beaches are intercepted by precipitous Ijloffs, is very much felt, and the want must be supplied before the district can be made capable of employing a considerable body of miners. The expense of getting provisions round, aod the trouble, are at present so great, that very few men are in a position to seek their fortune on this' field. The course hitherto adopted by the miners has been to charter a craft, and lay in six or eight months' provisions, there being no stores nearer than Mokihinui, while the land communication between the two places is impassable, unless for a man of great nerve and activity. To convey stores overland with horses is altogether impracticable at preseut.

The Lyttelton Times has been shown an excellent hat and dish mats made from tussock grass. They look exceedingly well, and the prices asked are reasonable. A Shortland telegram in an Auckland paper, says'- that at the former place, during the month of January, over 11,5000z5. of gold were lodged in the Bank of New Zealand. The Auckland Star says that a statement has been made by John Cash, before tlio Provincial Council of Auckland, that he obtained, while prospectiug on the West Coast of the North Island, as much as one and two ounces of gold to the dish. The guard of the coach now running betweeu Patea and Taraoaki was, the Wellington Independent states, "the principal leader of the attack on General Cameron, at Nukumaru, whea that officer very nearly sustained a tremendous defeat at the head of a large sectiou of the British army." „ A correspondent of the Hawhe's Bay Herald states that the hot springs at Toka.ua, near Lake Taupo, have, "in scores and scores of instauces proved efficacious in removing rheumatism, gout, and cutaneous diseases of every description. It would be desirable," he says, " that some qualified scientific man should report upon their therapeutic properties, pointing out what are the diseases to which each spring is calculated to prove remedial, for there are all varieties at Taupo." The Swedes, who were recently brought ' out by the General Government, went to their location at Manawatu the other day. A correspondent' says : — They are to have land, rations, fools, &c, on the deferred payment principle. They are a poor, dirty, squalid, miserable lot — not one good-looking man or woman among them. They are all small people, and one or two of the men are almost dwarfs. If they are a fair specimen of the immigrants from the north of Europe, I for one don't think much of them. I should imagine they are not over cleanly in their habits, and the style and material of their dres3 are remarkably similar to what I have seen on the lowest type of Irish immigrants landing at New York." The "unemployed" of Auckland have been raising a pretty dust lately, and at first it was thought there was some distress, but it turns out that the so-called unemployed are chiefly composed of vagabonds and loafers, who can get employment at moderate wages, but would rather satisfy their natures by clamour and receiving charitable aid. The President of the society was exposed by the Superintendent, and shown to have been dismissed from the post of light-house-keeper a few weeks back, for conduct which bore the appearance of fraud. The best part of the business is, the "unemployed" propose building a hall. Where would the " unemployed" get the money?— Greymoulh Star. It is stated that the provisions of the Laud Transfer Acfc are being taken advantage of to a large extent iv Otago. The solicitors of Dunediti have announced their willingness to act as brokers or agents under the act, and to do all in their power to assist in bringing it into satisfactory operation ; but the people seem rather to distrust this anxiety on the part of the legal gentlemen to assist in working an act which was from the first strongly opposed by the profession in Australia, and the tendency of which is certainly to interfere with the most profitable part of legal practice — conveyancing. A petition has, accordingly, been got up in Dunedin, addressed to the Registrar-General, and signed by nearly all the land-ownera and merchants in Dunedin, bringing under his notice the pressing necessity which exists for the immediate appointment of landbrokers there, pursuant to the provisions of the Laud transfer Act, 1870. The

requisitionists state their opiuion that if the practice uuder the act is confined to solicitors, a large portion of tlie public will never avail themselves of its advantages, and that its enactment will prove of little, if auy, real service to proprietors of land. A case, containing castings for the Rangitata bridge, while in process of transhipment from the steamer Maori, lying off Timaru, slipped through the slings and went overboard. A diver had been sent for from Lyttelton to recover the loss. A General Government Gazette issued last week contains the following announcement: — "With reference to the notification published in the New Zealand Gazette, of the 12th March, 1870, offering rewards for the discovery of offences against the Arms Act., the undermentioned notice, increasing the reward?, is substituted in lieu thereof, to take effect from this date : — A reward of £300 will be paid to anyone givio^ such information as will lead to the conviction of any person guilty of the capital offence of supplying arms and ammunition to rebels, under the thirty-third section of c The Arms Act Amendment Acr, 1869.' A reward of £100 will be paid to any one giving such information as will lead to the couvictiou of any person guilty of a felony or misdemeanor under auy of the following sections of ' The Arms Act 1860,' that is to say, sections twenty-six, twenty-seven, twentyeight, twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-six, thirty-eight, or auy amendment or alteration thereof. The above rewards will be paid only after conviction. The informant's name will not be divulged without his own consent, except where it is necessary that he should give evidence in court. In the case of accomplices giving information leading to conviction, a free pardon will be granted in addition to the reward." A Social Gathering took place last evening (Feb. 17), in the University Hall in connection with the General Synod of the Church of England and was numerously attended. There were present — His Lordship the Primate of New Zealand, the Bishop of Auckland, the Bishop of Wellington, the Bishop of Nelson, the Bishop of Waipu, and many of the clerical and lay members ot she General Synod, as well as clergymen of other denominations. It is estimated that there sat down to tea about (300 persons, a great proportion of whom were ladies. The tables were presided over by ladies conueeted with the Church of England, who had kindly given their services, and thereby contributed in a very great degree to the success of the gathering. The tables were so arrangad as to leave ample space for an agreeable promenade, but this intention was, ultimately to some extent frustrated by the crowded state of the Hall. After tea, the Eev. Mr. Edwards introduced His Lordship the Primate, and subsequently read an address, congratulating his Lordship ou the very satisfactory manner in which the proceedings of the Synod had been conducted. In reply, his Lordship returned thanks on behalf of himself, the Bishops and the other members of the Synod, for the kind reception and treatment they had received during their stay in Dunedin, ana concluded by referring to various nmtters connected with the Church. The ?Bishop of Nelson also delivered a very interesting address, devoted chiefly to some of the more prominent questions which had been under the consideration of the Synod. He also referred to the correspondence which had passed between the Bishops end the Rev. Mr. Stuart, his remarks being intended to disabuse the minds of many of an impression that the Bishops had not accepted the invitation, owing to their cherishing a feeling of exclusiveness. The Church, of which they are the heads, was as ye* inJ its infancy, and the time would come when the course take* by them would be justified. The Bis!|op of Waipu delivered an address regarding the progress which had been made by Ministers of the Gospel among the Natives from the year 1835 to the present time. Au address concerning the Melauesian Mission was delivered by the Bishop of Auckland ; and the assemblage was afterwards addressed by the Rev. D. M. Stuart. The Battallion Band played at intervals during the evening, and the efforts of Mr. Hudson*^ the caterer, could not, and did not, fail to give great satisfaction. The proceeds of the gathering are to be devoted in aid of the Benevolent Institution.- Otago Times. An election address of an unusual character appears in the advertising columns of the Argus. It emanates from the Society for the Promotion of Morality, iB signed by the Bishop of Melbourne as president, and is addressed to the electors generally, urging upon them two points — first, that "men whose public or private conduct is immoral" are not fit to be parliamentary representatives; and secondly, that the opening of public-houses on Sunday ought to be firmly resisted, as injurious to the moral well-being of the community.

We notice a Boston (U.S.) firm has patented a new floating velocipede, which cau be conveniently operated und readily propelled, and consists in such a construction of a frame, double floats, steering apparatus and paddle-wheel, that the rider straddles the paddle-wheel in operating the crank axle of the same.