THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 118, 20 May 1871, Page 4

THE WEEK.

Mr. Gibbs, in his unfortunate allusion to the year 1848 has been quite eclipsed by a public man of lesser note, but of higher ambition, who is desirous of taking lis back as far as 1215 ; the 19th of June of that year, being the precise date to which he wishes to direct our attention. The " brave barons of England „ when they compelled " KiDg John to sign the Magna Charta " which, by the way, it is instructive to learn, means the " Great Charter, " little thought that what they were then doing was to h.ave^o great an influence on the world's history as to affect the question of whether the "City of Nelsou" should or should not be lighted by gas, or whether the residents of that portion of of the great "City" usually known as The Wood were to derive their water supply from the Brook Street reservoir, or from the very indifferent and extremely unsavory wells with which that locality abounds. But so it is, and I desire to congratulate Mr. Haddow upon the very effective jpeech he made at a recent meeting of the Board of Works on this subject. It is true that this far-away historical event was recalled to our minds for the purpose of showing that the great point which the nation at that time desire to secure was, " that no tax or supply should be levied from without their own consent in a great council," and it is equally true that the present rate is not sought to be levied without the consent of, in the first place, the representatives of the people in Board of Works assembled, in the second, of their representatives in the Provincial Council, in the third, of their representative in the person of the Superintendent, and in the fourth, of their representatives in the General Assembly, but still this is a matter of but slight importance when compared with the fact that Mr. Haddow has bad so excellent an opportunity of displaying his intimate, acquaintance with the historical events of 600 years ago. I trust that this is not the last we shall hear from him on so interesting a subject, indeed, I would suggest to him that he should read a paper at the next meeting of the Scientific Association on "The Magna ' Charta, and its bearings upon the Gas and " Watqr, Supply of Nelson." : j The proceedings of the Provincial sQouncil during "the week* have, taken as whole, been exceedingly tame aud un-

interesting, but, for this very reason, the amount of work got through has beeu larger than ordinary., The Estimates have, with, one or two exceptions^been passed much as they werd sent dowa to the Council, but there still remain one or two items, principally that referring to the hospital, which have yet tp be gone into, and the consideration of which will probably result in very appreciable modifications being made. The most amusing debate, discussion, or whatever it may be called, that has yet taken place, occurred on Friday evening when Mr. Wastney wanted to have £150 placed on the Estimates for the benefit of such of the Councillors as might be desirous of visiting the West Coast. As the peculiar views entertaiued .by the honorable "member for Wakapuaka are not common to the whole of the members of the Council, his resolution, as may be imagined, gave rise to au immense deal of bantev and serio-comic discussion, and however much in earnest he may have been, and probably was, in brioging forward his motion, he must, unless very obtuse, have been conviuced by the shout of laughter that greeted Mr. O'Conor's amendment to the effect that the sum should be voted "to meet equivalent subscriptions " that the Council treated the whole matter as a joke. There was a merry twinkle in Mr. Donne's eyes when he proposed to increase the amount to £500, which contrasted strongly with the serious countenance of Mr. Collins as he gravely objected to be turned, at Mr. Wastney's bidding, into a "peripatetic philosopher" and it is difficult to say which of lhe two was the more eujoyable sight to the lookers-on. The news brought to Auckland by the Wonga Wonga of the fearful scenes that were being enacted in Paris a month ago is painful in the extreme, and yet one canuot but think that fiends in human shape such as those who are now disgracing the late centre of civilisation by their horrible deeds are not fitted to remain any longer in this world and that society is benefitted by their being sent out of it. Murder, rapine, cruelty, and infidelity appear to be the chief characteristics of the savage mob that is now fighting against the Government without having any apparent object in view. One could pity the French nation when sustaining such tremendous and repeated defeats as they did at the hands of the Germans, but when we find that no sooner are they rid of foreign enemies than they begin to fight among themselves, our pity is turned into disgust. I believe there is an old Jesuit prophecy extant to the effect that , the City of Paris was about this period to be levelled with the ground as a judgment upon the infidel tendencies of its inhabitants. Can it be that this prophecy is about to be verified? The large meeting which assembled - at the' Hall last night has decided almost unanimously that they approve of the proposed loan for the construction of gas, and the extension of water, works in the town, and we may hope soon to hear of the necessary plant being ordered. Nelson people delight iu public meetings and last uigbt's proceedings formed no exception to the good-hunibred chaff and quaint remarks which usually characterise such gatherings in our town. F.

The production of wool in California in 1870 exceeded 20,000,000 lbs. The averave price was about 20 cents, the whole clipping being worth 4,000,000 dollars. It is estimated that 187L will see an increase of 25 per cent, in the quantity produced. The London newspapers are puzzled to know what to do about reporting the Parliamentary debates. Last session 462 members shared in the debates. Oue terrible bore addressed the House eightyeight times upon thirty subjects.