The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 169, 19 July 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1871.

One John Harris, a licensed pawnbroker in business at Greymouth, has recently been fined £5 and costs for charging excessive interest. It is proposed to use diving-bells in connection with dredging operations in the Otago rivers. It is believed lhat much labor and expense mi^ht be saved in situations where heavy rocks are met with . Foresters' Dinner. — The Foresters' dinner, which is this year to take the place of the usual ball, will be held at the Trafalgar Hotel to-morrow evening, at 7 o'clock, when the chair will be taken by his Honor the Superintendent. Scientific Association. — The annual meeting of this Association is to be held at the G-overu ment Buildings this evening at 8 o'clock for the purpose of receiving the report for the last year, and electing office bearers. A copy of the Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute for last year, containing much useful and interesting information regarding the Colony, will be handed to members who are not in arrear of their subscriptions. A Strange Prophecy. —We call attention to a curious prophecy written in the year 1554, by a French monk, for a translation of which, together with several comments thereon, we are indebted to the kindness of a gentleman living in Nelson. That portion which we propose to publish to-morrow has reference more particularly to the events of the last year, and the predictions, as will be seen, have proved singularly correct. Harmonic Society's Concert.— The next quarterly concert will be given by the Harmonic Society to-morrow evening, and will consist of miscellaneous selections, comprising solos, duets, part songs, and choruses. The band has greatly increased in strength of late, and will prove a most valuable acquisition to the Society, especially in the accompaniments to tbe choruses. From alL.we can learn, tho coming concert proTlTises to prove one of tbe most successful that the society will have given. Funeral of Mr. Manson Sinclair. — At two o'clock this afternoon, the members of tbe Freemasons, Oddfellows, Volunteers, and Fire Brigade, together with a large number of friends of the deceased assembled at his father's house, whence they accompanied the body to Christ Church, where the first portion of the service was read by the Rev. G. H. Johnstone. The procession then reformed, and proceeded to the cemetery. We are unable to give the details to-day, but shall publish a full account of the impressive ceremony in to-morrow's issue. The Inangahda. — From both public and private sources of information we •learn that the reefs in this district are likely to turn out exceedingly rich, and, that residents in the locality have the utmost confidence in their eventually proving -of great value, is shown by the fact tbat l*igh prices are being paid for sections in Reefton. The Westport Times reports the sale of one portion of land with a frontage of 21 feet for £40, and of another of 25 feet for £30. Those, however, says our contemporary, are far from being the highest prices asked, the best allotments being valued at from £100 to £150. In addition to those signs of prosperity we observe that two breweries are to be started at Reefton. Wesletan Anniversary. — Notwithstanding the boisterous 6tate of the weather, there was a large attendance at the Wesleyan Church last night. After the tea tables had been cleared, a public meeting was held, the chair being taken by T. R. Fisher, Esq. The proceedings were opened by the Rev. Mr. Cannel, who read a portion of Scripture which was followed by a prayer by the Rev. W. J. Watkins. The report was then read by the treasurer, Mr. Lucas, and showed, a deficit of £8 16s. lid., but it was stated that there were arrears; of pew rents to the amount of £30, and that if these were paid in, aa it was hoped would shortly be

the case, the fencing of the church ground, to which the evening's collections was to be devoted, would be proceeded with at once. An address was then delivered by the Rev. W. J. Watkins, in which he impressed upon his hearers the importance of respecting and keeping holy the Sabbath day, to. the neglect of which. he attributed the terrible disasters that have, within the last twelvemonths, occurred in^ France. He also urged upon them the necessity of their contributing from the worldly goods they possessed to the support of their church. A hymn was then sang, and addresses were delivered by tbe Rev. D. Dolamore,— Cannel, Captain Peek, and Mr. Hodder. Unfortunately the anthems that were to have been sang had to be omitted as several of the members of the choir as well as tbe organist were engaged iv attending, the Harmonic Society's rehearsal, and the volunteer parade which took place last night. The anniversary collections amounted, on /Sunday, to £6 ss. lid., and last evening to &s\4s. 4d. Nelson Cloth. — Even * when Mr. Webley's manufactory was yet in its infancy, and the article turned out was of the roughest description, it found considerable favor with the country settlers, especially those whose avocations compelled them to be out in all weathers, and many a one have wo heard, remark that if you had . to be exposed to theT'fain there was nothing like Nelson cloth to get wet in, as the material was of such a nature that there was no dauger of taking cold if clad in it, no matter how long you might be undergoing the unpleasant process of getting " a soaking." That was in the days when the blue shirt was frequently to be seen in the towq, and ihe wearer might drive a team of '"bullocks through Trafalgar Street without laying himself open to the " chaff" which would surely greet him did he now attempt a similar feat, or present himself in the same description of dress that, in those days when comfort was studied more than appearance, was considered perfectly allowable. But the times have changed since then, and we, as in duty bound, have changed with them. Broadcloth has taken the place of serge, and. the crack of tho bullock whip is but very seldom to be heard in our streets. The Messrs Web? ley, and their energetic agent Mr Webb, have not been unobservant of tbe altered state of affairs, and have found it necessary to keep pace with the times. The mill no longer turns out the coarse, homely material which was the foundation of its prosperity and fame, but we now have cloth of the finest texture, such as might, so far as appearance is concerned, be worn in the streets of London, while, at the same time, there has been no falling off in its wearing qualities. We have before us, as we write, no less than twelve different patterns of this excellent tweed, from which both the bushman and the dandy might make their selection, and each of them be thoroughly well satisfied with the article of his choice. The demand for this manufacture has very largely increased of late years, and its fame has spread throughout the whole of New Zealand, a result that, no doubt, is largely owing to the fact of the Government having adopted it to a great extent as the uniform of the Armed Constabulary. Of course the superiority of- the present article to that which was first manufactured at Mr. Webley's unpretending establishment has not been obtained without entailing considerable expense upon the proprietors of the mill, who have, at a heavy cost, imported the very best machinery, which is now in full working order, and many an hour might be less pleasantly and less profitably spent than in inspecting the manufactory from which are annually turned out several thousands of yards of the neatest and most enduring tweeds that could possibly be wished for even by the most fastidious and exacting of men. A We occasionally hear of the inauguration of local industries of various descriptions— • some of them on a very, large seale — in other parts of the colony, but, thanks to the enterprising and spirited proprietors of theNeispn mill, the cloth which bears the name of the Province in which it is made is yet unsurpassed by any manufacture of a similar nature iv New Zealand. At Wellington, a woman named Catherine Fetford has been summoned for thrashing her husband. The magistrate ordered her to find bail in two .ur^ties of £50 each for her good behaviour for six months, which, under the circumstances, is tantamount to six: months'- imprisonment. , : The Hon. Julius Yogel has, it appears been "starring" in London. He was presented by Lord Kimberiey, at the , laßt. levee held by the Prince of Wales for the Queen, at St. James's Palace; and Mrs. Yogel had the honor, of being presented by "Countess, Granville, at a drawing-room held by the Queen. /Mr. JVpgei . has , been electee? ,':■ an „'•■., honprary member of the Reform Club. He is stated to have

received much attention in official and political circles. *;" At . the meeting of tbe Christchurch Philosophical Institute, the president, Dr. Julius Haast, mentioned that he had recently received advices from Berlin that a scientific expedition would shortly leave Germany on a tour of exploration to the Southern Sea, and that it was intended that the fleet should call at Lyttelton. Station Property. — As an instance of the great depreciation that has taken place in the value of station property, we may state that a recent Canterbury paper reports the sale of the Balmoral estate in the Amuri district, comprising 14,000 acres of leasehold, 24,000 acres of freehold , and 24,000 Bheep, for the sum of £24,250. The purchaser was a Mr. Hannah. This is a different state of things to that which existed when Mr. Duppa disposed of his run and sheep in the same locality for tbe sum of £150,000. A novelty in comic journalism is about being started in England. It is to be entitled "Black and White," and will represent both the Liberal and Conservative sides in politics, an editor for each being provided. Each party will have a cartoon, and, in short, the journal will be equally divided between the two. Australian. Comments on New Zealand News. — The Australasian of June 24th thus sums up and comments upon the week's intelligence from New Zealand : — Mr. Fitzherbert, Superintendent, at the opening of the Wellington Council recommended local taxation for the construction of— _:oads, and for the support of schools. "\ He suggested borrowing £100,000 on special security of reserved railways and tramways ; land to be sold on deferred payment. He recommended assisted immigration. A telegraphic report of his speech states that he " characterised the proposed policy of the Government as one of self-help, progres, and direct taxation, and appealed to the representatives of the people to help themselves as some condition of progress." The Inst sentence would seem to imply that Mr. Fitzherbert would wish to see members . vote themselves a large " honorarium " as tending to the advancement of the interests of the province. The latest item of native news is given in a telegram, the startling significance of which is best conveyed by preserving the original phraseology. It is as follows : — " Tauranga, June 7. Excitement prevails amongst ihe natives engaged on the

Taupo and Tauranga road-line. Two of them went to catch wild pigs, one of whom is missing." Plain Speaking.— The Melbourne Argus thus alludes to Mr. Grant, one of the newly appointed Ministers : — " We are not unmindful of Mr. Grant's past services, and we readily admit that he exhibited at one time great talent in his administration of his department. But we are nevertheless bound to say that for months before he quitted office on the last occasion, he was rarely in a fit state to discharge the onerous duties with which he was entrusted. We sincerely regret that the hon. gentlemen will not take — we were going to say a hint ; it has, however, gone far beyond that — but will persist in forcing us to speak plainly. Under the circumstances, then, we can only say that Mr. Grant's uncontrollable passion for intoxicating liquors is such that his appointment to any office of trust and responsibility under the Crown is a scandal and disgrace to the community. Be it undei^ stood, however, that we do not so mucifc blame him for having accepted the prof\ fered prize as we do those who have put the temptation in his way. Mr. Duffy knew— none better— the fatal weakness wliich , has made a shipwreck of Mr. Grant's career. It is '-not sb ..very long ago that they had a passage-at-arms in the Assembly, ( wb^en he taunted his present colleague- with 'his dipsomaniacal propensities, and yet now, in order to serve a temporary purpose and gratify a lust for power, he is content to associate himsel with a gentleman -he so lately denounced, and to entrust one of the most important departments of the state — the department in which the personal authority and responsibility 'aro the greatest — to one whom he only yesterday considered unworthy of notice. Horse Traction. — A Sydney correspondent says : — " Mr. Macley, who is a most pertinacious advocate for borse-power railroads, made one more attempt to get the Assembly to vote for them. He insists that for £1000 per mile iron roads for horse traction could be laid along ail the main roads of the colony, and their annual cost for repairs would not exceed £3 or £4 per mile. Nearly all the engineers, however, stoutly contradict these figures. \^, Iron Piping, of Dunedin manufacture, is coming into use on the goldfields, as a substitute for wooden fiuming, and is said to give universal satisfaction.

private prophecies announcing the past and future disasters in Europe. Such private predictions must be received with great caution, and our belief in them determined by their historical fulfilment. Neglecting therefore the new predictions which are very often bad interpretations of the old ones, there are the prophecies of St. Cesanus of Aries, in the sth century, printed since the loth century (there is, however, a aoubt about the authorship)— of St. Ma'lachy, Archbishop of Arma-h (12th century), of Fathers Hermann, Prussian Monk (J 3th century), of Jerome Botin (15th century) of Father Necton (beginning of the 18 th century), of the Nun of Blois (end I of last century). But the most interesting seems the prophecy of Orval, which is to be found in all the great libraries of Europe. It was well mown in 1793,— one of the oldest copies bears this title— "Prophecies of a Recluse, printed in 1554, in Gallic-French, and found during the Revolution at tbe Abbaye d'Orval." A copy of this remarkable prophecy is m the possession of the Rev. Father Scon, of Wellington, and was brought by him to New Zealand in 1840. Another copy belongs to a gentleman in Nelson, from whom we have obtained it ; and we may add that at the outbreak of the Franco-German war, this prophecy was shewn to several well-known residents here. It will be observed by the text of the prophecy, that the events can frequently be calculated with rigorous exactness : —

THB PROPHECY. VERSE. 1. At that time a young man comes from beyond the sea into the country of the Celtic-Gauls, and will manifest himself by counsels of strength. 2. But the great ones to whom he will give umbrage will 6eud him to make war in the land of captivit) . 3. Victory will bring him back to the former land. 4. The sons of Brutus will be much confounded at his approach, for he -will over-rule them, and take the name of Emperor. 5. Many great and powerful Kings will be in true fear, and his Eagle will bear away many Sceptres and many Crowns. 6. Foot and horsemen carrying Eagles and blood, so numerous as gnats in the air, will run with him throughout all Europe, -which will be much astonished and very bloody, for he will be so strong that God will be believed to make war with him. 7. The Church of God being much desolated, ■will be a little consoled, seeing that her temples are open to the sheep who had been much distracted, and God will be blessed. 8. But it is done ; the moons are passed. 9. The old man of Sion maltreated will cry to God. and lo ! the powerful Emperor will be blinded for his sins an<d crimes. X 10. He will quit the great City with an army so splendid such as never was ; but no warrior will stand firm in the face of the weather. The third part, and yet the third part, of his army will perisli by the cold of the Almighty Lord. 1 1. Then two lustres have passed since the contury of desolation. 12. The widows and the orphans will cry to God. 13. Andlo! the High ones who had been humbled will recover strength, they will league together to overthrow the man so much feared. 14. Behold comes with multitudes of warriors lhe old blood of centuries which will resume its place and power in the Great City. Then the man so much dreaded, will return much humbled to the country beyond the sea from which he had come. 15. God alone is great; the eleventh moon has . not yet shone and the sanguinary scourge of the Lord will return to the Great City. And the old blood will quit the Great City. 16. God alone is great, heloves his people, and hates blood. The filth moon will shine upon multitudes and multitudes of warriors from the East. Gaul is covered with men and machines of war. All is over with the man from beyond the sea. 17. Behold, again the old blood of the Cap comes. 18. God loves peace, and may his name be blessed. Now great peace will be in the Country of the Celtic Gauls. The White Flower will be in great honor. The houses of God will hear many holy Canticles. 19. But the sons of Brutus, hating the White Flower, obtain powerful laws by which God is very much angered on account of his children. The Great Day is yet much profaned. 20. However, God will try their conversion during eighteen times twelve moons. 21. God alone is great. He purges his people by many tribulations, but the wicked will be destroyed. 22. At that time a great conspiracy against the White Flower will go on in the dark, by the hands of wicked Societies ; and the poor old blood will quit the great City and the sons of Brutus will much rejoice. 23. The servants of God will cry aloud to God : , but God for that day will be deaf, because he will temper his arrows to cast them soon into the bosom of the wicked. 24. Woe to the Celtic Gauls. The Cock will efface the White Flower, and a great one will be called the King of the people. 25. Great commotion will be felt in all nations, because the Crown will be given by the hands, of working men who will have made war in the great City. 26. God alone is great. The reign of the wicked will increase, but let them hasten. 27. Behold the thoughts of the Celtic-Gauls are clashing, and there is a great division in their understandings. 28. Tlie j King pf the people enthroned will be seen first very, weak, and,; 'however; will 1 HhWart* many wicked, but he.was not well 7 seated, and God cast him down. MZ-- _ „; ..v . ; . . ■ , ..'■ To be C

ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT. VERSE. 1. Napoleon comes from Corsica to France, and shews his genius in his wars in France, and in his first Campaign in Italy. 2. The Directory, fearing his influence, sends him to Egypt. 3. He returns, after many victories, to France. 4. The sons of Brutus (i.e. the Revolutionists) were crushed by the coup d'etat of Napoleon I, who was made Dictator under the names, of Consul and afterwards of Emperor. 5. All know Napoleon conquered _ Europe, dethroning many Princes, and making Kings of his own relatives, 6. This is a graphic description of the armies of Napoleon. 7. We know Napoleon opened the Churches which had been closed and profane 11 during the Revolution, by making a concordat with the Pope. 8. The times mentioned in the eleventh verse. 9. The Pope dethroned by Napoleon and kept prisoner at Savona. And from that day, as remarks . the infidel de Fontane, his minister, " his genius declined, and his misfortunes began." 10. Napoleon leaves Paris for Russia with a. magnificent army, two thirds of which at least perished in the snows of Russia. 11. A lustre is five years; he began to organise the campaign of 1812 in 1811 shortly after the two lustres (or 10 years) had passed from the end of the eighteenth century— truly called for France the " Century of Desolation." 12. This is evident. Blood cries always to God. 13. AH Europe in 1812-13 leagued together to overthrow Napoleon. 14. The Bourbons whp.^had reigned eight centuries without opposition over France, return to Paris with the armies of Europe. And Napoleon returned to the Mediterranean from which he h>ad originally come. 15. Napoleon lands at Cannes ten days before the eleventh moon since the entrance of Louis XVIII. into Paris. Louis " the old'blood " retires to Holland. 16. The first new moon after the landing at Cannes shone on the 11th March, 1815 ; the sth moon shone on the 7th July. 1815, ihe day after Louis XVIII. entered Paris with the allied armies. Napolepn lands at St. Helena, 18th October. 1815, and died there sth May, 1821. ' - 17. Louis XVin., the old blood, returns to Paris Bth July, 1815. 18. There was great peace for ssme time. The White Flower (the white Lily is the. emblem of the Bourbons) was much respected as the harbinger of peace. The Pope was liberated and the Church rejoiced. 19. The Revolutionists obtained in the Legislature some irreligious laws, especially one to pern; it the desecration of the Sabbath. The Bourbons having previously passed a law requiring the strict observance of that day. 20. This refers to the duration of the reign of Louis Philippe, which lasted exactly 18 times 12 moons. Bets, on the strength of this prophecy, were made iv France before his abdication,* that he would fall before the beginning of March, 1848. 21. The Revolution of 1830, and the following rebellions at Lyons, Grenoble, &c.\ \ 22. The secret societies expelled Charlej K. from his throne, in 1830, and from that time the Revolutionists have rejoiced and increased all over Europe. « , 23. There was a great revival of religious '--seal and prayer in many parts of EVance to obtain the victory for Charles K. 24. The Cock is the badge Louis Philippe was forced by the Legislature to assume in lieu of the Whi,te Flower. And he ■ was commonly called the Citizen King, and officially " The King of the French." . , 25. ] These' verses refer to the occurrences 26. v during 1830, and the reign of Louis 27. j PhiUppe. <•'>-'• Z Z\ \ 28. Louis Philippe was notoriously weak, but he formed a< regular, government which >.did i not * please, the. Red Republicans. He fell unexpectedlyiaffer4h. 18 times 12 moons. hntinued. ' 'Z . , . ) .:,'•.;.'.', )"'.';.' T7;T::77 JA J.\ Ai'. ':■-.'••■ ■

" Wild Dogs," the Hamilton Spectator says, " are increasing at an enormous rate on the Nangwarry, _Woo_dford, arid other border runs, aud their ravagres among the flocks in that part of the colony are becoming correspondingly destructive. It is even feared that unless, prompt and united efforts are made to keep them under, they will entirely extirpate the flocks, or drive the settlers away."

There are said to have been some successful forgeries of scrip in Auckland lately. One offender, against whom several charges have been brought, has been apprehended, and was ; portly examined at the Police Court on "Thursday last. Another case is spoken of as having occurred about three weeks ago, when, as it is stated, a mine manager forged the signature of a well-known merchant, and afterwards sold no less than £1700 Worth of scrip bearing the forged name.

The Charleston Herald in responsible for the following : — lt is reported that tlie present visit of Earl Belraore is not altogether one of pleasure, but that the principle object of his mission is, on behalf , of the Home Government, to further the object of a federal union of the colonies as a mutual support in times of difficulty, when, if one colony is threatened either from within or without, the others will be bound by reciprocity of interests to protect it. Souvenir of the Late Wak. — An interesting souvenir of the war between France and Prussia has recently been received by Dr. Haast, from Germany. It consists of two very kandsomely bound and finished albums, one of which contains the portraits of every general or person of note taking part m, tne struggle, the portraiture- of which is excellent. The other contains photographic -despatches from the Empenor during the whole war, numbering some hundreds, which are photographed from the original affiches on the walls of Berlin. The Ballarat Star calls attention to the fact that " large quantities of fish in the creeks leading iuto Lake Burrumbeet are either dying from disease or being killed by some liquid which has been mixed with the water. A codfish several pounds in weight was seen dead on the banks of one of the. creeks, and smaller fish are to be found in great quantities. It is said that the visitation seems "to be confined to the creeks leading from the direction of the Ballarat Meat Preserving Company's works, or to be greater in them than in the others."