THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 203, 2 September 1871, Page 2

T H E WEEK.

I don't know if it is to be accounted for by the fact of the Assembly being in j session, thus constituting -Wellington. the central point of interest in tbe colony, Wat our town is gradually getting duller and duller, but so it is, and the dreary monotony that prevails from Sunday morning to Saturday night is becoming positively i oppressive. This might-, with an. ; effort, be borne, if occasionally there came from the capital something of an exciting nature, but this is not the case, as the politicians, there assembled appear to be resting on their oars for a time, awaiting, possibly, the opportunity for. a grand display of rhetorical power that will be afforded by the debate on the financial statement, which, it is promised, •will be delivered on Friday next. No doubt the ! Motueka election committee, which meets ou Tuesday, will inspire a -H'ttle life and interest into the news that we shall after that. date receive from the-seat of Government, as it seems that no stone, is to be left unturned in the endeavor to unseat Sir David Monro. A cloud of witnesses, under the wing of Mr. Luckie, the moving spirit in the matter, left in the steamer Wellington yesterday morning for the scene of action; and it is possible that still more may have to go over to give evidence for the. .defence, if I may so call it. Speculation, is rife as to the probable result of the- enquiry,; and it is said that it may be a long time before the question is finally settled.. „No direct attack has yet; been made upon the Ministry, owing, no doubt, to the want of organisation that exists on the other side, but when the forces are properly marshalled we may expect' to hear of a grand engagement. Meantime, skirmishers have been thrown out, and in this" desultory fighting, Mr. Collins, the. .member for Golden Bay, appears to have taken a prominent part. His Chassepot has been charged with some very ugly questions to the various members of the Government, that have been fired off" with some little skill, and, judging from the; results, with a certain accuracy of aim. Opinions differ as to whether his enquiries are to be looked upon as pertinent or impertinent, according to the political bias of him who pronounces an opinion upon them. Those who do not look upon the Fox-Vogel Ministry as.the incarnation of perfection, think the former; those who believe. that Mr.- Vogeh can do no wrong-, the latter. I incline to the first-named adjective, and -[agree) with those who think that the .Government have not exhibited strength in declining to give the required information.. The Wellington Advertiser has honored Mr. Collins with 9n;articl|> ?)n the subject in ' which' "tt has' applied t&e term " nasty " to him three times over. I think if I were. Mr.^Cpllins I.^ould: rather delight i.n_ ..having that article ! 'Writ^ii ; 'iyoat I 'me~i)y the Advertiser. 1 congratulate him upon it, 'anil I L think I may say it won't do him .touch harm" with his. constituents orjhe NelßoWp l ablfc/.J : .| c A; notice' of a 'naiaichine recently constructed by Mr. Levestam for turning to account' the ) w&ter? poVfei*' ia' ./the'? d fraction of 'his -lathe ; has "appeareS in- all the-Jqcalpapjers .during tbe week, and this, has. suggested, ta me the idea that, it .may; not be general I^7kiM>«fq):liojfjß}:!seiiairjly ; ; :waterjFi(ff|Ufe^!!i|ij^elfl9|i as a mJDsvej power v T^Qbeiiq^ with, all the printing; machines in tne "town are worked by zt,4 it- is also used by Mr. Newton for hie ohaff-cutting machine, by Mr. Webster foil

coffee-grinding;, tobacco-cutting, &c, byMr;< Gorrie for turning and -sawing, and occasionally for working a berdan, and by Mr.*, Wadman at his ginger-beer and soda- water manufactory. 'From this it will be seen that the advantages of our excellent system of waterworks are not confined to the preservation of health and cleanliness in the town, hut that they are largely turned to account in saving labor. Of the weather during the last week it is impossible to say one word that is favorable. It has simply been abominable, and, as one who has always delighted to enlarge upon the delicious climate of sunny, ably aggrieved by the incessant showerß that have so pertinaciously persisted in making the roads sloppy, and everybody generally uncomfortable. Of course the nasty cold showers have affected both the 'health and the temper of, all whose occupations have called them out into the open air, and great coats, comforters, and every description of wrapping have been in great demand, the number of those who could boast of. a cold, or an attack of influenza or rheumatism being unusually large. I remember once being told of a most ridiculous printer*! error. A poet had been painting in glowing colors a garden scene, and in doing io had spoken of " the dewdrop on the full blown rose," which the compositor, much to bis horror, contrived to convert into " the dewdrop on the unblown nose. 5 " Dewdrops of this particular description have been very abundaut throughout the week. I suppose there never was a more coquettish mine than the Perseverance. Occasionally it carriea coyness to a painful extent, and is most ..paring with its favors; then, just as the dispirited wooer is on the point of giving up the pursuit in despair, it drops its reserve, and assumes an encouraging smile worthy of the most experienced courtezan, \ which once more lures its followers on in the Will o' the Wisp chase which it delights in leading them. At present it Uin a most unamiable mood and is not looked upon by the shareholders as a ** ministering angel." But we are a most sanguine people, and v;e revel in anticipations in the most extravagant manner. Hope costs nothing but a little occasional iickness at heart, and what of that ? F.