THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 291, 9 December 1871, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Of nil the many weeks, the events of which I have been called upon to chronicle, the one just passing away has been without exception the most trying to the temper. Blow, blow, blow, from sunrise to sunset, and from sunset to sunrise; now you find yourself, with your eyes full of dust, chasing a runaway hat with all the energy attributed to Mr. Pickwick when bsot on a similar errand; at another time, in turning a gusty corner with the wind right aft you become conscious that your legs are running away with your hody in a most undignified manner, while just in your front and advancing towards you, two or three helpless individuals suddenly find that while you are rushing past them in this wild and hurried manner they have suddenly beeu deprived of all power of locomotion, at least in the direction in which they would go. Add to this the effect that the hot withering blast must have upon every individual exposed to its action, shrivelling up the skin and making it feel rough as a sheet of sandpaper, irritating the nervous temperament, and drying up every drop of the milk of human kindness even in the most benevolent, and the physical and mental'state of the people of Nelson juet now may easily be imagined. I wonder if there is one solitary individual in the whole town who at this present moment can honestly assert that he is "in charity with all men." I confess that I am not, and feel that I have been blown up to such an extent that it will be long ere I recover my accustomed equanamity. "He has been out in the sun" is one of the numerous conventional phrases used in describing the condition of a drunken man; whenever I find that any of my acquaintances are unusually surly and snappißb, I shall certainly come to the conclusion that they have been " out in the wind." But, wind or no wind, my weekly column has to be filled, and if the acknowledged irritability of the writer should betray itself in the outpourings of his pen, he only asks that it may be attributed to its right source. The delay in the arrival of the Suez mail, at which we were all expressing surprise when last I wrote, has now been explained, the Rangoon, a boat that had rendered herself famous by having,-, some few months since, made by far the quickest run on record between Galle and King George's Sound, having beeu wrecked shortly after leaving the first named port. It is worthy of note that notwithstanding the loss of the mail boat, thus necessitating the placing of another steamer unexpectedly on the berth, and in spite of the fact that the news was brought on to New Zealand by a sailing vessel, the telegraphic English intelligence was only twenty-six days old on its arrival in this colony. I think even the Yankees would allow this to be pretty smart work. Looked at from a business point of view the loss of the Suez mail does not materially affect New Zealand, but there are several old Indians resident here who will experience much inconvenience and anxiety consequent upon the non-receipt of their letters. The Californian mail is also considerably behind its time, the telegrams being now three days later than they were last month. Auckland advices to the 6th instant make do mention of the arrivaf of the steamer at that port, so that the delay has evidently taken place between San Francisco and this colony. I referred in my last to the probable commencement of the new sewerage works, but it appears that a difference of opinion with regard to the price of bricks exists between the Board of Works ancK the brickmakers, indeed some of the members of the Board have gone so far as to say that the only tender sent in was an attempt to impose upon the public. Of this I know nothiDg, but it seems to me to be a pity that when small quantities of

bricks can be delivered at £3 a thousand , the brickmakers should deprive themselves of a large order by asking £4, which, of course, they could scarcely have expected to receive. It may be, howevpr, that business is so brisk, and the work of building proceeding so rapidly in the province that they have not the time to execute so Surge an order, and are consequently indifferent as to whether they receive it or not. If this be the case, a more healthy state of things exists here than is generally supposed, and the Board will probably be driven to obtaining brickmakers Irom elsewhere. Our young Collegians are looking forward with no little excitement to next week, when that great event in a schoolboy's life — breaking-up day — is to take place, preceded, as is usual at the Christmas season, by the annual sports, to which additional interest will be given by the competition for the Challenge Cup, to become the property, for twelve months, 'of the youngster who most excels in athletic exercises, the winner to receive, at the termination of the term for which he holds the Cup, a rinjr, as a memento of his schoolboy fejits. This Cup will be a prize well worth the winning, as the gentlemen who have interested 'themselves in procuring it have already riajfed nearly £30 towards its purchase. I am glad to say that a hint I threw out some three or four weeks ago, to the effect that the boys should obtain the services of a gentleman who distinguished himself at the sports held ou the Prince of Wales' birthday as "coach " has been acted upon, and the result of his teaching will probably be noticeable in the improved form in which the competitors will run, jump, &c. The prizes for both mental and physical excellence will be distributed on Friday next. A treat, such as we could scarcely have hoped for in Nelson, is in store for those amongst us who are fond of music on Friday next, when the Italian Opera Company are to perform at the Oddfellows' Hall. A number of tickets have already been disposed of, sufficient, I believe, to justify Mr Stanton, who has taken an immense deal of trouble in the matter, to close with the manager of the Company. There are, however, a good many on hand, and those who mean to avail themselves of the opportunity should lose no time in securing reserved seats. F. For remainder of news see fourth page.

Restoration ote Drowned Persons. Place the body on its stomach, with the arms under the forehead; then turn it from side to side, as one would a cask in cleaning it — gently and slowly of course — until full inflation of the lungs has taken place. — Dr. Marshall Hall.

Water Velocipedes. — The Madras Mail describes a water velocipede, the invention of an officer of the Madras army. It Is notable for the strength and simplicity of its machinery, its comparative immunity from the risk of capsizing, and its propelling power, which gives a minimum speed of from seven to eight miles an hour through smooth water, by the labor of one man sitting in an easy chair and treading with his feet — a speed that can be accelerated by the employment of more labor. The velocipede of one man's power may be described as consisting of two canoes or snake boats, connected together by a wooden platform, the boats being 10ft. lonqr, and lft. beam, placed 3ft apart on which rests a platform, 10 by 3. In the centre of the platform rests the crank (raised on wooden chucks), on which the bearings are placed connecting the two paddle-wheels, 3ft. in diameter. The dip of the paddles is about 1 ft. The motion is given to the crank which propels the velocipede by means of the paddle-wheels by two rods which may be called piston-rod?, 2\ft. long, fixed on the hinder part of the platform. The motion is given by the direct pressure of the operator's feet alternately on the piston rods. Owing to the length of the piston-rods and the direct action of the power employed, the exertiou required, for working the velocipede is not greater than that required for walking. The motion of the legs is similar, beiug forward, and not raised, upwards and downwards to such an extent as a sewing machine, which has always been found so objectionable. The boat has sitting room for four persons, including the operator. Tbe inventor proposes hereafter to utilise the water-velocipede, by constructing large ones, to be worked by two to four coolies, for towing the rice boats on the back waters of Cochin and Travancore. The small velocipede, it is said, costs a little over forty rupees.