THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 297, 16 December 1871, Page 2

THE WEEK.

School examinations, distributions of prizes, regatta subscription list?, cheap steamer trips, and numerous other signs of a similar description indicate tbe approach of Christmas, and Nelson evidently does not mean to be behind hand this year in enjoying the great annual holiday. Indeed the opportunities of

spending money seem -^increase with the difficulty of obtaining- it, Vbut we are a sanguine people, and are- always looking forward hopefully to the reef, or the railway, or the something or other that iB coustantly coming — but never does come — to cheer our spirits and fill our purses. Perhß])S, after all, this is better than giving way to despondency. Amoug the schools, this week has been, and next week will be, a busy one. Yesterday was the great day at the College, when Judge Richmond distributed the prizes, and in, so doing delivered his annual address, which I never hear — and I have now bad the pleasure of listening to it periodically for some years — without thinking that were anything to prevent its being delivered, a blank would be created in the educational course of the school. I will answer for it that there is scarcely one of the boys who has the privilege of being among those addressed who does not store up some little piece of advice, Eome word of encouragement, that from the kind and homely, yet, at the same time, forcible, manner in which it is offered to them, makes an impression that will never completely wear off, but in the years to come will still remain fresh in his memory, and cause him to look back with gratitude upon him who with a thorough knowledge of boys' nature, bad taken the opportunity afforded him by these occasions of implanting it there. Of course these annual addresses appear afterwards in the local papers, but to see them in print, and to hear them delivered with that earnestness of manner that always characterises Judge Richmond's speaking when dealing with a subject in which he himself takes a deep interest, are two entirely different matters, and for this reason it must have occurred to the numerous visitors who were present on the occasion that it was a matter for regret that many of the boys were absent. To my thinking it should be made quite as compulsory upon all the pupils to be present at the delivering of the breaking-up address, as it is for them to attend their classes in school hours. Before taking leave of matters connected with education, I may mention that the examination of the pupils at the town schools takes place duriog next week, and that a special invitation is issued to parents to be in attendance whilst such examinations are in progress. Possibly mauy of them will not be able to afford the time for this, but it is hoped that they will contrive to be present when the prizes are distributed in the Provincial Hall, ou Friday next. This may appear to them a small matter, but lot them ask their children whether it would not be gratifying to them to see a large coucourse of their seuiors on such an occasion, and whether the prize winners would not attach a higher importance to their rewards if presented to them in the presence of those who they like to feel take an in erest in their little school joys and trials. I shall be quite content to rest my plea on the replies they receive. Our harbor presented quite a busy appearance yesterday, reminding those who had occasion to visit it of the "good old times," no less than six steamers and a brig being signalled during the day. The boat from the North did not bring the anxiously looked-for Opera Company, thereby causing considerable disappointment to a number of persons from the country, who had come in with the intention of enjoying a musical treat during the evening, but we have at least one consolation, namely, that we can revel in all the pleasures of anticipation until next Thursday. There are several other little topics upon which I might touch in my capacity of weekly journalist but the printer, beseeches me to remember that his " form ". is bound with inexorable iron, i and not with any elastic substance. He says I have reached the utmost limit he can allow me for my gossip, so that no other course is open to me but to yield to the force of circumstances, and lay down my pen for another week. F. For remainder of news see fourth page.

RaHavays.— -The Wellington correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross, in speaking of the scramble for railways, says : — " Mr. Brogden's face, behind the Speaker's chair, was seen gradually elongating itself with wonder as scheme after scheme was being hurled at the Gcvernmenti It was . quite evident that he was trying a little mental arithmetic as to whether the fortunes of Rothschild and Bariog combined would suffice for the construction of the proposed railways." An Oxford (Canterbury) correspondent writes : _« y ou will be glad to hear we have got the road steamer here safely. Its appearance, of course caused a sensation among the natives. Its journey upland was a very satisfactory one. The coal burnt badly, but a couple of bags of Grey coal, procured at the blacksmith's ou the Moeraki Downs, is found to answer best, and Messrs Perham and Blake will very likely^ use this particular kind in future, as beiDg most suitable for keeping up ihe steam. ■Encouragement of Arboricu:lt;uee. —By the last mail from Wellington we received a number of the Acts passed in the late session of the Assembly, among which is one for encouraging the planting of forest trees. The third clause of this Act provides as follows : — " If any persou shall plant any land, not being less than one acre in extent, with forest trees, he shall be entitled to receive, in respect of every acre of land so planted, a free grant of two acres of rural land of the waste lands of the Crown which may be open for sale within the province in which the. trees are Provided that no Crown Grant shall be issued until it be satisfactorily shewn that the land has been devoted to purposes of planting only for at least two years, that the trees are in a vigorous and healthy state, and that the land is securely fenced against both sheep and cattle." It is further provided that " no Grant shall be issued under the provisions of this Act for less than 20 nor more than 250 acres, but if any person shall, under the said provisions, be entitled to a less extent than 20 acres of land, he may pay the balance in cash upon the same terms as other applicants for rural lands under the Waste Lands Regulations of the Province." Sewage. — The Commission on the sewage of towns appointed in 1857, i in England, made the following statement in their third report ia 1865 : — " The right way to dispose of town sewage is to apply it continuously to land, and it is only -by such application that the pollution of rivers can.be avoided." The commissioners appointed to inquire into the best means of preventing the pollution of rivers recommended iu 1866 :— " That after the lapse of a period to be allowed for the alteration of the existing arrangement, it will be njade unlawful for any sewage, unless taifsame has been passed over land so as to become purified, to be cast into the Thames between Cricklade and the commencement of the metropolitan sewage system." In 1870, the same commissioners reported : — "We have no hesitation in recommending irrigation as the only plan of dealing with the sewage difficulty! at present known to us, which at oiuee abates a nuisance and turns to profitable account an otherwise valuable material." Of these conclusions most scientific men have accorded their approval, and we consider it well to give this view of public opinion on this point, at a time when the' subject is engaging attention. Colonial Wheat in England. — The Timaru Herald of the 9th instant says: — We would call the attention of farmers and others interested to a sale of 703 sacks of Timaru wheat lately sold in the London market. In all, 2918 bushels were sold, realising in the gross, including sale of sacks at 6d. each, £1037 19s. 6d., or a fraction under 7s. l^d. per bushel. The total expenses amounted to £265 3s. Bd., leaving £772 15s. lOd. as net proceeds, or a fraction over ss. 3£d. per bushel. These figures are very satisfactory, as proving that, even with the necessarily high;expenses involved in shipping to England, a very tolerable paying price remains to. the farmer. If the producer could always reckon, say on ss. or even 4s. 6d. s per bushel, farming interests in South,Canterbury would brighten considerably. We only trust that the knowledge given to farmers by the figures quoted will have the effect of causing them as a body to combine and ship on their own account. There is no possible reason to prevent them doing so, except it be that many of them are not their own masters, being, the slaves ■of the merchant and storekeeper. The iformution of a Farmers' Club at the Point is a step in the right direction. Under .careful management it should turn out a very«uceeaflful institution, and give to.fthe farmer the means of being his own deftler and master. , ■ \- ' The Royal Tkoops of Fiji. -j- A, number of young men at the Thames and in^uifclandf-have -enlisted j a a c^pg; to serve for a certain time under tehe G-ovejrn^ ment of Cakobau, at Fiji.