THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 101, 27 April 1872, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Those who are fond of political meetings, aud, judging by the crowded state of the. Provincial Hall on the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday last, their number is a large one in Nelson, must have spent a most delightful week. Anticipating the ! treat in store for them on Monday, enjoying tbe reality on Tuesday and Wednesday, and revelling in the pleasant reminscences of what they had heard on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday— what more could the most exacting of mortals require ? The inhabitants of Nelson are a meeting loving people, and no amusement of any description whatever would stand the smallest chance of drawing an audience if a counter attraction were offered in the shape of an address from a candidate for political honors. Some go u_-.,i.q thav take a real interest in the

politics of the country, others with a view i to being amused, either by watching the i bearing of the would-be elected as he is < subjected to a searching cross-examination \ by such men as Mr. Rowell, who will have I a direct answer to his questions, or by the ] good-humored banter that is safe to crop up at some time during the evening ; a third class like to be present because there is always some degree of excitement in being one of a crowd, and lastly, others go because they are obliged to, and among these latter may be numbered the reporters, whose faces it is amusing to watch as they occasionally glance beseechingly at the speaker if he shows signs of being longer winded than usual. After the first hour symptons of restlessness are always visible at the table allotted to the "gentlemen of the press," for the same reason, I suppose, that watches are pulled out in all directions and shut with a savage snap when a sermon exceeds the conventional twenty minutes. But I find that, as is occasionally the case with speakers at public meetings, I am wandering a little from my ' subject ; possibly the habit may be infectious, and liable to be communicated by a speaker to a writer, if so lam not altogether without excuse, seeing that I responded to both Mr. Richmond's and Mr. Luckie's invitations. I was alluding to the various attractions that draw people to these meetings, but I cannot understand tho motives tlmt impel some individuals to be present. On Tuesday night there were two or three in the Hall who seemedi to have entirely misunderstood the object of the meeting, being apparently of opinion that it was to hear their remarks, that people had congregated from all parts of the town. I thiuk if I had been in tbo chair I should have convinced them of their error through the medium of a policeman. The doors were standing invitingly open, and I am sure none in the room would have regretted their absence. The two big guns that announced the opening of the election fight having been fired off, there is now a temporary lull, but I suppose it will not be very long before the skirmishing commences, though it may be some weeks before the decisive day arrives, as Mr. Speaker, upon whose dictum all the i future movements are dependent, is just, now addressing his constituents at t\\& southern extremity of the island. Politics, however, are not to to be allowed to sink into obscurity, as the Provincial Co uncil is summoned to meet next Tuesday,., and, no doubt, we shall have plenty ol 3it,tle local matters to keep us interested f&r the next six weeks. Nelson has assumed qnit_ a s,po«fting air within the last few days, a_(_ at the coiners of the streets are to be seen little knots of individuals who, it may be seen at a glance, are not altogether ignorant of the internal economy of a stable, while at certain hours of the day one cannot walk j far, either in the town or suburbs, withow* i meeting horses in clothing takiia;r>. their regular exercise, and looking &p "though the greatest attention- was ps' d t0 their well being. I have sonietf- me g hearc] ifc argued that racing is acr ae { ort but I wonder how many bae^ 8 there are in tbe country that would r if th had the chance, be willing to change places wiA the racehorse. _^ j- B_id8 _ id last aU the symptom? of that fo _ sorae yearß have shown themae ,4 8 in our meetings, nave, tor the presenfc at least, completely disapjK a _ e^ and the ra(jeg of next wee | c T .i be by far the best that have been seen r "s Nelson for a number of years. I only h-oye it is not the fitful flicker that so l frequently precedes the final collapse. I The San Francisco mail which was due I in Auckland last Monday has not yet reached the shores of New Zealand, but twelvemonths' experience has taught us to look upon unpunctuality as one of the principal features of this service, and consequently no one is surprised or disappointed at not receiving his correspondence within live or six days of the due date. If nothing serious happens to the steamer we may be in the receipt of the telegrams before the end of next week. F.