THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 112, 11 May 1872, Page 2

THE WEEK.

The unusual liveliness created by the races has disappeared, and given place to the ordinary calm and quiet that, as a rule, pervade the streets of Nelson, and even the proceedings of the Provincial Council have not been of a very inspiriting nature, the members thereof having devoted themselves to the real business of the session, in the place of indulging in those little passages of arms, at which, on previous occasions, they have proved themselves such adepts. So far as their constituents are concerned, this is without doubt a change for the better, and if the work is proceeded with in the same energetic and persevering manner throughout the session, it will not be very long before the Superintendent will be called upon to bid farewell to his trusty Councillors. The Highways and Town Improvements Acts have passed through Committee, after long and exhaustive discussions on all the more important clauses, and are likely to pass the third reading before the 16th inst., after which day the existing Acts will cease to be in force. A sparkling debate may be expected on Monday evening, on the question of the expenditure of the Public Works Fund, as members will no doubt be found in the Chamber who will take diametrically opposite views of the action of the General Government in the matter. The people of Nelson evinced their loyalty on Thursday last, when large congregations attended all the places of worship in the town in order to take part in the thanksgiving services for the recovery of the Prince of Wales. If ever a man had a noble career opened to him, that man is the present Prince of Wales. There is no concealing the fact that of late years he has — whether rightly or wrongly it matters not now — become very unpopular in England, but no soouer was he laid low on what it was feared might prove his deathbed than the loyalty to the Royal family that exists in almost every English breast burst forth, and the deepest sorrow and anxiety prevailed among all classes. This in itself was sufficiently touching, and showed that, notwithstanding all the revolutionary demonstrations- that have of late been made, there still existed to a large extent the old affection for our ancient institutions, but when the Prince was fully restored to health, then the enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds, and as one man the nation came forward and held out its hand to him upon whom it had of late cast glances of doubt and dissatisfaction. Will he avail himself of the splendid opportunity thus afforded him of reinstating himself in the affections of the people over whom he is one day to rule ? Will he iake the proffered hand in the same spirit in which it has been held out to him ? A grander or more thrilling ceremonial, a demonstration more pregnant with meaning than that which the streets of London witnessed on the Thanksgiving Day in England it is scarcely possible to conceive, and if he who was the object of it will but seize such an opportunity as is not offered to a man twice in his lifetime, he may yet be as popular a sovereign as ever sat on the British throne, and frequently have occasion to look back upon his dangerous illness as, one of the most fortunate circumstances of his life. . < • ...':

Some little excitement has been created* during the week by the arrival of the capsized schooner Ocean Bird in tow of the steamers Lyttelton and Chnrles Edward, and it was a moment of painful expectation and anxiety when, after being righted, the cabin was sufficiently emptied of water to allow of its being entered and search made for the bodieß - v that many believed would be found there. There is however evidence to show that the crew had left the vessel after having used every effort in their power to save her, and there are grounds for hope — slight though they may be — that the poor fellows may yet be living on some portion of the shores of Blind Bay or Cook's Straits. The cargo which consisted of grain is of course utterly spoiled, but the vessel itself may soon be repaired and made as good as ever. The long over due English mail has not turned up at Auckland, and it is to be feared that some serious break down must have occurred to the steamer either on this or the other side of Honolulu. The immense inconvenience that is experienced by business men owing to these frequeut delays in the arrival of the Sau Francisco mail can easily be conceived, and if this state of things lasts much longer there will be a feeling of dissatisfaction from one end of the colouy to the other that it will take many months of regularity in the service to allay. F.