THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 118, 18 May 1872, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Rain all day, politics at night. That is the history of the week in half-a-dozen words, but unfortunately, in that brief form it will not fill the column required of me and therefore I must enlarge upon what, to say the least of it, is not a promising text. lam not sure whether it has always been a pleasing relief to me to exchange the patter of the rain on my umbrella for tbe gentle ripple of talk that nightly flows from our Councillors' lips. At the break-up of a long drought, there is something very delicious in listening to the splash of the falling rain, but after it has been coming down incessantly for three or four days it becomes somewhat monotonous, and we begin to look out for a break iv the weather as anxiously as before we scanned tbe horizon in search of a stray cloud. I find it very much the same with the Council. At first there was a certain amount of pleasure in once again bearing the old familiar voices, and in criticising the general bearing and oratorical powers of the new memberp, but the novelty has worn off, and — I mean no disrespect to any one or more of the com*~ ponent parts of the Council— an evening spent in the Chamber is now a weariness to the flesh. The atmosphere is foggy and wants a good thunderstorm, and I am told that the approach of one is indicated by the barometer. The dull routine of Provincial politics was broken in upon on Thursday evening by the address of one of the candidates for the representation of the town, and Mr. Saunders was gladly welcomed back to the platform of a .public meeting in Nelson. This gentleman was always a dangerous opponent either in the Council, the Assembly, or on the hustings, and it is quite clear that his strength bas not yet departed from him, but there is a great improvement noticeable in the weapons he makes use of. He has dropped the axe with which, in the days of old, he was accustomed to deliver tremendous and occasionally indiscriminate blows, and has taken up the razor, which would not perhaps serve him in such good stead in a general melee, but, as on the occasion of Thursday evening, proved. that in the hrinds of one who knew how to use it, it might be made to inflict some very severe wounds, none the less painful because artistically administered. The general opinion seems to be that Mr. Luckie received from Mr. Saunders what is vulgarly termed, a pretty considerable "lambing-down," but there is a good deal of irrepressibleness about that gentleman, and I dare say we shall soon hear from him again. He has already notified that he has entered into arrangements with his dentist for a supply of new teeth to fill the places of those which, Mr. Saunders says, have dropped out one by one, and that he is engaged in sharpening his claws, and we shall probably have an opportunity on Tuesday next of judging whether he has a bite or a scratch left in him. ; I don't care to introduce politics into my weekly summary any further than by a casual allusion to the passing events of the ; day,;and therefore am not now going to speak of the respective merits of the three candidates, but I am sure all who were present on Thursday evening will agree with me in saying that it was a real pleasure to hear Mr. Saunders speak again. Even those who differed from him must at all events give him credit for being thoroughly honest and outspoken, and a complete believer in the correctness of the views he advocates. The nomination is to take place this day week, and there is an impression abroad, that is not altogether without foundation, that on that day there will be some " fun." The tremendous rain that has fallen during the last week (over eight inches) has created a large amount of damage in the country districts, by washing away small bridges, and generally cutting up the roads. The southern approach to the Foxhill bridge has been almost entirely carried away, and it is said that a considerable sum of money will be required to repair it in such a manner as to make it useful and lasting. F.