THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 41, 15 February 1873, Page 2

THE WEEK.

■' o y Bat few incidents of public interest have occurred during the past week, which has been singularly dull and uneventful, even for Nelson, and that is surely saying a good deal. The Wakefield steeplechase afforded an excuse for a very pleasant outing, and as such, it was thoroughly eDJoyeil by many of the townspeople, but of the sport itself little^can^be said, f 9r J ;.ca^:l^oreJ: u .anezcitiQgv:djly was perhaps never before spent on a racecourse

There were a few moderately good hark races, but there is something not soothing 'o,| he feelings^ of t hose ; who), are really fond of hpr'le- facing in Nelson.^here at one ti/nethiß description of sport flourished and Was patronised more than in any other pro* vince in New Zealand, in the knowledge that 'he bpst that can ba done in this particular line jusfc now is to briug together a few untrained horses. Tho difference between For continiiatioi of news see fourth p~>ge

Holloway's Pills —Weakness and Debility. — Unless the hlood be kept in h pure state, the constitution must be weakened and disease supervena. These wonderful Pills possess the power of removing or neutralising all coti-Umin-Uions of the Mood and system ') hey quietly but certainly overcome all obstructions tending to produce ill health, and institute regular action in O'gttns that nre fauly from irritation or debility The dyspeptic, we»k. and nervous may rely on these Kills as their best Mends and cora'brters. They improve the appetite and thoroughly invigorate tbe digestive apparatus. Hollo*ay's Pills have long het-n known to be the surest prevmtives of liver comp aints dreadful dropsies, spasms colic, constipation, and m*ny othnr disrasi;3 alw*u a hovering round the feeble aud' infirm. 359

the present and the past race meetings here is quite as great as tbat in the appearance of the professional jockey in his gaudy jacket, r well-fitting breeches and neat bootp, and of the amateur back-rider io shirt sleeves, moleskin trousers and watertights. But, like the old lady who apologised for her bad cough by remarking that it was tbe best she bad, we too must be satisfied to plead a similar excuse for our altered circumstances. Some of these days, perhaps, when prosperity once more dawns upon us, we may be able to hold up our heads again in this, and other matters; if so, let us hope that the improvement may prove lasting.

I am pleased to find from casual conversation with " the man in lhe street," that there is a very general desire abroad to give our volunteer visitors, who are expected in about a fortnight's time, a hospitable reception. A committee is being organised to make the necessary preparations, and the Government has expressed, its willingness to grant pecuniary aid, but, however energetically the former may set to work, and however liberally disposed the latter may be, it yet remaißß for the people at large to do their share. This is essentially a matter to be taken in hand, not by the Government and a committee alonp, but by the public both individually and collectively. Tbat the representatives will find much to admire in our scenery, and to interest them in the town and suburbs during their brief stay here I have no doubt, nor do I fear tbat our usual genial weather will on tbat occasion be guilty of misbehaviour, and it only remains for the residents to ghow that hospitality which has never yet heen wanting in. Nelson, to ensure a successful meeting, from which our visitors shall return to their homes with pleasurable recollections of their trip. All classes will be represented among tha volunteers from the other provinces, and all classes will, I am sure, do their best to welcome them and to render their stay here an agreeable one. In the course of two or tbree^days the committee will probably have sketched out a programme of the proposed proceedings during the few days over which tbe firing will extend.

The farmers throughout the whole of the Blind Bay basin are this year exposed to tbe ravages of a plague that hitherto has only been experienced in a comparatively slight degree in some few isolated districts. Crickets are to be found in myriads throughout the whole country, and the amount of damage they are doing is not to be easily calculated. Grass paddocks, that should look green and flourishing, are brown and withered, and promise badly for the condition of the stock during the ensuing winter, shrubs are destroyed, and indeed 1 nothing seems to escape the attentions of these greedy, omnivorous insects. They swarm in the fields, they invade the house, they enter the dairy and storeroom, they don't despise, an occasional visit to the barn and bay loft. They are friends to tbe tailors for tbey will perforate woollen clothes in a very short time. Let me give give an instance. A friend of^mine went out the other day to work in his. garden, and very naturally took off his coat, which he laid on the ground. After being employed for a few hours, he resumed his garment when to his disgust be found it gnawed through in no less than thirteen places. These little wretches are sacrilegious in their desire to appease their ungovernable appetites. They have no respect for the sanctity of a building or its contents. Not long ago they effected an entry into a church, attacked the bindings of the prayer-books, displayed an uncommon liking for the Marriage Service, swallowed the thirtynine articles, or as much of them as they could conveniently digest, devoured Tate and Brady, then turned round and eat their way back again coming out through " When the wicked man." I recommend them most heartily to the notice of the Secretary of our Acclimatisation Society and his insectivorous birds.

Two New Zealand bishops have been rendering. themselves; .unpopular of late. Bishop Suter by attacking the Education Act of Victoria after having- been in Melbourne only a few hours, and before the effects of the sea voyage oh his "temper" had fairly,passed offhand Bishop Moran by denouncing the Freemasons in the most wholesale vQaanner. Both were courageous, but both, in my humble opinion, were ; wanting in judgment. I ara not a Victorian, •and consequently have no particular affection for an Act" which, however, is approved of by the residents in that colony, in Whose capital town it was attacked, but if I were' and if, after full discussion, suoh an enactment had been agreed to by me and my brother colonists, X think I should feel a .little sore at an entire stranger criticising in a fit of temper a measure of which we approved, and with the working J of which' he could-be but : little acquainted.- Neither am I &' Freemason,-, but were I in a position to claim that honor' I am sure I should be pretty considerably riled, if

even a Bishop were to heap abuse on my head as freely as Dr. Moran appears to have done at, iHdkitika. I expect to see some cutting replies' to this portion of his address, or, if they do not appear, the Masons will fall very much in my estimation, and I should think ih that of all who are unacquainted with the mysteries of the craft. F.