The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 70, 21 March 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1873.

Waimea West. — Dr. Carr advertises that he will give one of his popular lectures and Mesmeric seances at the Public Hall, Waimea West, this evening. Dr. Carr will visit Richmond next week. New Volunteer Company!— Persons desirous of forming a Volunteer Artillery Company in Nelsou are invited to attend a meeting to be held at the Masonic Hotel this evening at half- past seven. Accident. — A serious accident occurred last night to a man named Richards, who fell in the malthouse in Alton-street, and fractured the bone of his left leg near the ancle joint. Dr Cotterell, the medical adviser of the Foresters'- Society, of which the patient is a member, was sent for and set tbe limb, and the sufferer, we are glad to learn, is progressing favorably. Miss Aitkbn. — An entertainment, under the patronage of the Freemasons and the Caledonian Society, will be given by Miss Aitken, at the Masonic Hall, this evening. To those who can appreciate really excellent reading, or we may almost call it acting, we can strongly recommend to-night's entertainment as a rich treat. The programme is well selected, and one in which we have no doubt Miss Aitken will show to great advantage. Presbyterian Church. — The annual meeting in connection with the Presbyterian Church took place at the Temperance Hall at 6 o'clock last night, when a large party sat down to an excellent tea provided by Mr Johns. This was followed by the usual public meeting, which was also well attended. Mr A. Sclanders having taken the chair, the proceedings were commenced by singing the Old Hundredth, after which the report and balance sheet were read, the latter showing a credit amount of over £100. Officebearers for the coming three years having been nominated, two most interesting speeches were delivered by the Rev. P. Calder and the Rev. G. H. Johnstone. An anthem havinglbeensungby the choir, who at various times rendered valuable assistance during the evening, the Rev. W. J. Watkin spoke on the education of our youth. A comic recital by Mr Black followed, after which Captain Rough gave a short but interesting speech on Presbyterianism in America, Scotland, and Spain, in which he recounted some of his experiences in bis recent travels. A pianoforte duett by Mesdames Ren wick and Macfeay, pleasantly varied the proceedings. Votes of thanks were passed to the Church officers, the choir, especially to Mrs Scaife and Mr Walcot, and the meeting broke up, Mrs Scaife playing the Hallelujah Chorus on a cabinet- organ kindly lent by Mr Stanton. Polo. — A game of " polo," or hockey on horseback, which has become exceedingly popular in England within the last eighteen months, was played in the Botanical Gardens yesterday. This, we believe, was the first time it has been attempted iv New Zealand, and, considering that it was new to all the players, tbe game passed off most successfully. The sides consisted of Messrs Beaumont, Corbett, R. Corbett,. Dillon, Monro, and Fell, captain ; and Messrs Mcßae, Otterson, Richardson, Sayle, Watts, and Wharton, captain. At the commencement of the game the players on each side are drawn np behind their respective goals with the exception of one of the captains, who on the ball being placed by the umpire in the centre of the ground has the first hit off which is, the signal for the others to gallop ' forward , when a regular melee ensues. Some of these miniature cavalry charges were very cleverly executed, and the display of horsemanship was on the whole highly creditable, not one fall occurring through the day, although in some instances, there was a slight tendency on the part bf the riders to part company with their horses, but the balance that was so rudely disturbed by the collisions that every now and then took place wag always recovered in time to prevent aa actual upset. The scrimmages .were capital fun, and were heartily enjoyed by the numerous spec? tators as well as by the players themselves, amongst whom the utmost good humor prevailed notwithstanding the hard knocks received, and the temporary inconvenience caused by the charge of an opponent. There were several drawbacks' to contend against, such as the inequality in the size and weight of "the houses, which strictly speaking; should hot exceed foujrteei» hands, and the weight of the sticks, principally ash saplings-, for which ihe players.were indebted to Mt .'-Hale-i y.Tbefle having been cui^only '.{■ two ■ days : : previously ywere// of course, quto too heavy/ nevertheless, this first game'

proved so great a success that it is proposed, we understand, to play another on Tuesday afternoon. Seeing the spirit with which this new sport has been entered into, it might he worth while for the promoters to form a Polo Club, which would probably meet with considerable support in Nelson. - A , Sale of Sheep was. recently held at Wanganui, when the following' prices were realised : — 700 ewes, 4-tooth to broken-mouthed, 13s to 17s 6d ; ; 200 ditto, 2-tootfi, 19s; 20 pens of Auck-land-bred Lincoln ram lambs, in lots of from three to five, 753 to 84s each; five pens of Aurkland-bred Leicester rath lambs from 37s .6d to 45s each; five pens of imported English rams, broken-mouthed, from £8 to £l 0 10s each. '■''■• \ The Wellington corespondent of a Christchurch paper writes : — By the way, I may mention that Sir George Bowen has recommended Mr Yogel to the Home Government for Knighthood, and as such recommendations are usually complied with, I suppose in due time we shall have to speak of Sir Julius K.C.M.G., unless, indeed, the Home Government deem it right to wait until the fruits of the Public Works policy and Mr Vogel's system of finance are developed. A Serious Fire, believed to be the work of an incendiary,' originated about midnight on Saurday last, in the centre of ten stacks of grain belonging to James Rosser, living on the North Road, near the Waimakariri bridge. He was just going to bed when he and his wife noticed the reflection of the fire, the stacks being near the house. On going outside he found five of the stacks in the middle row were each alight, half-way up from the bottom. Seven stacks of wheat, containing from 1500 to 1600 bushels were totally destroyed, and were uninsured. Three stacks of oats were saved by great exertions. The 1 wheat, a fine sample, had been sold for delivery in Christchurch at 4s 3|d per bushel, to Messrs Dudley and Craig, and the thrashing machine was to have commenced work on Monday morning. The loss will be about £350. — Canterbury Press, March 17* The Invercargill correspondent of the Otago Times says : — I am informed on what may be considered good authority that in the neighbouring 'West Coast Sounds there are either two or three large rivers known to the sealers, of which no mention is made on the charts. These rivers would also seem to have . escaped . the notice of Dr Hector ; at all events, nothing is said about them in the narrative pf his cruise. Tbese rivers are reported to be broad and rapid at their mouths. It is thought that inland they communicate with what will yet be found much more level tracts of country than the contour of the coast line indicates. It is also said that the waters of these rivers are wholly devoid of vegetable coloring, from which the inference is deducted that they pass through a succession of lakes, instead of having an uninterrupted flow from their sources, The circumstance is one which might profitably engage the attention of the proper authorities. The Melbourne Telegraph says :• — The very latest on dit is that Sir Charles Gavan Duffy contemplates a return to Europe, and that with the termination of the present Victorian Parliament he will bid farewell to colonial life. The object of knighthood . bestowed upon him by Mr Gladstone has, it is said,, been misunderstood by the people who regard . it simply from a colonial stand-point. The purpose of the English Premier in conferring the honor was to conciliate the Irish party in the struggle . which the next general election will create, and it is understood. that Mr Duffy intends to throw all his influence into tbe scale of the Gladstone party, and will accept a seat in the next Parliament as the member for New Ross—* his old seat, by the way, and for which arrangements are now being made. For remainder of news, see fourthpa^e.

The Auckland Whaling Company recently shipp^ of'the value Xof £22427 ' Labkikinism. — The Australasian makes the following remarks, which may be read and studied with advantage by persons Residing outside the colony of Victoria: — What are the causes of this hateful phenomenon ? What are the conditions in our particular condition of society that have been favorable to the production of those ill-conditioned boys and still more ill-conditioned girls of whom we from • time to time hear such tales ? * The answer is very plain, although perhaps not very comforting. The fault is our own. It springs from the criminal carelessness land disregard of parental duties of the Xpresent generation. Some men have been too busy^ some too indolent, many too selfindulgent tolook after their homes. They think that they have fulfilled all tbeir .duties if they pay their children's school hills. They probably have not given a thought as to the attainments or the chaactor of the teacher under whose care they place him. They certainly do not trouble: themselves about the boy's progress in his studies, or tbe nature of bis conduct.- For anything that they care, the lad may make what acquaintances he likes, may keep what .company he will, may amuse himself as he thinks fit, provided only that his father is not bothered about him. Nor has it been tbe practice among those men whose sods are now approaching man's estate to be careful over much as to the example that they themselves in. their own lives and- by tbeir own. conduct offer to tbeir children. The general laxity tbat characterises a new* community, and especially a community in snch exceptional circumstances as this country was some sixteen or eighteen years ago, is now producing its effect. Every state of society is the natural result of that which immediately precedes it. One of the prominent features of the present generation Was tbe recklessness and lower moral tone of men hastening to be rich, and escaped from the restraints, of English life. That ! social state was one of the antecedents of j the rising generation, and the moral consequence attends its cause as certainly as the sparks fly upward. There is another circumstance, also, which has largely contributed to aggravate the evil. -In England there is: always a sort of standard of behaviour to which young people almost . instinctively : conform. Youth is naturally imitative, and usually does \pbat it sees others do. Accordingly, when there is a settled neighbourhood, or when there is a circle of relations and near friends, a kind of domestic public opinion, if we may so speak, is naturally formed, which exercises upon the youthful mind a powerful and beneficial influence. No such influence exists, or at all events, existed at the time to which we refer, in Victoria. ; Thus the children were neglected, ahd there were no counteracting forces to mitigate! the consequences of tbat neglect. We cannot then wonder that so many children should be unruly ahd disobedient. We now begin to be sensible of the evil, because the children have grown up to an age at which disguise has -become impossible. But, of course, the evil itself has long; been in progress. There is no doubt that matters are better than they were, and that as society is gradually becoming more settled many of the old evils will disappear. But still we too often can trace the mischievous forces in full 'operation. We frequently hear the complaints of parents that their children have become unmanageable. The question at once arises, "if they are, who is to blame " for it ?" If people choose to bring children into the world, they must he prepared to meet the responsibility of their act:" They are bound to see that those children are brought up to be good - men and good citizens. If they perform this duty, their children will be a comfort . and an honour to their old age. If they neglect it, all the Education Acts and the Young Men's Clubs in the world will not save thenr from the Nemesis that is sure to overtake them. » Matchmaking bt Advbbtisbment.~s It is a most note-worthy fact, and one - which exports our admiration (observes the Pall Mall Gazette, in some observations •upon the advertisements for wives and husbands in tbe Matrimonial News), that not only fortune-hunting in these advertisements is conspicuous by its absence, but^ that instances of extreme disinterestedness abound, so that men of '•'private fortune or "ample means" expressly state that " money on the lady's side is of .. no moment." V "Out of '/'nearly '2oo, not above twdntyVriiake ' it a.neces^ryvqiialification. One, indeed,'?- who&e:',: /list of 77 attractions is . nqt^of a^-soiid" ■ order," -asks for that of which i he apparently^ has. none., X , ; " The jXyqunger x son vbfx^fgcwd^^cj^nl^ ; family, aged %vtt >"'s&! It6in.,v :.- .. has entree 'tolxx besfcvX society^ .iJ^irivelledf ■', a' x7grea|jdeaV good shot, rides; well^isheß to;marisy,r ?s®'-J*^^

clergyman possessed of good means, who desires to form the i aequantauce of a young, pretty, well-educated lady, "-to his eternaf honour adds that "money though an advantage, is not an essential;" while "Achilles, " who is an author and man of -refinement and position, with means independent of his profession'" only demands,- "good sense and ladylike graces with a lady under: forty.- A noble , aspiring "soul, softened by a tender loviug nature, will find in Achilles a responsive echo and a kind, warm, and generous heart. " The ladies in general state that they are tall or short, dark or fair, as the case may be, that ithey are working affec- i "tionate, warm-hearted, "thoroughly domesticated, sometimes they modestly add, " and are considered good-looking," pr "very nice-looking, handsome," &c. One "feels that she wouldrmake a devoted wife;" another declares she is "steady;" a third i mentions a highly .desirable item that she is "clean;" fourth that she is rather stout, j but mild, without encumbrance, of florid complexion, has a nice home and business of her own, but feeling lonely would like a suitable partner;" a fifth is "of comfortable means and Juno-like appearance;" a^ sixth would .prefer a clergyman, and if possible a widower. Many have " fascinating manners," or are well connected and educated. Of widows, who are supposed to understand what man requires, a large majority :: declare that they are "jolly;" while only two young ladies plead guilty to tbat quality. A considerable number candidly state that they have nothing beyond a faithful loving. heart and willing disposition to offer; but fortunes of from £150 to £200 and £350 per annum, "or from £3000 to £5500 down, with good expectations are are quite common in these columns. One has "golden hair and a small yearly income; " another, " tho' poor, and not without faults, is not to be bought with money." There is a case which is appalling, if true; "An heiress of noble family, aged twenty-four, very handsome, with . j £720 a year from large landed estates, is a splendid pianist, harpist, speaks French and Italian, and rides and drives," is j yet driven to the Matrimonial News. It is right to mention tbat she "will only correspond with a gentleman of good birth." Of the gentlemen many affirm that they are in possession of landed estates or. of appointments bringing in £1000, £1500, £2000 per annum, which, if true, is a matter easily verified. There are also advertisements from farmers and tradesmen who wish for economical managing helpmates. As we have * before observed, fortune is rarely the essential, but good looks, education, and refinement are generally demanded; in some instances beauty and musical talents are coupled together. Several wish to be married before Christmas; others entreat for speedy replies, as tbey are going to India, and one wishes to " marry at once " this is a major in the army with good means, and all he desires is a lady of good connections not over thirty-five. The strangest part of the. traffic presents itself when we regard, the social position of the candidates. In one batch there are two noblemen, two colonels, a member of three learned societies, barristers, physicians, missionaries, squires with beautiful residences and good fortune, county magistrates, and numberless naval and 'military offlicers; a French lady of title, two English ditto, one having a jointure of 3000/. per annum, two heiresses, whereof one is a ward in Chancery, entitled to large landed property on coming of age — (is the Lord Chancellor aware of the proceedings of his ward?) — some halfdozen of noble family or of ancient. lineage; and above the rest in point of urgency itf an application from a widow and her three daughters all wanting husbands and having , independent incomes. Surely this is,; tqX say the least of it, very strange. .It is : hardly to be supposed! that of 350 weekly" advertisers all represent impostures, and we are assured (though we remain doubtful) that detection and exposure are the results of any attempt at a hoax.