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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 188, 6 August 1873, Page 2

Kelson and West Coast Railway.— We take tho following, which Beems to shed a ray of hope upon tho railway scheme in which all Nelson is now interested, from the Wellington Independent, which ib generally looked upon 83 tlm Government organ. The pressure brought to bear by the Nelson public is evidently telling, or we should never have spen so conciliatory a paragraph in the Independent: — Our telegrams informed us tha other day that the announcement made in the Colonial Treasurer's Financial Statement with respect to the Nelson mid West Const Railway had created great disappointment, not to say indignation, in ■- elson. Our Nelson friends appaar to have entirely misunderstood the sense of {he Premier's explanation with regard to this railway. A perusal of the Financial Statement will show that it does not contain any language calculated to lead to the impression that the Government have an idea of' abandoning the construction of this line. What Mr Yogel did say was to this effect : the report of the officer appointed to examine into the nature of the land offered as security for the line was to a certain extent not so favourable as the Government hud been led to expect, and he could not, therefore, without further examination and an investigation into the mineral resources of the district through which the line was to pass, undertake to ask Parliament to authorise its construction this year. He stated that the Government would not only at once institute this further investigation, but would also make a preliminary survey to ascertain the best; line of route for the railway. The remarks made by the Premier in connection with this subject show that the Government fully recognises the importance of connecting Nelson with the main railway system of the Middle Island; and there is no reason to doubt that as soon as the Government are satisfied first of all, as to the best line of route; and, second, as to the real value of the country —they will propose to Parliament I to go on with the line. A deputation, consisting of the following gentlemen has waited upon the Premier, representing the urgent desirability of securing the authority of Parliament this session for the construction of the line: —His honor the Superintendent of Nelson, Mr. Shephard, M.H.R; Mr Collins, M.H.R:; Mr Parker, Edwards, M.L.C.; Mr Luckie, M.H.R., Mr Sharp, of Nelson; and Mr. artison, M.H.R. The Premier, who listened with great attention to the various representations made to him, informed the deputation that if they would forward to him a memorandum pointing out those parts of Mr Calcutt's report to which they took exception, he would lay the whole subject before the Government, and the matter n full and earnest consideration. He desired it to be understood that the Government had no idea whatever of refusing to construct the line. They were anxious to see it constructed, but, in the absence of that information which could only be obtained by the course which he hail indicated in his Financial Statement, he held out no promise to take any further action in the matter during the session.

The. following amusing examination recently took place during the hearing of an assault case in the Dunedin Police Court: — -You have said that you are a Son of Temperance; yet before addressing the electors at the Caledonian Hotel you took something strong? — Yes, I was very weak, and could scarcely walk ; I took a glass of gin and sarsaparilia. Then do Sons of Temperance take gin and sarsaparilia? — Yes, and something else — port wine hot. (Laughter). I thought they were strict teetotallers?— Oh no, it is not teetatalißm at all. How many glasses did you driok? — I took one glass to send me up; and another — to pull you down, I suppose? (Laughter) — No, to keep me up. Facts fob Good Templars. — - As giving some idea of the enormous consumption of spirits in this colony, we have authentic grounds for stating that the total quantity imported on which duty was paid duriDg the year 1872, was 464,140 gallons the duty on which amounted to £278,532. In addition to this large sum, there were 5172 gallons manufactured in New Zealand, on which the duty paid amounted to £15,517. Total duty paid, irrespective of value, £294,049. The quantity of beer imported was 259,508 gallons, the duty on which was £15,046; to this we may add 166,150 gallons wine, •which paid £33,230 for duty. Total taxes paid on imported drink in New Zealand for one year £342,325 ! — Exchange. The House You Live m.—The house you live in is not home, any more than the body which embraces the soul in this life is heaven ; but your house is the place where home is made. As heaven is the highest attainment of joy of the soul, so is a good home the highest degree of happiness at which we can arrive in this world. Home is modified by the adjective good, because home, like a good wife, which is the very best object man can possess in this life, may be gold ; or, like a bad wife, which of all other objects is the very worst man can possess, may be, of all other spots on earth, the most uncongenial just as we make it.