THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 203, 23 August 1873, Page 2

THE WEEK.

The proceedings of the Assembly during the week have not been such as to render the telegraphic accounts of them very interesting, although the actual business of the session appears to be progressing steadily, and in tho absence of any organised Opposition, it ia not probable that there will be any lengthy party debates. The "ins" are likely to remain iv, and the " outs " must be content to continue out for another year at least. There is however plenty of work yet to be done, and although private letters recently received from some of the memberß stated that they expected to return to their homes isv about three weeks, it is telegraphed to us that the session is likely to run its usual length. lam inclined to back the wires to be correct. Ifc is & pity that Sir George Bowen has left us, or rather it is to be regretted that a return of the little perquisites he was in the habit of receiving was not called for 'last year." It would have beeii gratifying to him to observe how pleased and'flattered the people of New Zealand are on making the discovery that they had been keeping him in linen, blankets, and saddlery, in addition to paying him his regular salary. No wonder be liked this country so much, and wrote such pretty letters to the Secretary of State about the beautiful scenery, the loyalty of the inhabitants, &c. Why, if our telegraphic information is correct, he must have been a very ungrateful man if be was cot constantly thinking of us, and recognising the obligations under which he lay to the people to whom he did the honor of acting as Her Majesty's representative. The very shirt he put on in the morning seems to have been a contribution from the colonists, the handkerchief with which ho blew his vice-regal nose must have been suggestive b^jtbe generosity of the taxpayers, the saddle on which he took his daily exercise was paid for by you aud me, and consequently should have secured us a place in his affections, and, as he tucked himself up in our blankets on a cold winter night, he doubtless thought to himself what— well, let 'us say, what precious foole these people are ; here, I undertake to do a certain work for £4,500 a year, and they are actually paying me £9,000. God bleos them ! lam afraid we scarcely reßpond in a similar strain, and that it is not exactly blessings w« are calling ddwn on the bead of our late Governor for doing us the kindness of pocketing au extra £4,500 a year. Mr Yogel was surely just a little bit too easy when he permitted this, and it has entered the beads of some people who occasionally bestow a thought upon such things , that Sir George Bowen was a little- wanting! in that digDity which we natur^j^Mook fos in the Governor of a colony wiieirhe con<- N eented to profit by Mr VogePa liberal expenditure of the public funds. Sojne racy remarks may be looK^d for in the Melbourne press when thssey \Jhings become known there. / ./

Our prison gang is not likely to be a very large one if we are to have many assizes such as that at which Judge Richmond presided on Monday last. The charge that was delivered on that occasion was an interesting one to listen to, but I fear it did not carry conviction to the minds of all who heard it, at least, so I infer from one remark that reached my ears a3 the Court broke up. It was uttered by a member of the Grand Jury who looked damp and uncomfortable about the legs and shoulders, and was to this effect :— I was interested in the charge, as I always am in hearing what the judge has to say, but he failed to convince me that there was any necessity for my riding eight miles through the heavy rain this morning. What a charming promenade th» wharf would make on the occasion of a sfeapnfer's sailing if Europeans were to caat off Hneir reserve and become as demonstrative as are the Maoris when their feelings are- at all worked upon. I was there the other day when the Taranaki was leaving for the North, carrying with her a number of nativee, to bid farewell to whom a number of other natives had assembled on the wharf. Such a wailing and moaning, blubbering and boohooing were never heard before. On the deck were women and children crying and groaning and uttering wild lamentations in an unknown tongue; leaning over the side of the vessel was a big, finely-built fellow in a tall digger's hat, sobbing like a child, while on the wharf were numerous blanket - clad ladies crouching in various attitudes, both graceful and ungraceful, with tears rolling down their cheeks, and chanting forth their lament in a wailing monotone. It was a strange and at the same time a laughable sight. What I was wishing was that there had been present a lot of those fellows who crowd the galleries of our places of entertainment, and who, if the performance does not commence punctually at the advertised moment, give vent to their impatience in yells, and screams, and whistlings. They might have learnt a lesson by observing what fools people make of themselves when they do not restrain their feelings, but allow therasalves to be carried away by the excitement of the moment. Probably there was some excuse for the Maoris, if all the circumstances were kuown, but there is none for those English nuisances to whom I refer. A certain mournful csreraony recently took a large number of townspeople to the cemetery. It was a bitterly cold day with a cutting wind blowing from the southeast, and the thought must have entered the minds of many, if not of all, who were present, that the absence of some building ia which the funeral service might be read iB a positive disgrace to Nelson. A decent mortuary chapel might be erected at a very moderate cost, and as it is a work in which those of all denominations could take part, it would not necessitate a heavy tax upon any one individual, or upon any particular section of the community. The subject was once before mooted and several contributions were promised, but for some reason or other it was allowed to fall to the ground. I think it is only necessary to call attention to the matter to ensure its being warmly taken up, and I may say that I have been asked to throw out this suggestion by more than one person, each of whom has undertaken to put his name down for a subscription. Will anyone take it in band ? I ana. opnvi need he will meet with vejyjjeneral support. I A,. F.