THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 27, 31 January 1874, Page 2

THE WEEK.

There was something very cheering and encouraging about the heartiness with which the twenty-one Councillors pronounced the word " Aye" on Thursday night in response to iho request of the Speaker thot they would give their decision upon the Government proposition to borrow a quarter of a million for public works, and if the listeners who were not allowed inside the bar were a little out of order in giving vent to the satisfaction they felt by dapping their hands and stamping on the floor I don't think the Speaker was very angry when he ordered them to be quiet. Probably he felt that that affirmative monosyllable which had just been uttered with euch gusto might siguify that a turning point in the history of Nelson had been reachod and that in future years he might, as the reßuh of that "Aye," be called upon to preside over assemblies more satisfied and less disposed to be queruloua than horeiofore, because composed of the representatives of a thriving and not a discontented people. I don't say it was 80, but it might have been, and if it were, I am sure his thoughts were travelling in the same direction as those of many who were in the Council Chamber, and of many who had not the opportunity of being present but who from afar are anxiously watching the proceedings of the Council iu its present session, Watching anxiously and eagerly, because upon the verdict of the Council and the manner in which it was to be delivered depended their future actions, whether they would remain in Nelson, where perhaps they bad lived for many years past, or depart to other parts of the colony where a public debt has not been feared so long as it was calculated to lead to progress and prosperity. I say that rnuch depended upon the manner in which the verdict was given, because had the " Aye " been whispered as by halfhearted believers in the proposed scheme it would not have given rise to half the confidence that was inspired by the cheery tones in which it was spoken, the effect of which waß not to be marred even by the miserable acoustic properties of the Hall. Better times we may now hope, and not without cause, are in store for Nelson, for where there is a will there is a way, and the existence of the will to bring about a change is now proved beyond even the shadow of a doubt. I began to think on the first sitting day of the Council that the clerk was qualifying ns a member of the troupe of bellringere, for he Beeraed to be perpetually ding donging the members from the coflee-room into the Chamber. There appeared to be a mania for dividing. First they divided upon the question whether a motion for appointing a Committee might be altered by substituting the name of Mr Maclean for that of Mr Kelling, and having decided that it might, they then divided upon a proposition to get rid of Mr Maclean and put some one else in his place and they agreed to that, and so it went on and " Chime agaiu beautiful bell " was the song that found favor with the Councillors that day, for at least once an hour the Clerk had to make its sounds heard.

Other bells too have been often heard of late, and we appear fa have beeD attempting tQ emulate our Auckland neighbors in the frequency if not in the extenei venees of our fires. We have, however, a gratification that they ate not yet able to experience, for every fire that occurs bears testimony to the excellence of our water supply, and the almost impossibility of any large can* flagratiou taking place in the to.vvq of Nelson. The appear n^es ef tbo remains of tyh.e building lately destroyed in Trafalgar- street is snfficient to conviuee the most sceptical that the high pressure of the water that lies hidden in the streets is enough to beat out any fire that might break out if duly discovered in time. How a fire occurring in the principal street of the town co,uld remain undiscovered for half an hour, as was stated at the late inquest, is quite another question, and one that lam not prepared to answer satisfactorily. One cannot help admiring the pluck of the unfortunate man who was burnt out on Sunday morning, and lost his little all in the fire. Twice within six years has he been subjected to such a disaster, and one would think he wss disheartened, yet C;n the biaekened walls of his late qhop there appears a placard headed by the words " All gone but health, family, and energy," and then follows an assurance that he is prepared to carry on his business in temporary premises. There must be some good stuff there. He should call his next establishment The Bheenix. I was watching the countenances of the reporters in the Council Chamber on Thursday evening when after six hours' note taking they still saw with horror speaker after speaker rise to enlighten his brother legislators qpo.n the question under d\a,cusaionand lam sure if the.y had only dared to speak, a plaiutive wail would have floated through the air praying the orators to "cut it short." I am sure of it, because I saw it so clearly and distinctly displayed on their faces, and I have juat caught a similar expression on the countenance, of thip printer, who tells me that he mußt place a limit on my say this week.' I must obey. What would the reporters give to possess the same power that is. wielded by the printer ? Would they, I wonder, ever use it ?