The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 35, 10 February 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.

Seamen's Union. — A meeting of seamen desirous of joining this union is called for this evening at the Pier Hotel. Inspection Parades. — The City Cadets will parade for the annual inspection iv the Botanical Gardens this evening at 3even o'clock, and the Waimea Rifles and Wakefield Cadets at (Spring Grove to-morrow at four p.m. Nelson and Foxhill Railway.— We are glad to see that tenders are at last invited for the Nelson contract of tbis lino. Outward English Mails. — The Taranaki will carry the outward mail via San Francisco to Wellington tomorrow, where it will be transhipped into the Mikado. The Alhambra will take the Suez mail on Friday next. Left in the Lurch. — Three of the immigrants who recently atrived at Wellington by the Ocean Mail, and were brought on by the Ladybird on their way to Taranaki, were left in a most unpleasant position yesterday afternoon. Owing to some misunderstanding with regard to the time of the steamer's sailing, they arrived at the wharf just in time to see the pilot boat leaving her outside the bank, and so found themselves left in a strange land without money or clothes beyond those in which they stood, their luggage having gone on in the steamer. Having made their case known to the Immigration Agent here, he communicated with the General Government and received instructions to make arrangements for their being housed and fed until the sailing of the next boat for Taranaki. The Dinner to Mr Yogel. — We are glad to learn that the tickets are going off well for to-night's dinner. By the list of names on the Committee it will be seen that the dinuer has no political meaning, gentlemen of all shades of opinion having signified their intention of being present. It is intended rather as a friendly greeting to the Hon Mr Yogel, who is allowed on all sides to be an able statesman, and who has worked his way up to tbe highest aud most honorable position which New Zealand has to offer to ber politicians. The speech of the Premier as well as that of the Minister of Public Works is looked forward to with much interest. We shall probably be told where, in Mr Vogel's opinion, we have been at fault in the past, and we shall listen intently and gratefully to any suggestions he may have to make for our future guidance. The Provincial Government and Council have endorsed the public works and immigration scheme by adopting, or rather by expressing a desire to adopt, it here on a small scale, and we shall be anxious to hear to what extent the action taken by our Executive and Legislature meets with the approval of the Premier. Every ticket holder this evening will be permitted to take - a lady to the gallery from which the proceedings may be seen and heard. Rai Valley Tramway. — The importance to the Pelorus district of tbis work was shown by Mr Douslin at a recent meeting. He said it would open up 50,000 acres of timber land, which, at the average of 10,000 feet to the acre, and computed at the lowest rate paid in the district — 83 per 100 feet — would realise the enormous sum of two millions sterling J He also showed ns an illustration of the amount of trade doing in that district, that during the last quarter 73 vessels of a total tonnage of 2550 tons, had cleared from the port of Havelock, containing 1,726,000 feet of timber, being a large increase on any previous quarter.—' Express. 1 The Reefton Fire Brigade have been in correspondence with Mr J. Moutray of tbe Nehon Iron Foundry, for the purpose of procuring iron pipes for the town water supply, the price per ton would be £25. They will require about 2,800 feet, the cost in Nelson would be about £850; transport charges at £8 per ton, £272. The cost of reservoir and laying pipes £300; total

amount, £1,400. Reefton people conclude that the scheme, though desirable, is beyond their reach until they ore formed into a municipality and become authorised to . borrow on the security of water rates. — 'Buller News.' Twenty shillings per hundred for sown timber in a forest-bound township is an incongruity, but such is the case at Reefton, where the consumption is tolerably large. Whether the price is to be ascribed to a want of competition, or owing to some special peculiarity in the manner of its production we are unable to say. From the Lyell we hear that in the Break o' Day claim, while extending the tramway, used for the purpose of procuring mining timber, across ground recently granted to the company, and known as the old Helvetia L?ase, a leader was met with exactly on a level with the low level tunnel now being worked. It was struck 30ft within the boundary of tho new ground. The size varies from 6in to Bin. It is a beautifully defined leader, and contains very good gold. The appearance at the surface is far more encouraging than was the original Break o' Duy leader, whicb, nevertheless, is turning out so remarkably well. Men will bo employed at the new leader night and day, so a 8 to prove it as rapidly as possible. — ' G. R. Argus,' Feb. 7. Speaking of the collapse of the New Zealand Coal Company started in Wellington some months since, the ' Evening Post* says: — The company was justly expected to do great things in the way of developing our coal resources, but seems likely to die a natural death, solely in consequence of the want of Bupport and unanimity among its members. A few days ago (says the 'North Otago Times ') rather a singular commercial transaction took place within a few miles of our oflice. It appears that a settler, with a view of settling his domestic difficulties, entered into a bargain and sale, by which he rid himself of all his encumbrances, and provided the purchaser with a wife and three children, four sections of land, dwelling-house, and three or four cows, all in one lot; the ."consideration" as the lawyers would put it, being the sum of £35 in coin. Rumor says that " the grey mare was the better horse," and was rather addicted to the infliction of corporal punishment on the vendor, who, however, succeeded in finding in the purchaser — who is a very powerful specimen of humanity — a man willing to undertake the " taming of the shrew" business, sans peur if not sans reproch?, even with the welter weights of three young hopefuls, or reprobates, as the case may be, and to give a little cash to boot in consideration of the other belongings handed over. Mr W. T. B. thus gives his first impressions of Rotomahana in the Tauranga journal : — "ln a moment the gates of a most delicious future seemed opened. I felt that I was on the confines ci supreme happiness, and the very air seemed redundant with the divine harmonies of melodious cherubims. This is the irrefragable truth." Jn advertising that an inter-provin-cial regatta will be held at Wanganui, the ' Herald' breaks for. h in the following exuberant strain :— - It has taken a long time, and has entailed much unrewarded trouble, to awaken the people of Wanganui to the fact that they are located on the banks of the very finest boating river in New Zealand. For years they have let the river flow onward to the sea without ever taking a hint from its placid current tbat its broad smooth bosom wns just the place for tbe light gracoful racing boats to dieplay their sharp outlines upon, and to exhibit their flashing speed, impelled by sinewy arms, whose owners inhale health and maahood with every respiration of the ozone-laden breezes that come from the sea to replenish with their aerial reservoirs in tbe sbope of water-laden clouds the ever-flowing current of our beautiful river. The Auckland Cricket Club is growing in strength, ond numbers now over 100 members, about 50 of whom are playing members. A. strange tone has come over the tone of the articles in the 'London Times' with regard to emigration. The 'Otago Daily Times ' in noticing this says:— " Formerly tbat journal was tbe most constant aod moet earnest advocate of emigration as a cure for many of the social ills of Britain. Lately it has manifested symptoms of a change of view, and in the latest issue of it to hand — that of 28th November — this change is seen to be complete. In tbis article it regards with undisguised alarm ' the announcement of an agricultural emigration to the number of 10,000, early next spring, under one management, aod with some unity of design." It proceeds to point out the extent to which emigration is now going on, and the consequent rise in rates of wages in Britain that has taken place. Arguing from these facts, it says tbat the emigration question has assumed a different phase— that now Britain cannot spare good men, and that every honest, industrious fellow who leaves these shores is a loss to the country, and a loss felt far more year after year.' What follows is at once amusing and exasperating. Tbe 'Times' acknowledges the existence of restless people, who want ' shooting, fishing, and trapping,' and whom it is desirable to get rid of.' 'In almost every laborer's family of the normal Bize,' it says, ' there is sure to crop up at least one hereditary poacher, or with a soul above a week's work for a week's wages. If such persons would but obey the laws of

demand and supply, and leave a bad market for a good one, they would be no loss to us, and great gain to Canada, New Zealand or any other Colony. So that, in the opinion of the ' Times,' all the ' hereditary poachers,' and men with souls ' above a week's work for a week's wages ' are to be a ' great gain ' to vs — a pleasant doctrine, truly." Tasmanian journals regard with some uneasiness the fact that the young men of the Colony are leaving her shores to better their fortunes elsewhere. The ! Tribune ' states that, of the forty passengers who sailed in the Glencoe for Dunedin, no fewer than 13 were young men, natives of the Colony, many of whom had just finished their apprenticeship, and passages are being sought after by young men eager to leave the colony; nnd it is reported that the vessels, Southern Cross and Natal Queen, take with them more sons of the soil. The following extract from a London letter to the 'Auat alasian ' will prove interesting to our musical readers :— " You would be surprised at the amounts paid to artists in England. Sims Reeves, who has bis list of engagement filled up to next Feptember, never sings under £80 for each evenirg. The baritone Stanley eisily pulls off £50 per night. M. Calvert, by his splendid production of Henry V., in Birmingham, ha? cleared during tbe first month of Us presentation over £3000 above all expenses. Mies Julia Matthews baa commanded for some time £25 per week. Miss Fmily Soldeue has received her £50 per week, and Miss Blanche Cole obtains without trouble her £25 on the same terms." The Ballarat < Stir » writes : — " Among the incidents of the cricket match may be noted the following : — On January Ist one of the balls hit by Grace struck a man perched in a tree, and knocked him out of his position on to the ground, but without injuring him much. On Saturday, the ball struck by Oaggin, after bitting the stand, rebounded and hit a gentleman a severe knock on the ribs. It was afterwards discovered tbat tbe ball had hit hit his watch, and had caused an indention — tbe watch having stopped at the exact time the ball hit it."