The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 91, 17 April 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1874.

Good Templars. — At the weekly meeting of the Loyal Nelson Lodge last evening, it was decided that for the future the meetings shall be held on Friday evenings in the Temperance Hall. General Synod. — The next Bession of the General Synod of the Church of England in New Zealand will commence in Wellington on the 14th of May, instead of the sih as originally intended. The sitting of the General Synod take place trienially, and are held in each diocese in rotation. Anatori Reefs, — We are indebted to Mr Sinclair, who has just returned from the Anatori, for information with regard to what is being done towards developing the reefs. There are two ports by which these may be reached, namely, the West Wanganui Inlet, and the Anatori river, tbe latter being very inferior as a port, but from it a road to the reefing country can be far more cheaply made, as that from West Wanganui would have to cross a lanje ; swamp, which would render the works very costly. Already a party of nine men belonging to the company of prospectors wbo discovered the reef from which so splendid a yield was recently obtained, have been at work for six weeks in opening up communication between the mouth of the river and the reef, and in the course of another week or two they hope to bave the road sufficiently advanced lo enatle tbem to take up their machinery. From the port to Lake Otubie, a distance of three milep, it is sandy and favorable for road making. The machinery will then be put into a punt and taken up the lake, from thence two more miles of road rraking have been required, and then a wooden tramway has been constructed up a hill 500 feet in height at a very steep gradient, and up this it is proposed to haul the machinery by windlasses, and from the summit a small extent of side cuttings will enable it to be conveyed to its destination. In our shipping column to-day it will be seen that tbe machinery has already started, and crushing will be commenced as soon as the battery is in position. The prospectors appear to have unbounded faith in the richness of their claim, and their pluck in undertaking the construction of the road deserves to be rewarded, as we sincerely hope it will be. Reefs bave been traced throughout a large extent of country to the south of Slaty Creek where tho claim now to be worked is situated, and the district promises to prove an excessively rich one, ; On Friday night last the sluice boxes of B. Maguire, at No Town, were robbed of the result of three weeks' working— estimated as worth at least £50. As yet no clue has been discovered to the thieves. Messrs Carroll and Cairn'a battery is at present occupied by the Maruia Company. Tbis company has up to the present put through about 150 tons, and it is fully anticipated tbat the yield will equal if not exceed that of the last crushing, viz., 4oz to 4-^oza the ton. The following from a Wellington contemporary has nothing to do with Nelson: — Literature is at a discount in Taranaki. At a meeting of the Institute Committee held recently it was proposed that the reading room should be closed on account of the apathy of the people to take advantage of the opportunities for self-education it afforded, and also, because there was a debit balance during tbe past year of £3. Hopes are expressed by the Herald that some means may be devised for keeping the institute open to the public. At a meeting of the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society a resolution that had been previously passed , relative to the shooting of cock pheasants was rescinded, it being feared that hens would also come to an untimely end under such a provision. April, May June, and July, were recommended as mopths when Native game might be shot. A letter was read from a settler, in which be said that he had hundreds of acres of red clover, the seed from which would be wasted in consequence of their being no bumble bees in the province. He imported annually about £400 worth of red clover seed, and would give £50 towards the expense of getting some bees out.

The Lyell township -can-now boast of a telegraph office and two/banks, and is daily increasing in importance. By the Wallace, last *veek, says the Westport Times, a passenger returned to ' No Town from the Palmer River. The news he gives is deplorable, and he states that in Sydney hundreds of miners who had taken passages by ship and steamer are, offering their tickets for sale at any sacrifice. Another party of four Chinese have taken up their location at Westport, and are about to visit the outlying country to spy out the best place for settling in as minere. Thoy have lived in the Dunstan district, Otago, for eight years past, and form the advance guard of a large body of their countrymen who are prepared to come and settle on the Coast as soon as they get favorable news from their pioneer brethren. The Grey Argus regrets to say there is every Bign of a considerable rush to the Palmer diggings from the Grey district. It is known that some forty or fifty men have taken passages in the Claud Hamilton. There have been heavy withdrawals from the Government Savings Bank and the local banks by those intending to leave. A passenger by tbe Charles Edward says at least £10,000 have been withdrawn during the last week. The following is an extract from a letter addressed by the manager of the N.Z.S.S. Company to the agent at New Plymouth :— In consequence of the numerous, petty, and seemingly, pur' pose I?/, annoying claims, made upon this Company by certain of the merchants of New Plymouth, it has been decided by tbe Directors to refuse all cargo for your port; all their agents have received instructions on this bead, and will act accordingly until further instructed. The Waiuku people received the Volunteer Representatives of their district on their return from Napier right heartily. The champions and their comrades were received with thunders of applause, a band of music, and military honors, were marched under triumphal arches, and finally entertained at a dinner, to which about 130 persons sat down. The number of deaths among children of late in the Poverty Bay district, ia, the Herald is given to understand by old settlers, unparalleled in tbe previous history of the settlement, in proportion to the population. An inquest was held at Napier recently on the body of Daniel German, who was drowned in the harbor whilst swimming for a wager. It appears from the evidence taken tbat tbe deceased had made a bet of £1 with a man named Hugh Connor, formerly of tbe Thames (both being under the influence of liquor) that he would remain longer in the water than Connor. They went on board the Manawatu, and jumping off that vessel swam together for some distance. The deceased, it seems, had gone out too far into the breakers, although Connor had repeatedly called out to him to keep closer in and he was not able to swim against them. Captain Holman, of the barque Anazi, wbo has appeared so conspicuously before the public of late, was a passenger on tbe 26th March by the Star of the South for Fiji, en route for Sydney. The cause of the captain's sudden departure was owing to the turn affairs had taken in reference to the late stranding of the vessel. It had been intimated to him by Captain Petherbridge, the colonial manager for Sbaw, Saville and Co. that it would be better for him to resign his appointment. An application was made to the Resident Magistrate on the morning of Captain Holman 's departure for the return of his certificate, and granted, the Court having no power to retain it uuder the circumstances.- — Herald. Commenting upon the non-return of Mr Stafford to the Provincial Council of Canterbury, the Independent remarks : — Although the Hon E. W. Stafford haß not been elected to the Provincial Council of Canterbury, by the electors of Heathcote, it is a matter for congratulation that men of his stamp, possessing ability and experience, should be found willing to undertake public duties, which, if efficiently fulfilled, are necessarily of an onerous, responsible, and exacting character. Only by this Bpecies of self-sacrifice on tbe part of really capable men can a system of Provincial Government so valuable for dealing with purely local matters, be redeemed and preserved from dropping to the dead level of a parish vestry, a tea-meeting of elderly ladies, a village Dorcas and gossip society, or a little hotbed of spite, personality, capriciousness, and egotism. Mr Bathgate has determined to set his face against the Sunday liquor traffic. At tbe Magistrate's Court a man named William Alexander was charged with being drunk in Princess Btreet on the previous day (Sunday), his Worship asked him "Where did you get the drink ?" the reply being "In several places." Mr Bathgate seemed to be quite taken by surprise at the readiness of the reply, and again asked if there were several places open on Sunday forenoons ? and was answered in the affirmative. His Worship, then addressing Sub-Inspector Mallard said he should be pleased, if when any prisoner was apprehended on a Sunday forenoon for being drunk, the police would ascertain where the drink was supplied. The decent and respectable portion of the trade objected to opening their houses on that day, and if he

found any publican guilty of selling the drink on Sunday forenoons, he need not come before the Licensing Bench for a license. The following particulars respecting the condition and progress of mining in the Cobden district, which extends from the north bank of tbo Grey River and as far northwards as the Razor-back, have been supplied to Mr Warden Whitefoord by Mr C. L. Neville, the Clerk to tho Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Courts at Cobden, and the officer in charge of that distriot. The returns are for the twelve months, ending 31st March, and are made by direction of the General Government: — There are 61 head-races, carrying 104 sluice heads of water, with a total length of 29 miles, constructed at an approximate cost of £520, or a fraction under £18 a mile; there are 23 tail-races made at a cost of £435; and 40 dams or embankments for the storage of water, built at tbe estimated cost of £669. The water, it would seem, is all utilised by the owners of races themselves, for in . tbe return it is Btated that there is not any water sold, from which it may be inferred that there is just a sufficient quantity for the use of tbe first owners. Under the bead of machinery and appliances for saving gold, there is one steam-engine of four-horse power, one water-wheel, which cost £200, and 200 ground-sluices, strings of sluicing-boxes, long toms, &c. There has not been any auriferous quartz yet crushed in the district, and the approximate yield of gold from the alluvial workiogs is given at 65000z. The average earnings of the miners is returned at £2 5s per week, while ordinary laborers get £503, and Chinese and boys are worth 304 per week each with keep. This places the miner at a disadvantage with ordinary unskilled laborers, and little better than agricultural laborers and domestic servants, who get in the district 15s per week with board and lodging; but when the average earnings of carpenters are set down at £4 8s per week, mining, as st profitable employment, is entirely out of Court. The following remarks upon the recent accident in Auckland which resulted in tho death of a boy are from the Auckland Herald. The particulars of tbo accident have already been reported in our columns. While fully agreeing with the rider attached by the jury to the verdict regarding the undesirability of boys being allowed to be supplied with arms and ammunition to be used when and how they please, we are not disposed to coincide with our contemporary in his remarks relative to the useJessness of cadet corps. On the contrary, we believe that if proper care and attention be paid to them, and if a strict discipline be maintained among them a considerable amount of good may be done to the boys of whom they are composed. Discipline of any kind whatever is sadly deficient among colonial lads. The remarks referred to are as follows :— u The ioquest held yesterday upon the deceased boy Garty, resulted in the jury returning a verdict of accidental death. Tbe jury, however, added a rider which it is to be hoped will meet with all attention at head-quarters. The rider was, *'• That arms should not be allowed to be in the possession of any Cadets except at such times as when they are engaged at drill or practice under an experienced officer : further, tbat the jury consider that the careless manner in which ammunition is supplied to the Cadets by their officers is extremely reprehensible." We believe that some of the jurymen were desirous of making the rider much stronger, by recommending tbat all Cadet corps be disbanded. This would be an extreme measure, but we believe it would be looked upon as something very desirable, and one which would in no way detract from the usefulness of boys to the community when they grow up to be men. However, so longs as steps are taken to prevent Cadets shooting themselves or each other, the harm done will be on a par with the good sought to be accomplished — which is very little indeed. Sir William MartiD, the late Chief Justice of the colony is about to leave us, and the subjoined valedictory address to him is lying in Auckland for signature : — To Sir William Martin, D.C.L., late Chief Justice of New Zealand,— We, the undersigned inhabitants of the province of Auckland, desire to express the feeling of deep concern with which we have heard that you are about to leave New Zealand. Although many years have now elapsed since you were engaged in discharging the duties of your office as its first Chief Justice, we are aware that you have been occupied during tbe long period of your retirement, in the patient and unostentatious performance of self-imposed but unselfish labors, all tending to promote the best interests of New Zealand and the welfare of both races of its people. When the place you have so long occupied amongst us shall know you no more, we believe that this community will be conscious that it has lost a member for whom it has long felt the highest respect, and that New Zealand will have lost one of its brightest ornaments; — a belief which, we may venture to assure you, will be shared by the colonists at large. That you may live to accomplish the object that you have in view in returning to England; that you may long be spared a life of usefulness, and that Lady Martin and yourself may have a prosperous homeward voyage, is the heartfelt wish in which we . all unite in bidding you « farewell;"

Ao Acclimatisation Society has been formed io New Plymouth. The chief purpose is to stock the streams io the Province with fish. It is expected that trout ova will be procured from Tasmania. There is a pendant to the famous lecture, "Why is Ireland Poor and Discontented ?" which we hope Sir Charles Graven Duffy will deliver in England, says a Melbourne paper. It is-- Why in Victoria the Irish are rich aud happy? That they are so, the annual St. Patrick's demonstration of yesterday proves to a verity. Next to the United Trades' demonstration at the eight hours' anniversary, the St. Patrick's procession is the largest of the series from year's end to year's end, and it is by far the gayeßt and most holiday making. The visitors are the best dressed of any, and they appear to have the most money to spare, Pat, whatever bis faults, not being a niggard on these occasions. And as to political discontent, why, the grand kuighthood just bestowed upon Sir John O'Shanaesy K.C.M.G., whom the Pope honored with a decoration not so very long ago, must remove the last vestiges of dissatisfaction amoung our Celtic kinsmen, if any ever existed. If St. Patrick looked down upon the hundreds of the gatherings of his votaries yesterday, we are satisfied none gave him more pleasure than the Victorian rejoiciug. — Melbourne paper, Mr and Mrs William Hoskins, gave one of their charming entertainments at the Royal Hawaiian Theatre, Honolulu, under the patronage of hi3 Majesty the King. The Melbourne Young Men's Christian Association is not only a flourishing, but is a very useful organisation. It has J164 members, provides rooms furnished with the daily and weekly papers, magazines, reviews, periodicals, and with a piano, chess, draughts, &c, and has a library containing 600 vols., which is to ba made a circulating one. Employment and boarding-house registries are made up in the institution, and freely used by new arrivals, to whom they prove of much service. A visiting agent is employed to board passenger ships on behalf of the association, in order to offer the immigrants friendly advice and a welcome. A course of free parlor lectures were given during the year on scientific topics, and other entertainments, while short-hand, French, and elocution classes were conducted by various gentlemen. The teligious operations of the association are devotional meetings in the rooms every Tuesday evening and Sabbath morning, and on Sunday evening after service in the Coliseum. A theological clas3 meets weekly, and is conducted by the Deen of Melbourne. A committee, called the Youths' Mi&sion Committee visits the boys licensed out by the Industrial and Reformatory Schools, engages in tract distribution and visiting the sick, aa well as conducting a Sabbath evening service for street boys and girls. The income of the association during the year is given at £750, leaving a balance in hand of £76 odd. As an incentive to the young men to exert themselves to procure a hall exclusively devoted to the objects of the association, Sir James M 'Culloch mentioned in his opening speech that tbe buildiDg erected for the Young Men's Christian Association of New York nost £100,000, aod the one for the San Francisco branch nearly £20,000 In announcing a Sunday School picnic, a Kentucky paper " truly hopes our citizens will for once leave their bowie koives and revolvers at home." A book-maker in Sydney has discovered a new way of " posting" those who do not settle with him after a race. He fastens a printed notice on tbe Post-office railings, giving the defaulter's name, occupation, place of abode, &c, aod requesting people to go to him at once and pay their debts of honor. As the notice is posted in a place which many thousands of people pass, daily, it is very conspicuous, audit is said tbat this book-maker has fewer outstanding debtors than any other in tbe city. On a tombstone in South Carolina is the following beautiful tribute to departed worth: — : " Here lies the body of Robert Gordon, Mouth almighty, and teeth accordin; Stranger, tread lightly over this wonder, If he opens his mouth, you are gone, by thunder." The first three volumes of the first newspaper published in Melbourne — The Port Phillip Gazelle — have been shipped on board the Bangalore, consigned to the British Museum, for which institution they have been purchased at a cost of £50 from Mr Strode, who was the original proprietor and publisher of the paper. The dates of the papers contained in these volumes are from 27th October, 1838, to December, 1641. Does tho marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh with the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia signify assuring peace and nnity between the two Empires ? The Czar says it is so on his side. The Queen says the same on her side. But just as the Czar, being an individual, does not represent all Russian opinion, nor control Russian feeling, so the same may be said of Queen Victoria. Allowing such a feeling expressed by Russia to be sincere, what then is meant or intended by Russia advancing its outposts southward from Khiva to Merve in Central Asia ? It means nothing less than that Russia is beut on making herself mistress of the region which lies between the Caspian Sa and tbe Chinese Empire. The sign, we are told, is indeed all but

accomplished :— " To all intents and purposes Central Asia is now Russian territory. Only one obstacle to the completion of the great project interposes. England holds all the southern peninsula of Asia in her possession. The Queen holds sovereign sway in India over more than two hundred millions of human beings. Now, tho successive Russian advances in trans-Himalayan Asia look marvellously like an intended assault on British dominion in India; and the assumption that this is in reality the Muscovite's ultimate aim is strengthened by every fresh approach he makes to tho northern frontiers of the Indian Empire. Hence has arisen an immense amount of diplomacy between tbe Courts of London and St. Petersburgh, together with much treaty making and, indirectly, one serious war between the two countries. At length it was solemnly agreed between them that Russia should make the River Oxus her final boundary line, and should leave Afghanistan and Khiva as sacred neutral ground between her own and the British possessions. The ink of the treaty was scarcely dry on the paper, however, when it was deliberately broken by Russia's "annexing" the whole of, the other bank of the Oxup, and thus making the mighty river, which is the key of Central Asia, all her own. ■ Her next step, of course, was to annex all Khiva. And here the narrative of Muscovite encroachment rounds itself in. The advance from Khiva to Merve is an advance straight iu the direction of Afghanistan; for Merve lies half way between ths former city and Herat, which is situated in tbe very heart of Afghanistan. Another advance in that direction, and Russia will not alone have taken possession of all the neutral ground, but her outposts will bivouac in sight of the Britishladinn frontier line. The last fragment of the treaty of Khiva will be torn to pieces, and what will tben ensue? The answer to this question depends on the temper with which the British Cabinet now in power will regard the Russian march to Merve, and on the representations that Russia wiU be compelled to moke as to her real designs with regard to India. If, as i_ to be devoutly hoped, the temper of the Disraeli Government be calm and moderate, and if Russia protests, and proves the sincerity of her protestation, that she does not intend to annex Afghanistan, and does not mean to attack India, then peace may be maintained for at least a lifetime of a generation between the two countries. But, on the other hand, if the Conservative Cabinet joins with the antiRussian party in England and India, and if the answers of the Czar to our Foreign Minister's questions be of an evasive and doubtful character, then, and in that case, the grand marriage that has been so recently celebrated may be speedily followed by another British campaign in Afghanistan, in whioh, to all the severe warfare of the first campaign, may be added a second victory like tbat won at Sebastopal. — Herald.

An Amebican Millionaire. — John Hopkins, the wealthiest citizen of Baltimore, and its greatest benefactor, died' on the 24th of December. His parents, says the JSTew York Tribune, were Quakers, descended from English settlers, and ho was born in Anne Arundo County, Maryland, May 10, 1795. He received a plain education and at the age of 17 went to Baltimore where he entered the grocery trade, iu the wholesale branch of which he afterwards engaged, with very little capital on his own account. The young trader was very successful, and in due time abcumulated, great wealth. His house rivalled the oldest in the city, and for 25 years ranked the first in the trade. He then retired from the grocery trade and engaged in banking and railroad enterprises, wherein lie was likewise very fortunate. He manifested a warnin terest in the ad vancemen t of Bal tiraore, and ..eventually displayed remarkable liberality in the use of his vast wealth, Which has been estimated at -2,000,000 dollars. Last March he gave property valued at 4,000,000 dollars to found a hospital in the city, which is to be free to all indigent sick, irrespective of race or colour. He provided tbat there shall be a training school for nurses connected with tbat institution, and established a home also for coloured orphans. Mr Hopkins further devoted 3,000,000 dolltrs to the endowment of a university, and presented tbe city with a public park, He never married, and was in all respects a most exemplary and estimable citizen. He was prominently identified with all tbe leading commercial, banking, and railway enterprises of Baltimore, and his death is regarded with deep concern by the people of that city.