The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 178, 10 August 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1874.

"In the name of the Prophet, figs!" Such was the exclamation that occurred to us after a perusal of the extraordinary article which appeared in our contemporary on Saturday last under tbe somewhat pretentious heading of " Gilding Refined Gold." Surely, the feat of that skilful cook who manufactured "a dainty dish fit to set befnre a King" out of an old shoe was hut a small matter compared with tbe literary cookery of the ingenious editor of the Colonist His grievance is that we ventured to alter an uuimportant portion of a single sentence in an article that we recently repubiisbed from the Otago Daily Times, obvious was our motive for making the slight alteration in question that we did not insult the understanding of our readers by directing special attention to the change. In the original, a reference, by no means uncomplimentary, was made to a " Magistrate," who, as we happened to know, had nothing whatever to do with the case alluded to. To have drawn attention to the inaccuracy would have been absurd because it really was eo trivial. We, therefore, took the pardonable liberty of substituting tbe plural for the singular of " Magistrate," omitting the laudatory remark?, which, however true in themselves, were, under the circumstances, mere surplusage. And, for doing this, we are charged with committing "an unwarrantable impertinence." If this were all, we could be content to let tbe public judge between up. But, when the editor of a paper which prates of " breaches of journalistic comity," is not ashamed to indicate, in no obscure manner, the authorship of an article published in an Otago newspaper, the matter, especially in so small a community as ours, becomes more serious. Let ua distinctly understand under what rule writers in public journals are living. We readily admit that much may be said in favor of the French system of attaching the author's name to every article— a system adopted, also, of late by several of our leading periodicals— but we see no diddle course between this and the strictly anonymous plan. And we hold that the writer who, as in the present instance, wantonly, and without the slightest provocation, does his best by suggestion and inuendo to violate tbe incognito of a brother journalist, lays himself oren to a very ugly kind of retaliation, which, however, we trust we may never be tempted to use. We are willing to allow that much may be endured from so skilful a master of the art of making " much ado about nothing " as the author of iha article of which we complain has proved himself to be, but we give him timely warning that he must not expect to be permitted j too often to overstep the bounds of common courtesy and editorial etiquette j with impunity. In tbe meantime we would give expression to the charitable wish that he may long live to grsndi Icquenily proclaim to the rraders of (be Colonist — "In the name of tbe Prophet, figsl"

The Adamant hauled alongside the Government wharf this morning, and the passengers were allowed to land, and numbers of them have been about the town all day enjoying the bright sunshine. The single men will take up their quarters to-night at the new Asylum, which has been temporarily converted into barracks, and the remainder will follow to-morrow* Taken as a whole they are a smart looking lot of people, and we trust that they will prove a useful class of coloniets. They hail from all parts of England, but especially from the southern counties, and a few are from Ireland. They speak in very high terms of (he treatment and attention

they received at the hands of the captain and doctor, and it is satisfactory to learn that those officers give excellent characters to those who have been under (heir charge for the last three months. There was a good deal of sickness on the voyage, no less than fifty cases of measles having occurred. There were twelve deaths, all of children, two from measles, and the remainder from bronchitis and diarrhoea. The complement ia made up as follows: — 52 married couples, 42 single women, and 83 single meu. They will be open for engagement at the Asylum on Wednesday. Divine service was conducted on board the ship yesterday morning by the Bishop of Nelson.

The Loyal Combination Troupe gave their first entertainment at the Masonic Hall to a very fair audience, on Saturday evening. It very often happens in Companies when one or two performers are unusually good, that a great part of the eoterfaiomant is necessarily of a rather indifferent description, and this troupe forms no exception to the rale, for while, the gymnastic feats were undoubtedly deserving of great praise, the other part of the performance was certainly not abGve mediocrity. The performance of Mdlle. Zuila on the trapeze, and ot the great somersault act, assisted by Messrs Loyal and Verletti was of a most astonishing nature," equalling, if not excelling, the far-famed Lottie's feats. It was difficult to decide which to admire most,the graceful movementsof Mdlle. Zuila, or the strength and daring of Messrs Loyal and Verletti. To describe the feats of Mdlle. Zuila is out of the question, it will be sufficient to say that the audience was kept in breathless attention during the whole time she was on the stage, if we may so describe the different parts of ti e Hall, from ceiling to floor, she tt different times was seen to occupy. Messrs Loyal and Verletti's feats on the treble trapeze are also deserving of special notice, their last wonderful effort quite bringing down the house For the rest we may say thai the daneing of Miss Lizzie Shapter and Mr E. M'Lean was quite equal to the average of step dancing, that Mr Turner's singing was in the usual comic style, neither better nor worse, and that the singing of " I tickled her under the chin,*' &c, by '« the spider M (Master M'Leao) a young gentleman aged apparently about siy, was very amusing, and was highly appreciated by the audience. Mr Oakey presided in his usual able manner, at the piano. The troupe will give another entertainment this evening, when visitors will be repaid by witnessing Mdlle Zuila's performances.

Independent Order of Good Templars. — At (he usual meeting of Loyal Nelson Lodge on Friday nighf, the officers for the current quarter were iaat ailed, (he ceremony being conducted by Brother F. Coles, Lodge Deputy. They are as follows: — W.C.T., Bro. J S. Jones; W.V.T., Bro J. Glover; W.S., Bro. A. Wilkie; W.F.S., Bro. A. G Belts; W.T , Bro. H. Newport; W.C., Bro. W. Brent; W.M., Bro. C. Spring; W.1.G., Bro. P. Buchanan ; W 0.G., Bro. A. Lawrie; W.R.H.S., Sister E. Batt; W.L.H.S, Sister L. Hood; W.A.S., Sister K. Lucas; W.D.M. Bro. D. Laing; P.W.C.T., Bro. J. T. Smith. The reports of tbe retiring officers were then read, showing an increase of membership of nearly 100 per cent, over that of the preceding quarter, there being now 135 members on the roll. Taking into consideration the shore time that has elapsed since the Lodge was organised, the Order is to be congratulated on the success that has so far attended its endeavors to rescue those unfortunate persons who had fallen victims to the vice of intemperance, bringing comfort and happiness into the, many homes where before this these had been long strangers. The prejudice that at first existed against tbe Order is fast dying out, as its principles are becoming more generally known, and the good it is working more apparent. Nine new members were initiated during the evening. — The following officers of Good Hope Lodge of Spring Grove, for the term ending Ist November, were installed by Bro. E. Lewis, sen , Lodge Depuiy, on Monday last:— W.C.T., Bro. J. Robertson; W.V.T., Bro. W. Forster; W.S., Bro f S. Bryaot; W.F.S., Bro. W. Duncan; W.T., Bro. E. Cresawell; W.C, Bro. E, Lewis, jun. ; W.M., Bro. Walter Foreter; W.D.M., Bro. J. Bell; W.1.G., Bro, F. Durrant; W.0.G., Bro. A. Kruse; W.R.H.S , Sister H. Higgins ; W.L.H.8., Sister Dron; W.A.S., Sister C. Maule; P.W.C.T., Bro. P. C. Gowland. During the last quarter some thirty members were initiated into this lodge. — Communicated,