THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 300, 19 December 1874, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Everybody who has talked about Collingwood within the la«t twenty years — and this includes a large number of people — has predicted that it would one day become a very important district. At last there seems to be some probability of their prophecy beinsr fulfilled. I was going to say something about the Perseverance mint*, but on second thoughts I don't ihiok I will, because that particular feature in the prosperity of Collingwcod is what one of our City Councillors would call "a stinking matter to bring up," bo I will jußt run over the ranges— it is so eßsy to do (his on paper — and get on to the Anatori reefs. It was the cake of gold that came from thence yesterday that reminded ma of the "Perseverance," for don't some of ug remember bow our moutba watered when we saw, at a meeting of the shareholders in that unhappy Company, a similar lump of the precious metal conspicuously exposed to view on the stage of one of our public Halls, and how we made up our minds to rush into unheard of extravagances, and to go in for luxuries of which we had never dreamed before on tho strength of that inspiriting night? But these reminiscences are not agreeable, so let us back to Anatori. Untiring energy, indomitable perseverance — spelt with a small "p " this time— and downright bard work have met with their reward, and as the result of a crushing of about 150 tons

{For continuation see fourth page.)

of stone the oroprietors of a claim that promises great things have sent over lo Nelson some 350 ounces of gold. By almost superhuman efforts the machinery was dragged over steep mountains, conveyed through treacherous swamps, and boated over a convenient lake to the site upon which it has been erected, and inspired by an unwavering faith in the richness of their claim, the proprietors have toiled day and night until they have reaped what, let us hope, is . but a smalt portion of their reward. If ever success was commanded, it has been so by these men. All honor, and something more eubsttntial to them, I say, and so should say the people of Nelson generally. From Collingwood, too, we shall, ere long, be in receipt of regular shipments coal and iron, so that the prophets lo whom I have alluded will soon be receiving honor even In their owu country. The Bishop of Nelson has during the past week, earned the gratitude of a very large number of people to whom lie has afforded the opportunity of viewing, perhaps the finest and most extensive selection of photographs and pictures possessed by any private individual in the colony. He has spared neither trouble nor expense in his j endeavours to afford this pleasure, and, as a regular correspondent of a local newspaper, I do not think I am going out of my way in telling him that bis kindness and thoughtfulness have been most thoroughly appreciated by all. A little anecdote in connection with the leto exhibition may not be amiss here. An old gentleman who had evidently brought his " missus " in from her country seclusion to see the pictures was standing before one of the autotypea of the works of the old masters. " Well, 1M have bet my life," said he, '' that that there was a rabbi r, but I see they calls on A. Darer, but I suppose the Bishop knows better nor me." But the old gentleman wna right after all. It waa a rabbit, and " the Bishop " had only attached the name of the artist to the picture. I have sometimes thought that our City Council have a queer way of doing things, and I am cure of it now I «U present last night when ibey were discussing the loan question. Those who were in iavor of raising the money were most anxious to do nothing that was illegal. If it was not lawful to borrow for the purpose of paying old debts, they had no desire to do so, they said repeatedly, but their solicitor would be able to tell them all about that. Now it occurred to rae, not being a City Councillor, that a good .deal of trouble might have been saved they had consulted their Solicitor before they met. If 4 he bad been of opinion that they could not legally raise the money there was no need of the special meeting. If he thought they cooid, a good many words might have been saved, for there would ha* 8 been no necessity for their repeated protestatioDS that they did not desire to do tbst which was contrary to the statute. Perhaps they will bear this in mind another time when they are not quite sura that what they want to do is not wrong. I have a strange aversion (o coffioe. I never Bee one occupied or to let but I feel earthy, creepy, and uncomfortable. And yet I ought not 10, for there seems to be some connection, other than the mere accident of alliteration, between coffins and charity. In a Government- advertisement recently published I read as follows: — " Tenders will be received at the Superintendent's office from persons desirous of contracting to supply coffins for the charitable deportment.' Whom nre they for ? Are the heads of the department to be buried, or the recipients of charity, and, if the latter, bow many of them? Is the business likely to be brisk? AH these ideas suggested themselves \o my mind when I read the lugubrious notice. A friend of mine professes to have fathomed the mystery. He believes that the notification is the result of a deep calculation, and that our present Government being, as is well known, strict economists, h%ve, after a patient investigation, arrived at the conclusion tbae it would be far cheaper to provide those who are on the charitable aid list with coffins than with rations, and that consequently they have decided upon another massacre of the iuoocenta. I can believe a good deal, but 1 can scarcely credit that. F.