The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1875.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 54, 4 March 1875, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1875.

It must have been gratifying to the public of New Zealand to learn, as by this time they have probably done throughout the colony, that Mr Yogel i 9 still alive, and, wo hope, well. Until a fortnight ago all we knew about him was that he had left Australia for England some time in October, but on the arrival of the lnst Suez~rnail we were informed by the Home News that about the middle of December he reached Brindisi. Possibly he may from the first have included a Continental tour in his programme, but of that we knew nothing, bo that the information afforded us by telegraph yesterday of his having arrived io London, and being " hard at work in arranging for the loan," is undoubtedly satisfactory so far as it goes. But, seeing that up to the middle of February all he had succeeded in doing was to make the discovery that, •• owing to the condition of the money market," it was probable that " the loan may not be negotiated on such favorable terms as the previous one," it is questionable whether we have much to congratulate ourselves upon beyond the fact that he is at present in England and *' hard at work." All wo now know is that during the two months that have elapsed between his arrival at Brindisi aud the date of his telegram, he had done nothing towards effecting ihe main purpose of his visit to the home country beyond ascertaining that he. would have some difficulty in raising upon anything like favorable terms the hard cash of which, at the present moment, the colony stands so sorely in need. In the meantime, what is his Government doing in New Zealand ? Of this we seldom hearatiything. It is true that SirD. M'Lean is working his department well, but, as for the rest of the Ministers, wo know very little of their doings beyond the fact that the Commissioner of Customs hag recently brought into force a reguiatiou regarding iho transmission of foreign car»o between the several ports. Lamentable though it be, if is nevertheless n fact, i and a recognised one, that Mr Yogel is the Government, and that, iv his absence, nothing of moment can be done. In looking over our exchanges we have met with an article in the I^yUcllon Times which so accurately describes the present situation of the colony that its republication nseds to apology. The theme upon which it eularges'is the forthcoming Philadelphia Exhibition, but in doing so it touches upon other and larger matters that must soon force themselvfs upon the consideration of the people of ]Sew Zkeland. The burden of tho complaint to which it givers expression is that there is no one to whom we can look to conduct our affairs but Mr Yogel. Surely this is not n pleasant position for any country to find itself in — that its whole future should be dependent upon one man. But our contemporary shall speak for himself: — " New Zealand has teen very much in the eye of the world of late. Tt has come to be pretty v idely known that there is such a place — small, it ia true— but very energetic, and possessing Ihe elemeufs of all kind* of prosperity. * * Such being the case, the rest ol the world will natura'ly ha curious to learn more about this wonderful little county. 'Jin re is to be a great gathering of the nations at Philadelphia in IS7G. To commemorate the centenary of their independence, the Americans have invited the people of the whole universe to come with their products, manufactures, arts, and sciences. They lire building an enormous palace of industry — a pa 1 ace a 9 large jib a count)— where cadi nation will have its own siparate district for the ar angement and exhibition of its particular wares. Every nation will be there, nnd everything that is grown on the earth, or dug from it by the toil of man, or produced by his skill of band and braiu, will be massed together for the instruction of the human race. The history of international exhibitions, from the first in London in 1851, to the last sit Vienna in 1873, is a history of commerce developed What has happened before will ha| pen again, nnd all those who accept the American invitation and attend the big show will go away pleased and benefiitcd Amidst the th-ong there will bo inquiries ou all siles for the new star that lias lately been discovered in tbe ethnological firmament. The rt-p esentativos of ancient systems will look in or.c another's eyes, and demand to know whe c is the p ace set apatt for the little orb with a gieat heart. But, a'as, tint little country will not b 3 there. The nations will shrug their shoulders, they will not underst.n 1, they will look with contempt, aud the contempt will be very we 1 deserved. It looks as if the character for energy and clear-sightedness does not bekng to the statesmen of this cc-untry, but to one of them— Mr Yogel. It appears that whatever has been done to attract the attention of the resr. of the world, has hceu done by him. Before he camp, the couniry lay in darkness— now that he is away, no ore las any ideas. The whole worl«l is t-dk ng of the coming exhibition, and the who'e world is getting ready i's goods to send to it. Uur Australian neighbors, who are further off than we are, are keenly alive to the importance of the subject. Victoria las applied for a space, which she (>roposes to fill with every article of commerce she produces South Australia has voted £40;.0 for the expenses lecj/.iired for her r roper representation New South Wales and Queensland ate agitating the inntt<r, and a preliminary and intercolonial exhibition i 3 to be held in Melbourne. As a contrast to all this active prepaiation, we 9how absolute apathy. Tho leasoa of this ( apathy it is very hard to assign. Whether,

in the absence of Mr Yogel, cur public men indulge in perpetual slumbers, as a preparation for tlie activity which his return -will entail upon their brains; whether it really is the case that nobo<iy in New Zealand thinks without a hint from the Promier; whether there is absolutely no ' go ' in the mercantile community; or whether protectionist ideis prevail nnd discountenance exhibitions ; ■whether all or any of these causes are at work, no one knows. Whatever the reason, we shall not be represented at the Philadelphia Exhibition."

Harmonic Society. — On account of the Horticultural Show, the weekly practice is postponed until to-tnorrow evening. Horticultural Show.— Whatever doubts mny have prevailed regarding the probable success of to-day's show will at once be dissipated if those who entertained them will pay a visit fo the Provincial Hall. The number of exhibits is not so great os in November, but the quality of the fruits and flowers shown is beyond all question. A centre table running from one end of the room to the other is laden with flowers of various descriptions, in pots, in bouquets, single, and in eeis, fuschias, dahlias, and asters being the most conspicuous. On the right hand aide another row of tables is devoted entiiely to plants in pots and tubs, the petunias i especially attracting notice by their great beauty and variety. To the left is another lorg table, on which is displayed a collection of fruits, the fragrance and appearance of which are so delicate and enticing as almost to make the visitor wieh that the eighth commandment might be temporarily struck out of the decalogue. Apples of enormous size and varied hues, pears of all shapes and colors, rich, lusciouslooking mulberries, gigantic peaches, rosy nectariues, figs, walnuts, colnuts, plums, and almost every description of fruit obtainable at this time of the year are to bo found on this table, while the next table contains such a show of grapes as could scarcely be found in any other town in New j | Zealand. In the Grand Jury room are vegetables of all kinds, and of the moat excellent quality, but as the priza list was not. completed in time for us to publish to-day we must defer a fuller description until to-morrow. To all who desire to spend a pleasant couple of hours we would recommend a visit to ihe Hall which will be opened from 7 until 9 this evening, during which time there will be various musical performauces. The Secretary requests us to warn boy a and others against touching or removing the fruit, and to 6tato that anyoao detected in so doing will be prosecuted. Volunteer Encampment. — The Easter encampment will be attended by all the corps in the Nelson District, and by a detachment of the. Wellington Artillery, with their 12-lb. Armstrong gun The City corps, with the exception of the cadets, will parade at 7 p.m. on Thursday, the 2oth instant, aud march to Richmond, where the camp will be already pitched. They will be joined at Stoke by the Stoke Rifles, and met at Uichtnond by the Richmond detachment of the Stoke corps and the Waimea Rifles. The Wellington Artillery will arrive by the Ladybird on the following day, and proceed to join the camp. The camp equipage cocsi9ts of tweuty-five bell-tents, iive officers' marquees, and two Indian hoepit'iltenfs to be us d as mess-loots. The tents will be pitched in open column, looking towards the town, on a piece of ground kindly lent by Mr W. Button, of Richmond, this being the second time he has assisted the Volunteers in forming a camp. The City and Stoke Cndeta will join the meeting on Easter Monday morning, and the whole return to towu by about 10 p.m. ou that day. The General Government have given a ration allowance of Is GJ per diem for four days for each Volunteer, and granted twenty rounds of blank ammunition per man for a field day. The tents nre those used at the Oolooial prize firing. Mr Blind, of the Provincial Hotel, is the successful tenderer for the catering.