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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 123, 24 May 1875, Page 2

San Francisco Mail. —The Mikado was, according to the time table, due at Auckland yesterday, but as she did not leave San Francisco until the Ist inst, or five days behind her appointed time, it is probable ahe tony not show up for a day or two. Queen's Birthday.-—There was a parade of volunteers this morning, at nine o'clock, when a royal solute was fired, accompanied by a feu de joie after every seventh gun. The Band then played the National Anthem, and three hearty cheers were given for her Majesty. Other signs of holiday-making are visible in the streets, Mr Crisp having commenced to muster his large family in preparation for their sports, and carriages bring kutily engaged in plying the streets in search of passengers for the ?nces. ARTIZANB' ENTKRTAINMfIiqT. — We accidentally omitted on Saturday to notice the entertainment given on the previous evening by the Artizans* Association io aid of tbe fund for the relief of the sufferers by the late accidents. Fortunately, the weather was more propitious than on the previous Friday, and consequently the attendance was much larger. The acting was exceedingly good, and was well appreciated by the large audience, while the Artillery Band rendered valuable assistance during the evening. _ Nelson and Foxhill Railway. — The work of platelaying on tbis line is progressing satisfactorily, and tbe iron road now extends beyond tbe racecourse. On Saturday afternoon Mr Scott, the contractor, kindly placed a truck at the disposal of a number of passengers, including several ladiep, who were anxious to take a trip along j the line. The locomotive which," iv I

addition to the living freight, had to draw a quantity of railway sleepers, did its work well, and all were surprised b^-4he smoothness with which the ./"train travelled, seeing that the line is not ballasted, and that the truck on which they were seated had no spriugs. The return trip, a little short of five miles, was accomplished in 22 minutes, including two or three stoppages on the way. The Canterbury Tress says: — Since the resolution was passed by the Council of the Acclimatisation Society, offering one shilling per head for bowks and black shags, 210 of these birds— the majority being hawks — hava been received at the gardens, A keen political warfare is now raging in Marlborough, where Mr. Joseph Ward, an old settler in the Province, and Mr Moorhouss., a gentleman of colonial reputation, although a perfect stranger in tho district, ore offering themselves as candidates for the seat rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Seymour. A strong party feeling, which, although sometimes dormant, appears to be easily awakened in that most stormy of teapots, tbe Province of Marlborough, has been evoked, and the columns of the local papers are filled to overflowing with leading articles, reports of speeches, and correspondence on the subject. We bave not the most remote idea who is likely to bo the successful candidate, but if we may judge from the large number of locally influential names that appear on tbe list of Mr Moorbouse's committee there is a likelihood of his proving a daugerous opponent to Mr Ward. The Salmon Ova. — Fiat experimenturn, &c, &c, is a fine old Latin pioverb, but its application will hardly bo relished by the people of this colony if 'it should turn out that they are the "vilo corpus" at whose expense an experiment has been made to test the truth of one of Mr Buciland's salmon ova theories. It is to be hoped that this gentlenjan has not abandoned old and tried methods of packing salmon ova, merely in order to see whether animation can be suspended for a length of time, to be restored again when the ova are placed under suitable conditions. Yet it would seem from the accounts that have come to hand that some materially different mode of packing has been adopted in the case of the present consignment from any that has ever been previously tried Whatever may be the case with the ova, the moss in which the ova were packed seems to bave had its " animation " suspended very effectually indeed, whilethe usual embryotic growths have not put in an appearance at all. Of course, this may be an essential part o? the new method, if it is a new one, and it may be found that, after aW, the thing may turn out ail right. It may well be tbat a new plan has been adopted only after careful investigation and numerous experiments on a small scale has been made. At nny rate we may suppose that there is some ground for saying with tbe Southland Ti?nes, that, " there is yet room for bope with regard to the ova lately conveyed to thepondsat Wallacetbwn." A pisciculturist of Mr Buckland's standing would hardly stake liis reputation on a mere experiment, which, if it should turn put to be a failure, would make his name a by-word amongst scientific men. — Otago Guardian. In an article upon the effect upon the Ministry of Mr Vogel's absence, the Evening Post says:— -" Sir Donald M'Lean and Mr Richardson will have their own buttles to fight, and on questions of general policy cannot give much assistance to their colleagues. Mr Bowen may or may not be a capable man, but his utter want of parliamentary and political experience will render hira of little use next session. On Mr Reynolds aod Major Atkinson therefore will the task of "leading the bouse" devolve, and even their best friends must admit that they are quite unequal to the position. A financial statement from Mr Reynolds would be something to wonder a*-, and no Ministry could possibly survive its delivery. The only member of the Government who could with any reasonable hope of success endeavor to lead the house, is, unfortunately for them, in the Legislative Council, and consequently comparatively useless. We mean Dr Pollen." Bishop Neville (of Otngo>, commenting on the great importance of the religious aspect of the education question, said he was brought into contact about a week ago with an atheist, who contended, in angry tones, that there was no difference between a human being and a bullock. Biblical instruction was necessary in week day schools as well as Sunday schools. The Mount Ida Pa&toraJ^__.Bsociation< (Otago) has carried forward over £1000 - on the year's transactions, equal to 40 per cent on the capital. Chorister boys were introduced for the first time into St. Paul's Church Auokland, last Sunday. The Tribune ha^an amusing story from Wanganui to the effect that during the late Session of the Sttprerae Gourt some Maories got into the Judge's room and tried on h s wig and gown, and used the Sheriff's hat in « similarly disrespectful way. Having committed s tbese sacrileges thay got away unscathed, but not so the lawful owners of the head gear, one of whom has since mado bis appearance with his face painted with iodine or some other insect destroyer, much to the diversion of an irreverent public.

The Canterbury Press remarks that " tbe condition of affairs in Canterbury is nothing more than was to be expected. It has been evident for the last twelvemonths that the Province was going a great deal too fast, aud that sooner or later it would meet with a sudden and disagreeable check." The Canterbury Press remarks that " the condition of affairs in Canterbury is nothing mora than was to be expected. It has been evident for the last twelvemonth that the province was going a great deal too fast, and that sooner or later it would meet with a sudden and disagroeable check." Tue Brisbane Telegraph, taking as its text the re-entrauce of Sir George Grey into public life remarks ; — When two or three generations bave lived and died here, a new love of country— a love of this ■* country, and a patriotic feeling in regard to it — will be developed. And nothing will be so likely to assist in bringing about this feeling as the example set by Sir George Grey in New Z^fiand. When men of wealth, bi<>h culture, and large experience, do not think it beneath them to take an active part in tho legislation of the colony in which tbey have settled — not for the sake of furthering some private scheme of their own, nor to forward class interests, but from a purely patriotic desire to serve tho country of their adoption — the example will sooa be followed. Sir George may not prove to be a very wise or a very safe local poliI tician, but if be is net . his presence in the House of Representatives at Wellington will have a beneficial effect' the whole importance of which can hardly be realised at present. Mr Mills, of Dunedin Harbor Co., has received a telegram announcing that the s.s. Taupo sailed from Glasgow for Port Chalmers direct on the Ist inst. The Taupo is commf.nded by Captain Macfarlane. She is tho second steamer built for the Company, and is expected to make the passage in sixty days. She is 720 tons gross, and 461 tons nett. Certain disclosures have been made regarding the Government Engineer Corps in Waikato. Staff-sergeant Barlow writes: — "I will now relate the manner in which officers mustered their tools for the inspection of officers sent for that purpose. Previous to and on the last visit of Colonel Gorton, old worn-out, and previously condemned tools were raked, up, some fished up out of tho lake at Hangiriri, where*they had, bee.n for moi? ths before. Tbe men's private mess-pales and utensils borrowed pro tern, to make up the requisite number ; but tbis not being enough for more than one detachment, the Inspector was cajoled into an hotel for refreshments, and meanwhile a party of men were despatched j.y a nfar cut to tbe next detachment, with the before - mentioned fishing and dredging to be again counted by the Inspector. How lonjr these affairs are to continue, of course depends on the action token by tbe Government in the matter — for my part, I intend to assist to the utmost, like the Sergeant Major and Color- Sergeant Craig, in exposing these frauds." The Marlborough Express understands that an examination of tbe Taylor Pass has been made on behalf of tbe Borough Council, with a view of ascertaining the probability of obtaining a water supply for Blenheim. The particulars have not transpired, but we understand tbat an excellent supply can be had with an altitude of 200 ft., at a distance of 5£ miles, and that beyond that distance the altitude increases so fast that at about two miles further a height of 700 ft can be obtained. The Otago Daily Times says: — We see but little prospect of prosperity in the immediate future of Auckland in the speech of Sir George Grey at the openiog of the Provincial Council. Upon the contrary, it is difficult to imagine a more gloomy outlook than that to which ho makes reference. Whether we regard the figures or the facts, it seems on though the province of Auckland was in a bad way. If the financial condition of Auckland is so utterly deplorable as its own Superintendent makes out, while trade of all kinds is so brick, what, we would ask, is likely to be its condition — in the dry tree? It seems that the entire -provincial revenue only amounts to "some £45,000, and that with this sum the local Government is expected to carry on its functions.. We are afraid that by no ingenuity will the most astute of Superintendents be able to finance so as to dischaigelhe.Cc'uacil's obligations towards the pubiic ' and towards individuals with "integrity and punctuality." Tbs Gippsland Mercury of a recent date says: — "A lady in Sala.was - presented with two large and beautiful apples. One she gave to her children, and reserved the other for her husband aud herself. On cutting tho second one open she was surprised to see a reptile about three in'.he.s long coiled round tho core, apparently dead. On touching it with a fork it darted from the apple, and went speedily along the table. The centipede — for such it was -—came to grief in a rnome-B-t- after, baying been spitted with the progs of the folk. On examining the apple, a small hole about the size of a pin's head was discovered on the opposite end from the stalk, and, from all appearances, no other conclusion can be arrived at than that the centipede had eaten its way into the apple while both were young, and tbat each had grown with the other's growth.