THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 127, 20 May 1876, Page 2

T HE WEEK.

IVUneralogieally speaking we have made a sudden drop in Nelson.: At one time we were all agog about gold, now we have come-down to "silver, regarding which mineral quite an excitement, has been produced of late 7by exhibitions in the shop windows.of specimens of 'ore from the Richmond 'Hill arid' Mount Rangitqto mine's. Tarn not sure whether I ought to be glad or sorry that I don't know much about quartz or ore, because a little knowledge of such .matters is a dangerous, thing, but the fact remains that I am perfectly ignorant about both, my experience in miniDg transactions being limited to the payment of a: certain number of poundssterling for the privilege of being a: shareholder in the Culliford Company. Therefore any opinion Imay express must be' mixed with many grains of salt, and then swallowed very cautiously. This is a preface to saying that I like the look of thb specimens from both places amazingly, the one being dull and heavy but with a very business-like look,' the other exceedingly pretty and sparkling I have ; not i examined either any deeper than f the j surface— and' if I did I should probably, like a great many others who profess to know all about such matters, be nione the wiser— so I repeat that it is quite . possible that my impressions are ;utterly valueless. ' Sbill* I cannot but I think, that these new; are [going to turn out right, and, if bo, .they must exercise a considerable l influence upon the welfare of the colony. People who, like ourselves, have| been accustomed, ' imaginatively

and speculatively, to, deal with gold aro rather disposed tp look - *0.0wn3 upon. Bilver, but I think that, on- th^whole/I should prefer a ton -of ore containing, ,say 500 ounces of silver at 4s pe^ ounce to a ton "of „oart^wjth j%6 .jbunces^f; gold in it, 'even 'though' each ounces' should be worth 80 shillings. So that, perhaps, ifc might be well that we should nofc turn up our noses afc silver when we can't get-gold. , r „„. While Sir Julius and Sir George andi Mr Macandrew have been letting off their heavy artillery at each other, many of our local sportsmen have been trudg--ing the hills through high fern and manuka, climbing fences, and wading streams in the fond hope that something would turn up which should give them an excuse for firing off their smaller guns, bufc fche three big men 1. have named,seem to have, monopolised all,or nearly all the sport. r:..9Dhe7 three _Com4 missioners, like well-trained spaniels, pufcj up Mr Macandrew just afc Sir Julius' feet, and so enabled him to have a splendid shot at game that was well worth bringing down, and even although the old cock~l don't mean to speak of him did fly, off " with a 1 vigorous wing; and a gleesome chuckle' as much as to say "Tou missed your aim there old itnan," still the Knight; had the satisfaction of knowing that he; had had a shot, and probably felt convinced that, despite the triumphant , brow, he had hit his bird, and had seen \ ibe feathers fly- out. of him. But many bf ojir pheasant shooters who have been put at intervals since Monday last, have not experienced even this little pleasure. One tells me that he has tramped the gullies and hills for two days and never seen a bird; another thafc his dog put up two, bufc that they were out of reach; a third thafc ehe, ..doesn't ;believei that there is a pheasant within five miles pf Nelson. Some, to be sure, whp were more fortunate, have had a few T shots,, but their bags were empty when tbey got home, they having had . tp put up with theannpyance — so common during the ; shppting season — of seeing their . birds testify tp the correctness pf the' sportsman's aim by falling in the fern, while they afterwards obstinately refused tp allow themselves fcp be found by the beßt retrievers in the country. These* are the men I always pity, fer their statements are invariabiy received with a dubious Ippk and a r prpvpking, wink pf the eye,. c Most didpirit- , ing are the accounts which I bear pf the i sport,, pr rather , of the want of sport, but I may* be misinformed pn this subject, and nething will afford me greater pleasure than te be- convinced pf this by the receipt of a brace frpm pne, and a brace frcm another, and so pn. The weather is ccld and tho birds will keep, sp let nn prie be afraid ef pvercrcwding my larder. I should like tp pffer a suggestion in connection with, that melancholy event with which this week opened, nne that, I feel convinced, pnly requires te be made to ensure its being acted upen immediately and with vigor." It is that the present Nelsen Collegians and all the former pupils ef the Rev Frank Churchill Simmons should unite in.procuring a tablet fcp be erected tc his memory in the cathedral church ef, the diocese in which he spent the last eight years pf his life. The number of those throughout New Zealand who could claim the privilege of subscribing as haying been his pupils afc the :Dunedin High School and Nelson College would be sp large that but a small amount wpuld be required frpm each. That every pne ef thpse whp have . benefitted by his instruction wpuld be not;only willing but glad tp shpw spme such markof respect tc the memory of their Jate tutor and friend I think there can, be ne dpubt whatever, and I therefere have ne hesitation in making the suggestion. The- eccentricities ef the so-called Nelson and Foxhill railway are as numerous as they are diverting, and I never have occasion fcp travel on that line ! without seeing, something that strikes me as ridiculous. Prom the very start at this end the arrangements are , peculiar.* Ycu' see cabs,' hurrying ? up from town at'the time appointed for' thej tra|n3'o : leave, only to/findthat the : gatfes. across the road are closed, and the "staiiqn- being on the far side* the unfor-r tunate passenger whp is troubled with a carpet bag cr a big parcel has to r mano9uvre : his:way through an inconveniently narrow gateway, circumvent the ; train, and clamber up en tp the platform which is on the opposite side L befpre hei can; get nis ticket. In most places 'the passenger station would have beep^ placed in the most convenient position," but .then 7 thiere 'are .pot , many ifelspn ; ; and^ Eoxhill railways in the colony. About the Jenkins' Hill incline we all know, so I need, say nothing regarding that now, but, r having hadj occasion to go to foxhill 'the' other day, I met with ;! a : new ; engineering freak that is. not unworthy of nptice. Arrived at Wakefield, we feuud three trucks 'laden with fencing cv a siding constructed at the dewn end pf the station but which does not form a loop connecting with the main* line at both ends. . These trucks before we started were after a little manoguvreipg hitched on ))ehind, and I could net help making thej remark tp.a fellpw-passenger — " What ! taking fencing frcW Wakefield to [Eoxhill 1 Is;, nptj that very like carrying coals to NewcastleP"" His reply ratheri astonished me— Pr, at least, would have done so had I not kno'wri sdmething of tne : ifunDy sights that are to. be seen on. this line. ' f f Oh," said, he, " that stiiif's net intended for Eoxhill. it's going to Eichmpnd, but* ypul seethe. n&fjg ;ohly 'cdnnects' with j thej line' at che'.ppiht^ sp! tha^'gqbds ; truclks. loaded here, fer Eichmpnd pr Nelsen have .: firsfc to be taken' by. the

downt; train, to HoxKili x ii|,order that they^ ma^ ;be v placed^in t|;eir proper position aii the v u|p trsm |which conveys them: to their tdestinalion.'' So that, , in preterence "to.^ebbstructing twenty / oi , .^thirty | yaj*ds<Q_^permanent N Way- amd r rails, it^nlfs^been thought advisable that ali heavy material, such as fencing, timber, and firewood, bound from Wakefield to Nelson, shall, be dragged four miles ono way and four miles back figainlbefore [making a fair start. : '' Thb more^l of fthe Nelson and Foxhill railway the more do I feel . disposed^to travel on. jt, for it is an infinite source of amusement to me. I have a strong dislike, to long wyc-rds,-*, and on looking back ariT horrified Id' find that I commenced this letter withope of: seven syllablesr ,■ For this I apologise, and, ask that, iin justice to myself, an average may be struck between it an ( d ihy very; brief signatdro, the modest little JF. " 1.1.J11 1..1....1 ... mi 111 i li iiiii i| uli«.|ilL 1.111

'".'-. *J_Jthe, harbor 'l of, Saia., Francisco a vvarestrSiok'a j fishing«boa# ; and over-* board went twg - (di^cijples of Isaac Walton. Some parties who happened to be in a boat clp.je*. by/Went to their assistance,.,. and .resoued .the , half--drowned pair. Oq._b.eing questioned hojrVitbe [.accident* ooourred, they ? plied, "We didn'^ca.psiae .;;. we only went down to' see why thei deuce the fishj^u^trblt^ JJrlff} pJrri^f The third largest. bell in use in the ; world * waa-, recently placed ; in the *, south*ern tower of.the cathedral in Cologne,: i Germany;' ' Three 1 castings -were made of metal c obtained by melting Frenoh oam~on"~c*ptured-- during " the Francos Prussian war. Two were unsuccessful, but the third was perfect. Tbe twenty guo_3 !! bsed • weighed-- SO#OO German pouute; and'tb these wits a r dded 80;000' pounds- of tin., . -.; The ; tirj^e oohf h melting * was' but ten hours, and twenty-nine mfnlitelTufßced t6"fill" the '"mould. "The oooJiiJ^'oonYiriuedifor foup^weeks. Thebell is 10ft Bifi a higl^and -Wft 2in in dwoie.|er !r! ,, lis .tota^weighl is-25 r .tons. : Of t the i^r^i_; 7 pells 7in- existence,.: two, ji tboSetofMoscPw, weighingirespectively; * 193;!' and v 6SI; : tons.' arb broken; Pekin ! hat: Wr w'ei^hing ,'33 tons, and Novgorod, Russia, one of 31 tons, both , of Which Tare in use^ J -••;•' ; - : Innredib.le;a& the following story may . appear,' Bays' the Car leton Place Herald J it is an authentic fact, to which hundre^*j^j[beftr testimony x-r" Abput 40 years ago, a young. man. Darned Wilson",,, residing near the -.town of Perth, conceived the ulunatio idea of leading a hermit's life. youth, had from his early age, eho wed symptoms ofderangement,(.and<itbiß proceeding on .his part. waß not considered -'strange -by many of bis'Trieiidsl : ' ! The Hi chosen place oiF his hermitage -was 'abbot three-quarters of a mile fromihis'parental homestead,- in the recess of a dense" bush,, where be erected a small hovel for himself,, and furnished it with an old log canoe, which he used as & couch to sleep in. Diveßtifa^him'self. of ail clothing, be*has ever since then remained perfectly nude, w t ithr;the exception of: 'a Mattered -fein? nant>of<> a < shirt, whieh 1 his' fancy 1 leader him to retain. In this 'state, for 40 years, he has lived,.walking in ; the dej^K.^pj: y{ntes ; *thro : ugh7.';thesnow, and yet- n*e has 'never been known to have received a frost-bite. When*, he wants a drink, he. walks, deliberately into the riverj "it' ; mattering ; not to him what season~of the year it may be, and wades out, ti|l the ,reacbes his waist, and then he stodps and quenches his thirst. His food is' brought.. to him by his friends, aad.when given to bim' it is eaten with the voraciousness of an animal; whieh f he now reaemblOa more than i a than. h&;bodjr* being as heavily coated ' wijfjti^^ He never sholwsji a y dangero'usi disposition, andu chatteFgin'tmbnosyllabtesV' When people cross" -hil ' path 1 he invariably begs for tobacco,- for which ihe has an evident partiality, and in chattering tones will~~u.ter "bacca' until his request is " granted^ .Hia hair -pia tyngi greyji and; unkempt, falling ,over T his shoulders, and his beard, which is similar, reaches down below his waist.. He is, now be; tweleri f 6O and 70 years of age, and he is .possibly the. only lining;.. being Oyer kn^wn^ft^^aye jived year : afters year perfeotly. naked and exposed to all the inclemencies of weather which mark our Canadian winters." The Melbourne -<4r_7Ms notices that bow-rto- make; crime objectionable to th$ oJ fcrTminall;pj^ , a^prpblem. which to ' have been : partially solved in one of the -English prisons, that (pf7j_Pey,e.npor_t.:. Some 'time 'ago Mr James Edwards,*: the Governor of that gaol, opTtreleasiug; a convict, informed bim that he had earned double the costitif'.hiß keep, besides contribute ing something Ito WArds the Governor's salary; 1 n Nothing oould exoeed the diegust.of the prisoner on learning this une_spec j^d / fact s>f "iHav;e I earned sp: mueh^ towards your 5 Salary," said he.~ Th^n^y^ttp, shallr never* ispe ,* my ■; face again'f" 7_i.nd so far he has kept his., word." yjß,uij jof QiOourse, {this i single swallow "does not make a summer. It r,i« gratifying.! to Jadd_7:3 however,' tba|. { ow t ing ;i .to«th:e < maintenance ofUa stringent, principle, of, r remuuera|ive: work' in i^'t r ,prißon,. the committals for . , trial have 'been* 'getting fewer and fewer for } several yea^s.past;, and nt the,, Deyenport seßeiods in January last, the Recorder. was. enabled, to- congratulate tbe Grand Jury on tbe fact that they hadrpot ; ajßiflgl^ prisoner for trial. ; On- ureceiving' the customary pair of white kid^lpv^p, that gentl*eman(Mr H./T.; Cole.i JMkP*. ;Q;C.) stated) :that i he attri- 1 buted tbeudecrease of crime to the excellent working of the gaol, which Was not only productive of good: to those sent rthejre, r but: prevented others from doipgr.i that!!; whioh would > cause 1 their < recommittal. At that 5 date; theVe were only ten prisoners in ithe' gaol, and Bix of ijhpßes) would receive/their discharge duringiithe month then 'ourrent; so ; that tbe l ' Recorderyamidst the '"laughteriofl the Court, recommended the^GbverDorto"Bhu,tjUp^shop." Most criminals are capable of reasoning just as shrewdly as other- men; and when a convict learns that, in .addition, to his .loss of liberty and his isolation from his fellows he baa not ouly to earn hia own living in gaol, but to labOr for the support of the ve'r^lmeniwhoi are controlling hisevery movement, and subjecting him to a discipliue i -which 'is'rhost irksoodetoT his ill-regu : lated r ;mihd and looße',babitß, he is not unnaturally sled: to conoluJe that he might as well take-to work on bis own account, when he regains, his freedom. And it is precisely to such a conclusion ' that society should assist him to arrive, by making its prisons aeif-si|ppoitipg.}; r .-.." m •y : l;

i i r-T-r-- -n"-ftf-"-r -rr.rt it- m i rTtib^trsesof < lAdversity^fbur^;w_ar: ! ( ut your clothes.. You are nut:troubledv ? ?with visitors. You are exonerated--om making calls. A Bores 'do aott bore; oiii 'Tax-gatherers 0 hurry past your oor. No one ever thinks of presenttg you with a testimonial. * Impostors iow it is of no use to bleed you. You awa'llbiv ibfinitely less pbisOo'than any Others., You -havp, saved many, a debt, . ', many a, deception, many a teadabhp. . : 4ind lastly, if you bave a true friend in* ; tbe world, you are sure in a very r about r ' spaqeof time, --to know it. j ATBBRiiBLB Tbaqedt.— -Julia ßar^ uafd, r a diinseuse and vocalist met with aj rt'ragtb death- at Helepa^ Mbiitauai lktely. She was -standing; f gainst -"a". board : wb ile an : actor was showinghis dex'tOrity in 'bedgihg her in' by hurling ; MniveV at, the. board. S.ir7kh'iyes ;,?»*3 Yf , * rjeen^tuck: beneath pacharipi juat .aboye;, each shoulder, at each side of the head. 6ne-more''Waited 'to ; be- planted: jUB.t ; : : qbove .her head... The aim of the &rpwer"waß.tpo : l The knlfP'.plß'nb^'] . trated the brain ian^l the 'jigirl. jsapkddjwb. .,' , t|o ,die on the; stage.; . Theaqtor is,under ' arrest;*' ■''■ '■ ' '-^A-f-r -y- •:• : : !-■■••; -.- .-. -.■.;; 1 j A young man in tbis town (says the , Paten, Mail), who., i_ r .par;^e^ . r his washing, the other day wrote a note tp^his' washerwoman,: and one to; bisr : girl, and by some strange fatality put the-yvvfPn'g addfess ; oil yeiaflh'-'enyeippeV 1 an'd'Be'Ut^tWeJn^iD^ ; ; wa^ v Wiel I f - pleased at, an -inv^itatiibn.^tp' ( take a ride the next day, but when the young 'lady' read^— " >Tf you muss up my shirt.boapm,.and7^ collar any mpre,*. as, you diftlasttimp,, j will .go-somewiiere else," she.criedall the -evening, and declares, that Bhe will never speak to him again. j NpthinJ; iff lostWtfdiitie]rp^nil{»^jk''.the. .Awamoko' corrbspondent : of the . Worth- Olago . Times)* Everything . tringb^ristto.tbe/mill.'y Very; young - children ride and dr.iy,e, and ?ped hprses, •lows, fowlsj; and, |>igß. What a young | Woman can do here is; woffdbrful* 7 FronT niilking co^s itb;making herypwh yan^d * her sisters'* 1 andr brbthers!7 garments. 7 pothipg- roomeii. ;amiss tb ! ber. ; 'Women * - here, are dairy serva'ntSj 'fcodksi'hoasef tbaids, bakers, nurses', dressmakers, iind tailoresses. Tbey tend the eiok and work-for-the • healthyr; They- never- \ oompla'ila; '^hoy' are Beldbmaicty THey / are suns of purr social ; sy stem » ;: [They a,re obedient daughters, they ;are; faithful Homb is all in' all to them. They temporarily leave it with regret; t|hey. return to it with unfeigned, joy. Their chief book i is the : : book! of7an U\ mated T3atureaß-itris-revealed~ in- their hlusbands' and children's faces. For talk, .they are a Bible people. ...Like the Puritans; their language: teems ..with ; Jscri#ti_ral phraseology. Tbey 'do* not s|ay " you were invited to the wedding." .P^o, they say, "You were biddep." ! This is strictly scriptural. If the Habits of the Scottish people who halve settled on the Plaiu are not poetical, at alll events their language is eminently poetical. The words used are bid > English, and can be found in Chaucer, ♦JDight" to wipe, " greet" to weeb ; and many otbers are old English. The life of the Plain people may be summed. u|p in the ; word. : ,',' utility." prnauVent they care ''not. for ;' J Stagb plays7baVe:r)o attraction for them, but a! hearty, Irish..-, coniic , song, . oo r ,a , patriotic national Scotoh. ballad will; at once arouse tbe genuine; /Caledonian enthusiasm. ,*. .fr.'-.;-' ! Tbe Journal' de Florence, ot^ Italy, relates tbe following curious story, for Jhe truth of which it vouches :— Lord J. Seymbdr/ an Eoglisfr npb|eWap r v^np was exceedingly fond of 'all kinds' Of sports, was, many years ago, a member of jtbe'Pariß Jpckey ..Olub.;; Que .day* whilst paßsingj the door of7*the*.clubhouse on horseback, he Twag called: by , FefryJ "a" noted- billiard-player, : who chanced to be lolling out of the window,.aud invited to play a game. His lordship could see^no o^e *to hold hia horse. .Sfiddehly^he took a^strange, -. resolulion. ~ He turned the horse's head 7 tpwards .the door, made the animal b'pund trp they steps,; and entered the billiard saloon. THe took up a cue, fought and won a/match \with Ferryf on^ ! horseback. It was an admirable sight , tp see the delicate' tact with which the well-traioed steed went round tbe.table; and' no less; curious and exciting to. watch -the; mo vemebts of theppbieiPan : wjho,* by his dekte'rity, won ,a7sum of; money as the reward of hisjski.ll.,/ 7 7 j Gooley has -had some trouble with .of;, his.. hens., 7She wanted to set, and he didn't want her. He put her jupder- a barrel, ducked her under a ipbmp, threw her into the air, and reasoned with her, but she would persist in going back-to her nest. Finally

he? 4>ut v% Hq\. pbrbelain ' egg un'derrhor; r butiisb.e? skipped:r;aboutiuptU4t cooled,!: and -then she returned and sat on the egg,7iwitb7th'e lairrof having! resolutely determined '-'to htitoh B'Be't^o'fbipCßrery-'' and. a Pouple; .6|;'7fl^e';r.;^pt9;^ii'i- l of't'bd'' delusion. He : placed7a po^ powder under the nest, and laidr& : slow; m.atch| but' into 'tbe r! ya'rd.;yA;B sbbnjas he7sa r .^;': th'B, :j h i eiii7^ into the kitchen "'to '&o*r» r ligl^*.-, ,-' Mefti^-T., time Mrs Gooley entered; the henihouee. to hunt -for eggs, and to ascertain if the idiotio, chicken. was sitting., yet. .. Then Gooley.*! came out and fired the train, ! IUA : y-'';coii)ple' : '>f'--'inibutes^-;<th6ropivaß<a'* Jfa.ar f ul ex p Wsioby ; ;7^A Cqoley/pmflrged precfpiia^^^ idoor r * a 'ivitii.; her, mouthfuil of feathers, her hair-fujl ofbleztog sttaw and wdrm i blbod^andan asßortmen ;gi«aEds^p'ai_d.; 'pl.^wji' r . ! her dress. Then -ship, made a;daih at ; Gooley;:' : What the 'result waa -I r doonbt know. But I met him on the f Olio widg l^uescjay ' With {; p6tfrV n r ose, au^^*, 7 lo^ok^br eyes, land be. informed; me conudentiijly /that the next'henoffhis 'tbatwauted to set might set in peace throughout tb« ages of r : tiiEicK4r »i&aa ' SIX/>*^P^ *^tt^^- £ .n vrad itis iiit t.J.-n 'J-!: l .nl fj. . ■\<>l\ < r.;,=o '„*-il 't -„,.1 .ii*; cycles of eternity^; before; he, would .bother' himself about her.— Mai . Aldeler. *•:; v-A-'Mt Duneati^ efidetvtly l^ gentle"!uianj r of / experiericp,' /rec^tr^^.r^ad'^an. 'iintpyeß^ngp,.«iaay'/bei^^ !Farmerfa'':G.u7b[ofiitfae':'ro^ Planting." He finished as followa-i— .." Time_ wjlX, not permit. jne_ to .dj^more_ ( than T B|ightly .tpuoh on this phase, of the : isubj ecfj ' .bii t: I ; wpuldlaubmit 7tW:if ' yOM -have-not-a-large-profitj-you-have -oom-y fort, beauty of scenery^ the increased l r vajfue". of y our. o.pe^. lands now eflsctually slieitered from7the winds, and thiia ' ipo(pr ; p'vjed ,> in; olimate,.; I;v^ry" m^U'ch doubt whether it answerapsP^weU <to plant good land ''M^tii.^j^iiAiHl^^Ti but, .with rPtfpect' to poor^-Jind 1 ,' ;ihe question is different, aijd .tbe^'we'.japprebend that little doubt can be en ter r tamed of its;>beiugr6aßqnably profitable. If land will ;be'ar corn profiiablyj,; let I corn; be. the crop; but if land will not oarry farm produce then it must be adpHtted-that timber should be planted. I trust, in conclusion, tbat tbe remarks pn r^Tfprestytreey plaW attempted [this Tevenfa advantage to your Giub, tbat some of your members may have learnt, however imperfectly it may, be r that improvements may be' made bri their properties which will-tend^o-inorease their Talue> and'be ameans of developing a ta_t_rfof"improvebrrural"sb"ene^ r the need of which is patent to every caYeful bbserver^: <■ yr The latest Yaukpß;;s!(vindle is a Chicago inveritiob. When hay is-sold by the too, a man oonceali himself in the load knd is weighed with it; Whi}© the load is driven to the barn of the*; purchaser,- the man ;leaves his hiding; place,'. aiid goes, brick to rthe hay-market to be 7 sold over again!. '- The trick was not discovered UQ'til'tb^ other day,, though it is understood that it has beep ; practised: for .years.