The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 65, 16 March 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1877.

In the management as well as tlje settlement of the Karamea there seems to have been something " special." We have had an opportunity of talking with some of those who recently left that favored spot, and the story they have to . tell is a dismal one indeed. After two years residence in the wilds they have returned to Nelson homeless, penniless, and indeed, less everything except dependents in the shape of little ones, who seem to appear as frequently on the scene atv Karamea as at Nelson. The coin of the realm is to them a strange sight, for it never was to be seen at the J;ake-it T out of Karamea, where labor was. paid for. in stores. Potatoes, hav.e formed the principal item of food for the last four or five months, i but how they were obtained seems to be a matter of wonder. "The terrace land. on which we were located," says one, " is fit for nothing; year before last I planted seven sacks of potatoes; and dug four inreturh for my labor." "I planted two and a-half," says another, "and only just got '' my seed, back." "My wife was confined a short time ago," is the tale a third has to tell. " I was at that time brought in in debt at the store; I had neither flour, tea, sugar, nor meat in the house, and could get none for as there were to be no more Government works there was no credit. Some of my charitable neighbors kindly provided me with a small quantity of these luxuries out of their own little stores, and so. my. wifemanaged to pull through." It was a lamentable list of grievances to which we had to listen, and the foregoing may be regarded as a fair sample of the whole. At last, driven to desperation, the men sold the little clothing and other property on which they could lay their hands in order to procure sufficient money to make their escape from a district in which they could see nothing ; but destitution, misery, and starvation before them. Those who are left behind appear, if a little more fortunate than those who have made their escape, to be eking out a wretched existence, and indeed almost the only special settler who is reported to be in a flourishing condition is Mr O'Conor, who owns a fine herd of cattle, which roam at large and grow fat on the grass and undergrowth, and occasional vary their diet by making raids on the settlers' cultivations which for the most part are unfenced. However, if it be true that the soil is such that seven sacks of potatoes produce only four, the cattle which trespassed on these plots of ground must have been as sadly wanting in judgment in leaving the lower lands in search of food, ,as have the unfortunate special settlers who have wasted two years of their lives in working out to its bitter end a political problem, the result of which was long ago predicted by

all who gave the subject a moment's serious thought. If it be true, as stated by our informants, that the only one who has substantially benefited by the establishment of the settlement is Mr O'Conor, that gentleman has placed ; himself in, a very ..false position - requires jEbine explanation at" his. hands. * .. Ax Wakefield to-day, Mr Joshua Bird and Mr William White were re-nominated as candidates for the representation of the Motueka Riding in the Waimca County Council, -."A sharp contest is expected. : Thb arrangements lor the gathering of our local volunteers in ihe Easter Encampment this year will differ somewhat from those of 1875, and are, so far as we can learn, to be as follows:— The camp will be pitched in a paddock at Ailington, adjoining the road, the use of which has been kindly allowed for the purpose by Mr Rives, who is also Captain of the Normauby Hussars. The arrangement of the tents will be almost the same as at Richmond, but the mess will be upon the plan adopted in England, and at the first encampment held here in 1874. The cooking will be performed by the caterer, and the meals will be c^ried to the lines of eabh corps by the orderly men. By this >arrangement all crushing and inconvenience will be avoided, and all --will be able to have their meals iat the same time. A large hospital marqajee will be fitted up as a canteen, and another for an oflicers' mess and Staff tent. Adjoining this will be a canteen, at which the requirements of visitors will be attended to during all four days of the encampment, and many of the public who had to go hungry on th£ review day in 1875 will be glad to hear of the 'arrangements to be made for their comfort this : year. Trains will run to and fro constantly, landing and taking up passeii^rs at a temporary station to be erected at the croas road opposite Ailington. With regard to the manoeuvres nothing has yet been definitely decided, but it is rumored that the scientific corps -will be called to throw a pontodn bridge across the Wairoa from the mainland to the isjaud in the centre of the river, j On the Saturday afternoon there will probably be races and athletic sports, some confined to Volunteers in uniform, and others open to the public. ;■- A tent will be 'act apart as a reading-room,' which will be supplied with papers, periodicals, &c., the use of which! has been kindly provided by several gentleman who take an interest in the Volunteers.' At present the Easter Encampment of 1877 promises to be a complete success, and we trust that the suggestion we threw out the other day with regard to a reduction of the railway fares will be adopted by the authorities. - Thb Lydia Howarde Troupe, which appeared in Nelson for the first time last night, although small in number, undoubtedly comprises a good deal of talent, as was clearly shown by the manner in which they produced Herve's amusing extravaganza "Chilperic." The principal part, that of Chilperic, King of the Gauls, was allotted to Miss Lydia Howarde, who proved herself to be an actress of eonsiderabie ability, while she possesses a powerful voice that is most useful in a piece of this kind. Fredegonda, a peasant girl, who for a time has considerable influence over the King, was represented by Miss Jennie Nye, who entered into her part with much spirit. Mdlle Navaro, as Landry, a peasant in love with Fradegonda, was at once on good terms with her audience, and soon established herself as a favorite, her acting being remarkably good. Among the male actors, to Mr Harry Power, as Fatout the Chamberlain, must be accorded the palm, his drolleries and quaint sayings calling forth frequent shouts of laughter. Dr Senna, the Court Physician fMr Howe), had evidently studied the constitutions of those with whom he had to deal, and played upon all their little weaknesses in the most amusing manner. He and Fatout got on famously together, and were rewarded with repeated applause. There are several other minor characters who assisted greatly in giving effect to the more prominent parts. The piece abounds with witticisms and word distortions, upon which proper stress was laid, greatly to the amusement of the audience. The choruses were effectively given, and some of the principal scenes were as spirited and amusing as any we have seen on a Nelson stage. The afterpiece consisted of the masical burletta "The Waterman," in which the most popular songs were well sung by Miss Lydia Howarde as Tom Tug, and Mdlle Navaro, as Robin, had another opportunity of which she fully availed herself, of showing her remarkable powers as a really excellent actress. "Chilperic" will be repeated to-night, and for "The Waterman " will be substituted scenes from Macbeth to the beautiful and well-known music of Locke and Hosley. It is reported that a large quantity of timber, fencing, furniture, &c, supposed to have been washed out to sea by the Motueka river in the recent flood has been lodged on the beach near Collingwood, and that among other things was a chest of drawers in one of whichwere several £1 notes and a number • r of papers. ; .>.:-. -- //Those who have subscription lists for the Motueka Relief Fund aro requested to send them in: to the Secretary at once, in order that a report may be made to the Committee at a meeting to be held on Tuesday next. The only lists yet received are from Mr Joshua Bird, Wakefield, total £12 is: and the Rev. C. O. Mules; Spring Grove, total •£25 12s. "-.-■... ' There seems to have been some little " arrangement" with regard to the All England cricket match at Dunedin. A telegram to the Wellington Argus says:— ln the cricket match the stumps were drawn at 5*40, to the general' surprise of the public, as the Englishmen had 6nly 21 runs to make. It is 'reported that it was arranged they wera not >to win here.'. - It. was evident throughout the Otago second innings that the Englishmen were letting them score too many. The bookmakers , were about, and the sporting public element was strong. Render the System Disease-Proof.— We earnestly recommend the inhabitants of malarious localities, persons whose occupations are unhealthjror subject them to exposure in the open air, emigrants to sections of country recently cleared of timber, travellers and persons of feeble constitution, to protect themselves against the hurtful effects of sudden ' clim.atic changes — air-poison, tainted or brackish water, and intense heat or cold, by a course of Udolpho Wolfe's Schibdah Aromatic Schnapps.— Advt.