The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 82, 9 April 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1877.

A most mysterious settlement is the Karamea. Probably no other district in New Zealand ever gave rise to so many conflicting accounts, for no soouer do we hear an evil report from those who have left it than some one on the other side contradicts it|and|presents us with a picture of the settlement, in which the roseate is /the prevailing hue. The latest effort of this description appeared in a recent issue of the Bulter News, a paper that is a general supporter of Mr O'Conor, his views, aud actions. On the present occasion our contemporary says:— "Some time since we noticed that the weeding process had commenced at,. Karamea, on the occasion when Mr O'Conor informed.the settlers that the Government had determined to discontinue the Government stores, reduce the expenditure at Karamea to a nominal figure, and cut off the drones altogether. The' last boat leaving Kariirnea removed some of the hands, and probably the next will complete the shipment, none remaining, hut men worthy to become the pioneers of a new settlement. We are informed that at least four more families must leave. They will no doubt blame everyone and everything but themselves for their failure. It remains to be seen whether they will prove better settlers in any other part of the colony. They have had facilities of making homes, which hundreds of better men sigh for in vajn. Enough said of them. We learn with much pleasure from_ the lips or one of the settlers who remains that the Karamea is progressing with rapid strides. A very large extent of bush has been cleared during the past summer, and unless some great calamity befalls, the export of produce next year from the settlement will bo both varied and extensive. The great want is regular visits of a steamer." It is a noticeable fact, and has been so ever since the foundation of the settlement, that the testimony of any one who, after giving it a trial, leaves the place in despair, aud gives it and its management a bad character is at once impugned, and the public are warned to place no more confidence in his statements because he is a worthless idler who will never get ou anywhere, Jt is peculiar, to say the least of it, that the pioneer settlers of Karamea should have comprised so large a number of men of this stamp, and it is also unfortunate, for among the abortive attempts to establish special settlements the Karamea will always be included as having proved one of the failures. An entertainment is advertised to take place in the Provincial Hall torinori'o\y even* ing which, if it be only half as successful as one of a similar description that was given this time last year for the same purpose, namely the augmentation of the fund required to clear off the debt ou the Christ Church Parsonage, will prove a great success. A Christmas Tree laden with nearly 400 prizes is to be displayed, aud after an inspection of the various articles with which it will be ornamented^ and which are tq be distributed among the ticket-holders, we can safely say that more tbau half of them are worth considerably more than three times the price at which the tickets are to be disposed of. As an auxiliary to the tapers ordinarily used for such purposes, colored lights, calculated to produce an exceedingly pleasing effect, will be used for illuminating the tree. The doors are to be open at seven, aud the distribution of prizes will commence' at half-past, so that it will be necessary for those who intend to secure tickets to be in early attendance. After the tree has been stripppd of its burthen, there will be music and' singing for a couple of hours by members of the Christ Church choir. A bevy of young ladies will dispense iv the Grand Jury Room refreshments of all descriptions, varying from cakes and sweetmeats for the juveniles to oysters and porter for the adults. There was a smash at the railway station on Saturday afternoon, when a firewood truck that had been left about a quarter of a mile up the line was set in motion on its way to the terminus, and the momentum it obtained being uncontrollable by the brake which did not work well, forced it through a couple of the gates bnfore they could be thrown open to allow the unexpected visitor to cross the road. Fortunately the damage done was confined to the woomvork of these and will hot be very expensive to repair. The fall of the barometer on Friday ni°-ht and during the early part of Saturday was remarkable. From a little over 30 it fell in about fourteen hours to one tenth below 29 when it suddenly took a turn for the better! What was Captain Edwin about that he did not wire his usual warning ? Tun members of the Naval Brigade assembled at the Railway Station yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of proceeding to Richmond to bring home the boars, which had been left there since the night of the attack. Arrived at Richmond, the Ciio and Duplex were immediately launched, and a start made for the Aurora, which was anchored off Oyster Island, the floating target bein" picked up on the way. Shortly after leaving it was discovered that the Clio was rapidly ailing with water, and gradually settling 'iown. A search revealed that |n their hurried departure the plug had been left out. No plug could be found in the boat, but an

impromptu one in the shape of a thumb of one of the Jacks was immediately thrust into the hole, which had the effect of stopping the flow of water until a plug was made, and the Clio arrived alongside the Aurora without any further mishap. The whole of the men then er..barked in the Aurora, and the other boats having been made fast to the siern of her a course was shaped for home at seven o'clock. Favored by a fair mud and strong tide the Aurora made good headway, and arrived at the boat shed at a quarter past eight, having come in over a strong ebb tide. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Richmond Cattle Fair Association for the purpose of electing Directors for the current year was held at the Star and Garter Hotel on Saturday evening. The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called fo* the previous Saturday evening, which proved unfortunate, as owing, he supposed, to the fatigue consequent on the Battle of Rostrevor, the attendance was so small that it had been considered advisable to adjourn until the following Saturday. He regretted not seeing on the present occasion one gentleman who had always taken a very conspicuous part in their proceedings, but trusted that though absent he would not be forgotten. He would now request the nomination to be proceeded with, as there was other business to be transacted. The following shareholders were then duly proposed and seconded: —Messrs Barnicoat, Kelling Harkness, Rout, W. D. Harkness, Saywell', It. M'Rae, Tovey, and Thompson, and, none others.having been proposed, were declared elected. Thereupon the newly-elected Directors held a meeting, and appointed Mr Barnicoat Treasurer and Mr Thompson Secretary. The minutes having been read and confirmed, the treasurer made a financial statement, when it was resolved that a dividend of three shillings in the £ be declared, to be payable as soon as the treasurer can give the required notice. A meeting of the Motueka Relief Committee will be held at the Council Chamber this evening at 7 o'clock. , A cricket match will be played between the town and country butchers on Wednesday next in Victory Square, wickets to be pitched at 10 a.m. In our advertising columns will be found the prospectus of the Koranui Coal Mining Company, which has lately been formed to work a mine at Mount Rochforfc. Mr Humphrey, the interim Secretary, has recently been on a visit to Wellington, where he has disposed of a large number of shares, and he has now gone to the southern towns on a similar errand. Mr A. W. Scaife is the agent for Nelson, and from him all information can be obtained. We are requested to correct an error which appeared in our report of the late meeting of the Education Board, wherein it was stated that a resolution was passed to increase the salary of the master of the Motupipi School. Instead of " Motupipi" it should have been " Motupiko." As it has for some time past been felt that certain amendments were necessary in the Goldficids regulations, the Government. have wisely decided upon taking the opinions of those who have had the greatest opportunities of making themselves acquainted with the actual requirements of a goldfield, and with this object have summoned a number of the Wardens to assemble at a Conference to be opened afc Weilingtou during the present week. Mr Charles Broad, of Westport, who is one of the oldest and ablest of these officers, arrived from the West Coast on Saturday, and proceeded to "Wellington last night for the purpose of talcing his seat at the Conference. The amendments which that gentleman intends to propose are characterised by the Westporfc Times as brief, but pithy, and likely to find general favor among miners and goldfield residents. They are as follows;—" Reduction of the fee for miners' rights to one shilling per annum, every miners' right, wherever issued, to be valid throughout the colony, for mining purposes, but the electoral qualification now incident to the possession of a miner's right to be abolished, under the consideration that any miner desiring to enjoy the privilege of the franchise, can (]o so by registration as the occupier of the hut he " lives in. ' The gold duty to be maintained at the present rate, as being a duty only chargeable in (proportion to a miner's earnings ; one set of Goldfield regulations to be adopted for the whole colony, and such regulations to comprise a more speedy method of dealing wjtb, mining and agricultural leases. Power being vested in the Wardens to give instant decisions on such appHcatiops, without reference to other and oftentimes obstructing authorities."