THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1878, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Sir George Grey ought to be one of the happiest and most contented men in existence, for, according to his own showing, he is constantly having some of the dearest wishes of his heart gratified. He had been yearning for years to meet the electors of Wellington fa eto face, and ho met them. He had been longing to find himself among the members of the Heathcote constituency who had sent to Parliament Mr Fisher, the present Post-master-General, a colleague after his own heart, aud 10, there he was addressing them from the platform. In a very short time his cup of joy should be full to overflowing, for on visitiDg Nelson he will be able to say to the electors, "Gentlemen, plentifully as blessings have beeu showered upon me, I'have never been able to feel that nothing was wauting to complete my happiness until my arrival in this town which, from a meteorological point of view, I have ever regarded as the paradise of New Zealand, while, politically speaking, it surpasses in my estimation every other centre of population in the colony for the reason that it returned to Parliament two members to whom I am so largely, if not altogether, indebted for the position I now occupy." So much happiness as has been crowded into the last three months of Sir George Grey's life does nofc often fall to the lot of one man in half a century. "Don't shout until you're out of the crowd.*' The soundness of the advice contained in this homely proverb was uever in my experience so practically exhibited as was the case in the District Court last Monday. " H. 8.," said his honor the Judge, "you have been brought up here on a charge" of larceny as a bailee. You are discharged, and may leave the dock." H.B. smiled all over his face, and said, " Thank your Honor," tucked his hat under his arm and stepped down. Rejoiced at thus so unexpectedly aud easily gaining his freedom he was leaving the Court in a gleesome mood, when the Inspector of Police walked up to him, tapped him on the shoulder, aud spoke the ominous words "H. 8., I arrest you on a charge of horse-stealing." It is unnecessary to say that 11.8.'s countenance fell considerably. There was a rumor about town last Tuesday that seems to me to be almost too rich to be true. As we all know, on Monday a prisoner was sentenced to six years' penal servitude, and was, of course, conveyed to the gaol. It is said that on the following day his presence among them was objected to by those who were to be his co-laborers in that field of usefulness afforded by the roads and streets of Nelson, on the ground that they had always been accustomed to associate with respectable company, in which category they did not include the new comer. I suppose tbat among criminals, as in society, there are certain grades, the boundary lines between which are rigidly observed, and are not to be overstepped with impunity. Life in the Islands of the Pacific has both its advantages and disadvantages. Among the former I include the fact, published by a resident in Fiji as a warning to intending comers not to emigrate thither, that, owing to the labor market being overstocked, wages do not exceed sixteen shillings a day ! It ■would be interesting to know how high they range in more prosperous times. But then, as I say, there are drawbacks. Yesterday, a letter was received by a gentleman in town from one who is well known, and has many friends, in Nelson, from which I have been permitted to make the following extract (thc letter is dated Levuka, March 2):—" Since I left Nelson I have met with a whole pack of troubles, more, I think, than my fair share. I got into a lot of lawsuits, arising out of the dishonesty of a former partner in this place, so, to get clear of them, I went to Samoa, thus fully realising the truth of the old proverb—" Out of the frying pan into the fire," for I not only got into more