The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 74, 27 March 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1878.

The_ Wakamarina diggings which, when nrst discovered fifteen years ago, created such excitement in the colony, and were the means of inducing nearly 10,000 men to rush to the new El Dorado, appear to be once more coming to the front. It was always thought that the gold, which was obtained in such large ;quantities upon the first discovery of the field, was not likely to be confined to such a limited extent of country as that in which it was then found.althoughthe prospectors then failed to discover it in paj^able quantities outside those limits, and if these diggings should he resuscitated it will only be confirming the predictions of those who fifteen years since insisted upon it that the Wakamarina would yet become a flourishing goldfield. Miners are not now so easily set in motion as they then were hy the report of a new discovery, so that there is not likel v to be a rush to the district yet, nor indeed is there anything in the news received to justify one, but it is quite possible that the prospectors are ou the right track, and that we shall soou be in the receipt of satisfactory intelligence from this almost deserted field.

John Dbvenport was yesterday afternoon brouaht up at the gaol, before R. Pollock and W. Wells, Esqs., J.J.P., charged with escapiug from the legal custody of the gaoler. The charge being fully proved, he was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.

The tea and public meeting at Richmond yesterday evening, in commemoration of the anniversary of the Wesleyan Sunday school, were largely attended. The chair was taken hy Mr Talbot, who, together with the Revs I<\ Pee and G. S. Harper, and Messrs Price, Robinson, Hodder, and Harkness, delivered addresses, principally on the question— Why are there not more teachers? A fair balance sheet for the year was shown. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Commercial Hotel before Dr. Squires, the coroner, and a jury on the body of the late Mr Charles Kiornan. A verdict was returned to the effect that death was caused hy apoplexy.

Tub Rev Mr Russell, the Wesleyan minister who recently made a declaration in the public prints of the words used by Father Hennebt rry in reference to mixed marriages has since received a threatening letter si<med " Snake in the grass."

At the Resident Magistrate's Court at Takaka, before F. Guinness, Esq., R.M., and S. Sparrow, Esq., J.P., Samuel and Emmanuel Ilorton, of Motupipi, were sentenced respectively to six and three months' imprisonment for house breaking at Mr James Smith's, at Takaka. A remand to allow of a solicitor appearing for the prisoners was refused. An appeal is to be made. We understand that the Wakefield Club, assisted by two or three players from the town, propose sending an eleven to Wellington to play a cricket match ia about a fortnight.

The panorama of the Russo-Turkish war, which has recently been exhibited to crowded houses in Wellington will open in Nelson at the Masonic Hall this evening. The illustrations of the various events of the war are said to be exceedingly good, the mechanical sea fight between Russian torpedoes and a Turkish ironclad being especially highly spoken of. During the evening there °will be a distribution of costly gifts. A tea and public meeting, when addresses will be delivered by Mr Bates and others, will be held at Spring Grove to-morrow evening in commemoration of the opening of the Christian meeting house. A full meeting of the Artillery Cadets was held last night at the Nelson Hotel, when Mr H. McGee was unanimously elected first Lieutenant.

On account of Dr. Somerville's meeting to-morrow evening there will be no practice at the Wesleyan School.

Mr. Calon, now with the Russo-Turkish panorama, and at one time piano tuner to Mi Bonnington, is at present in Nelson, and is prepared to undertake the tuning of pianos. Orders left at the office of this paper will be attended to.

At the Magistrates' Court this morning before the Hon. T. ttenwick, and A. J Richmond, and J. J. Gillow, Esqs., J.J.P., the following cases were heard:— Proprietors of Daily limes v. Stallard, for £2 10s for advertising. Defendant disputed the amount, aud the case was adjourned in order to obtain the evidence of Mr Moor from Wellington. There were several other cases in which the same parties were the plaintiffs, judgement for the amount claimed aud costs being obtained in each instance. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiffs.— Burn v. E. L. Shaw. Judgment summons for £5 ]3s. Defendant was called but did not appear. He was ordered to pay the amount in a fortnight, or to be imprisoned for one month. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff.

The Rev Dr Somerville addressed another crowded audience at the Provincial Hall last night, the room being so closely (packed that there was not even standing room to be found. He will give another evangelistic address to-night, and to-morrow the meeting will be open to men only. Admission on that occasion will be by ticket, which may be obtained free of charge from the ministers and booksellers. There is a prayer meeting presided over by Dr Somerville every day between twelve and one o'clock.

A London telegram dated March 21 says : — " The Times publishes a summary of the official text of the treaty of peace. It consists of twenty-six articles, which agree in substance with recent versions. The war indernnityis 1,400,000,000 roubles. 1,100,000,000 are accepted in the shape of territory, leaving a payment of 300,000,000 subject to arrrangement."

The Kaikoura correspondent of the Marlborough Express says that the importation of ferrets has proved a failure, only three ferrets and two weasels having been landed in Kaikoura. Those animals probably cost £1000, therefore the destruction of the rabbits by means of imported animals is likely to be a very expensive affair. The chaplain to the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rev. E. C, Beaumont, was set upon and' robbed on the highway on Christmas Day. He bad been officiating for the vicar of Weeford, and was on his way back to Lichfield. At the time the robbery occurred three men advanced to meet him, one of them asking for money. Mr Beaumont drew out his purse, and as he was doing so, one of the gang struck him on the head with a stick, and another snatched his purse. The three then ran away. Mdlle De Murska and Mr Hill are at Colorado. They were connected with the De Murska-Richings-Beruard operatic troupe whichlgot deeply into debt, and whose luggage was seized for a claim incurred at Salt Luke. Mdlle. De Murska, however, sang at a percentage, and was nofc involved in the debts. She got 40 per cent, of the proceeds, bhc i has, however, dissolved her connection with the impecunious party.

Mr J. G. S. Grant does not entertain a very high opinion of social or political matters iv New Zealand. He has recently published a political pamphlet, iv which the following choice paragraph cccurs : — " Well, well, God hf given the people •the desire of their hearts, but He sent leannes3 into their souls.' Mark our political, social, moral, educational and religious degradation 1 Charlatans that are laughed out of countenance elsewhere—visit our colony, hang out their repulsive aud singularly uniutellectual portraits iv our shop windows, and the Press applaud, aud the people patronise men who degrade the lecture hall and burlesque the religion of Christ, and wound the feelings of all intelligent and worthy men and women. In IS6I, I stood up and before mass meetings advocated the establishment of the first daily sheet in New Zealand. Had I known that such a crop of venal rags would have sprung up, like the teeth of dragons, from that seed, I should have held my lips under a sacred seal of silence. Free - thought lecturers, strolling mountebanks, vulgar pronunciators, and parrots recitiug the buffooneries of Dickens and Thackeray, are laughed out of America, aud dare not show their idiotic faces in England or Scotland, and yet they are lionised in the fish villages of New Zealand. Alas, alas I we have reached the climax of degradation with a vengeance ! "

A telephouic seance (says the G. R Aryus) took place at the Telegraph Office between Greymouth and Hokitika. A number of ladies and gentlemen were in the Greymouth office, and two gentlemen in the Hokitika office, and a conversation was carried on almost as easily as if all parties had been iv the same room, although at a distance hy wire of over forty miles. Recitations, songs, and mutual good wishes were given, and some of the persons separated with astonishment at the results.

In reference to the statement recently made in the West Coast Times that MiBrown, editor of the Kumara Times, had commenced an action for slander against thellev Father Henneberry, the following paragraph appears in our Kumara contemporary's issue of Saturday evening :— " Some of our contemporaries having mentioned that a member of the staff oE the Kumara Times has instituted proceedings against Father Heuneberry, and as some misapprehension may exist on the subject, we may state that it is a purely personal matter, the gentleman referred to considering, rightly or wrongly, that his personal reputation has been attacked. With the proposed action the conductors of the Kumara Times as such have no concern.''

A few days ago at Christchurch, at about 9 o'clock in the evening, Mrs Harold, residing in Moa place, off Madras street, heard the cries of a child near their house, and on opening the front door found an infant on the doorstep. The child was nicely dressed, well wrapped up, and had a pillow under its head. A feeding bottle containing warm milk, and a parcel of clothes^were placed alongside it. Attached to the hood was a letter containing a £5-note, and a few lines asking that the child might be taken care of for a few weeks, be christened in the Catholic Church, be called Susu, and the writer would return at the time mentioned, or send more money. We find the following in the Eoeniuq Post-.— "The JNtw Zealand Herald publishes a statement to the effect that on the 30th June last a telegram from Dunedin appeared in its columns in reference to t Mr Thomas Calcutt, of that city, of which he very justly complained, and called upon it for explanation and apology. The paragraph had reference to Mr Calcutt being required to attend the Supreme Court at Dunedin to give evidence iv an insolvency case, and his neglecting so to do. The Hei aid's telegram spoke of Mr Calcutt as being in very indigent circumstances. The word indigent was a mistake for indignant. Our contemporary then apologises to Mr Calcutt, and explains that the matter has been settled by its paying £50 to the Otago Benevolent Institution and £10 10s costs. As the mistake was entirely unintentional, this seems rather hard upon the Hemld." We should think so. If the Herald had fought it, it would have practically gained its case. The verdict against it could not have been for more than one farthing damages, but still, no doubt, it was better policy, commercially, to pay than to fight. The Press laws of New Zealand are worthy of the middle ages.

A correspondent of the Morning Post translates for that journal a forecast of " England's future, from a German point of view," which lately appeared in Ktadderadaisch. Some of our readers may find it amusing :— " English journals intimate that if Russia were quietly to appropriate Kars and the whole of Armenia, British interests would not be effected." "Russia retains possession of Kars and Armenia." "According to English newspapers the features of the war would have no prejudicial effect, as regards England, should Russia take and keep Constantinople and Asia Minor." " Russia seizes Constantinople and annexes Asia Minor." " The English Press makes public the opinion that if Russia forcibly possessed herself of the Suez Canal and Egypt, England could have no reasonable objection to offer, for she has always the safer road for the defence of India round by the Cape." "Russia occupies Egypt and seizes the Suez Canal." " English newspapers openly state that if Russia were to conquer India it would be only a matter for congratulation, as she costs no end of money, and is a heavy burden to England." " Russia takes India." " English papers begin to touch on the probability of a Russian invasion of England. General merriment is caused by this. A vast Russian army, however, effects a landing, conquers England, and abolishes the English Press." « England now consists only of Heligoland, which the German Empire," out of a feeling of regard, allows to remain undisturbed."

In July last (says the Pall Mall Gazette), a French sailing vessel, the Frigorifique, returned to Eouen from Buenos Ay res with a cargo of fresh meat, preserved in chambers in which the temperature was kept at freezing point by means of an apparatus through which methylated ether flowed. The experiment was so successful that in August last a steamer, the Paraguay, was fitted out at Marseilles for a similar expedition. Instead of methylated ether, however, ammonia was used, and it was found that by employiug this latter the temperature could be lowered to more than 20deg. below freezing point. On leaving Marseilles the carcases of twenty sheep and two oxen were placed in the cold chambers of the Paraguay and sealed with the seal of the Consul of the Argentine Eepublic. Advices recently received from Buenos Ayres state that this meat had arrived in perfectly good condition. Several hundreds of guests had eaten of it at a banquet given in the town; and the opinion had been unanimously expressed that the meat was in every respect as good and palatable as when first killed. Neither the nutritive qualities nor the taste had been in any way afliected by its prolonged exposure to cold. Since then the Paraguay has left Buenos Ayres and Montevideo for Havre with a cargo of 10,000 dead sheep, for which ifc is confidently expected a ready market will be found. On her next voyage the Paraguay is to bring home 50,000 sheep, and it is anticipated tbat more ships will soon be fitted out for the same trade.

j^They^were man and wife, and aa they stood before the capital hi Washington she asked — " What's that figure on top?" "That's a goddess?' 1 he answered. "And what's a goddess?" "A woman who holds her tongue," he replied. She looked at him sideways, and then began planning how to make a peach pie with stones in it for the benefit of his sore tooth.

The advent of Sir George Grey on the " Wet " Coast seems to have made some of the local " swells " brush up their hair and pare their nails. Two telegrams (says a contemporary) were lately picked up at Hokitika in a promiscuous manner, the contents of which ran as follows :— To R. J. Seddon. Correct costume to receive Sir George is a cocked hat, white troivsers, and cavalry sword. Have sent tbem by tram. W.H R . Greymouth."— " To E. Barff. Your washing will be home to-night : have sewn a button on your pants. Bridget Flaherty, Hokitika." The following is taken from the New Zealand Sun:— Where will he stop?— The Government lately permitted Tawhiao, the Maori King, to frank letters, telegrams, and so on. The first result of the privilege was seen in Wellington lately, in the shape of a bundle of dried eels addressed to Mr G. S. Cooper, Under Secretary, which reached the delicately-nursed olfactory organs of that worldly official, duly franked " 0.P.5.0." We shall hear next of potted pakeha of the " vintage of 1868 " being sent through the same official channel.

At a recent meeting- of the San Francisco Academy of Science, specimens of fish, supposed to be trout, were presented, accompanied by a better from Thomas 11. Baird, of Hueneme, Ventura county. They were thrown up from an artesian well HI feet deep near that place. The well, which is nearly 300 feet deep from high water mark, was bored in 1871, and ever since has thrown out immense quantities of freshly-spawned fish in April and May. The first fish this year were observed in March. The well is capped, having three two-iuch apertures, from one of which people were in the habit of filling barrels of water for household uses. In that way the presence of fish was discovered in 1872. The cap was removed and fish were ejected in incredible quantities, until the cap was replaced. The fish are raid to be of various sizes, the largest about an iuch in length. The nearest stream where fish are found is Santa Paula Creek, 25 miles from the well, but it empties into the Santa Olara River, at a point 20 miles distant. A Christchurch paragrapher tells the following good story, the merit of which is that it is absolutely true: — "A good wind must ever blow somebody ill. Even Father Henneberry's praiseworthy crusade against the demon drink has rung things very lowon a licensed victualler of this city. The L.V., like the man of old who made silver shrines for Diana — and the circumstances are so very similar that I must be pardoned for such a profane illusion— felt that the Temperance Father was making things too warm. He resolved to encourage back-sliding from the paths of water-straight, and offered a free drink to any renegade who would produce the temperance medal and drink. The renegade was found. He drank, and busted up his pledge; but, alas! he did worse; he passed his medal on to others of the cabbiug interest, and not till 32 drivers had refreshed did the landlord suspect there was anything ungenuine about the whole proceeding; and now he has lost faith in human nature to the extent of 31 drinks. However, that amount of credulity is soon recovered by any landlord who knows his business."