THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 106, 4 May 1878, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Three years ago we in New Zealand were quite content to receive the Europeau news in four-weekly instalments. Progieasive people, as we are, though, all that is charged now, and as I write there are many, I feel sure, who are fretting and fuming at the idea of having to wait seven whole days before any further news can reach ua of what is going on in the old country. Such a delay is regarded as intolerable, and to be dep 'ived of the luxury of London news two days old is considered a hardship of which people have a right loudly and bitterly to complain. However, there is nothing for it but to exercise that patience which in the days before the telegraph was practised perforce. It is not to be wondered at, this anxiety to learn what is going on at home at the present crkis when England, Russia, Turkey, and Austria, if not, indeed, the whole of Europe, are, as it were, sitting on a barrel of gunpowder to which a light may at any moment be applied, and I think that the colonists in Australia and New Zealand are the more desirous of learning what is going on, and take a deeper interest in the affairs of the Mother Country since she has shown to the world that she is not to be trifled with, but that, although it may take much provocation to arouse her, she is prepared, when her honor or the safety of her vast empire is at stake, to take a determined stand, and to strike, if need be, both hard and swiftly. When we read of her boldness in taking so decisive a step as sending her fleet through the Dardanelles, and of the bravery of her gallant sailors when they knew not but that powerful forts would open fire upon them at any moment, and yet obeyed their orders as calmly, as coolly, and as willingly ai though they were on a pleasure excursion; when we hear that although anxious to maintain peace, and to avoid the horrors of such a war as that on the very brink of which she is now standing, still that she is putting forth her strength in order to be ready, should the dread signal he given, and is pouring troops from the far East into the Mediterranean; when we read that she is sending forth a mighty fleet of ironclads auch as was never before brought together for offensive operatiojs against an enemy, in order to close the Baltic against her possible, if not probable, foe; when we are told that in ready response to the call to duty 8,000 volunteers at once and without the slightest hesitation enrolled themselves as ready for active— which it is to be presumed means foreign — service; when the wires flash intelligence such as this to her colonies at the further end of the globe, it is not surprising if the English speaking people by which they are inhabited should take a deep interest in the present momentous crisis, and be feverishly anxious to know what is to be the result of all the negotiations that are now taking place, accompanied as they are by such nnmistakeable preparations for war. The English may be a nation of shopkeepers, but is there one of us who, after learning how that little island in the North is comportiug herself in the matter of this " Eastern question," would, if he had the choice offered to him, prefer to belong to any other nation on the face of the earth? I think not. Money seems plentiful down about Reef ton way. There is a gentleman in that locality whose name is frequently called in the Court here as the defendant in civil cases, and to him there was recently sent another of those invitations to meet the Magistrates in the Nelson Court House, which are so often despatched to hia address. On the daycomingon for hearing the case it was called in due order, when a telegram was read from the defendant stating that he had confessed judgment with solicitor's costs £3 3s. Now as these cosU were not due and cannot be claimed I think I am right in asserting that money must be plentiful about Reefton. Instances of ;such uncalled for liberality are so rare that this one appears to me to be deserving of honorable mention. Free education was provided to: the colonists of New Zealand by the Act of last session, but there are some people who are not satisfied with this. They want something more; at least so I gather from the following extract I have made from the report of the last meeting of the Education Board of Wellington:- "A letter was read from the Chairman of the Hutt School Committee asking for a grant towards a covered vehicle to carry children from Belmont to the Hutt schools daily." My readers perhaps will not be surprised when I further inform them that " the Board declined to entertain the application." We surely must be rapidly becoming a spoilt people when we are not satisfied with the State providing free education for our children, but actually expect it to provide covered carriages to carry them backwards and forwards between home and school. It was a cold night at the Camp, and the officer of the guard was tramping up and down, meditating upon the changes and chances of this world, and contrasting his then position with what it was three nights previously, when at that precise hourhi3 body waa snugly stowed away in a nice warm bed, and his spirit wandering to ",a delightful dreamland where night duty waa unheard of, and grand rounds unknown. And occMion-

ally he thought of the comforting glass of whisky and water to which be was accustomed before going to bed, and which, because he was accustomed to it, he valued so lightly, but now; ah, what he would give for it now on this bleak breezy night? He was disturbed, while thus reflecting, by the officer of the night, who was going his rounds with military punctuality. The formalities customary on such occasions being over, the two entered into friendly conversation, which, curiously enough, turned upon the subject of the recent thoughts of officer No. 1 aa he Was performing his solitary and wearisome walk up and down, up and down. Yes, these two upon whose vigilance the safety of the whole Camp depended, actually commenced to talk about whisky and water. "Ah!" said No. 1, " what would I give for just one little nip? And I know, too, where it *- had, but I dare not leave r»- «« to be "Do you ? " s>" : r -jr postts p for it; }i whis^- ' — *« M. §i atid titeti ehsliad a - rs! rea eanveraatißii} ii± which certain instructions mm given as to the precise posillba occubied by a bottle in a certain tent: TbJe resiilt #as that. No. 2 proceeded caiitiously to the tenb ijadicatea t from whence issued sbiinds til afc tola or the sweet sleep that VM lieiag enjoyed by the solitary occupant. Stealthily he entered and felt for the object of bis search, but all in vain. He listened. The breathing of the sleeper became more and more stertorous, and he thought he might venture to light the candle. He did so, and was at bhee rewarded by the botjtle being revealed to his sight. He j Md Jusfc grasped it when the occupant of the bed turned and uttered somg unintell'gible sounds^ y, uicn appeared to be preparatory to hiH wakiug, There was no time to put the light out if ho would avoid detectiou, so that officer bolted with the bottle and left the candle burning. It was a pleasant meeting between officers Nos. 1 and 2, and as the liquor assumed a lower level in the bottle their conversation became more genial. But there ia ail end t'd everything in this world, and bo the time came for the tv/o to part, which; however, they did not do without niucn sth'dthered laughter, which was '.eviderttly excited by the anticipation of a joke. Away went No. 1 straight for the tent where that light was still burning. This time he walked boldly up to it; and rapped loudly on the cauvas, but was a long time before he I elicited any response from that determined Biecper. At last there came a confused "Hum, eh, yes, who's there, what's the matter, walk iv." Then spoke the rapper, "I'm come, sir, to tell you to put your candle out: I'm surprised to find that you require such a warning: you must have known full j well that the orders are that all lights must be out at ten o'clock." It was a long speech to get through without laughing, but he managed it, and then the late sleeper, now thoroughly awake, jumped out of bed with the alacrity of one who suddenly becomes conscious that he has unintentionally done wrong, and hastens to remedy it. "I really beg your pardon," he said "I | thought I had put the candle out." Then [ was heard a vicious "phoo" as he blew a great blast at the offending luminary, and I total darkness ensued. Next morning when the bugle sounded he leapt from his bed, determined to do his duty or die. As he donned his uniform it occurred to him that the morning air was unusually keen, aud that a little drop of something before going on parade would not be amiss. He put down his hand to where he knew he hnd left the bottle before turning in, but it was not there; he hunted all the teat. over, but without success. And then, for the first time, there flashed across his miud that little episode of the candle. The next half minute was devoted to mental arithmetic, in other word 3, he was putting two and two together. The calculation was not a long one, and the solution was given in three wonis, " Sold, by Jove 1 " As he walked to parado he determined to remain in apparent ignorance of the events of the night, and in no way whatevei to allude to lighted candles or whisky and for anything I know to the contrary he has adhered to his decision- i l .