The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 178, 27 August 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1878.

Members of Parliament having decided to | throw legislation to the dogg for a few days and to take a pleasure trip in the middle of the session at the expense of the country the, following programme has been arranged by the Premier:— They are to leave Wellington in the Hinemoa to-morrow week, arrive at Christchnrch on Thursday, start for Dunedin on Friday morning, remain there till Monday morning, and return to Wellington on Tuesday evening. We remind our readers of the dramatic entertainment to he given at the Theatre Royal to-night by Mr Thornton and his company, for the benefit of the Lucre family. A shilling subscription list, which is likely to total up a large sum in the aggregate, has been started by Mr Fairey at the Richmond Exchange for the benefit of Mr J. Lucre and his family. The half-yearly meeting of the members of the Naval Brigade will be held at the Custom House Hotel this evening at halfpast seven. Ix the debate in the House of Representatives on the Electoral Bill the other night one honorable member had the execrably bad taste to allude to the wife of another honorable member as " wearing the breeches." The New Zealander thinks that " there should be a limit even to the freedom of Parliamentary speech." We should think so too. Mr J. W. Frost, Secretary for the New Zealand Tanning and Leather Manufactory Company, Limited, is now paying a visit to Nelson, and will receive applications for shares in the above Company, which bids fair to become an established fact, as we learn the shares are going off rapidly. The great demand now existing for all kinds' of manufactured leather in New Zealand has been the cause of this venture, which we wish;every success. Messrs Wymond & Co. are making an extensive addition to their premises in Trafalgar-street by taking in the adjoining shop recently occupied by Mr Hadfield. They advertise that during the alterations they are selling off at reduced rates. The Public Works Statement is to he made by Mr Macandrew to-night. We learn from the New Zeahnder that it is rumored it will contain a very important proposal, viz., a provision for opening up bush territory by means of tracks so formed that they can afterwards be transformed either into roads or railway lines as occasion may require. The object of this will be apparent. At present there are large tracts of dense bush throughout New Zealand, regarding the interior of which literally nothing is known. The probabilities are that by penetrating these bushes valuable timber and good soil will be found. A Dunedin telegram of Saturday says: A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at 2.45 this afternoon; brick buildings shook, and furniture vibrated. Some people rushed out of their houses in alarm. For vine-growing purposes there is probably no part of New Zealand better adapted thau Nelson, and it has often been a matter of surprise to us and to others that the industry is not more largely entered upon. In Auckland it is making vast strides, as will be seen by the following paragraph:— Dr Logan Campbell, of Auckland, has undertaken the task and risk of proving whether we can grow our own light wines. He has lately had planted and staked on the northern slope of One Tree Hill estate 11,000 rooted vines, imported from St. Huberts and Co.'s vineyard, Victoria, and 20,000 cuttings are in the nursery ground for planting out next year. This experiment is being made under the most favorable auspices. Before the vines to be grown were chosen, Dr. Campbell caused an experienced German vigneron, now in charge of the vineyard, to make q, tour

last autumn of all the principal Australian vineyards, collecting practical experience derivable from the results of vine growers for the last 20 years in the colonies. Out of sixty-one days during the months of June and July, it is stated that in Hokitika fifty-one days were wet, there being I only ten days on which no rain fall was recorded. The Hon Mr Sheehan differs from his colleague Mr Stout relative to female suffrage. He said the principle was an unsound one. The question, so far as the Government were concerned, was an open one, and he "intended to vote straight against it."