The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY.MARCH 31 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue XIV, 31 March 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY. MARCH 31 1879.

A iiEETiNiG of the Volunteer Camp Committee was held on Saturday hlirht when it was refcoiVed tb hold the Easter enCatilpment this year on Mr Sutton's grouhd at Richmond Where it was originally held: A i'aocLAMAxioJf in tbe Gatedt prescribes the season during which' native game may he Rilled in Nelson, namely, from the Ist April to thii 31st July. « Native game " includes wild duck of any species, bitterns, plover, wild geese, dotterel 1, native pigeon, teal, and quail. The oyster season also commences j to-morrow. ! Captain Morris, in addressing his constituents at Tauranga on Friday, said that if the Government had been able to pass the dual Maori vote they would have been able to command an everlasting majority. The Registrar General's vital statistics for February shows the total number of deaths to have been 1?2, and of births 2*o, In tbe boroughs of Auckland.Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, luvercargill , and Hokitika. The highest death rate was in Christchurch where it was 3.17 per 1000 of the population, and the lowest in Auckland where it was only 1.20. in Nelson it was 1.76, and in Wellington 2.72. The deaths were six, and the births 91, less than in the previous year. The Wellington Chronicle says it is surprising what errors of judgment bandmasters will fall into, and fails to see how " Tommy make room for your uncle" could in any way be considered an appropriate air to be played at the reception of the Governor. The Chronicle strongly advocates the appointment of a second Resident Magistrate in Wellington, as the work is altogether beyond the power of one man to get through it. A Wellington paper of Thursday last says: —Mr W. N. Blair, engineer for tha Middle Island, left for the West Coast, by way of Christchurch, yesterday. He has gone to explore and to report upon the various routes between the Coast. His object is to examine the routes from Greymouth to Nelson, and from Nelson, via the East Coast to Christchurch. For the native seat for the Middle Island, vacated by the elevation of Mr Taiaroa to the Legislative Council (says the Chronicle) there is likely to be only one candidate, Mjr Ihiai Taonui, an intelligent native of high rank, who resides at Greymouth. The Wairarapa Standard says:— "lt is only a matter of justice to the Rev J. C. Andrew and the staff of the Nelson College to refer to the remarkable success attained by pupils of that institution. During several years scholars from Nelson have gained high honors, and this year a very large number passed the Junior Civil Service examination, and thus proved the soundness of the teaching in the middle and upper forms. Since then the announcement that out of the ten scholarships offered by the New Zealand University, two out of three which were awarded weie won by Fleming and Harkness, of the Nelson Col'ege, is good evidence that what is really higher education is also imparted. The examination these students had to undergo was particularly severe, aud very few competitors succeeded in passing." We are indebted to tha Wellington Chronicle for the following items by tha Torres Straits mail :— The Ontario haa arrived at Liverpool with 247 cattle from Canada, but pleuro-pneumonia being detected, all were slaughtered by the Government. —The struggle between the advocates of protection and free trade is becoming severe ia Germany and Belgium. The Minister of Finance, in reply to a remonstrance from the British iron trade, refused to withdraw the duty of 2£ per cent, on imports.— Tbe Cornish Bank has paid 16s in the £.— Russia is experiencing all tha effects of political discomfiture at home. The Press states that the machine of the Empire threatens to break down, and England is growing ominously strong in Central Asia. Russian diplomacy is no longer in the ascendant, and an entire change of policy is recommended, if positive disaster is to be avoided.— Mr Ward, Secretary Agency for Russia in Paris, states, that the disease is not the plague at all but an aggravated form of the malady known as alcoholism, generated by excessive indulgence in bad brandy and food. Professor Batheen, of St. Petersburg, declares its the '• Black Death," a variety of Oriental plague.— At the last British Cabinet meeting held before the meeting of Parliament, the policy of the Government was definitely settled but not published. Many Conservatives think the time has arrived when tbe vote in the counties may be extended by absorbing a great number of rural householders now without the suffrage, in suburban constituencies. It is not certain if the Government are decided as to Irish Catholic University education. Lord Beaconsfield and Cardinal Manning had an interview on the subject —Mr Gladstone is to supersede the Marquis of Hartington as leader of the Liberals.— Signs exist that a critical stage is being gradually reached in the commercial and industrial, as well as the political, system of France, and the estimates show that the expenditure is increasing heavily.— The Liberals seem sanguine that next general election will so reduce the Conservatives, that a second dissolution will follow, and bring the Liberals in.— lt is stated that 70 steamers are being bGilt for the Translantic live cattle trade. 25,000 tons of fresh beef were imported from the United States last year, being an increase of 230 per cent, in two years. The Times reviews this trade, and looks upon it as a healthy sign and absolutely necessary. The disease in the 0 jtario shipment is likely to cause a temporary stoppage.