Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 109, 8 May 1879, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1879.

The New Zealander writes in a most gloomy strain of the present commercial condition of Wellington. It would almost seem that a perfect panic had set in, and that men's minds are so fully occupied with the misfortunes of other_ arid the dread lest they themselves should fall victims to the financial epidemic that they hive neither the time nor the inclination to think about any other matters whatever. Our contemporary on this ground regrets that the occasion for a new Mayoralty election has arisen, and fears the consequences on account of this pre-occupation of the minds of those who under more prosperous circumstances would take an active interest in it. After announcing thc resignation of Mr Dransfield, it says : "Of course there will be a contest, even fierhaps unto bitterness of contention, judgng by the incidents of past Municipal history, and it would have been better, had passing events so tended, if at the present crisis of cohimercial affairs this could bave been avoided. Men bave too much to think of and worry over affecting their own everyday business, to permit them to enter with any good beart into election contests, and it is just at such times as now prevail that political schemers seize the opportunity for working out their very questionable ends. The fear is that candidates wili be thrust forward, baving neither the confidence nor respect of the public, in tbe hopes that the majority of the leading citizens baving for tbe moment individual matters of more weighty moment and pressing urgency to attend to, will let affairs municipal take their own course." Fkom a perusal of our telegrams reporting the proceedings at the great Native meeting yesterday, our readers will learn that if Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan bad remained in Wellington they would have done just as much good service to the colony as they bave by thrusting themselves uninvited upon the savage old King, who, it is understood from the gibberish he is reported to have talked, is determined not to give up an inch more land tban he can help. In addition to this, the two members of the Cabinet would have been spared tbe unpleasant reflection that by their action they have lowered themselves not only in the eyes of his dusky Majesty, but in those of the colonists whom they re* present. The following special telegrams appear in the Post : — Yakoob Khan has gone to. .the British camp to negotiate for * peace. ' A speedy and satisfactory settlement of the Afghan difficulty is now looked for.— The latest news from the Cape is to the effect that some of tbe principal Zulu chiefs have given in their submission to the British. It is believed tbat Cetawayo's complete submission is impending, and that peace will be restored at' an early date. — The Victoria Cross bas been. bestowed upon; Lieut. Chard and Lieut. Bromhead, of the 24th Regiment, for their gallant services at the defence of Rorke's Drift on 22nd February. *> A Dunediu telegram of Tuesday says: — The Captain of tbe Ino steamer was killed this evening by a railway locomotive which struck him in Rattray-sireet, outside the Central Bailway Station, and carried his body some distance. When picked up he was dead.