The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 128, 30 May 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1879.

The telegrams which we have received of late from New Plymouth and the eurroiinding districts have been so varied and contradictory in their character that it has been impossible to arrive at a clear understanding of the state ,of affairs. .One drty we told that Te Wiilti was at the bottom of the mischief, and that the acts of lawlessness reported were performed at his bidding — and from the fact of their taking place in various parts of the country simultaneously, they certainly had the appearance of beiug orgauised by one head— then caoie the news that there was nothingto fear, thatTe Wliiti had repudiated auy counectiou with them, aud that they were merely the unaccountable freaks of a few fabatics. On the whole it has been difficult to know what to believe and what to discredit. To our telegrams today we attach more importance. It is true that they do not report any fresh illegal acts on the part of the Maoris, but their significance consists in the fact which they report that the settlers in the neighborhood ot Wangauui aud Patea— men who are in a position to know aud to understand the real meaning of the recent ] conduct of the natives— are of opinion that I it is necessary for their own safety and the '' protectiou of their property that they should i be armed and formed into a drilled and organised force. Telegrams ate likely to be colored according to the political bias of the senders of them, but the meetings which are reported by our correspondents and the resolutions passed thereat afford evidence, to which we must attach great weight, that the native difficulty, instead of being the shadowy thing which it has been regarded for the last few years, is day by day assuming shape and form, and threatening to become a dangerous reality. We sincerely trust that the settlers are needlessly alarmed, but it must be admitted that they ought to be able to appreciate the present position of affairs far more accurately than those who live at a distance. We understand that a telegram has been received in town to-day stating that the Governor will visit Nelson on Monday, and will probably remain three or four days. With so short a notice there will be no time to get up auy demonstration, but His Excellency may rely upon receiving a hearty aud a loyal welcome. A football match will be Jplayed iD the Botanical Reserve at 2 30 p.m. to-morrow, between the College team, who are- about to play a match at Blenheim, and a team to be selected from the Nelson Club and the remainder of the College Club.f A meeting of those desirous of .forming a Rifle Company in the VVaimea was held at Brigbtwater on Wednesday night, when Major Pitt attended, and over thirty members were sworn in. The election of officers will be the next step. We understand that Mr W. White is spoken of as captain, and Mr M'lntosh, late of the Wellington City Rifles, as lieutenant. Mr George Dixon, of Wellington, announces that he has purchased from Mr J. A. Harley his business in connection with the manufacture of aerated waters, &c. Dixon's soda water has a name throughout New Zealand, and there is no reason to believe that that which is manufactured in Nelson will be in any way inferior to the Wellington made article. The valuatiou lists under the Land Tax Act for the County of Waimea and Borough of Nelson are now open to inspection at the Court House, Nelson, and for the County of Coliingwood at the Court House, Collingwood. The members of the English Opera Company arrived from the North by the Wellington to-day, and will make iheir first appearance in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening. A Northern contemporary in noticing their performance of .Maritana which is on the programme for Monday, say 3 :— " It was a decided success. After the opening chorus, which exhibited the power of the company in this direction, Madame Le Couter, as the gitana, sang the romanza " It was a knight," and her fiuished cantation of the same at once placed her en rapport with the audienee. Her voice is clear and bell like— thrilling the listenerwhile its biejh state of training cau at once be perceived. The "Angelus," sung by Maritaua, and the chorus, in- a devotional attitude, was well rendered. In her duet with Don Jose (Mr Browning). "Of fairy wand had I the power," she[cotnpletely carried the audience away, and a rapturous burst of applause followed the eud of the song. By many the aria, " Scenes that are brightest," is considered the gem of the opera. In its rendition the prima donna was very successful notwithstanding that the orchestra pitched the aocompanimeut too loud forjher'voice. Her singing in the duett " Sainted Mother " with Lazarillo, was perhaps, her greatest success, as, besides her exquisite singing, she imparted so much fervour into the piece that its beautiful strains took the audience by storm, aud a hearty, simultaneous encore was the result. The other lady cantatrice it falls to our lot to notice is Mrs Charles Florence, who filled the role of Lazarillo. In her first solo, the plaintive aria ' Alas those Chimes," she received unmistakeable signs of having created a favorable impression. Her contralto voice is full and rich, and we predict she will be a great favourite ere she quits our shores. Her singing in the duett ••Sainted Mother" was excellent. The part of the ; hero of the piece— the rollicking devil-me-care Don Ciesar de Bazan— was ably filled by Mr Charles Florence, whose acquaintance we had the pleasure of making whilst here two years ago with Simonsen'a Opera Troupe ; his rich tenor voice is as pleasing as ever' and his rendition of IS Oh, Maritana ! " " Yeslet me like a soldier fall," and " There is a flower that bloometn," completely brought down the house. Mr Florence can act as well as sing, and his spirited acting of the part will not easily be forgotten. The basso part— Don Jose— was well filled by Mr Browning, who pleased the audience by his singing of "In happy moments." His singing in the duet with Maritana "Of Fairy Wand " in the first act was exceedingly well received. Every member of. the company was efficient, and we have much pleasure in recording our verdict in favour of the company. The orchestra, conducted by Professor Hughes, though rather small, is a very efficient one.