The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 34, 9 February 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1880.

A London telegram to the Past says: — " The Morning Post (the organ of the fashionable world) and the Mottling Advertiser (the Liceused Victuallers' journal) both have articles to day rejoicing at the success of the Sirathleven experiment, aud pointing out that, with tbe vast flocks and herds of the Australian colonies to draw upon, the English public may look for a speedy reduction in the high price of butchers' meat," and an Association telegram from Melbourne is to

the following effect:—" Private cables report very great excitement in London at the success of the Strathleveti. e±pefcituen.. tt is cdmihonty cdtisidered that the V_li_e c. _: fcfcatidn property must advance 15 or 20 per cent," and ceri tatnly tbe grand success wbich has attended this important experiment is calculated to crerite uo little e__ji.e__.e_t both in England aud Au_tr_l_s_a— aHiong those V.ho arfe to be benefitted by a plentiful supply of good fresb meat, and those to whom a new market is now opened up for their flocks and herds, which but for the uew discovery would have to be boiled down for the sake of their .tallow. In Australia, especially, where there are cpUutless thousands oi; great cattle, the news of the arrival of the Strathleven at London with her cargo of meat fresh aud sweet as when it left the Southern Hemisphere, will be gladly welcomed, though, whether the effect is to be to " raise the value of station property 15 to 20 per cent " is at least open to question. There can, however, be no doubt that if the price quoted, namely, sevenpence per pound, is sufficient to pay expenses and leave a profit, the cattle breeders will be in a far better position than they were before,.as the market opened to them for their stock will be practically limitless. As a contemporary says: — " The value of the discovery is scarcely to be over estimated. Firstly, it must impart direct and marked impetus to stock raising in the colonies, which means the extension of settlement, by the occupation of every square mile of country fit for grazing purposes. No longer need squatters hesitate about expanding their operations for fear of over-running marketable demands. For years to come Europe will consume readily all the surplus meat that can be supplied by Australasia; provided the profits demanded by producers are kept within reasonable limit. Secondly, a new industry has been virtually created that will give a fillip to the over-sea carrying trade, and so lighten prevailing depression in that line, and thirdly, the colonies will be placed on better, if not on nearly equal , terms with the meat growers of North America;" To residents in England; too, this discovery will prove an incalculable boon, and in the course of a short time meat will become an ordinary article of diet in many houses where before it was seldom seeD. The collections at the Catholic churches yesterday, in aid of the suffering Irish amounted to £34, namely, £27 at St. Mary's, Nelson, and £7 at St. Joseph's, Wakefield. This sum will be handed in to the Mayor for forwarding to Ireland together with the other subscriptions raised in Nelson. Tenders for the catering for the Volunteers at. the forthcoming meeting of the Rifle Association, and for the supply of four tons of wheater straw must be sent in to the Secretary not later than to-morrow. Those who are about to take part in the firing at Brightwater next month are reminded that the entries will close on Wednesday next. A telegram has been received stating that the steamer Kangaroo wili leave Wellington this evening for Cabla Bay, where she will begin at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning the work of laying the Cook's Strait cable across to Wanganui. The Lady Barkly will be despatched on an excursion trip tonight, thus affording an excellent opportunity to those who are desirous of witnessing the interesting work. It is expected tbat the cable will be connected with the instruments at both ends within 24 hours from starting. We are glad to learn that a very large proportion of the College students who went up for the Civil Service examinations in December last have passed successfully. The lists are not out yet, but will probably be published in the Gazette of Thursday next. Mr. Stanton advertises a large number of books of all kinds, together with a valuable . _ .#» *_l___i_n— of— __£j__ — __^_ -—_._- -_t_^&__u -litiiuKraphs, which for tne convenience of intending purchasers have been removed to the large room near the Colonial Bank, which on Saturday night proved an attraction to a considerable number of visitors. Mr Stanton," it will be seen, also purposes holding a grand art union, in which some of the prizes will be of great value, consisting, among other things, of first-class pianofortes, Mason and Hamlin's organs, and other musical instruments, pictures, statuettes, &c. The following circular has been issued by Lieut.-Colonel H. E. Reader, Under-Secretary for Defence : — " Government has decided that officers commanding Volunteers may issue free passes for men serving under them, when it is necessary they should travel by railway to attend drill, or authorised meetings of the Volunteers, it being a condition tbat men receiving such passes shall be carryiug arms, and shall be in uniform. The fares to be paid out of special vote of the Defence Department." The following special to the Melbourn* Argus gives a better summary of the Queen's speech than that contained in Reuter's telegram, which we published on Saturday :— Parliament was opened to-day. The Queen's Speech indicated tbat it was proposed to introduce during the next session measures to secure reform of the land laws in Ireland, to amend tbe laws relating to bankruptcy and lunacy, to secure the codification of the criminal laws, and to indemnify the Irish Church Fund for the sums voted for the relief of the distress in that country. Refer ring to the Troaty of Berlin, the Speech points out that there is yet much to be done before order is restored in Turkey. Her Majesty is made to express a hope that the confederation of Sou h African colonies will prove a success ; and, in reference to the war in Afghanistan, intimates that terms of peace have been submitted by which the British lines shall be extended to Gandamak, and her Majesty's Ministers trust tbat friendly relations may soon prevail between Great Britain and the people of Afghanistan. The following letter " contributed by our most able local observer," appeared in the Post of Saturday night, and will be read with interest] by those who have been watching the enormous comet that is now visible in the southern sky, but is growing paler aud paler each night :— " I was able last night to see tbe head of the comet with a small telescope. It was not visible from my house, so that I could not use a larger glass The head was very faint, and was not far from the large star, Fornachant, in the Southern Eish, to the left of the star and above it. Tbe tail reached nearly up to the large star Akernar, or nearly forty-five degrees. On Tuesday the tail leant towards tbe south ; last night it leant towards the west. The comet is travelling from the sun, and will be visible for a long while, but will be less and less each night. It is impossible, until it has been watched by observatories for some while to know much about it.