CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 126, 27 May 1880, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SHAMELESS ROBBERS OP THE SOUTH. To the Editor of the "Evening Mail." Sir— l never was so surprised as I was last night on reading in your leading article the unblushing statements taken from the Christchurch Press. I have no doubt that the writer of that article tells the truth and nothing but the truth, and that on the part of the politicians and people of Canterbury and Otago it has been, ever since the public works policy was started, nothing but a "shameless unblushing scramble," as the public works map plainly shows. But thanks to the "unblushing" writer in the Press, who gives U3 an inaight into the character of the Canterbury and Otago politicians, especially that part which has formed {"the bulk of many of the late Ministries, and of which the present has a considerable preponderance in it. Therefore, Sir, I beg to suggest to the Westland, Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, and Napier members that they consider well how they vote when it comes to a "scramble" for money. But the great fault in our members has been, not the want of union nor want of asking, but the way in which it has been done, more like the plaintive whining of a child than a determined demand. And another thing, our members and our leading inea have always asked the (Government and the House to make the railway in the wrong place, that is over the barren Tophouse hills, at a great cost and with nothing to come from it, instead of through the fertile valleys of Motueka and Motnpiko. Let our own and the Grey Valley members make the Government and the House thoroughly understand that they wish the railway taken through the above-named valleys, and I pledge my word for it that the work will be gone on with speedily, notwithstanding a few dirty curs barking at it in Canterbury. I hope you will always vindicate in such a manly way the just rights of Nelsou as you did in your leading article of last night. I am, &c, Eeick Ore. Nelson, May 27, 1880.

To the Editor of the " Evening Mail." Sir— What with the Press and the Post and some other blatant organs of the same kidney, it appears that Nelson is to be stamped out of existence, but if the members for Nelson are of my way of thinking they will, if the opportunity offers, upset twenty Governments unless Nelson gets what the colony owes justly to her, namely, rail communication to the West Coast. Thi3 we should have had long since if we had not been foolish enough to surrender our birthright for the colonial good, and now see how some of the colonial papers treat us for persistently advocating our just rights. Once and for all we had better declare ourselves j that we shall never cease to agitate until the colonial promise to us i 3 redeemed. The wealthy provinces can well afforfl to concede that much, especially as the lirfe will pay, and open up a fine mineral countVy. I am, &c, A NTI- S OMNAMBTJLIBT. Nelson, May 27, 1880.

To the Editor of the " Evening Mail.' Sir, — I think the economy exercised by our city fathera with regard to lighting our streets, or rather not lightiDg our streets, ia not altogether commendable. Last evening I believe the moon rose about 8 p.m., and from half-past five until that hour the town was left in total darkness. I was endeavoring to pick my way to the Port, and an intimate knowledge of the road enabled ma to do so without falling into the slough on the reclaimed land on the one side, or over the sea wall on the other. Some passengers by the Charles Edward whom I met were not, however, so fortunate, and were hopelessly floundering about in the slough, as they expressed it, "up to their necks" iv mud, utterly unaware, in^ihe intense darkness, of the existence of a footpath. I set them on the right; path, for which they were grateful, but, I should imagine, their remarks about the authorities of Nelson City, as they parted with me, were anything but complimentary. Should the Council have some day to sustain an action for damages on account of injuries received through the want of proper lights they may discover that it would have been cheaper after all to have burned a little gas even when the moon does rise before midnight. — I am, &c, A Port Resident. Nelson, May 27th, 1880.

A correspondent of the S'ar writes ;—A Maori named Tamati was engaged ploughing at Huntley, hi 3 horses were fractious, and he commenced cursing. Mr Bob Ralph said : "Do not swear, Tamati, or God will afflict you." Tamati replied : " I dou't care for God ;he take no notice of me." Mr Kalph replied ho had I elter be careful of what he said, or he woIIJ be punished. At night when Tamati went home his wife was sick. Next day this calamity was referred to by the previous interlocutor, who told Tamati that was God's punishment, but Tamati said it was the work of a Tohunga, and renewed his curses. Mr Ralph again cautioned the Maori, and told him he would get a worse dose next time, and sure enough when Tamati went home at night he found his house had been burned down, and all his goods destroyed. He went straightway to Ralph, told him of the circumstance, and said it was the Lord's punishment for what he had said. Tamati was converted, and has lived a reformed life ever since. The deposed Fijian King, Cakobau, was recently annoyed by a drunken man in an hotel at Levuka. Old Cakobau, without more ado, caught the white man a swiugiDg back hand^r ou the mouth, which knocked him over; and then the old king stood quite still, and didn't speak a word till the prostrate votary of Bacchus has got up and walked away, which he did without a murmur, even of delight at the honour of having been smitten by the ex-king of the Cannibal Islands. A curious relic of Captain Moonlite (Scott the bushranger) who was hanged in Sydney a few months ago, has come to light in Lsvuka. One of the business men of the place in searching for a stray document, unearthed from the depths of an old safe which had degenerated iuto a receptacle for the musty records of the past, a promissory note for the purchase money, executed by the late notorious Captain Moonlite. The papers were signed during that worthy's stay in Fiji after the Egerton Bank robbery exploit, for which, on his return to the colonies, he was arrested and convicted. In Bristol, mainly through the efforts of the local School Board, there is now school accommodation in the city for 963 per 1000 of j the total school population.