Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 236, 5 October 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1880.

In the Christchurch Press of Thursday last there is an amusing account of an interview ■which took place on ihe previous day between a deputation of Volunteers and the Premier. In using the word " amusing "we do not wish it to be taken as applying to the deputation v .who were very much in earnest indeed, nor to tho style of the report, which is also of the moat soher description, but ■what we mean is that to a disinterested and unprejudiced reader it is amusing in the highest degree to find to what an extent cheek or impudence — the latter is the more refined word, hut in tho present instance we prefer the former — can be carried. Ic will be remembered that in the month of April last, after a great flourish of trumpets and a prelude of telegrams that became sickening in their monotony and wearisome by their frequency, a grand Volunteer review was held in Cbristch'urch. Dnnedin had hod a review, and Invercargill had had a review, then why not Cbristchurch ? To be outdone, even in the assembling of a few hundred men in uniform, by Duncdin was a thing that was nob to be tolerated by Christchurch, so, after quarrelling with the publicaus about the catering, and being disappointed to the extent of being deprived of the services of a band from Invercargill, the Committee raade the necessary arrangements and the review came oft The Hinemoa was laid on for the purpose ofcon veying the Volunteers from Nelaon and Wellington, there was a good muster, a spirited sham fight, at which an enormous quantity of gunpowder was burnt, a grand ball, and then the visitors returned to their homes delighted with their visit, and left the Christchurch Volunteers to revel in their reminiscences of the gathering, to flatter themselves that they had oulßhone their brothers-in-arius in Dunediu, and—to pay the bill. Now, then, we have arrived at the reason — it is expressed in the four last words of the previous sentence—why a deputation from the Volunteers waited upon the Premier. Having been admitted into the presence of the great man, after expressing regret that Colonel Packe had been unavoidably preTented from attending to do the dirty work, or, as the report says, apologising for his absence, Major Lean, who seems to have been appointed to lake the lead, opened the proceedings by saying that "the deputation

dcriied ?b put before the Premier (he tinfr.iiunatc state of (he review commitleewith regard to the finances. The review held in Christchuroh had, as the Premier was doubtless aware, been carried out similar to those in Dunediu and Invercargill. To these he believed the Government had contributed something, and he thought that they might very fairly ask the Government to assist them, because the smaller' number invited the larger, and therefore tho Government beuefitted by the number of persons congregated together." To Major Lerui this argument seemed unanswerable. So also the Premier appears to have thought, for not a word did he utter in reply. His silence muat have alarmed the deputation, for suddenly the Major came to a standstill, and Captain Craig, " the Treasurer of the Pveview Committee," took up the running, and pitiful indeed was the tale he had to tell. Without prefacing his action by any remark " he laid the balauce sheet before the Premier," and that balance sheet alas! showed n debit of £342 12s 2d. The gallant captain then began to plead his cause, with deep.earnestness.' "They had," he said, "been threatened with proceedings individually and collectively, so that they came to the Government now to ask their help." , This .surely was' enough to soften a heart of stone, but still did the Premier maintain a stolid silence, and "showed hot ( a symptom of an inclination to unlock the Treasury chest for his petitioners. Again did Major Lean return to the charge. " He pointed out that the review had brought together a large number of persous here." — but omitted, to make .any mention of the benefits conferred thereby upon the tradespeople of the town — aud' called Mr Hall's attention to the fact that the capitation allowance had been cut off, and this appearing to be a good string to harp upon;- a Gaptain Hawkes, another member of the deputatiou, continued to play • upon it with occa? sioual variations. Then at lasfc did the Premier deign to open his lips, and, as it 'is well known that he can enjoy a joke as well as most men, we can picture to ourselves the merry "twinkle in his eye as he put a poser to his persecutors. " May I ask how much of the debit balauce wasincurred by the. ball ?" This was a staggerer, and Captain Craig, the Treasurer, must have blessed the Premier for prying 1 into such petty details as he replied that ",the deficiency ou that account was £100." One more attack was made by Major Lean, this time a very weak one, and then Mr Hall brought the interview to a close with one of his neat little'speeches that must have brought about as much comfort to the hearts of the deputation as they are likely to get money out of the Government. He said that " under more flourishing- circumstances ho would at once say that the Government would favorably consider the matter, but all he could say was that the Government would go into the matter, and if there was any money to spare out of the defence vote they would consider the question as put before them by the deputation. But the gentlemen present must remember that the Government was obliged to carry out a rigid system of economy. Personally, so far as he was concerned, ho would be glad if he could see his way clear to help the committee, but it was a matter for the Government, as a whole, to look into ; and as Colonel Header had had the accounts, &c, forwarded to him, he (Mr Hall), would bring the matter under the notice of his colleagues immediately on his return to Wellington. This was all he could promise to do." And this is just about all ho will do, and certainly is quite as much as he ought to do. The Volunteer review was got up as a purely local affair, and with the view of giving a little eclat to the place in which it was held. The people of Christchurch have eaten their cake ; by all means let them pay for it, and their experience will perhaps prevent other communities from rushing into such foolish extravagances without first of all counting the cost.

At the monthly meeting of the Waimea Road Board held on Thursday last, Mr. R. J. Malcolm was appointed Secretary to the Board, a post for which there were ten applicants. The withdrawal of the subsidies necessitated a reduction in the staff, aud Mr. Thompson retired after having acted as Secretary and surveyor for nearly five and twenty years. Attention is directed to the advertisement announcing the service of song at the Congregational Church this evening. The admission fee has been fixed at the low rato of sixpence, and it is hoped that the building . will be crowded. Tho proceeds will be devoted to the Church improvement fund. Tenders are invited for the purchase of the {Anchor Line of steamers, together with the , ketch Ocean Bird and hulk Hera, the lease of the Albion Wharf, and freehold lands, and the Anchor Foundry with all the machinery and plant. It is sincerely to be hoped that an effort will be made iu Nelson to secure this valuable property so that it may not be broken up and dispersed. Tub third Handicap of the Nelson Carbine Club was concluded this morning at the Maitai Range, and the following are the names and scores of the prize winners: — ~F. Greenfield (12 points), 61, £1 5s and Cup; Gunner Moore (scratch), 55, J6l; Seaman T. Fathers (scratch), 54, 17s 6d; Lieut. Crossman (scratch), 53, 12s; Gunner Wimsett, junior, (scratch), 50, 10s; Sergeant G. Armstrong (3 points), 50,7s 6(i; Gunner Hodgson (5 points), 50, ss ; Pvt Stafford (10 r.oints), 50, saves stake. The prizes will be distributed to the respective winners at the Nelson Hotel to-morrow night at eight o'clock. ' A COKRESPOXDENT "writes from Richmond ,this morning : — The little church at Richmond was crowded yesterday with the friends mid public to witness the marriage ceremony of Miss Smith., oil Richmond, to Mr Petherick, of Wellington. On the party arriving at the church, the bride in a carriage drawn by a pair of greys, the Vicar, the Rev. A. Whyto, commenced the service, Miss Barnicoat presiding at the harmonium. Tho bride, who was prettily dressed in light blue, was given away by Mr Wilks. The bridesmaids were the Misses Revell, Astle, Woodcock, and Bishop, and Mr C. Porrin performed tho duties of " host man." After the service the wedding party drove to the residence of Charles Canning, Esq., in accordance with whoso instructions — ho and Mrs Canning being unfortunately absent from Nelson — a i sumptuous breakfast was provided, indeed their liberality on this occasion was very I marked, showing the respect and esteem in which they held the bride who had lived with them for several years. • The Rev. Mr Whyte presided at the breakfast and proj posed the health of the bride and bi'idegroom, tho bridegroom responding. The , health of Mr and Mrs Canning followed, also that of the bridesmaids and single ladies. The bride and bridegroom took their departure in the afternoon, and from the number assembled at the church and breakfast, we feel sure that both have carried away with them the good wishes for their future welfare and happiness of a largo number of friends. Owing to tho detention of the steamer. Patea" at Patea, Mr. Mo-bin's sale of sheep expected by her is postponed until Thursday. The Sydney Weekly Advocate contains 1 anaccount of the golden wedding of , the , Rev. James Watkin and his wife— a worthy couple well known in Methodist circles throughout the Australian colonies. 'Mr. and Mrs. Watkin have occupied a wido sphere of labor ovCi. 1 since they came to these southern lands, nearly fifty years ago. In the Friendly Islands, New Zealand, Victoria, and New South Wales they have labored incessantly, and they' have lived to rear a tolerably large family — seven sons and two daughters. Three of the sons are Methodist ministers, three are in business, and one died in the prime of manhood. One daughter is married to a gentleman in Queensland, tho other to a Methodist minister iu New South Wales. They have also had about iifty grandchildren, about forty of whom are living. At the opening of the Melbourne Exhibition a special inaugural cantata composed by M. Caron wns performed. It lasted an hour an-1 was a great success. There , were 1000 performers, the principals being the Sitnonseus, Mrs Cutter, Messrs Beaumont and Verdi. The chorus was excellent. The ladies wore white dresses, with blue sashes ou the right and red sashes on the left Bide of the orchestra. At the conclusion of the cantata there was immense applause, the Governor leading. M. Caron, the composer and leader of the orchestra, was then presented to his Excellency and congratulated.