Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, ,1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5, 6 January 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, ,1881.

Referring to the remarkable communications that have passed between the Governor and Te~Whiti, the Auckland Herald says :— • "Te Whiti's answer is the strangest, part of the whole" business, and if these few words are all, 1 the Governor must 'be somewhat puzzled . to,, understand .what his correspondent meanaV And probablyif His Excellency calls in the'advice of twenty Maori' experts he will receive a different opinion from each.' Te Whiti's answer to the aide-de-camp . was, " Kua maoa te tawa " — " the unripe potato Has. been cooked."" If we might", venture a guess, we would say, that Te Whiti. means, " The step the Governor has taken is quite right and proper, .but the lime is ,not yet come for a satisfactory settlement ;" or, perhaps,: 1 1 can see that what you offer me as good and ; prepared food is unwholesome.' " But. be Te Wbiti's meaning what it may, there remain vttie ugly fact that Sir Arthur Gordon has placed himself in communication ■with one who-iis sheltering a murderer — Hiroki — and protecting him; against the law of the land, .and that he has invited this harborer of criminals to a friendly discussion, promising him at the same time that if he will only condescend to visit ■ Her Majesty's Representative at Wellington he shall be ''received with fitting hospitality." We can-, not .conceive .that there was any .double meaning intended iv the. selection . of the word " fitting," although, ' perhaps, the "cooked potato" BUspected it, and, conscious of what ara his deserts, declined. ' for that reason to accept the proffered hospitality. Since the foregoing was written we have received a. telegram from New Plymouth bearing this morniug's date, which bears out the opinion expressed by our Auckland contemporary that we have not yet heard the last of the meanings that will be attached to Te Whiti's .mystical words. ■ The telegram! runs as follows:— " With reference 1 to the words uttered by Te Whiti to the Governor's aide-de-camp that 'the potato, is cooked,, the ■Maoris' say that Te Whiti has privately expressed his meaning to be 'The land is taken, the land is sold, and is now being settled upon', arid what how is the use of discussing about' it?' "■■•- A rußLic meeting of the citizens is called toy .the Mayor for. to-morrow evening at the Council Chamber for the purpose of forming a Committee and making arrangements for the reception of the Volunteers at the next meeting of the N. Z. Rifle Association, to be held at Brightwater in a couple of months' time; A hearty welcome is always accorded to the representatives on such occasions, and Nelson ■ people generally feel pleased that this has been selected as the site for the annual firing, so that there should be a large attendance to-morrow evening, when the details of the reception will have to be arranged. A cheque for £5 has been forwarded to the local Committee, by the Hon. Major Richmond, and no doubt subscriptions will come in. from other quarters towards defraying the necessary expenses. The half-yearly meeting of- the Court Robin Hood A.O.F. was held on 'Tuesday evening, when the auditors' report and balance-sheet were read,' from which it appeared that the funds had increased to the extent of £122, notwithstanding that £130 Had been dispensed as sick pay during the half-year. Mr Levestam was appointed permanent Secretary in the place of Mr John Graham, resigned," and the following officers were installed:— C.R., T. C. Crooke; S.C.R., t W. Douglas ; E.S., W. T., Bond; S.B, W. T. A very. Bros. Parmenter and Le vesta m were appointed delegates, to attend the annual district meeting. Dr. Rogers was re-elected Court Surgeon.

Mr Simon who has recently arrived from the North where he has been lecturing to crowded audiences on Spiritualism will de-: liver an address in the Masonic Hall on Sunday evening on "Spiritual Phenomena." As the hour appointed is afier the close of the churches Mr Simon will probably find the room well filled on the occasion. Mr Wat,lis writes to us from the Motueka Orphanage that the little ones under his care, had their hearts gladdened on New Yearns Eve by the receipt of the customary box of presents forwarded to them by their friends in Nelson. Ho wishes thankfully to acknowledge their generosity, and to assure themthat, had they been present on the occasion, they would, great even as was the delight of the recipients, have themselves experienced a still largur amount of gratification in witnessing the pleasure they had given, aud would bave been compelled lo admit the truth of tho words " It is more blessed to give than to receive," Mr and Mrs Hart, of "Happy Hours" fame, passed through Nelson this morning ot their way to Wellington after a Bbort but most successful season in New Plymouth. The annual distribution of Grand Lodge and other prizes to the Juvenile Tempers will take place at the Temperance Hall this evening at 7 30. A meeting qf the Committee appointed to arrange for the Friendly Societies' Fete will be held at the Theatre this, evening. .. We understand that Mujor-General Davidson has been appointed a Governor of the Nelson College in the place of the late Mr A. J. Richmond, Who represented Mark borough on the Board.