Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 7, 8 January 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1881.

A meeting of citizens was held at the Council Chamber last night to arrange for the reception of tbe members of the Rifle Association on their visit to Nelson in March next. The Mayor, who was in the chair, took occasion to refer to the loss by death of two gentlemen wbo bad on previous occasions of a similar character rendered valuable services — Mr Alfred Jones, who bad performed the duties of Treasurer, and Mr Kichmond, who had alwnys taken an active part in the matter. He felt sure that all were glad to see the representatives from other parts of the colony, and tbat they would unite in giving them a fitting welcome. A letter was read from General Davidson, expressing his regret at being unable to attend, and forwarding a cheque for £2 2s towards meeting the expenses. Captain Bunny was then elected Secretary, and Mr Pratt Treasurer. The following gentlemen were appointed members of the Committee with power to add to their number :—Captains Webb and Bunny, Lieutenants Ellis and Topliss, Messrs J. R. Dodson, Stallard, Stewart, Blundell, and Pratt. The Secretary was requested to send circulars to the Committeemen of last year, asking them if tbey would act in a similar capacity on the present occasion ; and it was resolved that another meeting should be held on Wednesday eveuing at 8 o'clock when it is hoped there will be a large attendance. The Rev. F. J. Jones will be formally inducted to the incumbency of All Saints' tomorrow morning. The Customs receipts for the week ending this day amounted to £15}IU lOd,

An interesting gathering was held at the Lunatic As^Uim last Thursday evening. With Mrs. Boor originated the idea that the patienta should be treated to a Christinas Tree.'and several ladies haVe heen actively engaged for some weeks past in making preparations, and at 7.30 p.m. the patients with a large number of visitors began dancingr, wbich was kept up with great apirit until 8.30, when the gas Wa*& lowered and the curtain of the little stage raised, and a very pretty tree wbb disclosed to view profusely decorated with cape, aprons, ties, gloves, collars, and cuffs for the female, and hats, ties, gloves, pipes> and bags of tobacco for the male patients. A plentiful buppiy of ginger beer, lemonade, cakes, tatts, and fruit were distributed, nnd after enjoying their evening thoroughly the party broke up. Amongst the ladies most actively engaged in the good woik, we may mention Mesdames Boor, Collins, and Pickett, the Itttterof whom as well as Misa Noake, Miss Marsden, and Mrs Majoribanks provided the muac on tie piano. Mr Simon, who has recently arrived from Sau Francisco, will deliver » Ifccthte afc the Masouic Hall to-UaoHtoVv evening on Spiritualist Northern papers speak veiy highly of Mr Simon as a lecturer, The New Plymouth corre&pondent of the Wonganul Utra'd writee undet date the 4th inslant:-— Your Gori-es-pondeutarriVed at JParihaka last night. From what he haa -gathered from the natives it appears that Captain Knollys ttfok Up his quarters at Pungarehu, aod made two visits to Parihaka. The letter he presented to Te Whiti from the Governor, according to the natives' account, contained nothing more than au invitation io . visit Wellington, and if that 3id not tuit Te Wbiti, to name eouife place between Hawera and ! New Plymouth, where he would meet the Governor. So far, the p'reViolißly received reports are correbt, but the natives at Parihaka ptfjress to have heard nothing of that i part of the letter which in the published reports snys Te Wbiti is requested to take care of the land between WaingODgoro and Stoney River for himself and tbe Governor. The letter contained doubtless nothing but salutations and a proposal for a meetiog. In reply) Te Whiti said, "the potato is cooked," by which he meant that his people had suffered such great wrongs as would debar them from helping themsehsa, and ho wished to int mate that it was for some one else than himself, Te Whiti, to help them. Iv the first and subsequent interviews he complained of the wrongs beiug done to his people. He said that the oven was heated, and the results had reached even Otago. This was an allusion to the imprisonment of his people. Hesaidtbcn, tfce (ire of the oven is Btill alight. This was a reference lo tho Constabulary encamped at Pungarehu ready to fight or arrest more of* his men as they were commanded. He made use of his old simile of the wild pig and the dog, and likened Captaia Knollys and bis companions to the dogs of their maater, the Governor, and himself ani hia people to tt.e pig. The Constabulary were also dogs of the same government, and it was useless for the pig to complain to the dog of the evil being done by Order of the dog's master. The word dogs was not hsed in an objectionable sense, butßtripped of metaphor Te Whiti's reply meanß— "l am helplesß and at the mercy of my oppressors. It ia for him in whose name the wrong is done to gi*ro us relief. It is useless to complain to tbe agenta If the Governor comes he will come as the doctor to a sick man. The eick man lies in his place, and the doctor goes to see him." The natives say that Te Whiti has told them to make no further reference to the letter, for if tho Governor ia a good drovternet he will come to him. Iff ' —l-?! 1 , , . ■ ' '„ ■ * ""* '■■■*?