Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 9, 11 January 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1881.

Staktliishj news comes to us from Wellington. A difference of opinion between himself and his colleagues', of the existeuce of which not even a rumour has hitherto reached us, has led to the withdrawal of Mr Bryce from the Gf-overntnenfc, and there it now no Native Minister. The reason of his taking this step is said to be that he was of opinion that the time had arrived for taking active measures against To Whiti, whereas his colleagues thought that the more pacific course sketched out by the Royal Commission o* ITativs Affairs was the more desirable one to adhere to. We are very much inclined to think that Mr Bryce will hare a large following in the colony who will think with him ia this matter, and if uo the consequences will be extremely unpleasant to the Ministry. As it i»i they have lost one who was a tower of strength to them, and whose loas they will not be able to make good. Unless Sir William Fox should consent to join the Government as Native Minister it is not easy to see who, out of the House as at present composed, is fitted to step into Mr Bryce's shoes. A serious fracu occurred in Trafalgarstreet this afternoon. A well-known character — ■" Tommy Norton " — and a young man named Westrupp had a disagreement, when the former drew a knife and stabbed We«trupp in the right side. The wounded man" was taken to' Dr. Eogers' surgery, where the wound was dressed by Dr. Porter ; and " Tommy," after receiving a severe pummelling frbrn^' a, bystander who witnessed the •iffair, was arrested and taken to the lock-up. The wound, fortunately, was not a very serious one. A WxxiiiHGTOK . telegram states that George. North, whose name has for some years past been familiar as a household wprd amongst' those who delight in investing their pounds in " sweeps " or ' consultations" as they are indifferently, called, has quietly withdrawn from -the City of ■ Wellington, taking with him as reminiscences of bis numerous confiding friends a sum of money

tbtalling up to tlie respectable amount of between JeiOOO and £5000, which had been entrusted to his keeping until the result of j certain races was known, when he had undertaken to divide the dollars among those who were fortunate enough to draw the names of horses from tbe lucky bag. As the whole proceeding is unlawful, Mr George North has the satisfaction of knowing that no action will He against him with regard to the " sweep " money, ai .d if he has been prudent enough to steer clear of any other offence against the law he will be able to settle down comfortably in America oh a snug little farm, or perhaps In a flourishing public house, purchased with the money of his dupes iv New Zealand, whom he will probably never cease to hold in affectionate remembrance. Upon one thing he will certainlyjbe able to himself, namely, that he has done more than could possibly have been effected by half a dozen Acts of Parliament to put a stop to these gambling institutions which have sprang up and flourished in our midst, iiutil the total amount invested in them ia largely in excess of £100,000 annually, towards which many needy young men and young women who can ill aiford to spare a pound contribute in the aggregate rery largely. Tug widespread faith in these ejtensiraly advertised "sweeps'" having received so rude a shock, it will not in future ba found ao easy to launch them upon a credulous public. We should like to see the scoundrel receive the punishment he deserves, but on tho whole we sra not sorry that George North has acted as lie lias done, seeing that much good will probably result from his rascality. Dr Farkeixe's numerous friends will be glad to learn tbat he returned to Nelson tod y from bis trip to Englnnd, having coroo •nu to New Zealand in the Waimato which nude such a splendid run to Lyttelton, occupying only 68 dayß fr)tn London to that port. Thh ladies who have been collecting money <o enable a wife to join her husbaud beg to tbank those who kindly subscribed, and to iufonn them that the woman with her children is now oa her way to Sydney. Tub Secretary of tba Nelson Aid Society acknowledges with thanks tho following ilonations in aid of the Society's funds;— lira Edwards, Suanyside, £10; C. Hunter firosvn Esq., £2. A neat little church, for the erection of which Messrs Freeman Brothers are the contractors, is now approaching completion at Foxhill. It is 42 feet in length, 20 feet ivide, and the walls are 14 feet high, and it therefore forms a conspicuous object, which, with the new school room, adds considerably to the appear-once of the little village. Trnj case of Harley v. Gully was argued before His Honor iho Chief Justice in Banco this morning, Mr Pitt for the appellant and Mr Fell for the respondent. It will be remembered that some few months ago Mr T. Harley was charged before the Magistrates with removiug the obstruction placed by authority of the City Council on Collmgwood Bridge, and was fined £5 and coßts. Against thia decision he appealed, and the arguments were heard this morning. His Honor reserved judgment. — The c»Be of Greenfield (Commi»sioner of Crown Lands) v. Han is will be argued in Wellington, as His Honor stated that he should prefer its being heard before two Judges. Thu following is from th« Melbourne Arqua of the lGlh December:— Mr John Gully, the well-known artist, who is now on a visit to this city, has brought with him a portfolio of sketches in watercolour of New Zealand scenery, to serve as motifs for pictures. They have been left for. public inspection at Mr Fletchar's art-gallery, in Collins-street, and constitute a large collection, embracing a wide variety of subjects. They will be f o*nd full of interest to those who are capable of appreciating an artist's first record of th» virid impressions produced upon his mind by the more striking aspects of nature, alike in her grander and hear softer moods ; and they serve to show, at the same time, how carefully he has studied the scenery of the country which his brilliant pencil has done so much to illustrate.