Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 108, 7 May 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1881.

Oca cable news the other day stated that the Indian Government had despatched an expedition against the tribe of Waziris. Erom Indian papers to hand by the last mail we are able to glean some particulars relative to this last "little war." It appears that some time ago the tribe, which is a very numerous one, made a raid upon the station of Tonk on the Punjaub frontier. Just at that time our troops were in Afghanistan, and there were none at the disposal of tbo Government with which to inflict punishment for the outrage, and the Waziris, from the long reprieve they enjoyed, were evidently under the impression that they were to escape with impunity, but they have found out their mistake, for a force of 4000 Native troops under Brigandier-General Kennedy, C.8., was despatched across the border,- a second brigade conr.sting of one Briiith regiment, two regiments of Native lufantry, and one of Cavalry being held in reserve as support, inferring to thf s matter,

the Pioneer Mail of tho 22nd March rays.— "The Waziri expedition is, we believe, to be a lour de force, rapid marching will be the order of tho day, and everything is to be done <-*? la Roberts. General Kennedy is not expscted to be over the frontier for more than a fortnight, unless, ot course, some unexpected combination declares itself. Pour thousand nun should be amply sufficient to bring the Wuziri chiefs upou their kueea in a very short time." These anticipations proved correct, for a special telegram to the Melbourne Aye, dated Londou, April 18, stated that the forco uha 1 inflicted a severe chas.isment ou the marauders, who are now offering their submission. " The expedition was ouo of no ordinary difliculty, for iv addition to the regular troops tbere were 3500 camp followers, for all of whom twenty days' supplies had to be carried through a rough and hostile country, and to make matters worse the regular rains had set in. Everything had lo be carried on animals' backs, and the baggage train was several miles in length.

How it got there, it is needlpss to enquire. It is sufficient to say that the idea did enter the bead of a worthy settler On the other side of the Bay to .hake a most peculiar presentation to the Nelson Institute, lt consisted of n pair of bed posts. As works of art these bed posts did not possess any special merit, but their claim to be deposited in the Museum rested, it appears, ou two grounds. Oue was that they were the flrst bedposts ever turned in the proviuce } the other tbat their turner Was the late Mr J. P.

Robinson, at cue lime Superintendent of Nelson. When, upon assembling last Wednesday eveuing, the Committee llrst caught sight of thia queer contribution to the collec tion of curiosities committed to their care, it ia said that they were sorely puzzled. Wbat those strange looking sticks could be tbey could not conceive, but the majority leaned to the opinion expressed by oue of their number that they must be the war clubs of R.uparaha, or Ileke, or some other of those cheerful chipfs who in the gcod old times made life in New Zealand so pleasant. On the curator being called in, however, he speedily dispelled all these speculations and explained the true natura of the gift. Thereupon arose a knotty question. It was argued that to admit (hose bedposts would be to establish a most dangerous precedent, for, asked one, if wa allow them to be lodged in the Museum simply because .hey are the flrst bedposts turned in tho province, how cau we possibly refupo fi similar privilege to the flrst bedstead nude iv Nelsou, should any one be disposed to offer ii? Said another. If we accept the flrst bedstead wb certainly must find room for tbe llrst flax mattress. Urged a ;third: The acceptance of the first flax mattress would certainly entail the obligation to provide space for the flrst pair of blankets. Argued a fourth, who, while the others were talking, had been studying a profusely illustrated editibn of "The House that Jack built ": If a resting place is to be found for the first bedposts, permission to be given to stow away the first bedstead, the Museum to be made the depository of the flrst mattress, and encouragement to bo thU3 held out to somebody to present the first pair of blankets, we certainly must be prepared to accept the first pillow. When the discussion bad reached this point it was submitted by certain sensitive m* mbors that it would never do to have a ready made bed in the Museum, for the effect of that would ba to bolster up the theory so frequently propounded by jocular spirits in want of something funny to say thafc " Sleepy Hollow •" is a fitting epithet to be applied to Nelson. This settled the matter; the Secretary was instructed to write to the douor expressing eternal gratitude, but at the same time, &0., &c. — &n i so ends the legend of the bed posts. We understand that a gentleman in town who was fortunate enough to be insured in tho Accident Insurai.o3 Company slightly sprained his wi ist-— but that is Sbarcely the way to put it. A gentleman in town who was insured in the Accident Insurance Company had the good fortune to sprain his wrist last night, and on submitting ,hls claim to the proper outhoiilies this morning was at once granted ah allowance of £6 pfer week. Whether he wasspecially favored asbelonging to a profession tbe members of which bave peculiar facilities for pressing their claims in a court of law we are unable to say, but if the Company treat All their clients with equal liberality, Mr Eowell will soon be doing a roaring business, and by this day week every man, woman, and child in the place will probably be going ftbottt with their arms in slings.

A sale of work, the proceeds of which will be devoted towards liquida'ing the outstand-ing-debt (£B7) on the Christ Church Par.onage, will be held in the MasoDic Hall on Monday and Tuesday next, when a large quantity of beautiful crewel work, in addition to children's clothing and other useful artich s will be oftered for sale. A monster Christmas Tree laden with valuable prizes will form not the least of the attractions.

".We learn that the Maruia claim in the Lyell, which is held by only four shareholders, has been -yielding its golden treasures very freely. At the cleaning up at the end of last month it was found that 50 tona of stone had returned no less than 520 ounceß ot retorted gold.

Ak adjourned meeting of the Ratepayers Association will be held ob Monday eveuing next, the object being to alter the name from " Ratepayers *' to *• Reform " Association.

A Concert in aid of the loc_l church fund i will be given in the Foxhill schoolroom on Friday evening next. Tbe flrst part will be j sacred, comprising selections from *"• The Messiah," "Elijah," Mozart's Twelfth Mass, &c , and the second part secular. A number of amateurs have promised their assistance and a very pleasant concert may' be anticipated.

Bishop Redwood, who arrived from Wellington by the Hawea yesterday, will preach at St. Mary's to-morrow.

The Southland Times of Monday last, referring to the Tararua disaster says: — " The most lamentable blunder of all was that made by the owners of the Tararua in failing to send the Kakanui to the scene of the wreck whenever the news of the disaster reached them. It is quite true that a misleading message was forwarded as to the safety of the crew and passengers, hut, with tbe steamer fast on the reef and liable to go to pieces, :*. no positive information was given that all had landed, it was surely desirable that some help should be at hand. As a matter of sad fact, had the Kakanui beeu ordered at once to Waipawa, as suggested by the Invercargill agents for both steamers, some scores of lives would doubtless have been saved. That this was not done is the neglect of which we think with tho greatest bitterness."

In accordance with the provisions which form a portion of the system which obtains in tbe Wesleyan Methodist Cbureh (says the Press) the widows of the Revs. Messrs liicbardBon and Armitage, and their families will remain in their parsonage homes for one year, and will be paid the stipends that would, ia the usual course of events, have accrued to their late h usbands during that period. On the year's expiration, tho annual pension to be paid to Mrs Richardson will be nearly _S6O ; and for each of her children (of whom there are five) under sixteen years of age, an annual sum of eight guineas will be paid, making a total of about £100 a year. In the case of Mrs Armitage, the provision will not be so large, her late husband having joined the Wesleyan Ministry at a comparatively recent date.