Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 182, 2 August 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1881.

We learn from our Wellington correspondent tbat numerous difficulties are already beginning to beset the Representation Bill even before its introduction into Parliament. Certain details, or supposed details, have leaked out, and these do not appear to be paiateable to the Otago members, who yesterday held a meeting for tbe purpose of discussing the matter, and the resolutions at wbich they arrived will be found in our correspondent's telegram. But if Otago has cause to complain, how much more is this the case with Nelson, whose six members it is proposed — so at least it is rumored— to reduce to three. In the carrying out of tbe pablic works policy — or rather in its miscarriage — wo have been left isolated instead of being connected wi:h the other centres of population in this island as it'was originally intended that we Bhould bo, and now it is proposed to wipe us out of the political map, for such would be our fate if we are to be deprived of half our representatives. Our members should, and no doubt will, make a firm stand cn this question, for they may feel sure that they will bave the people whom they represent backing them up to a m**n.

Ouit Motueka correspondent writes:— A htsus naturct in the shape of a seven legged iamb was born a day or two ago on Mr Trewava'a farm at Riwaka. On a post mortem exuminaiion being made — the animal was boru alive — it was found to bavs one well formed head acd pair of fore legs, but the body bifurcated behind tbe breast bone. There was one heart (large in .^comparison with tbe other viscera), the lungs and liver heing of normal size, then the bodies became distinct one from the other, there being four kidneys, four hind legs, and two tails. There was also the seventh leg upright between the shoulders; altogether it waa a very curious locking object.

Thje firing by members of tho Carbine Club for the first handicap yesterday resulted in Private Waddell of the City Rifles winning the the Club Cup with a score of 62 points, Seaman Hunter being second on the list. ......

Love's Juvenile Minstrel Troupe, who have been performing to crowded audiences at Blenheim, propose payiug a visit to Nelson this week, where they wjll give a short season. The troupe consists of eight juveniles, who are well trained and, are said to possess good voices. The entertainment is of the Cbristy Minstrel style, and is pronounced to he very amusing. A discovery of kerosene shale has been made in the Buller Valley near the junction of the Matiri with the Buller, which if it turns out as well as is expected will prove of arteat importance to the district. We have been shown soma of the clay which is im cregnated with a stroDg odor of kerosene, and is said by these who are well versed in the matter to be of precisely the same character as that found over the great oil springs in America The discovery was made by some men who were at work on the road, and the land has, we understand, been taken up by Mr J. Bolton, who is a man to be envied if the anticipations formed of the value of his property prove correct. A proclamation in the Gazette announces the disb'andment of the Nelson City Rifle Cadets.

A pahade of the City Rifles for Captain's inspection is ordered for this evening. Mr Kavanagh announces that he has removed to Selwyn Place where his evening classes will be resumed tcnight. The value of the imports at the several ports of New Zealand during the quarter ended June 30, was £1,543,863 against £1,350,814 for the corresponding period of 188UJ The exports amounted to £1,370,365, showing a small falling off, sb Inst year their value for the same period was £1,437,211. Nelson's imports were £26,716 against £42,881, her exports being £7,945 against £2.912.

During the quarter ended June 30 there were 337,847 telegrams forwarded from the various stations in New Zealand, the number big singularly close to that of the corresponding period cf last year, wben it waß 337,957. The cash revenue received was £17^943, being an increase of £195 although the number cf mesEages wag lio legs. The value of the Government telegrams sent during the quarter was £6332, being £833 less than the corresponding quarter of 1880 The Rev. B. W. Harvey, Incumbent of St. Paul's Church, Wellington, has been appointed Principal of the Wanganui Collegiate School. Mr Harvey wbo come out to Nelson with Bishop Suter, was at St John's College, Cambridge, was sixteenth wrangler, and has the • reputation of being a good classical scholar.

A cable message has been received at Waugaiui announcing- the death in London • as: week of Dr. Taylor, whi> waa recently in in practice at Marton, and bad gone home on a visit to his parents. Replying to a, question put to the Government by Mr Reeves, the Premier saioVthe Government only recently received from Messrs. Batkia and Seed their report on the Middle Island. It was very voluminous, and the Government' had not been ablo yet to consider it. He could not, therefore, say what action would he taken. It did not, however, follow tbat even aftej they had considered it it would* be expedient to lay it on the table of the House as it might contain suggestions for reorganisation which it might not be desirable to place before Parliament.

Ik the House on the 27th July, Mr Pitt asked tfie Minister of Lands, whether he will make, inquiry as to the administration by the Nelson Waste Lands Board of the provisions of Appendix E of '• The Land Act, 1877," as regards mineral prospecting licenses, and, if necessary, take tuch steps as will prevent large areas of mineral lands in the Nelson district being locked up in the hands of speculators for a nominal consideration ? He would reir'nd the Minister of Lands that under the 12th section of Appendix Eof " Tne Land Act, 1877," the Waste Lands Board of the Province of Nelson had power to grant mineral prospecting licenses for any period not exceeding twelve months at the rate of a penny an acre. The Board had been in the babit of granting those licenses, and also of renewing them, which he thought was a power hardly conf erred by the Act, and the consequences bad been tbat several thousand acres of mineral land which was generally believed to coutain very \ aluable deposits of copper had been locked up in the hands of speculators, who apparently had not sufficient capital of their own to carry on operations, and had not been able to command the capital of other persons. He could assure the Minister that there was a very widespread feeling of dissatisfaction in the district in reference to thi3 matter, and that some steps were necessary in order to prevent such a useless monopoly of what was regarded as very valuable mineral lards.— Mr Rolleston, in reply, said that this matter was now being enquired into by the Government.

It is stated by a Southern paper that Miss Beaudet, although not 20 years of age receives X2O a week, a large proportion of which she sends home to her widowed mother who is a Spanish Jady,