Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 230, 27 September 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1881.

The native news continues to be so far unsatisfactory that it £>nints te at Isait a. most uncertain state of affair*. This cannot long continufc, and must sooner or later culminate either in the entire submission of the discontented Maoris or in open hoatili lies. That the Government consider the latter possible, even if not probable, it quite clear from the preparations they are making for war, while the settlers in the neighborhood seem to be of the game opinion, as they arft arming and drilling in every direction, and in many oases are sending their wire* and families into tha townships for saf«f.y. Mr Rolkston, according to our Wellington correspondent's telegram, doss not apparently anticipate any immediate outbreak, gg he a.aus that the Datives mm to be peaceably disposed and are busily engaged in their customary farming operations. On the other hand ths migratios of Titoko Wara and all his foliowm to Panbaka after first selling off all their possessions and burning tfceir wham looks as though mischief of soms kind were brewing. It is earnestly to be Loped that th« efforts of the Katire Minister and Sir William Fox may be the means of reducing the more turbulent of the Natives, who evidently seem to wiih for a row, to a more reasonable frame of miod. The Rev J. Berry delivered bia lacture on America in the Oddfellows' Hal!, Richmond, last erenmg to a good audience. Instrumental and vocal music at intervals were given by ladies of the district, one piece especially worthy of note being a very pr#tty and pleasing duett ou the piano and American organ, two ladies performing ou the former. The general wirh of the auditnc* was that the lecturer would ere long give them another opportunity of hearing him. The citizens' dinner to the member! of the Nelson Fire Brigade will tako place at the Masonic Hall tcmorrow evening. Tub annual masting of the Star Cricket Club will be held at the Go'den Fleec« Hotel this evening at balf past Beven, and of the Nelson Club at the Masonic Hotel to-morrow at 8 p.m. Hekr Spitzabbic* and Company announce that they will give a comic entertainment at the Masonic Hall on Friday evening next. Tiir Harmonic Society will give one of their periodical concerts in the Provincial Hall on Thunday evening. The reh«arsal will take place this evening. Wb very much regret to l*am from our telegrams to-day that Mr Stevens, who was generally looked upon as the coming Treasurer, does uot intend to seek a seat in tbe next Parliament. We have so few public men of snffici««t ability to come to tha front, especially in connection with tha Treasury department, that we can ill afford to lose one of Mr SteTen*' calibre. Tub following Chriitohurch telegram of Saturday laat, which, for soms reason best known to tbe Association, was not forwardsd to Nelson, gives acme details of the Btriko among tb.B railway employees which is rfferrsd (o in our Wollington corMipondent's telegram : — The artizans at the railway workshops at Addington struck to-day. They inserted an advertisement in the papers soliciting men of similar occupations to refrain from applying for the vacant situations. Mr Alliston Smith, the local superintendent, advertises for men to take the strikers' places, promising permanent employment to first-class hands at the current rate of pay. The men on strike plead that the Government forced a 10 per cent, reduction on them during tba depression and rof uaed an application for the restoration of the original rate of wages. On tho other hand it is stated that, at the time of the reductions, special arrangements were marie that those artizans who accepted the new scale, reducing wages by from 4£ to 5 per cent, were not to rely upon an increase. Recently they asked the Government to give them 10 per cent, increase on their wisres, or they would strike, the Government wj&wer. to which was/'S.Tiilßrwpt-rtrullj-

worded application, and we will consider ik" The men adhered to their determination, fthd numbers struck. The trades but on strike are :— Blacksmiths, 16$ strikers, i' 9; JSttQrff, 16 ; machinists, 5 • turners, : 8 ; laborers 1 , a • tinsmith, 1 \ brans iraisher, 1\ total, 68.