THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1859.

Colonist, Issue 133, 28 January 1859, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1859.

The question at issue between the Public and the Nelson Board of Works, after lengthy discussions, but not very energetic proceedings— after rattier strong vituperation arid feeble opposition, has resulted without much harm on either side. It reminds us of a game at snowball, where opposite parties can smother and belabor each other to their heart's content, dealing swift missiles with all the vigor, but none ofthe effect of more dangerous weapons, until some sly combatant inserts ai stone in his handful of congelation, and deliberately and. forcibly projects the said instrument into the visual organ of his opponent, and there! and then floors him! When this happens, the recipient cries, "Now you have hurt me'! ; You're in earnest!"

We say that not mnch harm has resulted on either side, because we think that the upshot will be of little moment, although there may be good reasons for one of the sides being " iv earnest ;" for where there is unjustifiable waste, there should be just censure given. Further than this the people generally are passive ; they are not particulai'ly fond of public meetings in a serious sense, and when they attend them they never wholly give vent to what they think or know ; at least you may constantly hear it said upon the breaking up of a meeting, "So and So said such and such, but I could very soon have disproved that," &c, &c. And if you ask them why, for the sake of justice and information, they did not bring all their knowledge or testimony to bear upon the matter, the answer is, " It didn't matter to me," or, "I didn't care about it.".

Whether it is the native modesty of the British character, or a disregard for exactitude and correctness in. the imposts levied upon him, so that he can have his grumble to himself, cannot be told, but he generally makes a very bad public expositor either in defence or attack.

One or two present at the last meeting appeared to be ready to cry a bas to everything, and others seemed to consider that a mismanaged piece of brick and wood work by a local Board was sufficient reason for upsetting the Provincial.Government altogether, with sundry other. suggestions as unnecessary to the question under consideration as could well be. This is. ■but. too frequent in public meetings, where, instead of keeping to the point of argument, the ideas and suggestions fly off at sundry tangents, and wander into space.

The resolution of Friday night may be looked upon as the stone in the snow-ball; and people are not wanting to cry out that they have been unjustifiably hurt; but the damage, upon inspection, often proves to have been the cause of much needless and lachrymose grimacing. Some consider themselves the victims of ingratitude j others assert they have no business to exert too much unpaid knowledge ou public matters; others again say they have been persecuted, and can't take a joke, however fond they may be of cracking them themselves. (What would they do if they happened to be honored with the notice of the London Charivari, certaiu of the recognition of hundreds of thousands of readers? If umbrage was taken as quickly by sensible men, the Statesmen and Legislators of England would be Punch'd out of existence.)

Without giving further opinion of the merits of the case, let us extract some pure liquid from well-known writings, which we hold to the lips of the wounded, hoping they will be invigorated by the draught, shewing that neither failure or censure are novelties. " When once our labor has begun, the comfort that enables us to endure it, is the prospect of its end; for though in every long work there are some' joyous intervals of self-applause, yet the toil with which performance struggles after idea, is so irksome and disgusting, and so frequent is the necessity of resting below that perfection, which we imagined within our reach, that seldom any man obtains1 more frotnhis endeavors than a painful conviction 'of his*defect's,and a continual resuscitation of desires which he feels himself unable to gratify.

"So certain is weariness the concomitant of our undertakings, that every man, in whatever he is engaged, consoles himself with the hope of change. If he has made his way by assiduity to public- employment, he talks among his friends of the delight of retreat; if he is secluded from the world, he listens with a beating heart to distant noises, and resolves to take hereafter his fill of diversions, or display his abilities on the universal theatre, and enjoy the pleasure of distinction and applause.

This precept may be justly extended to the s eries of life—that nothing is ended with honor which does not conclude better than it began. It is not sufficient to maintain the first vigour, for excellence loses its effect upon the mind by custom, as light after a time ceases to dazzle. " For. the prevention of that disgrace, which lassitude and negligence may bring at last upon the greatest performances, it is necessary to proportion carefully our labor to our strength. The only time for caution is before we engage, and nothing is done while anything is omitted. The danger is, lest we expect from the world the indulgence with which most are disposed tb

treat themselves, and, in the hour of listlessness, imagine that the diligence of one day will atone for the idleness of another, and that applause begun by approbation, will be coutinued by habit." i

■ This Day's Cricket Match.—The players in this match will be on the ground ready for action about ten o'clock this morning. We hope to see still more improvement in the play, as they will find sturdy opponents in the Motueka players next week, and we should like them to make a good shew against their more practised antagonists, if they cannot beat them. Mr. Everett will have the necessities of the public in view, having erected a tent on the ground to supply all needful refreshment.

Excursion to Motueka.-—The fares to Motueka, on the occasion of the cricket match (Friday next, February 4th), have been lowered to meet the requirements of all classes, as will be seen on reference to advertisement. The public will have the advantage of the tide being favorable on arriving at and leaving Motueka, so that landing and embarking may be effected from the Pier, instead, of the usual bullock dray process. We hope t^pe* numbers avail themselves of the opportunity.

The Regatta.—Tn order to give every facility to persons desirous of viewing the regatta to the best advantage, ,the Tasmanian Maid will take passengers on board at a very reasonable charge. She will calLoQ^asionally at the wharf, and at the Colorado Tiulk which will be purposely prepared for the occasion,'where refreshments can be procured of all kinds from Mr. Stock. The comfort this arrangement presents is very creditable to the projectors, and no doubt will be gladly patronised.

Baptist School.—On Tuesday last the children of this school were regaled with tea, &c, on the grounds of Mr. Blick, Brook-street, after whicli they were shewn the machinery lately erected for weaving woollen fabrics, which upon completion we hope to have the opportunity of inspecting. We believe there were about 90 persons present, including children, and that the school has now an average attendance of SO children. *