THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1860.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 241, 10 February 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1860.

The art of travel seems one of those crude and ill-understood subjects which require to be thoroughly fathomed before we can secure the desired results which should accrue from investigations conducted at a distance from the homes of civilisation, and amid the untrodden ground of the interior of our island. The return to town of a portion of Mr. Haast's party, on a foraging expedition, has called our attention to this subject, and is a familiar illustration of the want of forethought which is daily displayed in matters relating to travel—whether the object to be gained be small or unimportant in its results, or great and potent, involving the happiness as well as the prospects of the settlers of a colony. How often does it occur that the most necessary things in the ordinary jaunts of pleasureseekers are forgotten, as for instance—the corkscrew, the salt, and the knives and forks at a pic-nic, the umbrella, or stick of a visitor to the Museum, and the hundred and one charming little etceteras which ladies are so often accused of leaving behind. The art of travel, however, is but twin to thought—it is the display of this latter faculty that always distinguishes the practised explorer from the amateur. The old bushman, accustomed to arrange his camp equipage and its contents and bear, its weight, knows to a nicety the requirements of his journey, allowing for all ordinary contingencies. Like a second Sir Charles Napier he makes up his knapsack, and is ready to march in five minutes to wherever duty calls, or necessity requires his presence. The amateur, too often, like the cockney sportsman, has to make up for his short-comings by purchasing game to fill his bag at the nearest shop. So much for inexperience, which damps the ardour of the most enthusiastic, and spoils the best, wisest, and most liberal schemes projected by the patient forethought of the wisest councils. We must confess that a feeling bordering on disappointment has harassed our minds on discovering that the exploring party under Mr. Haast has but reached a distance of one day's march from the last accommodation house on the road. The parting seems such "sweet, sweet sorrow," that they have eaten all their food ere they could say good morrow. We, however, hope that the calls of science in the deliberate and careful investigation of the interesting district ofthe lakes, has caused the protracted delay, and that we shall, in due time, reap a rich harvest in perusing the instructive narration of a scientific journey (over land) to the West Coast. We wish it success of the best kind, and a speedier progress than has hitherto marked its " broad trail." Our contemporary alludes to an expedition taking a course down the Buller. This, we imagine, must be an error; as, from the published notes of Mr. Rochfort, it must be apparent that after his indefatigable labors up that gorged and rockbound drainage of the west, to be quite impracticable for a party such as accompanies the scientific expedition of Mr.: Haast. But to return again to our motto, the art of travel, which carried Napoleon over the Alps, Wellington through the Peninsula, Napier into the Sikh country, and may, if properly understood and well studied, prove the good genius which shall open up the wide-spreading plains, the shining rivers, and countless resources of the West Coast, to the longing eyes of the most costly expedition yet fitted out by our Government; and great will be the disappointment which will attend anything short of the most complete success after the liberal and handsome manner in which it has been provided, We do therefore trust, for the sake of our Chamber of Commerce, who claim the honor of having brought this scheme to a successful termination in the selection of their recommended chief—for the sake of science, settlers, and the province, that there will be no lack of energy, no delay or supineness, and no want of experience and forethought in carrying out the scheme which is practically to demonstrate; not only Mr. Haast's complete acquaintance with the art of travel, but his ability and fitness for the truly honorable and responsible post to which he has aspired. The colonial world are quite as .uncharitable as the Great Napoleon, and; have no sympathy, reward, or clemency to offer to -uneuccesful generals. With

these brief remarks we quit the subject for the present, trusting after the safe return of the Gipsy to hear good news of our explorers, and have to offer them our humbto meed of praise on the successful] accomplishment of a perilous and arduous journey.

We have received a letter from Mr. Travers, calling our attention to a paragraph in Mr. Butler's letter (which appeared in our last) which he considers to be a reiteration of Mr. Saunders' accusation, Upon inspecting the passage referred to, it appears so ambiguously worded that the meaning is rendered very doubtful. If, however, the

portion objected to will really bear the con- ! struction Mr. Travers puts upon it, we hasten to assure him that it was not shared in by ourselves, and that we should be the last to intentionally raise a much vexed question that has been finally disposed of by a jury. ___^ New Member.—ln our last we gave an account of the nomination of two candidates for the Motueka district, Mr. D. Jennings and Mr. James Wilkie.! On Monday last a poll took place, resultin^ in the return or the latter by 24 votes against 5; the number of voters on this occasion -was therefore exceedingly small. Cricket.—-The return match between the Motueka and Nelson Clubs took place on Tuesday last, iv Toi-toi "Valley. The game was not so productive of interest as many that we have pre-v, viously witnessed on the same ground, in consequence of its being a run-away score almost from the commencement The Motuekans, who had the first innings, could only score 23, therefore when the Nelsonites took the bat and scored 119 in their first innings, the game became hopeless. The bowling and batting on the Nelson side was very effective, and the club has very much improved since last season. It must not be forgotten that our usually sturdy opponents of Motueka were, under a great disadvantage from having been kept on board the Emu all the previous night, in consequence of an accident occurring to the machinery, and they were therefore in bad trim for the contest. The following is the score :—• motueka. i First Innings. Second Innings. M'Nab, b Sharp . . . 10 b Sharp, c Schroder . 2 J. Lnnn, b Sharp, c Schroder . 0 b Sharp, c Mortimer . 17 Jennings, b Schroder, hit wicket 4 run out . . 0 C. Greenwood, run out . .Ob Sharp . .10 Staples, b Schroder . .4b Sharp, c Morse . 6 6. Harding, b Sharp . . 0 not out . .10 Guerin, b Sharp . .lb Schroder, c Mortimer 3 Mickle, not out . . .3b Sharp, c Schroder . 0 Wise, b Sharp . . . 0 run out . .4 C. Lunn, b Schroder . . 0 b Schroder, c Greenfleld 9 Qrooby, b Schroder . ,0b Schroder, c Sharp . 0 Byes . . . 1 . . . .3 Leg byes . . 0 . . . . 3 23 66 Total, 89. NELSON. First Innings. Mortimer, b Wise . 32 Greenfield, b Wise, c Greenwood 2 Baker, b Wise, c Mickle . 0 Bonnington, b Wise . . 4 Adams, b Greenwood, c Harding 5 Schroder, b Wise . .2 Sharp, b Wise . . .22 Balme, b Harding, c Lunn . 0 Morse, b Wise . . .1 Hacket, b Wise . . .20 Thoaipson, not out . . 28 Byes . . .2 Leg bye . . .1 Total .119 In the evening an excellent supper was provided by Mr. Luck, at the Trafalgar Hotel, which was done full justice to, and the hilarity of the occasion was maintained until the small hours. Mechanics' Cricket Club Anniversary.— Wednesday last being the second anniversary of the formation of this club, the members mustered strongly on the ground in Toi-toi Valley, and played a game among themselves. The practice was a good one, and we observed a marked improvement in some, who but a short time since were extremely wanting in confidence or ability to guard their wickets from the onslaughts of wickedly straight bowling; tlieir fielding generally was not inferior to anything we have previously seen by this club, and as this is their strong point, and wnat has more than anything else, stood them in good stead in the matches they have previously played, they should keep their training members up to the mark. At eight o'clock a dinner was provided by Mr. Jervis, of the Commercial Hotel, to which about 40 persons sat down. The excellent character and ample supply of the viands was generally and justly acknowledged, and the evening was passed in a most sociable and pleasing manner. Many good songs were given during the evening, and the intervals were sustained by music from a small band that was present. The conviviality of the occasion extended until long past midnight.

The Dogs.—That the tax for this year upon dogs is due, requires only a look at the inclosure at the back of the lock-up to be assured of. There, a number of specimens of the canine race are held captives till the gun of the inexorable constable puts an end to them, or their owners reprieve them by clapping a ten shilling ticket to their collars. A number have been already destroyed, perhaps with advantage to the place; but it may happen that a really valuable dog, compared to which the price of a ticket is a mere nothing, may be lost to his proprietor by inattention to the necessity of the Act. We would therefore advise those who wish to escape such a mischance to apply at once for necessary security. Besides this it must be remembered, that to redeem them when once in the hands ot the police it costs an extra twenty shillings, an unpleasantness that may be escaped by timely care.