MR. CURTIS'S SPEECH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 41, 19 February 1867, Page 2

MR. CURTIS'S SPEECH.

To the Editor of the ' Evening Mail.' Sir — Would you allow me to notice an item or two which occur in the speeches that Mr. Curtis has recently delivered in the Provincial Hall for the edification of the people of Nelson ? Mr. Curtis appears, to some, to take a rather inexplicable method of engrafting a good opinion of his reasoning, landsurvey, and mercantile abilities upon the minds of said people. I was one of many who were patient listeners to his extremely windy orations. I was present to know how we were to get a railroad to the West Coast — not why a railroad is exceedingly desirable. Every one believes in it as the great thing needful, excepting there be a few of the Waimea firewood carriers who foolishly shiver for the consequences such a measure would ultimately entail on their particular and very laborious means of procuring the necessaries of life. At least, I am one of those who require no talking against time to convince me of the magnitude of the boon that a railroad would confer npon the city of Nelson, by bringing it into a more close contiguity with the most productive labour of the province — the gold diggings ; — a labour, by-the-bye, the direct produce of which Mr. Curtis and his compeers selfishly and shamefully tax, the while they allow wool, saddle-horses, &c, to enjoy the privilege of being untouched by the stick of the Custom-house officer, a ticket of Mr. Shallcrass, or a blue, red, or bronze stamp from the office of the New Zealand legislative manufactory, under the directions of Messrs. Stafford, Bichmond, Curtis, and Co., conjoint taxing masters of the simple-minded 200,000 men, women, and children of "these Islands of the blest." As I have already inferred, I am an " out and out " supporter of railways in preference to the other means of goods or personal transit, and was consequently the

more chagrined at . the extremely meagre attempts that Mr. Curtis developed in his address in respect to the how or the where the money was to be procured for completion of one in this province. And my provocation was none the less when he made the meeting acquainted with his very singular powers as a land valuator. Did he improvise an advertisement in the way of trade, when he announced that he possessed the wonderful abilities of the accomplished mesmeric • clairvoyant who can read a newspaper as well through a two feet thick brick and mortar wall, if not better, than less gifted mortals are enabled to do through a pair of spectacles. The real or assumed powers of almost unlimited omniscience, of which he boasted the proprietorship, equals, if not transcends anything iv the spirit rapping, or the mesmeric clairvoyance line of which I have ever read. The accomplice of Robespierre and Marat in the first French revolution the notorious Dantou, on being asked what was the most necessary particular that the aspirant to public favour ought to be possessed of — replied, audacity, audacity ! audacity ! ! In this particular did Mr. Curtis not manifest a precious specimen in proclaiming yes! to an assembled crowd ! his miraculous gift of knowing the value of a piece of land, though he never had been within fifty (50) miles of ifc, better than those who had lived upon, and cultivated it, for twelve or fourteen years ! Hear him ! ye farmers of the Waimeas ! Is he not number one to go in for the Superintendency ? Few are like unto 0 ! Curtis ! His knowledge must be superhuman, and his penetration alike omniscient as profound ; otherwise his astonishing assertion was merely taking an opportunity to tell his audience that the landholders, farmers, and agricultural labourers of New Zealand, iv the matter of the value of land are possessed of minds something inferior to those of the bullocks they employ,; for the beasts does know where best feed grows if he is permitted to get at it. If Mr. C. had intimated the certainty of getting capitalists "to fork out the dust" iv the event of his ownself stepping into the Superintendency, he would have pleased oue of the audience better, thaa by telling them of tbe pitiable ignorance of our rural population in a concern in which they are universally interested. In the course of Mr. Curtis's address he spoke of the Provincial Council setting aside a sum of money £5000, to survey a line, or the line of railway to the West Coast. No one can think that that sum is an extravagant one for the purpose especially Jif we take into account the wild and fearful track of country it is supposed it must penetrate and pass through. But he appeared to have forgotten his own peculiarly wondrous clairvoyant abilities in proposing anything whatever excepting the voting of him into the Superintendency. A man who can sit in his office in Nelson, and value land in Marlboro' better than Marlborgians on the spot, might with a little more practice see his way to Westland, although a few monster mountains intervene. Anyone under mesmeric influence, or any other influence, who can see through the Maungatapu so clearly as to be able to value land in the Wairau, must be able to penetrate for the same purpose, to the West Coast with the help of mesmeric or supernatural eyesight. And if Mr. O. Curtis really can do so who would not make him our future Superintendent. He either can perform his land valuating feats, or he cannot. If he can, He's the man ; for surveying would be needless. But if tbey cannot, he should be kept out ; for, under the Superintendency of a man who is more of a professor than a performer, who would give us the means to lay the rails down ? In fact, I thiuk that any serious proposition to put the gentleman into that office will make the other provinces of the colony quickly agree to a colonial asylum being placed immediately in our neighbourhood. I intended to have noticed a few more of Mr. Curtis's queer logical inferences j but there is a good time coming. In the meatime, I am, &c, One who stoops over the Spade. P.S. — The fragrant weed, the Nelson steamer, story of what are our New Zealand legislators, &c, may be discussed at future convenience. Nelson, February 16, 1867.

At a special meeting of Justices of the Peace held in Auckland, an application was received from sixteen chemists and druggists, praying to be exempted from serving on juries, and the Bench after some consideration, refused to grant the petition on the ground that the applicants did not come within the meaning of the Act, which only exempts "apothecaries in actual practice."

Augustus Clarke, a prisoner undergoing a sentence of nine months' imprisonment at Auckland, while employed in a hard labour gang, working in the city, fell down dead ; and at the inquest held on the body, a verdict was returned to the effect that the deceased died from a stroke of the sun. The gaol authorities here should consider this matter, for the hard labour gangs at work about the streets from eight o'clock in the mornirg until late in the afternoon having only a small cap to protect them from the powerful rays of the midday sun, are exposed to the danger of a death as sudden as that of the poor man whose name is mentioned above. — W. E. Post.

The New Zealand Herald, of the 9th instant, states that the escaped prisoner Piummer has been captured, and was brought to town on Sunday in the cutter Maranda. He was of course put in the lock-up. He is certainly one ot the most wretched and vulgar looking criminals that it were possible to behold. His impudence is unbounded. He had great solicitude as to the opinion expressed of him in the local papers, upon which, of course, he was not enlightened. He was tested as to the truth of some of his statements, such as his being afc the races, and his answer proved that he was a most incorrigible story-teller. He is, indeed, a very vulgar thief. He is very much indebted, in his opinion, to the Cross and the Rev. Mr. Edger for the conspicuous position he holds as a distinguished runaway before the colonial public. He will be brought before the Magistrate on Monday. Our reporter will, in ordinary course, tell the story of examination.

A Maori vocabulary, by H. Day Kempt, Esq., entituled "First step in Maori Conversation," has been published in Auckland by Mr. G. T. Chapman. It contains, besides, a useful early primer for beginners in the Maori language, and some interesting romances of Maori life.

A report reached Te Papa on the 7th instant that the rebel natives intended attacking Opotiki. Immediately on the receipt of the news the Hon. the Defence Minister left in the Sturt for the scene of the attack, but found everything quiet.

The Collector of Customs at Auckland only awaits the arrival of a man-of-war to proceed to the Waikato with an officer of the navy, for the purpose of holding an enquiry into the recent loss of the Government steamer Pioneer on the Manu-

kau bar

An acclimatisation society was established in Auckland on the 2nd instant, and in mentioning the fact the New Zealand Herald expresses a hope that the objects of the society will not be confined to introducing small birds only, but fish also, and such trees and plants as it may be found desirable to acclimatise. Ou the night of Thursday, the 7th instant, a fire broke out in Albert-street, Auckland, on the market reserve, in the workshop of Messrs. Matthews and Bartley, builders. The building was composed of corrugated iron plates, but the interior was stocked with sawn timber and fittings, and the whole was totally destroyed, notwithstanding all the efforts of the Fire Brigade and police. We learn from the Southland News that the opening of the Bluff Railway for passenger traffic took place on Tuesday the sth instant. Beyond the observance of the day as a general holiday and the issue of excursion tickets at 5s each by the government there was nothing out of the common in the way of festivity to mark the event. It is rumored that the fares are to be Bs. for through, and 12s. for return tickets. If true we can only say that it must be in order to reduce the passenger traffic to a minimum, for none will travel at such a rate unless compelled to do so on business. Five shillings for through and 7s. 6d. for return tickets would be moderate and offer an inducement to passengers by steamers calling at the Bluff and having to wait a few hours, to take a trip to the (capital of the Province. As to the high tariff above mentioned, we have received no official intimation of any scale having been resolved upon.

The following is a portion of the evidene submitted to the Gaol Enquiry Committee at Auckland, which shows the cruelty with which prisoners have been treated in the Mount Eden Stockade. Chief Warder Young said : — There have been two prisoners gagged to my know-,, ledge — lst, a man named Robinson, alias Hurrucks; 2nd, John Wright, alias Alison. Robinson was gagged with a horsebit, lashed at the back of his head. It was a common horse-bit. I put the bit in his mouth, by Mr. Tuckwell's orders. Robinson was, I think, kept in this way for five or six hours. He was in cells all the time. He was gagged for being noisy and making use of improper language, when in the dark cell. I believe that Wright, alias Alison, was gagged on the day of the rush. I have gagged two prisoners, one with a rope, the other with a bit, by Mr. Tuckwell's, orders aud in his presence. The prisoner Hurrucks on examination said: — I was gagged with a horse-bit, for singing in solitary confinement, and my arms were pinioned behind me until my elbows nearly met. This was done by Mr. Young, the Chief Warder under orders from Mr. Tuckweil. They then pulled my hands forward to get them into handcuffs. Mr. Martin was present. I have felt ill ever since with pains in my chest. I was kept gagged and pinioned in this way for six hours. I am 19 years old. On reading the above extracts from the evidence given by a gaoler and a prisoner, the most charitably disposed and impartial reader must acknowledge that a great abuse in gaol discipline has existed in Auckland, and that in recommending the dismissal of Mr. Tuckweil the Auckland Provincial Council have shown a determination to put down a course of tyranny discreditable to the usages and feelings of a Christian community. — Evening Post. The escaped and re-captured prisoner Bloomfield is said by the New Zealand Herald to be the son of Rush, the notorious murderer of Mr. Jardine and his family, at Stanfield Hall, Norfolk. He was recognised by a gentleman visiting the Mount Eden Stockade, who had been connected with the Stafford gaol in England.

The contracts on the Auckland and Drury Railway have been taken out of the contractors' hands by the Provincial Government. The line has been extended from Newmarket to Onehunga.

The New Zealand Herald of the 9th inst., has an account of an engagement between the natives at Tauranga and the troops stationed there. The Akeke and two other villages were destroyed by the Waikato Militia. Seven natives prisoners, mostly women and children were taken. Two Waikato Militiamen, and a young man named Wolley of the Engineer Corps, were severely wounded. The Arawas had taken up weapons against the Hauhaus, and were going to carry out the struggle by themselves. General Chute has not interfered with the military arrangements aud has returned to Auckland. On the 3rd inst., 40 or 50 Hau-haus approached within 900 yards of the camp and fired a couple of rounds, supposed to be a challange. Captain Stack started after them, but not overtaking them returned. They have got a strong fortification at Taunata. Lieuteuant Gundry has taken up a position in front of the Hauhaus.

The Chief Inspector of Sheep in Otago, reports, under date January 29tb, that the total number of sheep above three months old in the Province is 1,571,814. Few new cases of scab had occurred; and the majority of those diseased in September last, have had clean certificates granted by the inspectors. In Canterbury, a programme has been arranged for a graud provincial steeplechase, which is proposed to run on the Queen's Birthday. A prize of £250, in addition to a sweepstakes of 10 soys., forms the chief attraction.

The Bruce Herald says : — From the rapid ripening of the many luxuriant and heavy crops of grain in the Tokomairiro district generally, there will be very soon a great demand for reaping machines ; and abundance ot opportunity will be this season afforded for testing the comparative merits of the various machines as to efficiency, simplicity, and strength. We gladly note that our local mechanics are entering with spirit into this manufacture. The Tuapeka Recorder states that the shareholders in the Quartz Reef at Waipori have commenced sinking a new shaft over a hundred feet in depth. They had previously been flooded out on two occasions.