ANOMALOUS POSITION OF THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 162, 13 July 1867, Page 2

ANOMALOUS POSITION OF THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

To tue Editor of the Nelson Evexing Mail. Sib. — I make no apology for asking you to insert the few following remarks, viewing the importance of the subject. In the first place I would remark howlittle we hear of the railway from headquarters to what we did at the election, for there is no mistake that it was a bona fide election card, and but for the firm faith in the project, and the fair promises of our Superintendent on the subject, he might not have held his present position. Again, with many others, I was disappointed' at not hearing it mentioned at the opening of the Provincial Council, for I really expected to fiud that a bill on the (' subject would be laid before the members 1

for them to say whether it was to be or not to be. • Now at the present time we hear a great deal of Mr. Stevens, as though that gentleman's good or bad management, or good or bad character, was to bring the thing to pass or to upset the scheme altogether. However, as that gentleman is here, and has taken a great deal of pains over it, it would be only fair to employ him, providing it can be done without prejudicing the case either as to time or to actual fulfilment. I, for one, have always thought that if the thing was wanted and worth doiug at all, it would be the best plan, to send an agent to Melbourne, and failing there, to England, putting himself in connexion with respectable stockbrokers, and then take the best aud most substantial offer ; that agent to have a discretionary power, "but not to commit himself to anything without the consent of the Government. Yours, etc., A Friend to the Railway.

We are authorised to state that the Mail for Europe, etc., via Suez, for Wellington, the South, and Australian Colonies, will close at 3 p.m., on Monday. A meeting of the Permanent Building Society will take place at the Temperance Hall, on Monday next, at 2 p.m., and the money wfll be offered for sale the same evening, at half-past 8. By a proclamation issued by his Honor the Superintendent of Marlborough, Joseph Ward, Esq., of Brookby, VVairau, is appointed Deputy- Superintendent of that province. It appears from a letter inserted in the Picton Press, that Messrs. Adams and Kingdon, having interested themselves in the case of Mrs. Mathieu, the widow of one of the four residents of the Pelorus Gold-fields, who were murdered on the Maungatapu, the General Government has been induced to hand over the sum of £100 to Mrs. Mathieu. It is stated that great excitement prevails amongst stockowners in Southland, in consequence of pleuro - pneumonia having broken out in that province. A mob of 500 head of cattle from Toko mariro, in Otago, are said to have introduced it. The Government Gazette of the 27th ult., notifies the appointment of J. R. Dutton, Esq., as Resident Magistrate on. the Nelson Gold-fields, and also gives the following returns of the export of gold from the various provinces during the quarter ended on the 31st March last : — Ounces. Value. Canterbury. 75,659 . 293,179 Nelson . 39,363 . 152,232 Otago . 31,186 . 120,846 Southland . 2,163 . 8,382 Auckland . 735 . 2,2] 0 Marlborough 126 . 488 Total . 159,339 £477,637 The inauguration of the Godley Statue at Christen urch is to take place at an early date. It seems that the Government have been waiting for Mr FitzGerald, who claimed the houor of uuveiling the statue. He has recently informed the Government that his official duties will not allow him to leave Wellington for a considerable period. It had been suggested to the Government that the inauguration should be postponed till the arrival in the province of Lord Lyttelton and Mr Selfe, expected towards the end of the year; but as there is some danger that further delay will cause injury to the statue, the Government will shortly name a day for the unveiling. The story of a " haunted house " in Tasmania is thus told by a correspondent of the Cornwall Chronicle: — "It is not often we hear of ghosts and haunted houses in Tasmania ; for it is a popular belief that ghosts are confined to the other

side of the world ; but no doubt in time we shall inherit all the evils belonging to the parent country. They have already had a case of hydrophobia in Hobart Town ; and I have now to report that a veritable ghost has been domiciled for the last month in the immediate vicinity of Campbell Town. He, she or it (the ghost), makes its presence known by a loud knocking at the front door. The knocks are quitje distinct, and exactly the same as if some one was knocking for admittance. The police and numerous volunteers have watched the place without any visible agency. Numerous devices have been tried to discover the cause but without success." A story is going about- the London Clubs of a candidate for a vacant seat in Parliament. He was walking through the streets of the borough with his attorney when a neutral voter was pointed out. The legal adviser said that the candidate had better tackle the voter at once. ' What is his profession?' said the candidate. 'I am not sure,' was the reply, ' but I rather thiuk that he is a truukmaker.' ' How do you do, how do you do, my dear sir/ says the candidate. 'How very fortunate that I have made your acquaintance. Mrs. X. has been travelling about a good deal lately and has worn out her trunk. Please make me the very best trunk that you possibly can. 5 lam much flattered by your commands,' said the voter, 'but I am not a trunkmaker.' 'Oh yes you are,' says the candidate. ' No, indeed, lam not/ says the voter. ' Then, pray, what are you ?' says the candidate. 'If you please, sh% I am a coffinmaker.' '0, that will do just as well/ said Mr. X. the candidate. ' Please make me a coffin ; the very best 'coffin you possibly can.' The voter said — 'Please, sir, you are joking — now, I don't like that.' Mr, X. in reply, * Never was more serious in my life.' ' Well,' says the voter, 'all is fair in the way of business. But please give me a written order.' cßy all manner of means/ said Mr. X., who at once gave the written order. About a week after a hearse with plumes and feathers drew up at a comfortable family mansion in one of the London parks, and out came a coffin. The servants were horrified, and declined to take the dark object indoors. The undertaker was inexorable. Mr. X. was at dinner ; and beiug interrogated by his servant, desired the coffin to be brought into the house. But where shall we put it, said Mrs. X. ? Under the bed, said Mr. X. To this Mrs. X. decidedly objected. Soon all the servants came and began to insinuate symptoms of giving warning. They could not think of abiding in the house with a coffin. Mr. X. then ordered it to be taken to his chambers in the Temple. On one of his friends asking him what he had done with the coffin, he admitted that he had put a whole set of voluminous law reports into it. The said candidate is likely to hear more of this when he goes among his newly formed acquaintance in the borough. The Evening Post gives the following acconnt of the amusing farce enacted on the wharf at Wellington on Tuesday morning : — This morning a little after 11 o'clock, numbers were seen hurrying along the wharf towards the extensiou, and it shortly became known that a scene was about to be enacted, as the Provincial Government had given notice of their intention to take forcible possession of the extentiou. Presently, Mr. Borlase, Provincial Solicitor, accompanied by Mr. Spiuks, wharfinger, and preceded by two stalwartlooking men, or navvies, carrying crowbars and hammers, arrived in front of the disputed territory, where they were met by Mr. Kenaard, Mr. George, and a formidable body of workmen. Mr. Borlase demanded possession of the wharf, and Mr. Kennard inquired at whose instance he

made the demand, when Mr. Borlase replied on that of the Provincial Government. Mr. Kennard said the propertyclaimed belonged to his firm, and was in his possession, and he would defend it byforce if compelled to do so, and then warned all intruders off' the extension. The men employed by the Government then commenced to remove the barricading, and were then given in charge by Mr. Kennard, and removed ia custody to the police barracks, where information was laid against them before the Resident Magistrate. • The case remains in abeyance, to be decided by ti e Supreme Court, Mr. Borlase intimating that no steps would be taken on behalf of the Provincial Government to take possession in the meantime. Mr. Kennard leaves to-morrow, in the Tar am a, for Melbourne. Holloway's Ointment and Pills. — Vrem&ture Decline. — The unwary aud thoughtless may save themselves a sea of future troubles by an early recourse to those excellent curatives. All blotches from whatever cause arising, all enlargements of the glands wherever situated, irritating sores and debilitating discharges, may be safely and certainly cured by employing Holloway's Ointment and Pills, in accordance with the instructions wrapped round each pot and box. No timidity need deter the weakest from applying to these restoratives, which exert'the threefold qualities of purifying, regulating, and repairing, without disturbing the stomach, annoying the nervous system, or rendering confinement to the house necessary. Holloway's medicaments will stem the source of matiy maladies which, when neglected, perpetuate misery. 2766