The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 306, 28 December 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1868.

.As much uncertainty prevails with reference to the despatch of the next mail for Europe, we may mention that the postal authorities have received an intimation from Wellington to the effect that should the Kaikoura arrive in Sydney before the departure of the Mataura, (which was advertised to leave that port for England, via Cape Horn, on the sth inst.) it is probable that the Mataura will come to Wellington and take the January mail as usual. This however cannot be ascertained until the arrival of tho Tararua at the Bluff, about the 3rd of next month. We learn from an authority likely to be well informed, that Parliament will probably m*eet on the 26th of February, and that shortly afterwards a dissolution will take place. We fear that there is much reason to apprehend that our next advices from Melbourne may bring us tidings of the occurrence of a large and destructive fire at that port. We were informed by the purser of the Otago that as that steamer was leaving the Day at Melbourne, the glare of a very extensive conflagration was plainly discernible, and the general impression on board was flint some of the shipping at Williomstown had tnken fii'p. Those of our readers who happened to be abroad about 9 o'clock on Christmas night, were dnubfi-^sp considerably st*irrled by the sudden appearance in our streets of a mysterious individual, arrayed after the oriental fashion, in a gorgeous robe of yellow silk brocade, splendidly i embroidered, and wearing a verv singular i headdress, in which a peacock's feather formed a prominent feature, who paraded the various Streets, accompanied by several gentlemen, until the raiu compelled them to take shelter. This strange apparition not unnaturally excited very considerable curiosity, which might possibly have remained ungratified, had it not transpired that this mysterious promenade was only the sequel to a Christmas joke very successfully played off upon the proprietor of a well-known hostelry in this city, by our old friend, of pleasant memory, Mr. John Small, who faking advantage of the departure of tho Japanese troupe on the previous day, and of his possession of a splendid Chinese costume,, had, with the aid of several frieuds who were participators in the secret, announced himself as the Tycoon of Japan, who requested suitable accommodat : on for himself and suite, the Airedale having beeu compelled to return to port. We need hardly saythat in such accomplished hands the ruse succeeded admirably, the obliging hostess placing her hest apartments at the disposal of so distinguished a guest, until our amusing friend found himself unable any longer to suppress his laughter, nnd amidst the greatest merriment, divesting himself of his Celestial disguise, at length revealed himself as the original of the * Unfortunate Man.' We are happy to be able to state that any doubts as to the fulfilment of Mdme. Anna Bishop's promised visit to Nelson are now at an end, letters having been received hy the last Mail from her agent, ( Mr Schultze, stating that it is her inten- j tion to give one or floore concerts in this I

city, as her arrangements may permit, during her trip to "New Zealand. As Madame Bishop was to leave Sydney on the 20th inst. by the steamer Hpro for Aucklaud, where she purposes giving a series of concerts, it is plain that, we nny look forward to her arrival here within the next two or three weeks. Those of our readers who have ever lieen fortunate enough to listen to the strains of this accomplished artiste, will best appreciate the great musical treat which is in store for * those who are, or affect to be lovers of 'the divine art.' The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church ia New Zealand, having passed a resolution to the effect that ' in view of the recent calamities which have befallen certain districts iu the colony, through the unhappy native war at present raging," yesterday, the 27th inst., should be observed as a dny of humiliation and prayer , in the several congregations in connection with that body, a service was held nfc Trinity Church yesterday evening, followed by an appropriate sermon by the Rev P. Calder. In a recent issue we stated that by an Act of the General Assembly, which is now in operation, all persons who are not members of the legal profession are prohibited, under a penalty, from drawing any deed or will. On a reperusal of the Act, which is styled the Property Law Consolidation Act, 1868, we find that by the 190ih section unauthorised persons are si.hjected to a penalty for drawing nny deed or wiil 'if they shall receive any payment or remuneration for the samp.' No penalty, therefore, it is evident \ s sonsrht to he inflicted upon amateur practitioners performing su-fli services gratuitous!',". A correspondent, alluding to thin enactment, observes that nny provision which would restrict to professional persons (he right to draw such docu'*npn<*3 would he prejudicial vntlipr than otherwise fo the profession, whose bee t securitv ngainst interlopers ia within itself; a conscientious method of business, with fair charges, doing more f->r a professional man tbnn any protection that legislation can afford him. W**> learn from the Home News thai Sir Georsre Grey, with Dr Knight, arrived at Southampton on the 27th October, bv tlie steamer Douro, via Panama. Tt- is stated, o-i good authority, thnt Sir George purposes entering on a parliamentary career at home, if only for a season, and will probably prespnt himself as a candidate for Rvc. at the npnt jrenpral election, which was to fake nla^P during the past month. We shall hone, to learn bv the next mill that the difficulty which ha? inten-rtspd to prevent th" rpppint bv Pit* Orpv of thp n»nsion to which lip i-s po well entitled', undpr ihp -Colonial Governors Pension Aot. p-i^spd two ypars ago. lias lippii satisfactorily surmount pd. As all our rpadnrs nv-tv not hp cntrn's.ant of ih-* ron 1 for to which wp have nllndp-1, it may he wc]! to mpnrion that whilst one clause of the 4ct provides that a claimant shall bp enHtlpd to ••. pension as soon as lie shall have completed his third commission — each extending ovpr six years another clause stipulates that no claimant shall receive a pension until he shall have attained flip a*'P of fiO ypars. Wp iippil hardly renrnd our rendprs tlmt c ir George Grey com Ten n l)i« high ofHci-il carper at an nnnsivdiy pnrlv age. Invi ncy lipph appointed Governor in 1839. whpn he was only 27 years old ; consequently, although he has exceeded the required term of office by some ten or eleven years, having been born in 1812, he is not yet eligiblp, by rea°on of his age,J'to receive this mark of his Sovereign's approbation. We may, however, reasonably anticipate that, looking to the long and especially arduous services rendered by our late Governor, some means may be devised by which the operation of the Act, which in this especial instance involves such obvious injustice, may be set aside in his favor. We understand that the members of the Nelson Harmonic Society purpose giving a concert, to consist entirely of secular music, in about three weeks' time. It seems that the Lyell still preserves its reputation for monster nuggets. We find it stated in the Grey River Argus, of Saturday, that the largest nugget yet found on tbe West Coast was discovered a few days ago at the Lyell Creek, Buller district. It is said to weigh 89ozs lOdwt 12 gr. Wednesday, the 16th inst., was the eighteenth anniversary of the settlement of Canterbury, the first settler having arrived at Port Cooper — or Lyttelton as it

is now more generally known — on the 16th December, 1850. The Tradesmen's Races were fixed to come off at Dunedin ou Boxing Day* Amongst the nominations for the Tradesmen's Plate we observe Mr D Corsnn's Stormbird, and Mr W. C. Webb's Star of the South. An establishment for the sawing and manufacture of timber hns been erected in Hokitika, and has proved a complete success. In this manufactory it is staffed that 81 panelled doors, and 100 pairs of sashes can be turned out daily ; and such is the acknowledged excellence and cheapness of workmanship, ihat these and other articles are exported not only to the various VTest Coast ports, but to Cliristchurch, Dunedtaj and Melbourne. Some of the specimens of turnery are said to be very fine, and to exhibit very markedly the adaptation of New Zealand woods for this purpose. An action to recover £1000 damages for a breach of promise of marriage was brought by Isabella Carr, of Oamaru, against William Stevenson, a wheelwright in the Supreme Court of Otago, on the Bth instant. The Judge said the facts disclosed justified the jury giving exemplary damages, and the plaintiff obtained a verdict for £100. Itis said thatone of the Maori Represent tatives, General Mete Kingi, has been invited by his Excellency the Governor to accompany him on the occasion of his approaching visit to the South Island. In an appeal case, Fox v. Holmes, recently argued before his Honor Mr Justice Ward, it was decided that according to the dih section of ,h e pt amp Amendment Act, it was requisite in order to the receipt of an agreement in evidence, that not only should the stamp upon it have been cancelled by .ill parties, instead of by one of them only, but that evidence a3 to the writing in cancellation was necessary in order to its admission. Much indignation has been excited by the appearance in the Southern Cross — which journal, be it observed, has lately assumed the Philo Maori mantle of the late New Zenlandpr — of a letter signed 'Exterminate,' which excuses the perpetration of the late horrible massacres in Poverty Bay, on the plea that the Colonial Forces had wantonly shot down women and children on one occasion, when a kinga, or village, was attacked. At a meeting of the Justices of the Peace, held to consider the state of affairs generally,it was decided to demand the name of tha writer from the Cross. The following day a letter appeared from 'Exterminate,' throwing the blame of the alleged massacre of H-iuhau women and children on the Arawas fhrhting for us, not on the Europeans. The ptiUio, however, was dissatisfied with the explanation, and the more so as it, beeame known that the letter, wri'ten to injure the colonists with the Exeter Hall party, was the production of the sub-pditnr of the Cross, and not lhafc of a bona fide correspondent »t all. Further pressure was put upon tha agent of the proprietor of the Cross, and on Thursday morning the name of (lie writer was given up by that journal, and proved to he the party all along suspected. The Cross made an abject apology to the public for its conduct in this discreditable affair, the grossest slander which has ever been uttered against the colonists, and thus saved itself from the extreme measure of public indiiruation. The Morning Post announces the following programme as quasi official. The dissolution of Parliament will take place on the 11th Nov. The new Parliament will be summoned to meet on Wednesday, the 9th of December, when the Queen's speech will be delivered and the policy of the Ministry on the questions at issue announced. The Right Honorable John Evelyn Denison will be re-elected Speaker. It is believed that the House will be ready to proceed to business by Monday, the 14th of December. The opposition will probably move an amendment to the reply to the Queen's speech, which the House will debate until Friday, the 18th, when it is supposed the motion wiil be carried by a large majority, and the House will adjourn until the following Monday. On the reassembling of the House the Premier will announce his resignation and that of his colleagues in the Ministry. Mr Gladstone will follow with a motion to adjourn over the holidays, to afford an opportunity for the formation of a new Cabinet. The Liberal party, in view of the present indications of the pending * campaign, estimates that it will have. a majority io the new House of at least 100.

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Onwards ! (?) Great exhibitions, workingmeu's congresses, international obligations, Atlantic cables, freetrade, and social science are supposed to be dragging the 19th century at a tremendous pace to the •millenium of civilisation. . . . The new Fieueli rifle makes a hole in entering* the body ' the size of a pen, but taking a twist in its passage tears the flesh up to ■the size of a large saucer* on quitting it. With this useful weapon it is said thousands of men can be disposed of at .«. fabulous distance at a remarkable death rate. So much for the humanising triumphs of of the 1 9th century! How does this chronological table read? — 1, 1851': Great Exhibition of all nations(supposed millenium). — 2. Interval of universal peace; bombardment of Sevastopol, &c\ &c. — 3. 1862: Second great gathering at South Kensington (supposed milleuiura). Great improvements iu firearms. — 4. More universal •peace; Magenta, Solferiuo, Sadowu, &c. — ■5. 1867: Great exhibition at Paris (real millenium, supposed). Peace as before, with immense improvements in firearms, and results. — Tomahawk.