Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1885.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 234, 10 October 1885, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1885.

The San Francisco mail service is now definitely decided upon, and the contract signed, and some interesting particulars as to the details will be found in our Wellington correspondent's telegram. The Union Company, it appears, intend to charter the two steamers Australia and Zealandia at present engaged in the service to work this end of the line until the full requirements are ascertained, when they will procure suitable. vessels of their own. What however is of more importance is the possibility referred to of opening up a trade with Honolulu, and finding there a market for much of our New Zealand produce which is at present almost unsaleable, or at all events only to be disposed of at ruinously low prices. If this Bhould prove one of the results of the new contract, Sir Julius Yogel will find many among the farming community to bless him for the pertinacity and determination displayed by him in dealing with the matter in the House, and dragging from it an un- ; willing consent ttf renew the service. In the Illustrated N.Z. News of the 28th September, is a very good view of Toi Toi Valley, taken from the Port Hills The title is a little misleading, being " Toi Toi : Talloy^ ' Province of Auokland." That however is bub. a trifle compared with the letter-press description of the engravings, and of the town of Nelson generally. Our readers we are .sure 'will be delighted in perusing it. The writer says : — " Many of the valleys found in New Zealand appear to have been within a comparatively recent geologic period the beds of old. rivers, whose courses have been diverted by a succession of those terrific convulsions of Nature to which New Zealand has been subjected periodically. The Toi Toi Valley, of which we give a sketch in this issue, is situated in the vicinity of the town of Nelson, which has well been described T as the garden of New Zealand. In the Maori tongue the place depicted is called the Happy Valley, and it is not indulging in the language of romance and exaggeration to say that in this secluded and picturesque spot the inhabitants realise to some extent the poet's dream of Arcadia. They live like one family or tribe in the enjoyment of that health, peace, and competence which are considered the sumimim bonum of human existence. The bousts are all constructed with a view to elegance of design no less thanxjomfort and even luxury. They are for the greater part surrounded by gardens, in ■which, flowers grow as in no other part of the world. Shrubs of variegated foliage, and flowers of the most radiant hues and richest perfume are raised without much trouble, as the soil is so capable of cultivation that, as a well-known writer remarks, " you have only to tickle it with a hoe, and it smiles like another paradise." The Valley of Toi Toi lies between two hills, which may be described as ever verdant, and the intervening land is said to be not only favorable for the growth of the rarest and most exquisite flora, but for hops and some descriptions of c ereals. The hop. industry has here been developed to a large extent, and has been found highly remunerative. Our artist's sketch conveys an excellent idea oE the sequestered vale, one of the loveliest spots in a country distinguished above any in the Southern Hemisphere for the magnificence of its varied scenery. " Among the awards recently made at tl& Exhibition and telegraphed to us to-day are two to Miss E. C. Harris of Nelson, one for a painted Bcreen, and the other for a painted table top. Both of these are really beautifully executed paintings and we are glad to find that her work has been duly appreciated by the judges. Our advertising columns to-day announce the establishment of a very useful institution. We refer to "Huffam's Labor Exchange." Mr Huffam's place of business in Hardy Street is conveniently situated for such a purpose, the ternis are advertised as moderate, and the enterprise is one which will doubtless receive considerable and increasing patronage. The ignorance with regard to Australia and New Zealand which prevails almost everywhere outside their own boundaries is likely to be dispelled to a considerable extent by Mr Sala's visit, as he is writing an account of his tour not only for English, but for San Francisco and Calcutta papers. The arrangements at the Theatre last night with regard to the reserve! ssats were unusually good, and Mr Willmott deserves a word of praise for ton methodical way in which they were cairied out. Messrs Warner & Go. direct attention to their new Advt. Mr W. Corrie Johnston will deliver gospel addresses at Eichmond and Wakefield tomorrow afternoon and evening. Our Reef ton correspondent telegraphs: — " The only yield reported for the week is the Keep Ie Dark 233 ozs ; the Alpine have not scraped the plates ; the Wealth of Nations have not cleaned up yet." The Australasian of 26th September reports as follows on the hop and malt markets: — "In hops business is very dull, and only small parcels are being disposed of at late rates ; the market will be tested to-morrow, when abont 350 bales of Victorian will be •ffered at auction ; the quotations are: — Kent (1884), duty paid Is lOd. nominal; Tasmanian (1885), in bond, 6d. to la; Victorian (1885), Bdto TOd. ; Bavarian (1884), Is lOd. Malt is moving off quietly at up to 10s 6d. for English and up to 6s for Colonial." Messks Sharp & Sons will sell by auction at the Albion wharf at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, 10 tons brown river potatoes ex Clyde from Blenheim. Tyree's gallery will be closed on Monday next, re-open Tuesday, —Advt. IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US.— ROM. VIII., 31.— Advt. In place of consulting the family physician, much trouble and inconvenience could be saved by taking a simple prescription which is always feasible and will invariably prove efficacious like Wolfe's Schnapps. FiiTEs, and Bugs, — Beetles, insects, roaches, ants, bed-bugs, rats, mice, gophers, chipmunks cleared out by " Rough on Eats. " Kempthorne, Prosser & Co., Agents, Christchurch.