Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1893.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 10, 13 January 1893, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1893.

In another column we republish an article from the New York Nation on th degradation of speech in America. In certain parts of the United States it appears to be regarded as affectation to talk English correctly, aud even barristers, iv order to win favour from juries, make uso of tho moat atrocious slang iv court. The wonder ir, if things are so bad as they are said to bo by tUo writer in the New York Nation, thafc English as written by journalists in tho States is not Tery much worse thau it is. Tho evil done to tho language does not arise from lack of schools, as there is no countrj iv tho k world whore greater efforts liayo been made to provide means of education than in tho United States. In spito of schools |slang is triumphant, and it seems to be one of the privileges of a citizen of tho great republic to inyeub what words ho pleases. In England tho national speech ie, according to a popular phrase, rogardod as being under tho charge ofthe sovereigu, but in America the sovereign people do with it as thoy please, anc 1 tho result is not agreeable to peoplo who havo auy respect for the language. In tho colonies thero is naturally a good deal of a. got, some of it springing up from altered conditions of life, but most of it as wanton as anything of tho sort that can be found in the United States. It cannot be said that as a rule children brought up iv New Zoaland speak well. Certain vulgarisms of pronounciatiou whioh havo their origin in or near London have beon transported to this and other colonic*, and have grown and thriven like -sorrel or rabbits. Children who pass auy number of standards at the State schools aro utterly nt sea as to tho uso of the letter fl. They pronounce such words as " down town" aud " cow " in a wonderfully drawling and nnspellable fashion ; they call " paper " " piper," and "toast" " towsb.'' The curious thing is that tho children of Scotch and Irish parents pick up methods of pronunciation which aro far different from anythißg that they can havo heard at home, i^ven the eons and daughters of educated people who talk perfectly well have tho same taint, aud ib is only by dint of incessant teasing aud rebuke thut a iNew Zealand youugster is induced to give up tho pronunciation of a London costermongor. Unfortunately the teachers in the public Bchools aro not free from reproach. Even in some of tbo higher school*, teachers who havo taken degrees and know all about the use of the globes, clip their speech and misuse their vowels to such au extent that eno is tempted to wish that a littlo of their learning could havo been exchanged for some knowledge ot the manner in which civilised peoplo speak.

Mr J. H. Newman has received a telegram from the United Alpine mine, Lyell, stating that the result of tho crushing since n.* Btarting after the holidays is 390 ounces of amalgam from 390 tous of stone. He has also received informition from Reefton that the Cumberland re-commenced crushing on Friday last, and the reef loaks extremely well.

T.'iE competition of tbe Waimea Rifles ior Mr Dee's medal, which lutsly h;.s developed almost int) a triangular match between Col-Sergt Fowler aiid Sergts Arnold and Baigent, each of whom has won the trophy three time?, was finally decidtd on Thursday. The Col-Sergt tben won by 1 pjint over tbe veteran Arnold, aud by 3 over Baigent. When all 3 have tired so well aod evenly, it seems as though the congratulations should be divided.

THE Wellington Evening Press says that the wtatement which has been published tiiat the Premier has promised to place a Mini of £70* JO on the Intimates next session for the erection of a brick building for the. Parliamentary Library is not correct. The matter is to be dUcus*ed by tlie Cabinet at an early date.

The St. George's Tourist Company which has baen playing throughout the North Island intend opening in Nelson on Thuisday evening next.

Members of thi Nehon Swimming Club are requested to meet at Denues' Hole tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock to have a practice at water polo.

Thk Lyttelton Times states that Mr J. G. Engst, one of the earliest European setin the Chathams, has arrived in Christchurch. During the past six weeks southeast winds have prevailed, and they have been exceptionally cold, and in consequence the fruit has suffered to a great extent. The oat crops are looking veiy healthy, and genrrally the prospects of the islands are good. The cold weather may he attributable to the near approach of a large number of icebergs, which were visible from all parts of the islands. This was the only occiusion on which, so far as is known, icebergs have been seen from the islands, and the sight was therefore very interesting to the residents. The ice was first seen about six weeks ago, when two large columns were visible near the Horns, a rock situate in Petre Bay. Mr Eugst viewed them from Mannganui, a rocky peak 700 ft high, on his own run. They appeared to him to be rather more than 20 miles from the island, in a south-easterly direction. Viewing the bergs through a strong glass, and knowing that the Horns are 500 ft in height, Mr Engst judged the icebergs to rise fully 600 ft above the water. Later in the same

clay 40 icebergs of various sizes could be counted, and they were estimated to he about 20 miles to the south-east of Pitt

Island. They were visible for a great part of the day, aiid till the night closed in. In the morning they were no longer visible, and it is thought i hat they were breaking up and melting away when last seen, as the weather had ceased to be as cold as it was previous to their arrival.

We aye requested by Messrs Bi.dey Bros and Co., to call the attention of farmers and others to the Auction Sale of furniture, including walnut suite, 2 rolls sand paper, paint mill, oil paintings, bacon, tinned lisli, &.Q , at their rooms to. morrow at 11 o'clock.

The privileges in connection with the Nelson Jockey Club meeting t> be held during Carnival \V«ek will be submitted by auotion by Messrs Sharp and Soub to-morrow at noon.

It was Robert Louis Stevenson, the novelist, who, we believe, gave to the Islands of tlie South Pacific, the romantic name of *' the Summer Isles of Eden," yet even there disease and death are met with, Mr W. Oppennann, the wealthy island trader, wos perfectly cured by Hitchen's blood restorer.

Having thia day purchased from Mr A. A. Scaife, the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy the stock of Mr Henry Hounsell, ony portion of it may be purchased very cheap on application to R. Snodgras*, Caledonia House,— Advt.

2uo 30u 500 Tl. Col-Sergt Fowler .. 30 10 23 (i'J Sergt Arnold .. 26 21 21 !)8 Sergt Baigent .. 2S 22 16 0G