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Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 662, 1 March 1864, Page 2

A " Political Dead Set "!—The only excuse there is for referring to a certain very small proceeding at the annual meeting of the Nelson Institute, is that we may point public censure to the senseless introduction of the vexed question of politics in connection with a literary and scientific institution, which knows and ought to know nothing whatever of politics, but which all classes, no mattep what their creed, agree in doing aU thsy can to strengthen and P*fcei}d. The idea that a " political dead set" was made against the member of committee who took a purely technical objection to two gentlemen who were preferred before him, is replete with a grim humor, and its cause vividly recalls a Wjell-known ijEsopian fable. A person who in such circumstances can make such a charge, ought to consider whether there are any grounds for it. Wo believe that not a single member (except perhaps fchp pbjoetor himself) would descend to pol^ tical reasons in tho management of the institute ; but even if it were o/.herwjsp, the person against whom such an, improper thipg ai a dead set" could be made, must of necessity possess afc least sqme real political influence that would render ,'suoh an effort worth making. If this is granted, it naturally follows that Mr. Bailey's conclusions on both these premises were entirely erroneous. Mb. N. Edwaeds, of Nelson, has been appointed a Justice of Pea,ce for New Zealand..

Vacancy in the Provincial Council.—We are informed that Dr. Monro, member of the Nelson Provincial Council for the district of the Amuri, has resigned his seat in the Council. Postal Appointments.—The General Government Gazette of ilth February, contains a notification of the appointment of Mr. Samuel B. Ironside as postmaster at Appleby, from Ist January last; and of Mr. Laurence Dron, (misprinted Droves) as postmaster 6f Waimea West, from' the same date. The Industrial Exhibition at Otago.—HU Honor the Superintendent has appointed Messrs. J. W. Barnicoat, S. A. Cusack, E. Baigent, W. Wells, J. L. Bailey, T. J. Thompson, C. Elliott, H. Eedwood, jun., C. Parker, I. M. Hill, J. C. Richmond, and A. Saunders, to be " a Committee for the Province of Nelson for the purpose of encouraging the production qi articles tp be exhibited at the Industrial Exhibition to be held at Dunedin in the Province of Otago in the year 1865."

Loss op the Great Bkitaik.—Messrs. N Edwards and Co. have received from their London agents a telegram via Suez, dated 30tli December four days after the departure of the mail, announcing the loss of the Great Britain, which was on her way to Nelson. No particulars are given, only the bare fact of her 1033 being announced. Nothing is said of the crew, but it may be presumed that the silence of the dispatch on that point implies that they are saved. The Great Britain had a full cargo for Nelson. The Annie Dymes is now overdue. She left the Downs on the 13th October, and is therefore 140 days out this day.. She was spoken in the Bay of Biscay on 4th November, so that, as she had made only but a short distance up to. tliat date, the time till now is not so very long for a heavy teak built ship. There are longer passages to Nelson on record: the Glenshee took 150 days, and so did another vessel, the Clifton. The Annie'Dymes, which is comparatively a new and strong ship, is now hourly expected. Vessels fob Nelson feom London-—The Memento, Lyall master, left Gravesend for Nelson direct on the 25th December, and the Downs on the following day." : To follow this ship, the Fray Bentos, Amondsen master, was loading at London; and we learn by private advices would sail on the 25th January. She will likely leave exactly at that date as the intelligence of the loss of the Great Britain would cause her to fill up rapidly in consequence of the repeating of indents, for the purpose of supplying the place of the- goods lost in the Great Britain; War Map.—We are indebted to the attention of the proprietors of the Southern Cross for the receipt of a copy of a lately published sketch map of the place of our present military operations, and the surrounding districts of the Waikato. The production is a very acceptable addition to those already published, and will keep the public fully informed as to the relative positions of the native places recently made celebrated by the movements of our troops. The map is also very well got up, and creditable alike to the lithographer and publishers.

Bathing Ground.—One of the medical gentlemen in town has suggested the -wisdom of having a place for bathers formed in the harbor, properly fenced in and protected from sharks,- and to which bathers might resort at any season. A spot close to the harbor mouth, where an eddy gives plenty of deep water without the heavy current caused by the influx and outflow of the tide, ha 3 been pointed out as the most suitable ground for the construction of a bathing pond like what is wanted. Here a few piles could be driven, and a wire fence placed round them, forming an effectual guard against the casual shark which occasionally drops in " promißCOusly " on a visit to our harbor. A rough shed for dressing purposes, and a six-foot paling at some points, would be all else that is necessary. It is supposed that something like £30 to £40 would complete this so as to continue for a number of years without requiring any outlay beyond first cost; and we have no doubt that if the thing were set on foot, a subscription would speedily meet necessary expenses. We know already of two or three sovereigns that are ready to be put down., and many will follow if the thing were known, The Steameb Sturt.—When the Phoebe left Auckland this vessel was still unsold; but we believe there was then every prospect of a bargain being immediately concluded with the Government, and we hear that probably the price will exoeed £6000. : The I.R.M, Co.'a s.s. Phoobe, E. Wheeler, commander, left the Manukau at 430 p.m. ou uu- 2jui, encountered a south-west gale with heavy sea to Tarariaki, arrived at 11 a.m. on the 26th 5 left at 5-30 p.m. on the same day, and arrived at 12 o'clock on the 37th. The Phoebe was detained in the Manukau one day beyond her time, waiting the arrival of the English mail from Sydney. BEITISH EXPOET3 TO AUSTBALIA AND NEW Zealand.—The Board of Trade Returns received from honie by this mail show the following figures: The exports to Melbourne and Geelong for.the month show a decrease of £83,399. To Sidney and Moreton Bay the month's shipments amount to £113,306, against £101,123 in the previous month, showing an increase of £12,183. To Adelaide, the month's exports amount to £92,283, against £6,9,992. in the preceding month—iucreasie £,22,391.' To New Zealand, the month's exports amount to £170,105 against £148,093 in the previous month—increase £20,012.

Union among . Sunday School Teachers.—-On Friday evening last a meeting, consisting of the teachers in the various Sunday Schools of this city, w&a held at the Government School-room. After pa«t*king of a good tea, to which 74 sat down, oat of 94 invited, the meeting commenced, Mr. T. W. Antill acting as chairman. Mrs. Greenwood kindly presided at the harmonium. The teachers representing each school all agreed in the necessity of a union, and set forth the advantages that would result from it. A kindly feeling was shown from one to the other, aud all were exceedingly gratified with the ploasant gathering; and they look for-ward with pleasure to the next meeting, which is appointed to bo held in June next.