THE ELECTIONS.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5016, 27 September 1887, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

■ . A. moee unpleasant day than was yesterday ■ la rarely experienced in Nelson, and the ■ 'We of tha weather had a decidedly ■ depressing influence. Notwithstanding this, ■ However, we may say without fear of oonM ' "saiction that we do not remember any ■ Previous occasion of a similar nature when m Kcitement was so intense. 0! course tho M "timber who voted was less than would have M teen the case had the day been fine, but 9 «oae who take an -active interest in the good ■ Government of the Colony, and we are glad ■ ™ say these form a very large majority of the I m i ß'Were anxious in the extreme concern- ■ IDB the results. In the City those bestin--1 UK. felt no doubt that Mr Leveßtam 1 t ?m(11)8 returned by a large majority, and ■ tea v re no<i disappointed. However, the 1 ft« WftS receivßd with cheers, and though ■ o{ we was some good humored joking nothing I tow r? a^ly nnseemly nature ooourred, the j 1 Brn J lß»gths to which the excitement 1 y i d bein X the comparatively harmless ' 1 con!'I ene u of throwing bags of flour. Very I Well ouu "Merest was taken in town as 1 la a-i? 00*00*tha electorate in the fight 1 the c Motueka seat, and the popularity of I »ta° Vermnent was evinced by the cheers m Kerr\ 8 ie6tea ttie * announcement that Mr >fl feoma T^ on> The la3t return received I BiAn c Wainiea-Picton district showed Mr *■■ tees&i nd Mr Seymour to have each '!■ 38behL °mOteS| whilst Mr Mills was but "« Wetsfu i- ™™ one return needed to oom--9 tadnJo llßts va» *at from Endeavor Inlet, M HiiS^M abcut tiU midnight, hoping M Slsl ohew the result. It waijnst I • WWftit it might hwe been reowred, bat

at length those who were eager to know whether Mr Harkness has succeeded were compelled to give in. During the evening, by the courtesy of Mr Lyons, of the Grand Stand, we were able to post in his window the results of the polling for the districts adjacent to the city, and from Messrs Beath and Co.'s oorner to the Post Offioe there was. a large crowd from seven to twelve. Totaeahui—Yesterday morning the steamer Lady Barkly sailed for Totaranui, and amongst her passengers were a number of electors for the Bailer district who were desirous of recording their votes at Totaranui, the nearest polling place. The steamer should have returned early in the evening, but up to a late hour last night she had not put in an appearance. It is probable that owing to the state of the weather she went on to Waitapu, and being delayed was unable to leave by the same tide. Victoria has lost one hundred thousand, pounds a year by the abolition of the beer duty. The following is a return of the estimated population (inclusive and exolusive of Maoris) of the Colony of New Zealand on the 30th of June, 1887:—Estimated population, exclusive of Maoris, on the 31st March, 1887, 593,381; excess of births over deaths, 3249; excess of departures over arrivals, 1017; Maori population, 18S6, 41,969. Total estimated population on 30th June, iBB7, 637,582. Mining Returns.'—The following are the Reefton mining returns for the week ending September 24:—Globe, 7730zs amalgam from I 190 tons stone; Keep it Dark, I40ozs; Progress, 1430z5. The Globe has declared a dividend of Is. ! Mb Groom, Speaker of the Queensland j Legislative Assembly, has represented one constituency for a quarter of a century. Considerable indignation is felt in Christchurch at the apparent remissness of the Adelaide authorities in permitting the escape of the Rev. W. Radcliffe, the clergyman who absconded thither en route for England, leaving numerous unpaid bills. His Canterbury debts amount to nearly £500. _ The creditors are making inquiries with a view of pursuing him to England. It is stated by the agents of the Brunner Coal Company, in. Christchureh, that the company sent from Greymonth to various parts of the Colony 9270 tons from their mine, and that so great is the demand for the Brunner coal the company are obliged to charter outside steamers to keep pace with the orders. Experiments made in Germany prove that beets and other vegetables grown in rows running north and south contain more saccharine matter than those raised in rows running east and west. The following story comes from Soissons. It is affirmed that about a fortnight ago a young man was mesmerised by one of his friends in the presence of several persons. After some of the usual experiments the magnetiser said to the patient, " I forbid you to drink wine during the next fortnight." The patient was then woke up by the magnetiser blowing in his face, and though he is no longer in his presence it is affirmed that he cannot carry a glass of wine to his lips. If the glass is filled with beer, water, or anything else his arm will obey him, and take it to his mouth, but if it contains wine his muscles are paralysed. The Colonial Treasurer has refused to contribute £1100 from the Treasury to put up walls to support a dock tower for the people of Wellington. The greatest wrath is felt against the Government in consequence, and an additional stimulus will be given to the determination to oust the Stout-Vogel Government because of its " extravagance " This is "retrenchment." The "roar" for retrenchment echoes from Wellington over all the Colony, and vet this little douceur would have. softened its ring. What fools Ministers are! If they only gave a billet here and a few thousands there, they might have stifled this " roar " at the first-and the principal roarers would have cooed as pleasantly as sucking doves. A TEAVELiEB who has been in Germany says that Bismarck never journeys without being accompanied by two gigantic bull-dogs. The royal family of Portugal is quite capable of earning a living by handicraft in case of necessity, Queen Maria Pia being-a skilled potter, King Dom Luis a Sculptor of acknowledged merit, and the Crown Prince Dom Carlos an amateur locksmith. "Excuse me, sir," said a young man, nudging a fellow-passenger in a Btreetoar: " You have a speck of soot on the end of your nose." "That's been there for eighteen years," replied the passenger. " It's a peculiar kind of a mole, and you are the ninth man to ask me to sponge that nose since breakfast this morning. As a rule, the average is about twelve a day." Remarks one would rather have left unanswered.—Lady Godiva—"Yes, Mr Green, I've been painted by all the most celebrated artists of my time, but not one of them has ever done me justice 1" Mr Greenr-" What, not even Sir Joshua?" "