NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2951, 8 March 1884, Page 2

NOTES.

Tlwt is o very interesting piece of nows, if it ia correct, which status that n voritnbia fomalo salmon has h«en caught m tho Alianrn. It has of ton occurred to us Unit if salmon will thrive anywhere m Now Zoaland, it is m tho West GViast rivers, and, perhaps, tho Ahanra ia nn suitable a stream as any. It riaes m Mount Hochstettor, and ruooives any quantity of snow water, and it flows into tho Groy, a largo river running direct into tho soa. Tho Ahaura ia essentially a mountain Blronm with a singularly varied course, — deep, quiet pools, alternating with rapids or broad shallows, or long stretchos of cluar wator, according to tho formation of tho country through which it runs. Tho ccenory of tho Ahoura jb extraordinarily beautiful, ovury concoivablo sort of inland landscape, mountain, labo, cliff, forent, valloy, plutcau and river, occurring m difl'eront parts of tho neighborhood. If it should evor becomo a fishing stream, it will assuredly bo ono of tho most charming resorts m the world. At pruiiont it is a solitude, but for a few miners working alono or m small parties m Iho KUlliod, n fow farmers or grnziers living ut long intervals m b\ißh cloarings on the flats, and tho littlo decayed township, once a busy place, perched m a lofty and

picturesque situation on tho north bank of tho river where the road from Greymouth to Reefton crosses it on a bridge. Tho locality is highly ouriferouii, and there aro many who believe th;it the time will come when the valley of the Ahaura will support a large population and produce enoruous wealth. The Government Mining Engineer, m a report on thia subjec; not long ago, indicated an area of 500 acres from which ho estimated not less than a million sterling would bo obtained by the aid of a water supply which could bo provided at a moderate outlay. How gold mining and salmon fishing would go together, we are not prepared to say ; but we should imagine that the Ahaura contains quite enough water, to bo able to carry off all the '•' tr.ilings " without their interfering much with the enmfort or svell-being of the fjah. But all such reflections as these are obviously premature. With the very heartiest desire to believe that salmon are established m the Ahaura, wo are buund to say we should like to have aomo moro complete evidence of it than we have at present. At tho same time, the mere fact of a fish of lOUbs' weight being caught m that river, is sufficiently interesting. If not a salmon, (hen what is it .' "A trout," we hear a chorus of voices reply. Very well, say we ; it is highly satisfactory to hear of trout of such magnificent proportions being taken on the West Coast. If once trout become thoroughly established there, they will supply an immense inducement to travellers and sportsmen to visit one of the loveliest and healthiest parts* of New Zealand, which is neglected at present mainly because there is absolutely nothing there for traveller or sportsmen to do. It is always ve;y much to be deplored that those who tot themselves up as the special exponents of the gentlest religion that ever blessed mankind, should indulge m strong language and give the rein to a degree of violence which would be deemed unbecoming even m a " castaway." But it is even more to bo deplored when these Tery men who proclaim themselves above all things witnesses for the truth, should be found laying themselves open, on the smallest temptation, to tho imputation of falsehood. Mr SV. G. Marsh, who has been lecturing and ovaugelising recently at Chriatchurch, made a speech at the Young Men's Christian Association's festival on Monday, the style of which certainly does not appear to us to be unto edification. Ho said amongst other things, that he " would to God church jealousy and fanaticism were hanged as high as Haman, for they throttled tho workof Christianity." Then a little later on, he said he " hoped God would sweep away that damnable day, the raco day at Melbourne." He also remarked »hnt m his opinion "the city should giv>3 the association one tithe of the licenso fees derived from the damnable public houses." In short, such is the force of habit, he found it hard to open his mouth without damning somebody or something. But this is not the worst. At the close of his speech he said " the Young Men's Christian Association was a Freemasonry, without drink, cards, gambling, or secret signs, requiring nothing else but a felt want, now extending round the globe, and ready to welcome every strange young man —a Freemasonry of which Jesus Christ was the Grand Master, and all the Associations wore members." This was naturally supposed to be intended for an uncommonly hard slap at the Freemasons, who appeared to be described by direct implication, i.h nn unholy crew, who encouraged drunkenness and gambling. This conclusion it seems, was communicated to Mr Marah, for ho published the fallowing letter yesterday m both the morning papers at Christchurch : — TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —My attention has b>en called to tho following paragraph which appears m your report of my mldress on Tuesday last at tho Tnani street Hall :—" Tha V.M.C.A. was a Freemasonry without drink, without cards, without gambling, without any seorot sig-ns, &c." As this has caused somo migunderstandinj; m tho minds of a few, and especially Freemasons, 1 wish to disclaim any intention whatever of implying that the Masonic body encouraged these evils. ] used tho term " a Freemasonry" as representing a fraternity or brotherhood merely, having no direct reference to the craft. Tourd, &c, W. G. Marsh. Mr Marah explicitly denies having had any intention to reflect on Freemasonry, and says hti only used that term as representing fraternity or brotherhood generally. We observe, however, that m his quotation from his own Bpeech, he stops short with an "&c." at the very point where a few words more would have proved beyond denial what his intention was. Those words are "a Freemasonry of which .Je3us Christ is the Grand Master." If this is not a direct and most striking allusion to Freemasonry m particular, and r,ot m any pos sible sento to brotherhood m general, then we do not know tho meaning of plain Engiish. " But," it may be asked, " why should not Mr Marsh reflect on the convivial »ido of Froemasonry if he chose! It is a free country, and if he believed Freemasonry encouraged drinking and gimbliui;, why should ho not say so 1 " W'u reply that a man must bo very rash, naiTowminded and absurd, who brings such a sweeping chargo m a religious address m a public placo, against a body of whom ho ovidenlly knows nothing ; but that, whether or no, is not tho point. Tho point is that Mr Marsh having boldly and freely denounced Freemasonry, absolutely denied having done so, as soon as ho was challenged with it, and tried to unsay his own words by a palpable quibble. Wo honestly confesii wo do not care much for that sort of iron-clad piety which enables a man to attack his followinen as virulently ns ho pleases, but at tho aamj time protects him from the ordinary consequences of such language and conduct. If a mere worldling had said and dono what Mr Marsh said and did, hf would have been universally condemned as a profano ruffian and a most unmitigated fibber. Tho Young Men's Christian Association, wo think, aro aitif.ularly unfortunate m thoir choice of chair.pions. j I