WEEKLEY WHISPERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1902, Page 2

WEEKLEY WHISPERS.

Ij there's a hole in a 1 your coats, \ I rede ye, tent V it'. \ A cktel's ainanq ye takin' notes, 1 And, faith, he'll prcnt it. I ' — Burns. I A Wellington visitor to Nelson— it ; an open secret that he is an ex- I Hiinalisl, an ex-parliarnentarian, I nd now in a snug berth connected 'ith Parliament. House— has been j rit ing in a Wellington paper as Own Correspondent " on " Nelson f To-day : Notes on its advantages nd progress " He says in his second com n bution : " Three weeks stay has convinced one Wellingtonian thgt the oft-quoted nickname of Sleepy Hollow ' js a most unwarantable nnsnomcr, at least so far is regards the public sprit exhibited Dy the citizens of Kelson, whose tvork on the various Heal bodies is ?learly apparent, to the observant visitor." The writer admires " onr admirable streets and cleanly 1-ept, well asphalted footpaths. . which make riding, cycling and walking a pleasure instead of hain't,, as is so often the case in Wellington, a grievous pain and penalty." He praises our public parks and gardens, of wh di Nelson has a liberal supply, lie has nice things to say of the Mayor, and he gives the City Council past and present credit for good work. ire- 3ays :--" Before referring to other public institutions, it may not be out of place, at this poiat. to pay a me.d of praise to Nelson's Ci'y Fathers, who apparently display an energy, an intelligence, and a local spirit which might well be emulated by their brethren in a similar capacity across the !• trait. The gasworks and waterworks are both run by the Corporation The town is exceptionally well lit, and I do not hear any complaints of the quality of the gas. The water supply appears to the visitor, at least, to be ample and good, but a larger ' supply ia said to be needed, and this mat- ' ter is at present receiving the attention of the Council The City possesses some fine swimming baths at tbe Port, there is an enthusiastic and capable fire brigade and salvage corps, a public library and an art gallery. To an exhibition now being held a the latter. I will refer later on. The present Mayor, Mr Henry Baigent, is well spoken of by all. He has had a fceavy burden of work and responsibility in officially presiding over the Jubilee arrangements, and the success whioh has so largely attended these latter, speaks "ell for Nelson's civic head. Whilst paying Mr Baigent well- merited credit > for his work, 1 should be guilty of a grave omission did I not make brief reference to the untiring energy and industry displayed by Mr Trask. who was Mayor of Nelson for several years, and whose official and private hospitality has been enjoyed by many Nelsonians." # # # After paying his tribute to Mr Trask, the writer passes on to Port matters. He dwells on the inconveniencessof the tidal hurry and delay, and says : — " Harbour facilities have so enormously increased _\ in other parts of the colony that Nelson's drawbacks are almost inexcusable* It is a long lane, however, that bas no turning and it is to be hoped that the works soon . to be commenced by the Harbour Board may have the effect of so improving the harbour that vessels of extensive tonnage I may come inside, independent of tidal conditions." # * # The visitor, after referring to the har--0 bour loan, stating that it has been cleverly financed, deals rather severely with the Union Company's steamers. He says -.— " Meanwhile, the steamer arrangements are often very awkward, and I must say that on all sides I have heard grave complaints of the way in which the port is treated by the Union Steam Ship Company. A special grievance is the way in whieh, it is alleged, the convenience and interest of residents in and visitors to Nelson are disregarded. Very frequently the steamers come in and go y out on the one tide, and the time avail- *" able for visiting the city or doing business therein is reduced to a minimum. n Tbe interests of the "West Coast ports u are, it is contended, too much studied, 3 - and with regard to the cargo arrangea merits there is also si id to be great need "• for improvement. Considering, too, the • 6 short run across the Strait to Wei ing ton a by a direct boat— ten to fourteen hours— II tho charge of thirty shillings return fare 0 is considered excessive Many people do y not have a single meal, and the boat* arc e often over - crowded. Whether e these complaints can be fully sabstan- , e tilted lam not in a position to state, bat '' it would. I fancy, be just as well if Mr Kennedy, or whoever is now manager at Wellington, were to pay Nelson an occa- '* sional visit and listen for himself to local 0 complaints. Personally, I can te.t if y to y the annoyance caused to visitors by the . apparent impossibility of getting accurate information in town as to when a e steamer is likely to arrive or depart. The r ' town office is a miserably small room, up '* a flight of stairs, and booking berths or ' getting information is a weary process." 1 The writer then makes the perhaps na- ® tnrnl mistake of blaming the Harbour ? Board for the confusion that prevails on £ the liailway Wharf on the arrival and de- " parture of steamers. He has mice learnt * however, that by a singular anomaly, the " wharf is not under the control of the .. Board, and that hence he has given censure to the wrong body. He says :— ". At the port itself, the utmost confusion appears to prevail on >he wharf. Though this, it must beadmitted, may be the fault ' of the Harbour Board, the wharf is often thronged with passengers and friends, and although the space in front of the » steamers is very limited, expresses bring , luggage right up to the side of the boats. When a steamer arrives, asitdid one day * recently, at about :< o'clock in the afternoon, and went on to Wellington at four, r there is no time to bo wasted through > avoidable confusion. The roping-off device which has been found so usefal, and indeed, so necessary at Wellington, , 6hould be introduced here, and a rule made that every scrap of 'inward 'lug. gage and cargo must be cleared off the ship before an attempt is made to take in the ' outer.' At present chacs is a mild term to employ in reference to the wharf arrangements, and tbis to the state of things at ordinaiy and not jubilee times, for the cenfuBioa I witnessed occurred fully a weok before the jnbilee crush had to be ccpod with, when naturally somo allowance ought to be made.'' # # * It is good to hear sometimes the opinion of others about ourselves. The visi- [ tor from whom I quote has laid on the jam, with a rather broad trowel— so broad, in fact, tha' it makes some of us l< in the' r know '' smile almost as broadly. But it is very nice to be patted on tbe back, and | told that we are no longer the sleeping , beauty but the awakening Prinoess.-So mote it be ' I * * .;;. Last week a little bird whispered tbat the J übilee Committee would have a surplus after all, and some who were too sanguine placed it at about £ 100. •• Moffusilite " mentioned the statement, and was grea'ly surprised to find his irresponsible jingling of the cap and bells believed as an official announcement by those who wanted very much to believe. The consequence h*is been, so the Finance Comm ; fctoe g_ y> that various claims have been made for payment for services rendered, while some who promised subscriptions now wish to withdyaw. As a matter of fact there may be a small surplus, a fc any rate no loss -but thy balance on the right side of the ledger wil] 1 0 inconsiderable, and certainly disappear to tho other side if there be any miscalculation of receipts (ia- 1 eluding promises), or any payments which are not absolutely necessary. * * # The Duchess of Buccleuch has been summoned to town, the " World " notes, in order to have a consultation with the Queen on the subject of the dress to be worn by peeresses at the Coronati' n. Tbe authorised models, which have been shown at Norfolk Housa for some weeks past, ivere eo unfavourably criticised by those most concerned (many of whom expressed their intention of staying awav from the ceremony rather than wear such unbecoming attire) that It was found advisable to make some change Consequently a notice was issued by the Earl Marshal recommending peeresses to take no further steps m the matter uniil I fresh orders are issued. I * * # I '» fjow do you p4*mounce the name of the President of the United States of ' America ? " asked a correspondent of an 1 tiehange. rhe questipn was some time i ago answered by Mr Rooserelt himself, I when it was put to him by the editor of < a weekly paper in the States. He explained that the name is pronounced in three syllables, the first having the sound of "rose." Thu,e £ia Bose-e-veldt. Monj'eeiiiiTE*