NELSON.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 6

NELSON.

, * . • Jimuary 2. : < The two outstanding ,features.;of the;h6li-. -j day season have bednitha,'very'large number ,i of visitors from other parts' 'of the Dominion ' and- the.,extent and-.variety .of tho: street: music., with which , tho; .citizens -hare bepn / favoured. In addition to tho .'special' efforts, of tho local',Garrison iand Citizens; Bands, • a . very superior Salvation' Army/ Band descended from i ,, eilding 1 and' tlie skirl of tho'Ashburton pipes continued without. pause for- a week. When the, pipers- were- riot' playing. ■! in concert the' members of tho/band were scattered'in the homes of Scotch enthusiasts throughout' the city,':, or ■ strutting ■ singly, through the streets. When on Now Year's Kve tho sound of . three thousand tin trumpets and "squeakers" added to the harmony, .Nelson had quito enough "music," even for a holiday season. On New Year's Eve the Ashburton Pipe Band aiid the accompanying concert company ■ were invited by .tho local Scots'to celebrate "Hogmanay" with a real Scotch night. The ■invitation promised a tho dishes o' Auld Scotland, iaggis, shortbread, curunbun, an' sic like, an' loshins 'out o' the, tappit hen." . Tho festival was carried out with', enthusiasm; even , to the "first-iittin at laidnight." ■ The ■ concerts "sjiven by the visitors were remarkably successful throughout,, aud the songs and . dances were even - more-. appreciated, than the .-.music. of. the' pipes., Tartan favours were in levidericoj' ; and "the Royal Stuart colours decorated at:least-:6iie manly breast, whose owner , was. ? of/pure German descent. The outcome of. the, Highland .invasion has been the formation of;,a Scottish Society./' Mr. Wi Murray.;' has 1 ' been elected secretary, and a strong committee (without, ■one Rlao.) has been, appointed 'to/make preliminary arrangements. ' .'/•,',,'/-' ■ ■ .■ 'A m'ost successful' concert j'was. given : by Miss Louise Croucher at Richmond' oil Mon\lay . last: lii spite of' t the' ' threatening weather thero was a large attendance, .and Miss ■ Croucher's: brilliant . playing roused great enthusiasm in the town ,of, her- birth; Miss Croucher has returned _ from Germany, a finished artist.'; It-'is. not .'merely her personal friends and wcllwishers who_ -predict for' her a preat future .in the musical' world. Those who are best'qualified to. judge of ,her playing are full of her.' praises. Gifted'with great natural ability, and: having had the advantage, of studying "under, the very: best, masters,' she- has perfected; herself in .her art by- hard worlc,an' duntiring'. practice.-Tho, success and fame that are coming have been fairly .won,.. and uro richly/merited. • It .is understood that' Miss Croucher has received a tempting offer to tour with a. leading concert company, and that the offer will probably be accepted. . Tho Socialist'party/has .been. 'attempting propaganda :work in Xolson. hut. hitherto without much success. On Suiiday evening a meeting was brid in-the Druids' Hall, when there w&s'a sirfifll number of persons present. Messrs. 1 - Hickey," arid Hulbert addressed the meeting! '' -■' '' ' Tho Rev. Jamer. Flanagan,, the visiting ovangelist,; delivered;!,a-.lecture jjon; evening in the Methodist/Church.:- The 'Bishop of Nelson presided. .'Mr. Flanagan's subject was "Fourteen 'Years in. Darkest London." ' ' ~ On New Year's Day the railway tramc on the Nelson line was particularly heavy. In addition to the usual picnics there .were a large number 'bf Wiuritry -attractions. •. A I lloral fete-was held at Richmond, swimming: sports at.. Brightwater,, and races'at J.t.*jjawera. . ■ . • The weather has;again failed to live up.to, its reputation in the presence of our crowd of visitors.: NeWs'Ycw s' ; Day- >yas. iine, but there was a st'rofrg Waimea wind, blowing all day, and the-dust was particularly trying to holiday-makers. ,