The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 93, 22 April 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1869.

The Royal Duke, to whose visit we have so long been looking forward wi.h pleasurable anticipations, has been amongst us, and, like a brilliaut meteor which lights up the dark night with a sudden flash, and as quickly disappearing, leaves the darkness more perceptible than has departed after a very brief stay, and Nelson is once more relapsing info its normal stale of quietude, which will be felt all the more from the contrast it will present to the three days' exci lenient through which we have just passed. There is something positively melancholy iu walking through our si''eois, where the work of removing nil signs of our htte

festivities is rapidly beiui? proceeded vvit.h; ruthless hands are busily employed iu demolishing that triumplt of artistic ekil), by courtesy called a Iriiimplia! arch, which graced the .entrance to Bridge-street; the fairy palace, which wa« called into exigence at the Government Buildings, is fast, degenerating into a mere booth, and eiv many d.-iys are over, . wiil be entirely removed, without leaving a single mice of the uay scene, that i( pn'*<?i)ied on Monday evening; the Royal Standard no longer floats proudly over the Piin.'itna House; the gaudy display of burning that, fluttered from the hous>: tops has entirely disappeared ; Old Biggs no 1 ■■nger offers " 100,000 welcomes to the idol o\ our dreams and tho object of our schemes" ; the turnpike keeper in van holds out his hand for the grateful shower that has all this week been falling in silver dio : is on his outstretched palms; milliners' assistants have nothing betier to do than to lounge over the counters and criticise ihe dress, deportment, and sayiugs of " The Duke." while their employers are counting up wi(h a smile of satisfaction, the gains that have accrued to them from the royal visit; fathers and husbands are inspecting their bankbooks withjfrowns ou their countenances, and the state of Nelson as we write may he tersely described as presenting a veryafter partyish appearance. We have, however, this satisfaction, we know that we have given our distinguished visitor AS cordial a reception «s our limited means

would allow, we have at least offered him a downright hearty welcome, we have shown him that the spirit of loyalty to his royal mother is strong iu our breasts, and we have every reason to believe that he has been greatly pleased with the manner in which we have received him, and that he will look back with pic sure upon his short Siay amongst us. The amusements which were provided have all of them proved highly successful, <he Ball is allowed by every one to have been the most brilliaut affair that has ever taken place in Nelson, aud we question very much whether in all his travels through New Zealand, PI.K.H. will see a prettiers'ght (ban our elegant supper-room, wish its tasteful decorations and the long 1 rows of lables laid for 300 persons. At the race?; too, there has been plenty of really good sport, true, the hordes weie few in number, but those that ran were well matched, aud die stakes were not won without severe conie^l*. Wiih the excepiiou of the deplorable accident that yesterday cast a deep gloom over (he day's proceeding", the whole of the programme that had been sketched out for the three days' amusement Ins been curried, out most successfully and without a single hi fell anu we a 1 e sure, all must agree tbac whilst we have done our duly as Englishmen iu according a right loval welcome (o die son of our Queen, we have at the same time experienced so much enjoyment iu the whole of the proceedings as wll cause us to lemember vvt'.i die greatest pleasure and s.-.'sfaction the visit to Nelson of His Royal Highuess die Duke of Edinburgh.