TOWN EDITION. Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1888.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 245, 17 October 1888, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1888.

The public meeting called by the Regatta Committee for load evening was largely attended. The cbnir was fcuken by Mr F<ll, who stated that with the. bnlance in band from last regatta, something like- £180 more would be required to carry out another regatta this year. After some discussion it was proposed by Dr Leggatt and carriod unanimously, that a regatta be held next Boxing Day. The following gentlemen wem thon unanimously elected an office-holders and committeemen r— Commodore, Mr Fell ; Vice-Oommodo c, Mr Low ; Secretary, Mr Somerville ; Treasure, Mr Trask ; Sailing Committep, Meaaro Elliot, Soaife, R^ger", Lukinn Crops, McLean, and Pollock, with officers ex officio ; Shore Sporfa Committee. Mccsrs Akerßtfn, Wrsi' and Dr Logga't, with power to add to tboir number. Several gentlemen volunteered to canvas the Town and Port for subscriptions, and £25 was subscribed in the room. A few other matters having been settl-d iho meeing concluded with a votio of thanks to the Chairman. We would suggest to the Srcrevnry of th* Regatta Club the necessity of at once communicating with the Blenheim rowing clu^s in reference to the determination arrived at las*, night to hold the Regatta on Boxing D»y, as we understand there is some talk ia Blenheim of having a Regatta on the Wairau River on chat nay, the idea down there being that the Nelson R'gafra Club is defanot. Prompt action is therefore necessary in order to prevent the two Regattas clashing, ard, pos* sibly each proving a failure ia consequenc . There was a large congregation at the Baptist Church on Sunday evening, when the Rev. J. Scandring gave his farewell address, taking for his text the words " I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life." The sermon was attentively liatened to throughout. After a hymn had been sung tha rev gentleman gave a farewell address to the members of the Church speoially, in which he dwelt scathingly on the various causes that hed led to his resigning his charge. [He referred to the fac; tha'out of six predecessors who had in a period of 36 years filled his offlcs not, one had resigned his oharge in peao-) and quietness. For himself he had a formulated mray of insull^i slight?, and peity annoyances to recapitulate, which had rendered it impossible for bina to reUin command of bo unruly fl congregation, many of whom seemed to delight to run couut r to all law and order. He noted that in his work he had received far more real help and sympathy from outsiders than from the members of the churoh, and mentioned this to their shame. He solemnly enjoined them never again under any circumstance? to invite any servant of Christ to minister to them in holy things until they had learned.to value his efforts for the work's sake. Thanking some amongst them for kjndnesa to his wife and himself ha commended them to Qod and the word of His grace, and bo bade them farewell. We might add that reference was made to Mrs Dolamore and Miss E. Dee for efficient services rendered in connection with the choir. The annual meeting of the Nelson Philosophical Society was held last evening in the Institute. Dr Boor the President occupied the chair. There was a fair attendance of members. After the reading of the minutes of the former meeting the Hon. Seoretary, Dr Coleman, gave his report for the ysar in which he alluded to the difficulty that existed in obtaining ' original papers ' and suggested that occasional lectures of a popular character be given, The Treasurer, Dr Hudson, then presented the balance sheet which was duly adopted, some discussion took place as to the number of members and the future prospeots of the sooiety. The Hon. Curator, Mr Kingsley, having given his report of the Museum, it was unanimously adopted, after exception was taken to his desire for some other member fco take the office. After the usual votes of thanks were, accorded to the retiring officers the appointiasnfc of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, the result feeing that the Bishop of Nelson was elected President; Dr Boor and Mr A. S. Atkinson, yice Presidents; Dr Coleman, Secretary; Dr Hudson, Treasurer; Mr R. I. Kingsley, Curator; Prs Greaaey and Mackie, the Rev A. R. Watson, and Messrs Holloway and Kingsley as members of the Council. The retiring president, Dr Boor, then read a short paper upon " Germs," wi,th blackboard illustrations, giving the effect of microbes upon human life, and the importance of destroying all refuse likely to contain any " germs " prejudicial to mankind. An animated and interesting 1 discussion j followed, and the meeting terminated about eleven. A obeat deal has lately been, said and written concerning the recent gold dis coveries in Marlborough, but we hear from a gentleman recently arrived from Blenheim that nothing has been discovered to justify such an extraordinary rush as set in. lor the Waikakaho district. People flocked there in hundreds simply on the strength of a report that a little gold had been discovered ; but when they reached the field they found that only the prospectors had been lucky enough, to find gold, and they being the first there had of course selected the most suitable ground. Consequently the newcomers employed themselves by crowding round the two prospectors, eagerly watching them working, and impeding them so much i in their labors that the unfortunate men only worked a few hours a day. Our informant says that these prospectors and a gang of Maories are the only people i gating g.ld at the Waikakaho, and that ap to l*st Saturday tbe former had got 10 oza for the week'fl work, during whiah, however, as we have ■jijst enid, they only worked a few hours a day. The Maori.es are very reticent as to the result of their Jaborjj, but on tbe best authority our informant heard they had JL3OJSB on Saturday for their week's ■ work. Other persona prospecting round th<> field cannot find che " color." It will be seen therefore that ap to tbe present the idea of people flooking to the Waikakaho in euoh numbers is absurd. In reference to the Ma.hakipa.wa goldfield, there is no doubt but \

that there ia gold there, the one drawback being ibat it requires an extraordinary amount of work to get ifc. One pary nlono, I we hear, managed to obtain 3 Us weight during the post v/cek. We are very pleased indeed to hear that the attempt to form a Poultry, Bird, and Dog Association in Nelson has been successful, I and that a sbow is to be held in the Drill Shed on tbe 16th and 17th of next month. These Bhows are by no means rara in other parts o£ New Zealand, and are always popular. With careful management we are sure the Nelson Association will be a success, and as there are several poultry, dog, and bird fanciers amongst u», we expect to see a numerous list of exhibits at the show next month. SOME very rich ppecimens of quartz from the Beaconsfiel 1 Gold Mining Company xseor Weatport were brought up by Mr Briud, tbe purser of the Kennedy, which arrived from the West- Co»et yeßterday. Tho quar z may be seen a*; Mr J, H. Newmans office, Hardy street. A very fair sp'cimen of silver fire which came from the Owen yestfrday is also on view at the Mnsouio Hotel, The San Francisco mail may be expected to reach here early to morrow morning by the Grafton. The usual Government; monthly inspoction of thfl Volunteers will be hel<i fciiie evening at 730. The 'country corps will be conveyed to and from towu by special traiu. Mr Henry Redwood's string of horses leaves for Ohristehurch in the Penguin next week to fulfil their engagements at the races to be held there next month. The horses Ijp be Bent are, we understand, Rh'h" mond, Thatchpeg 1 , and Phornium Tenax, and we trust they will be successful in pulling eff some of the events for which they are entered.