Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1898.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 245, 22 October 1898, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1898.

It would be amuaing, if it were not also rather annoying, lo oolloct from perbons who have seldom or never been to Nelson thoir preconceived or second-hand notions regarding the ways of tho people and the re-eurces of the city. It would bB found that those who had never given themselves the chance of really, ascertaining whether the place is eleopy or whether its attractions can bo exhausted iu a f»w hours, spoke mo't loudly of the dulness they had experienced— and they would speak more loudly in ill probability if they had never been in Nelson at all, but had heard about it from others. A traveller cornea here, getsoff from the at*aui r or ooftch, iuoouß about ncqoainted with nobody and not knowing wheio lo go. lakes a drive or two, and leaves, feeling bored. He then declares that Nelsou is dull, and | someone elso takea up the tale from his month, aud improves upon it and says the place is deadly dull, and the naxt person, speaking at third band, embroLdeta the assertion a little mere ; and so the lie with a start i> difficnlt to overtake. It m»y be assumed that persons who are straagers would find themselves dnll anywhere if provision waro not made for their entertaiment. There is nothing more desolate than a party from a s'eamer wandering about a town or city waiting for their vessel to move on again, and seeking to extract pleasure from the unknown. Groups of these unfortuna'e stranded ones may bo seen in Wellington any day a Sydney steamer enters Port Nicholson, but it would be quite unfair to accapt their verdict as conclusive in condemnation of the ugliness of the city and the nnattractiveness of I ho Hurroundiugs. It is only when I

residents take the trouble to show strangers the resonrees and attractions of a place that the first unfavourable impressions are removed, and this applies as much to any city and diatrict in the colony as to Nebon. It may therefore be admitted that j a valuable service has been done to the city by those who have taken the trouble to furnish entertainment for the members of the Press Association during their visit to Nelson. These gentlemen can hardly be regarded as strangers ; bnt the majority of them had never spent more than a few hours in Nelson, or had permitted their koowledge of the place to be obsoured by libellous rumours and traditions. They expected that tbeir visit would be dull — deadly dull ; and that after they had been here a dpy ihey would be longing to get away. It bas happened, however, that, thanks to ths courtesy and hospitality of the citizens, the visitors have not -.-pent a dull moment, and they have dispersed carrying with them tho most pleasant memories of their trip. It is hoped that when tbey return to their newspapers they will at least ilo Nelson the justice jto let the public know that they enjoyed themselves instead of being prostrated by ennui, and that instead of the city and district bains; a mere " Sleepy Hollow, ' thisr repose was philosophical, and not the sloth of inanity. A rrgion where " it is always afternoon " may pall on ono after a timo; but if Nel son be properly exploited for calm pleasures thero is much that can N\ in a visitor's time enjoyably. Of course it is presumed that when a visitor comes hero he does not seek the wild excitements of Paris or London, or the meretrieioui aping thereof by those overgrown villages, Melbourne and Sydney. But he who loves the beauty of the Bpring, and the still charm of field and flowers and hedgerows blosai/micg white with the may. and the wistaria dinging to picturesque veranda, and the willow wooing the water, and the forest vines climbing tha hillsiie ; or if he ca-e to roam by steam or country road or in tho gleus, rod or gun in hand ; then Nel on need not be dull for a momen'. 7 hen, too, if he seek thu pleasures of town life, at tbe same time enjoying surcease from th? Btorni and stress of large oities, he will find it, on bowling greeu, iu club, in friends' houses — aye, in the homes of hospitable citizens who may have never seen him before, so that he come with a fair reputation But it may be admitted frankly that the unintroduaed and wandering stranger must find Nelson dull, because he does not know how to go aboni to obtain plea uro. One of the vital needs of the city and district is a well constituted and organised Tourists Bureau, wbich oi course for one payment would aee that visitors were placed in the b^st posiiim t.> enjoy thoir stay and to bo speeded on ili^ir way glad that they come. The duly to Htrangois is admirably discharged by private and n-ayoial hospitality ; but. som j . organi'.ittou is necessary to takn in hand thoso people who come here without special introductions ami wihera ded. Such a bureau as that sngtrested might not paj mom than expenses ; but the indirect benefit to th- city nnd district would be very great. It is hoped that iho tiewspiper visitors now disposing to their various districts will endeavour through lb. ir journals to remove the wrong impressions from which Nelson has been such a, sufferer in the past. But it would not be amiss if the Scenery Preservation Sooiety, the Acclimatisation Society, and other pubic bodies took into consideration the engges» tion that a tourists' bureau be established in the city to look after strangers who may visit us under less favourable auspices than tho members of the Press Association.

Every other person one meets is bemoaning Ihe fact that though we so frequently have cloudy days little or no rain fills. We have at last r< ceived a suggestion on the subject which is that usxt time the sky is overcast a small quantify ot djnamite be lired on one of the hills near towu as the vibration in the air caused by the explosion will probably prodnce a heavy downpour. It is to be hoped that tho City Council may sae its way to make an experiment in this direction as the same thiag has proved successful in other parts of the world. The annual treat in connection wiih the Brightwater and River Terrace Echouis will be held on I'riday afternoon and evening next, and take the form of a tea aud entertainment. Tbe Chairman of the Education Board will preside. Notwithstanding the unusual dryness of the season tho crops in the Waimeas are reported to be looking fairly well. The grass is an exception, and meadow hay is likely to bo scarce this year. The strong " sou-wester " yesterday deprived the land of most of the moisture received from the late showers, and unless more rain soon follows the outlook for the setlers will not be a promising one.

At a meeting of the Oddfellows' picnic committee last evening it was decided to hold b, monster picnic in Mrs Alfred Baigent's Bush, Wakefield, on Wednesday November Oth, (I'rinco of Wales' Birthday). In to-day's issue tenders are invited from the various town and country bands, and also For the rights of the refreshment booih. The country members of tho committee have selected Mrs Baigeut's bush which has very kindly been placed at the disposal of the committee, as the most suitable site for the gathering, there being somo fine bush and a pood stream of water on tho property. A special attraction is a competition for tho beat fancy -dressed bny and girl, their si{?es not to exceed 15. Many will remember that a .similar com-, petition for the best fancy - dressed boy and girl was held at the late Jubileo celebrations and proved a great, uttrac^ tion. During the day a number of races will be run for boys and girls and the committee will endeavour to make the picnic of 1899 as enjoyable as possible Special train arrangements have been made with the railway authorities, and return tickets to Wakefield will be procurable including admission to the ground.

Either the wind or some "larky " person hung up a gate on a lamp poet iu Hardy street last night. Tho ellecl was weird in tho semi-darkness, for as it is moonlight tha lamp was not lit.

An interesting lecture will be given in the Bechnbite Hall en Monday evening by Captain Humphries on his experiences of a soldiers life. The leeture will be under the patronage of the Marlborough Biflea and at the close a dance will be held.

The Nelson Amateur Operatia Society aro contemplating two moro performances of " Les Cloches de Cornville " on November 2nd and 3rd. This decision is subject to a reply from Mrs Kingdon, wbo is at present absent from Nelaon. If it wi I be convenient for her to return in time to tako the part of " Serpolette," the opera will be rc-produced by tbo Society in Nelson ou tho dates mentioned.

The Kev. W. Baumber, of We'lington, who was recently invited to the Nelson Cirouil by the members of the Board of St. Johns Wesleyan Churob, bas rep ied thanking the men.bers for the invitation, and stating that if the Conference appoints him ha will come very wi linglv.

Mr A. J. Clarke, who bas visited Nelson on a previous occasion, and whose ministry has been very much appreciated, will preach in the Collißgwood-strest Hall to-morrow evening.

The fasiest steamship afloat is the 1 " Tnrbinia," a little vessel which oreated a sensation by racing the Royal Yacht at the Jubilee Review at Spithead. She steams 46 mi 'es an hour, that is to say Bhe would go from Wellington to Sydney in about 30 hours in place of the 4J days the journey at present occupies. Her engines nre of an entirely new pattern, being of the turbine system as her name implies. She has three shafts arranged one above tho other, with three propellors on each sbai , making in all nine. Her only drawback ib the tremendous coal consumption, which, however, her inventor expects to decrease considerably. "The Windsor Msgazino " for September maintains its excellence and variety. The new story by Guy Boothby, " Pharos the Egyptian. "is continued"; and Mr Cottrcll Hoe's " Jennie Bolter, journalist," tela of an " unexpected encounter." A com. i plete stery from the pen of Bret Harte, " When the waters were up .it Jules," illustrated by Launcelot Spe'd, will be read with interest ; while Lieutenant Johanson's narrative of " Nansen and the North" maintains the promise of the former instalments. Harry Furniss con« tinues his sketches and descriptions of Australian cities, taking iu this number Manly, the Sydney watering place, and the "cheap trippers'" to that famous resort. " Jacob," another complete story, is contiibuted bv Alfred Hurry, and illustrated by J. Barnard Davis ; while a third complete story, '< The G. 8.,' is by k. Nesbit", illustrated by Raymond Potter. Tbe number abounds with other interesting reading matter and illustrations, and id will be a welcome addition to the volume of the " Windsors." The " Sydney Morning Herald " has a leading article on the praceedings ia the New Zealand Housa of Representatives •luring the Buduet debate .-—".Stonewalling is a waste of time, of course ; but it is better to waste time in preserving the independence of representatives of the peop'e than to spend it in blindly supporting an Administration which dec.ines to give information without which the House cm exercise no intelligent control over the finances. And, doubtless, when theae ißi speeches were being made on those three memorable days, the Opposition really believed that it was performing a public duty. That Mr Seddon came round to tbeir way of thinking ig a proof of the soundness of their belief." A Victorian delegate to the Presbyterian Federal Assembly in Sydney said a minister ih Victoria travelled one day a distance of 30 miles, preached three Wanes, and received in offertories the muniaoent sum of Is 2Jd ! In regard to the mysterious halloan seen in Victoria and also near Dunedin a correspondent writing to ths " Otago Daily limes " from Kaihiku on the 12th inst. BUt«B:-"I B Monday's issue of the " Otago Daily Times" you mentioned that a balloon had been seen passing over Dnuedm. I thought, it might be of some interest to let you know tbat on the night on Thursday, 22nd September, abont elevsn o'clock, I noticed what looked like a very bright star, but on drawing the attention of one or two othurs, ic was seen i to be moving. The motion was lite that of a kite, with a ries and fall, in a short time it seemed disappear behind a cloud. When it passed from view it appeared to be in the direo- ' tionof Balclntha. On looking out again about half-past twelve it was sesn to be in the airec ion of Par; Molyneux, but was not watched further." On Friday next Mr Lock will sell by . order of the Executor in the estate of thf , late R. Sutcliffe the whole of the furniture , live stock nnd effects in the estate. The sale will be held at the farm, Ngatimoti, i and commence at noon. Better late tban never is not what the man said when he missed the train, but ha thought to himself, well, I could have relied on my watch had I taken it to a ' practical and experienced firm to be repair- ! ed. The oldest established watchmaking , hrm Hc.nteh's, Bridge St., is the recognised shop for repairs to watches, clocks and jewellery, for the best materials only are ' used and workmanship. Wedding and ; other rings to order. New watches by best , makers. .Spectaoles to suit all sights, i TO-MORROW'S SERVICES ' Church Services will be conducted tomorrow as follows : — Presbyterian Church, Nile-st.— Rev. J H. MacKenzie morning and evening St. John's Wesleyan Methodist Church, Hardy-street — Rev. S. F, Prior, morning and evening. - Congregational Church, Hardy-street Rev. E. C. Isaac, morning and evening. , Baptist Cburch. Bridge Street.— Kev. R. S. Gray morning and evening ' Port -Mission Hall— Rev. F. W, Bennett 1 in the evening. ■ Christians' Meeting House.— Mr James , Hay, 630 p.m Collingwood -,st Hall.— Mr A. J, Clarke, 6.30 p m. Volunteer Church Parade, Botanical i Reserve. -His Lordship tho Bishop of Nelson, at 11 a.m

PS.A.," Provincial Hall, at 3 p.m - Mr C. Hunter Brown.