ODD FELLOWS' ANNIVERSARY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 566, 8 January 1853, Page 182

ODD FELLOWS' ANNIVERSARY.

The seventh Anniversary of the Loyal Nelson Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, M. U. f took place on Saturday last. The brethren of the Order mef in the morning at eleven o'clock, and, headed by a band of music, and in full regalia, went in procession to the Church, where an impressive discourse waa preached to them by the Rev. H. F. Bott. After the service was concluded, the procession made a partial circuit of the town, and then returned to the Lodge Room. The Anniversary Dinner took place at four o'clock, in a large booth erected in the rear of the Odd Fellows' Arms Hotel. Owing to the prevalence of the influenza amongst a great majority of the townspeople, the attendance at the dinner was not so numerous as we have seen it in former years, but notwithstanding, we believe there were between sixty and seventy persons present. The dinner was served in' Host Sullivan's best style, and gave general satisfaction. D. Monro, Esq. occupied the Chair, and Mr. J. Webb the Vice Chair. On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drank with all the customary honours. The toasts for the success of the Order were ably given by the Chairman and other gentlemen, and were enthusiastically responded to, and several excellent songs were contributed, which considerably enlivened the meeting. On the toast, " Success to the commercial, agricultural, and pastoral intereste of Nelson," being proposed, a severe shockffeC an earthquake was felt, which was approfHlkely made use of by the speaker, who briefly showed the importance which the year then just began was likely to prove to the settlement by the working of its coal and copper mines, the introduction of steam navigation, the obtaining a large proportion of its local Trust Funds, an unexampled harvest, and the boon of self government to enable the settlers to turn all these blessings to the best account — with all these prospects of good which the new year promised to realize, it was a most remarkable fact that the instant when the prosperity of the settlement was about to be toasted, the earth had shaken convulsively, marking as it were the era about to be begun, and which it was believed would be productive of so much benefit, in a manner altogether extraordinary. The health of the Chairman having been drank with the usual honours, Dr. Monro, in his reply, took occasion to advert to the great amount of good which the Order of Odd Fellowship has done and is still effecting, and after remarking on the similarity between Odd Fellowship and Free Masonry, concluded with a panygeric on the maxims and principles inculcated in the rules of the Society. Deep and earnest attention was paid to the Chairman's speech, and at the close of it he was loudly and heartily cheered. After a few local and other toasts and some capital songs, the meeting separated. On the following Monday evening this Annual Festival was concluded with a Tea Party and Ball, at which, amid the mazes of the dance, a numerous party appeared to enjoy themselves. We are happy to find that the Order is steadily increasing ia this settlement, and, as it has already done sufficient good to merit great praise, we heartily wish it success.

A man with a lie on his conscience is like a lion with a thorn in his foot — he knows not whert to tread.

An Optical Illusion. — Some years ago an optician of this city made a glass eye of the proper size, filled it with distilled water and put therein a small eel. A gentleman of subtle wit, now a distinguished advocate on the wrong side of the temperance question, saw the bauble, was struck with an idea, purchased it, and departed. Shortly afterward the public were running down Park-row, somewhere, to see " a horse with a snake in his eye," the greatest wonder of the age. Money came plentifully to the camp, and the show went on bravely until the optician inadvertently mentioned the glass eye, and then the whole affair collapsed. — New York Tribune.

Algeria. —Madame Prus, in her " Residence ia Algeria" Quit published), thm describes this burial-place of restless spirits, republican writers, and all who, living, might prove a tyrant'" difficulty : — " When the wind in the deaert risei, the «un ia surrounded by a sort of lurid glare, which is reflected on the mountain* and in the atmosphere ; all ia overspread with a sickly hue. The iky, the air, creation is in a state of Buffering. Then a / burning wind rises from the aea of sand, and/ like an immense cloud, crosses the apace with inconceivable rapidity ; all that possesses life or feelings gives way before it* baneful influence. Man, deprived of all strength, remains panting and exhausted till the storm baa paaied: the child, whose delicate lungs are unable to breathe the suffocating air, utters plaintive cries, and writhes in pain on the lop of ita mother : the animals itretch themselves on the plain, struggling and pining for relief; the rays of the sun are condensed behind a veil of sand, and all nature is _ in agony."