THE NELSON JUBILEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9338, 1 February 1892, Page 2

THE NELSON JUBILEE.

(Per United Press Association.)

Nelson, January 31. The jubiles celebrations which begin tomorrow a large number of visitors to »IM| and last night locomotion ! n thjJJP|JP*ets was most difficult. It isea^BHM«r^ere are over 4000 visitors alre<i^fJß(P%nd a large number of country residents' aitfl others are expected to-morrow. The weather is extremely warm and promises to continue. H.M.S. Ringarooma arrived yesterday to assist in the celebration, and to-day the mayor and councillors visited the ship and welcomed the officers and crew on their first visit to Nelson. To-morrow evening the vessel which is anchored outside Boulder Bank, will j display her electric search light. The local navals are arranging an entertainment for the visiting bluejackets, which will probably take place on Wednesday or Thursday evening. The accommodation in the city is sorely taxed by the large influx of visitors, but as a number of private citizens have come to the assistance of the Jubilee Committee, it is expected that no difficulty will be experienced in housing the whole without recourse to fitting up public buildings for sleeping purposes. The Hon. Mr Seddon and wife arrived this morning and were welcomed by the mayor and councillors. During their visit they will be the guests of the chief magistrate. At the Cathedral this morning Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, delivered a sermon appropriate to the celebration of the jubilee. The Cathedral .was crowded long before the service commenced. He said that although Nelson was not so important as the other New Zealand cities, it was more beau-

tiful than most of them. But he hoped Nelson would never advance so far as to deny that the hand of Providence guided its destiny and progress. He pointed out that Scripture stated in many places that a close connection existed between national religion and national prosperity, and national prosperity was dependent on the Christian morality of a nation. The Bishop expressed the opinion that New Zealand was as noble and beautiful a country as was ever given by God to any people under the sun, and he asked why it had failed in some respects to realise anticipations. Was it not largely due to political jobbery and misgovernment—or, in other words, to neglect of the. divine laws of truth and morality ? The causes of failure in many cases were listlessness, intemperance, and neglect of the divine laws.

The new Presbyterian church, which stands on the same ground as the old church, was opened this morning, the Rev; Mr Patterson, of Wellington, assisting in the ceremony. The church, which is constructed of wood, is of Gothic design of early English type, and is planned to seat 450 people. Mr W. Higginbotaam designed the building, and Mr James Robertson was the contractor.

In the afternoon the foundation stone was laid of the new St. Mark's Convent, to replace the one burnt some two or three years ago. Archbishop Redwood performed the ceremony, assisted by several clergy of the district, and among those on the platform were Judge Broad, his Worship the Mayor, and the Hon. R. J. Seddon. There was a large concourse of spectators, including people of all creeds and denominations. His Grace in brief addressed and paid a high tribute to the Sisters of Mercy for their good work in the interests of the convent, which was even more gratifying in the face of the difficulties with which they had had to contend since the destruction of the former building. He heartily thanked all classes of the community for their practical sympathy. At the conclusion of the ceremony a substantial sum was placed on the stone.

The children attending the English Sunday schools assembled in the Provincial grounds this afternoon, where addresses were delivered by Bishop Julius and others. Bishop Julius preaches at All Saints' Church to-night, and at the Catholic Church Archbishop Redwood will give his reminiscences of Nelson.

The following programme will be carried out to-niorrow :—School children, old settlers, and visitors will assemble at Church Hill at 9 o'clock, when members of friendly societies,

having assembled at their respective hallu, will, together with trade representatives and others, march up Trafalgar street to the front of the Cathedral. On the whole assembling the school children will sing a hymn, and short thanksgiving services will be rendered. Thereafter a procession will be formed, a band preceding, and followed by old settlers, city councillors, visitors, and clergy in carriages or on foot, and flanked by guards of honour on either side. Next in order will come the orphanage childdren, then those of State schools, pupils of the bishop's school and of the colleges coming next m order. The children will be followed by the members of the friendly societies, Oddiellows, foresters, and Uechabites; and then will comoiirebrigades.salvagecorps.GoodTemplars, and trade representatives, the general public rmP?, ug ? p the rear- marching on foot for Church Hjll The procession will proceed by way of Trafalgar and Bridge streets to the botanic gardens, where speeches will be given, and these are expected to occupy an hour. At their conclusion the procession will reform in reverse order, the public preceding, and when the vanguard has reached opposite the Government buildings the ranks will. be opened, and old settlers and visitors will proceed between and enter the buildings to attend the old settlers' dinner, where honour will be done to the pioneerß. The remainder of the procession will break off at Trafalgar street bridge in order to allow those forming it to attend the sports in lrafalgar Park. In the eTeniug a grand display of fireworks will take place. Great interest is centred in the meeting of pioneers at the banquet to-morrow, and numbers of gentlemen who have passed the allotted three score and ten have arrived from all parts «f we? 1011? to d iscußS the dought ebtabhshmg settlement here in the forties. Only the Jessie Logan (late of Wellington) and the Gannet (of Picton) having entered for the First-class Yacht Race the committee have abandoned the race, but offer a prize of Lls for competition between the two boats on Tuesday. During the progress of the regatta Captain Falconer will give a submarine explosion.