NOTES FROM NELSON.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 7, 14 February 1890, Page 2

NOTES FROM NELSON.

Laat Saturday being the Ist of Fet>: ruary, and therefore the anniversary ; day of Nelson, was observed everywhere as a public holiday, and I do not think that on the whole a more enjoyable day has ever been spent in the town. The day proved to be a glorious one, not a cloud could be seen in the sky, and numerous were the picnic parties composed of those unfortunate people who, for the most part of the year, are shut up in town, and who eagerly seize such an opportunity as this to get into the fresh air of the country. The chief source of attraction, however, proved to be the annual sports, which were held in the Trafalgar Park. Besides the ordinary foot races, a number of bicycle events were introduced into the programme, and these greatly added to the fun, indeed more interest was manifested in them than in the run-; ning. The five mile race for the knights of the wheel was won by Hounsell, a local man; Mayes, the Australian, coming a very good second, after giving the winner a start of 350 yards. The day's enjoyment was, how-; ever, marred to a great extent when, just as the sports were over, and the people commencing to go home, news was received of the death of Mr Lightfoot,;;jfche. City Surveyor,; .who has for seventeen years lieen in of thejFireißrigadelhere..,-. It appears that in the mpvnmgfhsrß broke; but: near Dr;Locklng's pjbpe|by,£ and Mr Lightfoofwas Hard at. work.there for some time, afterwards returning home to lunch. Shortly after this, and whilst he was resting, the fire-bells rang out a second alarm, the cause being this time a fire in the Botanical Gardens. Once again donning his uniform, Mr Lightfoot made for the scene of thefresh outbreak, when, chancing to meet a cab, he hailed it and directed the ; driver to convey him there. Shortly; before reaching his destination the : cabman happened to look round and! saw, to his consternation, Mr Lightfoot in what he took to be a faint. Assistance,*was at once forthcoming, but' 'it Q.£i Juno avail, and when a medical. man appeared on the spot he found that life was extinct, the cause of death: being stoppage of the heart's action. The deceased gentleman was very : popular in this place, and leaves,; besides a family of four, many friends to mourn his loss. The funeral, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, was one of the largest ever witnessed in this j; 6ity; te " , in connection with this unfortunate episode, two youths were summoned at the Polic3 Court on the charge of wilfully setting fire to the scipblof the hill, and the charge having' been proved in the one case to the satisfaction of the Eesident Magistrate, the offender was fined £1 and costs 17s —a very light punishment for the mischief which was caused by the thoughtless act. Distinguished Visitors. There has been quite an influx of noted visitors to our little City lately. On Thursday afternoon the Earl and Countess of Kintore arrived here from, the West Coast. The scenery on the road they speak of in very high terms, but as this is a bad time of the year to obtain first rate views, they can only imagine what the country would look like, say some two months previous to Christmas, for now the atmosphere is so hazy, and things are so parched up, that it is only seen to a great disadvantage. The Hon Colonel and Mrs Gardner also arrived at the same time, and the whole party left by steamer in the evening for Wellington, their intention being to go to Auckland, first journeying up the far-famed Wanganui Eiver. Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, who has been staying in town for some time, has, I believe, gone by the same route. Numerous other visitors have come to Nelson, bent on seeing all the sights, but, as I said before, the present is a very bad season for that kind of thing. However, everybody appears i highly pleased with the country, and describe the climate as being unequalled in New Zealand, except by that of the great Northern City—Auckland.