NELSON JUBILEE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 3, Issue 10, 5 February 1892, Page 2

NELSON JUBILEE.

First Day.

(Colonist, Tuesday, February 2.)

Despite some misgivings at an early hour yesterday morning, the day proved all that could be desired for the festivities organised to mark the 50fch anniversary of the landing of the first immigrants on Nelson soil. At half-past eight a general salute was fired by the H Battery of Artillery, and the firing of the first gun was the signal for running up the flags on innumerable staffs, and as the bunting was borne out by the breeze the effect was striking. In addition to the flags thus run up, strings of bunting were stretched across the various thorough fares in many places, and the towif appeared en fete. A little after the members of the several Friendly Societies assembled and marched to Trafalgar-street, the school-children, oid settlers, and others mustering meanwhile on the steps and terraces of the Church Hill, where a platform

had been erected for the convenience of those taking part in the Thanksgiving Service. Below the platform the girls of St. Mary's Orphanage were ranged on the steps, the children carrying banners ; around the platform were many old settlers, and above it a great posse of children with flags and banners, the girls of Toi Toi Valley also carrying each a banch of graceful toi toi. When the members of the Friendly Societies marched up with their fine banners flowing they took up a position in Selwyn Place, the Temperance bodies being ranged m Trafalgar Square, and the Artillery Company formed a guard of honour. The platform was occupied by his Lordship Bishop Julius, the Ven. Archdeacon Mules, the Revs. Kempthorne, Chatterfcon, Patterson, Evans, Isitt, Adcock and others. After the singing of " Ali people that on earth do dwell," the Rev. Mr Evans read the clvi Psalm, whereupon the Ven. Archdeacon Mules offered special prayers and thanksgiving, the Rev.. J. P. Kempthorne repeated the Lord's prayer, and Bishop Julius pronounced the benediction, then the children sang the hymn " God bless our Native Land," After this the marshals Messrs Finney, Moller, Moyes, Easdale, M'Artney, Smart, Low, Allan, and Askew, speedily arranged the formation of the imposing procession, in which all marched on foot. The order of the procession was as follows:

Three mounted orderlies The Artillery Company The Garrison Band, headed by Drum-Major Old settlers, man and women Hon. R. Seddon and Capt. Bourke. H.M.S. Ringarooma Members of the Legislature Mayor and City Councillors Clergy, including Bishop Julius, the Bishop elect of Nelson, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, and clergy of his Church St. Mary's Orphan children Toi-Toi Valley Girls' School children; and those of Hardy-street, Brook-street. St. Mary's Boys' Orphanage, Richmond School, Bridge-street School, Haven Road, Harapden-street, Hope and Ranzau, and other schools of town and country Next caraa the Fire Brigade Band, followed by members of the several Oddfellows Lodges, including Juveniles, the Foresters, Rechabites, and the Temperance Societies each with their banne ft Then folio ,ved the Firemen, with engines, &c, Salvage Corps, and the general public. The S"ene looking towards the Church Hill was an exceedingly effective ona, while from the Hill it was no less so, Trafalgar-street bein# densely crowded as far as Hardy-street, and it was estimated that there were about eight thousand present. The procession marched to the Botanical Gardens by way of Trafalgar and Bridge-streets, and after a number of speeches had been delivered there the procession reformed and marched till the vanguard was opposite the Provincial Hall, when the rank 3 were opened out, and the old settlers, walking between were heartily cheered by children and adults, The procession then continued on its return, and later the country children fell out and were provided with refreshments. • Speeches were then delivered, referring to the past and present, by the Mayor (Mr Frank Trask), Hon. R. J. Sflddon, Sir William Fox, and His Grace Archbishop Redwood, and Mr A. Saunders. Mr C. H. Mills. M.H.R

then read an address presented by the early settlers to Sir William Fox.

The next items on the programme were the old settlers dinner, the planting of a Jubilee tree by Mrs Trask, the of the flue arts exhibition by i-Bir William Fox, the friendly societies sports, and fireworks concluded the first day's festivities.

The second day was principally taken up by the regatta. A submarine explosion caused great interest, and was a great success. The Jubilee Ball concluded the day's programme!

Labour Commission. London, January 29. Before the Royal Commission on Labour, Mr S. Plimsoll, President of the Seamen's Union, gave evidence of a sensational character regarding the deck loading of ocean-going vessels. He also declared that the food smdfcd to sailors on board some of the was unfit for consumption, and that in the case of " ocean tramps,", not only was the food bad, but fraudulent insurances were very often effected on both vessel and cargo. * "••--•- Tom McCarthy, of, the Dockers* Union, also gave evidence of an important nature, in -the which he assured the Commission that if the introduction of the eight hours' principle failed to absorb the unemployed, the labour party would use every endeavour to have - nie length of a day's work reduced to six, four, or even two hours if necessary.