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Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8809, 8 March 1897, Page 2

Social Gathkbwq of Dboibs.— The Druids mastered in force on Saturday evening for the purpose of meeting ihe Grand President, [ Bro Clements and tbe Grand Secretary, Bro J. J. Brennan, who wtie passing jthroagh Nelson. A very pleasant and social gathering took place. > Motdpiko Athletic Sports. - Given fine weather, these sports, whioh will be held on Wednesday next, promise to be highly sue--1 eessful. The Committee has done everything in its power to make the gathering attractive, and tbe competition is expected to be very keen. FsiviLßaEs Nelson Tbottikg Club Mietins. — Messrs Sharp and Sons sold the privi- • leges for the Nelson Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday with the following mboHs . — i Grand stand bar, Mrs Batler, £10 10j ; luncheon room, Mrß Batler, £L: Uoerned victualler's booth, £8 5?, Mr H. Brandt ; refreehment booth, M. Cotton, 10s ; oyster saloon, se, H. Cotton ; cards, 10*. F. N. Jones ; right of games, £2 ss, H. MoOabe. Total £23 ss. Thi Camp.— The enly news about tbe annual Volunteer camp iB that a propoial voder coDßitlerftUoD tq aitec (be date of

the oamp from Easter to ChijUmag time. *ffc. is understood thai the Defence Department' is considering the advisability of the alteration oftiog to Easkr falling bo late in tbe year, and consequently the facilities for work are not so great owing to the shortoees of the days and tbe Uncertainty of the weather. Although Christmas tima is unquestionably, for feokhß reasons the dost suitable time for oamps of instruction, the alteration at the present janomra would oarry with ib maoh dieappojatmenfc to many Volunteer?, who for some time have been looking with pies sate to tbe near appraaoh of tfn oamp. From what we oan bear, there would likely fee a record attendance of looa men at an Easter oamp this year. Pkbbentation.— On Saturday the members of the Prinoe Albert Football Club met in force, and presented to Mr 0. Mills a handsome orufct Btand, &0., as a token from tbe Olob on his having that day entered the ranks of the Benediots. Tbe presentation was aooompanied by a lettsr expressive of the esteem in which Mr Mills is held by the members, reference being niade to bis many services on the football field. After about an hour's harmony, the company dispersed, Mr and Mrs Millg being wished prosperity in their hew sphere. Navat» Abthlret. — On Saturday morning, a competition for Mr B. j, Barltrop's trophy took plaoe, when some good snooting was made-. The result was as follows :— . w 200: hdotf. Tl. P.O.Andrews .. 40 3 43 Sinn. MoGavin ..40 2 42 Lient. Wataon . . 41 cor 41 Smn. S:ewart ..37 „ 37 „ Johnston ..34 3 37 P.O. Bankin ..34 3 37 This corps hold a parade this evening in view of iha approaobing visit of Colonel Penton. New Yomjhteib Cobps.— Colonel A. W. Penton, Commander of the New Zealand forces, has cent an official notification to Colonel Pitt in reference to the proffered services for the formation of Volunteer corp3 in wakapuaka, Sarau, Ngatimoti and Motueka. It is to the effect that the question of acceptance of the offers made will ba considered when Colonel Penton viiits the Nelson dißtriot. Nelson Fabmebs' Co-operative Association. — The adjourned meeting advertised for Saturday afternoon lapsed for want of a quorum. The present directors will therefore proceed to wind up the concern. St Maby's Chukch. — There was a large congregation at St. Mary's Church last evening when Bishop Grimes, of Christ - church, preached a most eloquent sermon that was listened to with close attention. The text was taken from the fifteen chapter of St. John and ninth verse. The very Eev Father .Mahoney and the Eev Fathers Ainsworth an d Brotissard also took part in the service, the musical portion of which was also very effective. Lectobe To-night. — The public are reminded of the lecture to be given at the Provincial Hall, this evening, by Bishdp Grimes, of Ghristchurch, on the " South Sea Islands," The lecture, which will commence at eight o'clock, will be illustrated by limelight views. The charges for admission will be 2s and Is, and a most interesting, as we 1 as instructive, lecture may be looked for with confidence; HeAvy ItAiNS.— Curing Saturday night the barometnv *?» :?nsi&ernb)y but appearances tvere regarded yesterday morning" by many as hopeful. About midday, however, rain set in and soon it was falling in torrents drenching those who happened to be abroad and flooding the streets. Later on the fain moderated but at five o'clock another remarkably heavy shower fell* On the Stoke road the water was a foot deep in places and the upper part of Toi Toi Valley was equally flooded while a considerable volume of water was flowing downjihe Maitai. In a very short tiifle, however, the sky cleared and the wind setting in from the south-west gave promise of finer weather, but there was a considerable fall in tbe temperature* The Dnnedin Agricultural Hill is to be opened oo the anrifersary of her Majesty's aocesaion. The ' Southland New* ' reports that a survey piny has discovered a pass from the south-west arm of Lake Maoapouri to the head of Smith's Sound, along which it has blazed a traok. The distanoe does not ex - oeed 13 miles. A WBITBB |in the 'West Coast Times,' in oomplaioing of tbe action of one of tbe southern constables, asks for an investigation, and affirms that, if one were granted, the dißolosareß would quite put in the shade tbe Auckland police-tiomh episode. SiTfl the Donedin * Star • ;— We are in a position to Btate that no opposition will be offered to tbe re-eleoUon of Sir M. O'Borke as Speaker. It is an open seoret that Sir Maurioe intends at the olose of the present Parliament to bid farewell to the representative Chamber. Thb depressed condition of tbe frozen meat market is having its effect on the disposal of pastoral leases now faUng in. Five runs were pat up at auotion on Thursday at Invercargill (says the Southland • Times '), but instead of there being any competition only two of them, both small, attracted sn offer, and that only at the upset, at whioh they fell to the present tenants. The ' Bruce Herald ' states that a pauiy of prospectors down the Tokomairiro river have struck a very fine seam of coal. Several farmers in the vicinity, who have tried the coal, declare that it is the best in the district. It is almost smokeless, stands weather well, and gives a great heat. The seam is about 4ft 6in in depth and promises to hold out for some considerable time. An eleotrioal diaturbanoa is repotted by Captain Nordstram, of tbe s.e Mawhera, as having ooourred off Cape Farewell last Saturday night (Bays Thursday's ' Post '). Baio oame lown in torrents, and for some six or eight hours the firmament was continuously illuminated by streaks of lightning, which played aronnd the ship to the g eat alarm of the passengers. The sea was perfectly calm, and C*ptain Nordßtrom had misgivings lest it should prove the calm preceding a great storm, more particularly as Captain Edwin had predicted a cyclone just previously. Tbe barometer, whioh had been falling when the steamer left Wellington on Friday night, went down to 29*17 when the eleotrioal disturbance burst upon the vessel. Altogether cays Captain Nordstrum, it was the moßt anxious night ha hai spent on the New Zealand coast for a long time. A splendid oruahing is reported from Clark's Brilliant, Woroheeter, and Victory mine, at Charters Towers, 570 tons yielding 1,7050z, valued at £6,029. A Bixpenny dividend has been declared, absorbing £3,000, and £3,020 was carried to the reserve land. A bigger crushing and still better average is is promised at the next oleaning up. Thb biggest lump of gold taken from quartz ever seen in Melbourne was on view recently ; a aolid slug, weighing 114ozs, found by Messrs B. Lawson and William Gibson in a dyke formation near Matlock. The gold fetches £4 1b 10 Jd per ounce at tbe Mint. The owners bave taktn oot 1630zs by dollying eince November last, and bave a good stack of " geoonda " awaiticg battery treatment.