LOCAL AND DISTRICT.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10868, 7 November 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOCAL AND DISTRICT.

Richmond -' motuek A Overland Mail Service.— We hear that Messrs Newman Bros, are the successful tenderers for the Richmond-Motueka-Riwaka overland mail service, and will run the coaches on that line.

Moonlight Band Concert. —ThO Garrison Band had good fortune' last evening with its promenade concert in the Botanical Reserve, the beautiful balmy evening, with bright moonlight, inducing a large attendance of the public. A good programme was submitted, and the music was very much enjoyed. If such favorable conditions could be obtained more' frequently, the Band concerts would become even more popular than now, to the mutual advantage of the public and the Band funds. Last evening th© sum of £8 was collected by "silver coin" admission being charged.

Personal.— Mr E. P. Rishworthy who has been District Secretary for : the Nelson district forJihe A.M. P. Society, for some years past, has, we learn, severed . his connection with the Society, and leaves Nelson in about a fortnight's time on an extended visit to Great Britain. During his residence in Nelson Mr Eishworth has actively identified himself with several institutions and societiesjjand he will be missed. Mr W. H. DWry, a relieving officer of .the. Society, will arrive in Nelson in'a day or two to take up Mr Rishworth's duties.

Death of a Collingwood Settler. Our Collingwood correspondent wired ! us yesterday: "Mr Montague Ellis died suddenly this morning. Deceased .was a sufferer to asthma, and had an attack of influenza. " De- ; ceased has resided in Collingwood pretty near the whole of his life, and has followed varipu 3 occupations. His father was one of the party who first discovered gold in the Collihgwood district, and claims to be the first discoverer of coal in that part of the Colony.

Obituary.— Mr David George Beatson, one of the earliest settlers in' the Motueka district, passed away at his home at Orinoco on Friday evening last at the age of . 60 years.^ Deceased has resided in the district for 36 years, and was highly respected by a large circle of friends. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of l seven sons and three daughters. The funeral took place on Sunday last, and was largely attended, fully forty conveyances being in the procession. The remains were interred in the Waiwera cemetery, Mr Geo. Deck reading the service.

Troopers' Memorial and Commemoration Tablet. —Mr G. M. Simpson has just completed _ a memorial tablet, which, as the inscription sets out, is_ "Erected by their old schoolfellows Tn memory of

the following ex-pupils of the Nelson Town Schools who proceeded to South Africa on active service during the Boer war, 1899-1902, and in commemoration of the honorable participation of the Nelson Town Schools in that unique and historical demonstration of the solidarity of the British Empire," Then follow the names of Jennings, Emms, Hawksworth, and Harford, who lost their lives in connection with the war, and fifty-six others who were on active service. The tablet, which is of marble, is five feet by four' feet, and Mr Simpson has carried ot his work exceedingly well.

Progressive Bichmond.— The evidence of progress of a substantial kind is to be found at Richmond, Mr Crouch er, the Mayor, intends erecting large shops and a new bakery opposite his present shop and iv front of his flcrur mill. — Plans and estimates are being prepared for a Borough Council Chamber and offices, and the matter of municipal gasworks is being seriously gone into. —Mr May, too, we learn, is still further adding to his dairy and bacon factories, another refrigerator being the latest addition. Postal Changes. —Mr Geo. P, Frank, of the Nelson Post and Telegraph Office, has received word of his promotion to the position of postmaster at Kumnra. A more courteous and obliging lot of officials, taken all round, than those in the Nelson office could not be met with, and Mr FranK has not only been one of the most ready in this way, but is a smart capable officer, well meriting the promotion he has * obtained.— Mr H. E. Gilbert, postmaster at Motueka, is to be transferred to Waitara, which also means promotion. Mr Gilbert is another of those public servants with whom it is a pleasure to have any dealings, and from the active interest he has taken in local "affairs at Motueka for many years past, is a man who will be much missed in the community.-— Mr A. J. Berry, of the Auckland office, will take Mr Gilbert's place, but Mr Frank's successor is not yet known. Mr Frank leaved Nelson next week, and Mr Gilbert leaves Motueka about the middle of the month. TBiLP Accident. -Mr J. Luore, junior, and his wife bad an unpleasant experienoe on Tuesday afternoon, when returning front a trip into the Waimeas in Mr T. Gorman's wagon drawn by two borsas, At Stoke one of tbe horses seemed to be suffering, and when the Books Road was reached, Sit Lucre was just about to stop and take tha horse out, when an axle broke. Mr and Mrs Lucre and a small child with them were all thrown out. The child suffered no injury, Mr Lucre received a pretty severe kick from one of the horses he was thrown against, and Mrs Lucre was badly bruised and shaken, one wheel going over her left arm, but fortunately no bones were broken. The ailing horse died the same night, being a pretty severe loss for Mr Gorman, tha animal being valued at £20.

Another Pioneer Settler Gone.

—We have to record the death of another pioneer settler. On Saturday, Mrs Lipscombe passed away, having resided in Nelson for sixtyone years. Deceased, who was 74 years of age, arrived with her people at the foundation of the Nelson settlement in the ship Lord Auckland, in 1842, She took a keen interest in passing events, and especially anything connected with Nelson, the growth of which she had watched from its infancy. "Masonic. — The installation and, investiture of the officers of the Trafalgar Royal Arch Chapter No. 157, S.C, took place at the Masonic Hall, Collingwood street, last evening, when the following officers for the ensuing year were elected : — Z., Oomp. E. P. Rish worth; H., Comp. S. F. Bolton; J., Comp. H. Atmore; E., Comp, W. E. Fleming; N., Comp. W. Pryor; Treas,, Comp, J, McEachen ; Organist, Comp. G. Palmer; First Sojr., Comp. F. H. Hounsell; 2nd Sojr., Comp. M. B, Esson; 3rd Spjr., Comp. A. Gould; Janitor, Comp. W. F. Pellew. Comp. W. Pryor was elected Master of the Mark Lodge, and Comp. W. E. Fleming E.M. Comp. W. W. de Castro, Grand Principal of the N.Z. Chapter, was present, as also were a number of the members of the Victory Chapter. At the conclusion of the ceremony a cold collation was partaken of, and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts honored.