THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8,1911 SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13020, 8 February 1911, Page 2

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8,1911 SUMMARY NOTES.

Anniversary Day. February Ist, tlio sixty-ninth anniversary ol the foundation .of tho province, was observed as a close holiday. Tho weather was ideal, and numerous excursions were inailci to favourite resorts. Tlio Druids Order held a largely attended picnic and sports meeting in tho Waekfield Domain, but the main attraction was in town, being the regatta at tho Port. This fixture Mas very successful, and should encourage the promoters in their efforts to resuscitate the annual Nelson regatta, which in former times was olio of the events of the yaw. Tlio Nelson Swimming Club held a carnival in conjunction with the regatta. The Golden Bay Show. The annual show of the Golden Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at Takaka on Anniversary Day, and was in every respect successful. The Hon D. Buddo, Minister of Internal Affairs, made his first visit to tno district at the invitation of the Association to declare the show open, and speaking subsequently lie expressed surprise at the excellence of the exhibition. Mr Buddo was also favourably impressed with the prospects of the Golden Bay district, which he. considers has a bright future before it. Political Affairs. The Prime Minister has just concluded an extensive tour of the North. He opened the political campaign with a forcible address at Stratford, in the course of which he replied at length to tlio criticisms of the Opposition on various aspects of the Government's policy, directing his attention particularly to a vigorous and effective viudi-

cation of the Dominion's financial Etability. Sir Joseph Waul indicated that Mr Jofeph McLhiggage, of Whauganiomona, a very .well known business and public man, would contest the e-oat in the Government interest at the next election. Sir Josoph spoke on tho linos of his Stratford address at one or two centres in the Auckland district. Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition, has also h?c»i campaigning in the far North.

The Defence Scheme, , Under the new defence scheme, which is now being brought into force, tho Nelson military district ceases to have a separate txisti'rxe-, and in future the administrative headquarters will be at Oiristchurcli, the. Canterbury and Nelson districts bdng amalgamated. An adjutant and the necessary area officers will form the permanent staff here, and particulars of tho reorganisation w ill be found in the summary. The fact that the services of tho II Battery arc to bo retained has given especial satisfaction, as it was feared that in th^ apportionment of the artillery units t'm Nelson battery would be eliminated:. As a matter of fact it will he greatly strengthened, both numerically and hi equipment.

Tho Children's Ward,

The appeal for funds with winch to erect and crjuip a children's ward ?.I the Nl'kon Hospital elicited, as v.at, expected, a sympathetic response throughout tho district,-and the com-mit-k'Ci is now in possession of the amount it set out to obtain, which, with the usual subsidy from tho Government, will enable the Poaul to provide a suitable and useful adjunct tt, the Hospital.

Tha Pitt Memorial. 1 ho movement originated Komo time ago by Mr Colin Campbell +.o provide Eo.no suitable memorial in the. city of the late Hon. Albert Pitt, w3l result, if the pror.ent intention is carried i;;to c-fiVct, in Mi- Pitt's memory being perpetuated by a work at once imposing and of great public utility. It is proposed to displace- the present unsightly wooden steps on the Trafalgar street aspect of the Church Hill by a flight of steps in concrete, Ihnkrd liy balustrades which will bear a medallion and commemorative tablet. It is believed that t!i/* amount now in hand is sufficient to cany out this work.