NELSON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 184

NELSON.

Dear Bee, February 1. Onr town is gradually tilling with strangers come here for the Jubilee. Among others I have seen Sir William and Lady Fox, who have been here for the last week or two. Bnt what pleases us most is being able to welcome back old friends. Dr. Cressy has arrived from England after a six months’ absence, and looking all the better for his trip. You can imagine, Bee, how delighted all bis friends were to see him again in their midst Mr Donald McDonald and his family also returned from Sydney after being away nearly nine mouths. They were warmly welcomed by all their old associates. Yet another arrivalthat of Miss G. Pitt, who has been visiting with friends in Marlborough for the last four months. We were all glad to see her bright face among us again. I wonder if we shall have as many people here as the Jubilee Committee expect 1 Nearly everyone will have friends staying with them, and as I hear all the hotels are already full, it remains to be seen where the bulk of the people" are to be accommodated. The committee propose fitting up some empty schoolrooms for the occasion, and I should think it would be a good idea. The especial feature of Monday’s entertainment will be the old settlers’ dinner. All who arrived here before 1843 are to be entertained with a large dinner in the Provincial Hall. Tuesday is the day fixed for the Regatta, and in the evening the Jubilee Ball is to take place ; then Wednesday and Thursday are the two race days. On one of the evenings the oratorio ‘ Samson ’ is to be given by the members of the Harmonic Society, so there is "every prospect of our having a good week’s fun. Mrs Sealy gave an enjoyable picnic to a few of her friends. The place chosen was the Poplar Grove on the Maitai banks, just an easy distance from town. Those present were Mesdames Sealy and H. Glasgow, Misses Sealy, Meason, Levien, Richmond (2), Broad, Pitt, Johnson, and Preshaw, and Messrs Fuller, Harden, Kirkby, Glascodine, Fernie, and Broad. We enjoyed a rare treat when Stanley, the great explorer, occupied the theatre, and gave two of his most interesting lectures. You will, no doubt, have already heard him yourself, Bee, so know how enthralled he holds his audience while he relates his perilous journey across the dark forest of Africa. It seems wonderful that he should be here to tell us his adventures after all he went through when he went so bravely to the rescue of Emin Pasha. The theatre was simply packed both evenings. Jn the dresscircle were Mesdames Percy Adams, Atkinson, A. Atkinson, Broad, Levien, Kenny, Glascoigne, Suter, Mules, Blundell, Day, Blackett. Pitt, H. Glasgow, Jim Wood, and Misses Sealy, Meason, Pitt (2). Levien, Johnson (Wellington), Broad, Boor, Watson, Atkinson, Richmond, Glasc >igne (2), Oldham, Bell, Hunter-Brown (2). The theatre is occupied for three nights by the Kowalski Company, but I am afraid they will not have good houses, a< people evidently are all saving themselves for the J übilee. A tennis match has just been arranged between Marlborough and Nelson, and a keen contest is expected, so in my next letter you may look forward to a regular budget of news.

Phyllis.