NELSON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 11, 12 March 1892, Page 256

NELSON.

Dear Bee, February 22. As I went to Nelson for the Jubilee, perhaps my impressions may interest you. The Jubilee really began on Sunday, with special services in all the churches. \\ e did not arrive in time to hear Bishop Julius, of ( hristchurch, preach his Jubilee sermon in the pretty little cathedral on Church Hill, but we were fortunately in time for the evening service in All Saints. After hearing Bishop Julius 1 have no further desire to go to church, lest I should chance to bear a less eloquent man. His quaint appearance, and quaint, though forcible and eloquent sermon, will linger in my memory for some time to come. All the same 1 thought of our own Bishop, and the part he would have taken in our Jubilee had he not been stricken down by illness. We all had to be up very early on Monday morning, and at eight o’clock a royal salute was tired off from a hill close to town. Then the crowd began to assemble on and about the Church Hill, an idea of which you will get I hope, from the various photographs which Mr Tyree has promised to forward to you. A Thanksgiving Service was held from the Steps, and after right loyally singing * God Save the Queen, the procession formed and proceeded to the Botanical Gardens, where some most eloquent speeches were delivered. I heard they wete eloquent and judged them to be so by the actions of the speakers as seen from a distance. Like many others who would like to have heard the speeches, I was debarred from hearing, or approaching the platform by crowds of school-children, who were marshalled by their teachers into the only place where it was possible to hear anything, ami stood in compact lines two or three dozen deep all around, to their own misery and other people’s annoyance. After trying in vain to get through, and bringing down a few blessings on our devoted heads from an irate teacher, we gave up all hopes of hearing anything, and wandered back to the Government Buildings, where we tried to see the gold and silver lish disporting themselves in some muddy ponds in the grounds, and made the acquaintance of Princess Julia, Nelson’s Grace Darling, who made herself famous some years ago rescuing people from the wrecked ship Delaware. She had received a special invitation to the ‘ old settlers’ ’ dinner, and I am glad to say that in the speeches her name was not forgotten, and her health was drunk, with that of other heroes and heroines. The Committee found us good seats at the dinner where we could hear and see everything, next door, as it were, to the illustrious personages who occupied the across table at the top of the Hall. The Mayor (Mr Trask) was supported on his right by the Hon. Mr Seddon, Bishop Julius, Archdeacon Mules, Lieut. Col. Pitt, and the member for Nelson (Mr Harkness), and on his left by Captain Bourke, of the Ringarooma, Archbishop Redwood, Rev. Mr Kempthorne, and others. I cannot say much for the taste displayed in laying the tables, a pot-plant here and there being the only decorations. In a place like Nelson, where flowers grow in abundant profusion, one would think a few might be spared to gladden the hearts of the poor old pioneers, some of whom had to be supported into the hall. A few flowers would have idled up the many vacant places on the table. That dinner—the first public one I ever attended—occupied four solid hours. Of course, a great deal of time was taken up with speeches, and fortunately there were no school-children present, so we could hear everything. Some of the speeches were worth listening to, notably, Mr Henry Redwood’s, also Mr Harkness’, both of whom condemned other speakers for bringing politics on to the scene. Of course, we had to take the bad with the good and listen to common sense, brilliant flashes of wit, sentimental pathos, and political twaddle, just as if we liked it all and everything. Many old celebrities were present— ‘ Old Ben Crisp,' the children’s friend ; 1 Heavy Weather,’ Mr Barnet ; Mr Baigent, of Waimea, the hero of ‘ The Royal Charter Julia, the Maori heroine, and many others. Four hours seem long to think of, yet there was so much to interest one, that time seemed to have flown when we stood up to sing ‘ Auld Lang Syne ’ and * God Save the Queen.’ During the afternoon sports were held in Trafalgar Park, and an Art Exhibition opened in Bridge-street, both largely patronised. In the evening there were fireworks, to see which the visitors paid one shilling for admission into Trafalgar Park, and another shilling if they wished to sit down, which most people did want to do after all they had accomplished during the day. I noticed that the crowd was chiefly composed of strangers, and that Nelsonians were conspicuous by their absence. I found out afterwards that they saved their shillings, and had a better view by sitting comfortably on the Port Hills. The fireworks I must say, were no better than those we enjoy for nothing on the Picton wharf on New Year’s Eve. On Tuesday a regatta was held. Regattas to my mind, are always slow things, but we saw one or two pretty races, and a splendid explosion of gun cotton by Captain Falconer, of the Wellington Torpedo Corps, when the old boat upon winch he operated was simply blown into atoms, and all we could see were specks of something black in a mountain of white froth which rose from the sea like a geyser. The same evening there was the Jubilee Ball, but though a member of the Committee offered me a list of the ladies’ dresses, they did not send me a ticket, and there were so many other attractions I did not care to spend 7s 6d to go to the ball, which, nevertheless, I heard was very successful, and of which no doubt your correspondent ‘Phyllis’ will give you a good account. We tried instead to get into the Theatre Royal, where Grattan Riggs’ Company were performing, but being ‘ new chums,' we did not understand tire way of the world in Nelson, and were simply amazed at the way the folks were lighting at the ticket box. We gave it best, our escort not caring to have their holiday attire torn oil ther backs. 1 heard the company took six hundred pounds a night whilst in Nelson, some of the front seat ticket holders having to sit on the stage—too near to be pleasant, and yet not near enough to assist in the pieces going on behind the scenes. 1’ rom the Jubilee Ball to a barrel-organ and monkey seems a long way, yet that was what we came to, and the crowd in the street’s affections seemed to waver between the barrelorgan and a visit to Tyree’s Photograph Exhibition by limelight. The children's fete in the Botanical < iardens came off also on Tuesday. We saw the procession of schools from the

window of the hotel ere we left to see the regatta, the Toitoi Valley children carrying appropriate bunches of toi-toi. Three thousand mugs had been provided for the children’s tea, but after seeing the procession I doubted if that number would be sufficient.

On Wednesday and Thursday the Jubilee Races were held at Richmond. Wednesday was gloriously tine, and the ladies were able to walk about and display their Jubilee attire, but on Thursday the rain came down in torrents. The rain, however, did not put any damper on the fashionable crowd which filled the grand-stand, amongst whom I saw many familiar faces from Blenheim. Most of the ladies were indulging in shilling sweeps, and occasionally hazarding something, through the medium of gentlemen friends, on the totalizator. The Cup and two other races were won by Awarua Rose, a horse belonging to Mr Henry Redwood, of the Wairau. On Wednesday evening we went to hear * Samson ’ performed by the Harmonic Society in the Provincial Hall. Here again we were at a disadvantage, not knowing from hour to hour to which of the many attractions held forth by the Nelson people our fate or fancy would lead us. We got tickets at the door for front seats, thinking it infra dig to sit in back seats in a new country, and in spite of a strong protest on my part, we were planted on a hard and uncomfortable form right under the orchestra. Some people like noise, but Ido not. It has a somnolent effect upon me. I could hear nothing but the blare of brass instruments, mingled with other noises too much jumbled up in my ears to mean music, and I began to fancy there was a thunderstorm going on, especially when escaping gas caused a little scare around me. Once or twice I caught myself napping when according to Nelsonions, I ought to have been in raptures over Mrs Percy Adams’ singing. The voices I liked best of all —what I could hear of them—were Mr Chatterton’s and Mr Kempthorne’s. The oratorio was one of the few things 1 did not enjoy in Nelson. We heartily wished we had paid less and had a better seat. On Thursday, after the races, we thought a little rest would be good for us, so we drove out to Mrs Neville’s homestead at Wakapuaki, where we had a lovely time till Saturday morning, when a large party of us drove into town again, and spent the greater part of the day ‘ doing the lions,’ and making short calls on friends. The Cathedral we had seen during an ‘off’ half-hour, thanks to Mrs Kempthorne’s kindness in trusting us with the key. The tradespeople too, we found, were only too glad to allow us to range over their domain at will without any expectation from us as purchasers. We would like to have spent, but travelling overland is a restriction in that respect, so we admired and complimented the tradespeople on their Jubilee show instead. We also went to see the Nelson bowling green in Selwyn Place, which is really a ‘ thing of beauty and a joy for ever,’ and the pride of every member’s heart lam sure. It is one of the most beautiful spots in beautiful Nelson, is a perfect work of art and whoever was possessed with the happy thought to make the Bowling Green just what it is must have all the instincts of a true artist. Quite a large and fashionable crowd were present to witness a match between Wellington and Nelson players, and all were regaled with afternoon tea, provided by Mrs Langley Adams. Other amusements were going on in addition to those I have named during Jubilee week. There were several dances, a Military and Naval Review, in which the officers and men of the Ringarooma took part, a Fire Brigade Demonstration and torchlight procession, a garden party at Mrs Richmond’s, a eopcert by the Nelson Orchestral Society, at which a Jubilee national song composed by Mr A. A. Grace, was sung to music composed by Herr Zimmerman ; a promenade concert at the Art Exhibition, a lawn tennis tournament between Blenheim and Nelson, and so many other items all crammed into one little week, that even the immense crowd collected in Nelson must have been quite full up of it, and the Nelson people must have reaped quite a little harvest out of it. I have said very little of how beautiful Nelson looked in her gala attire, almost every house in the city and suburbs displaying a flag. Where they could not raise a flag-staff the chimney did duty for one, and many a flag hung forth from that original stand-point. Flags hung out of windows everywhere, and whole strings of them here and there across the streets. All the processionists carried banners and at night the town was illuminated, and a large illuminated Jubilee lit up the Church Hill, and another Trafalgar Park. I saw hundreds of pretty dresses everywhere in the streets, at the Provincial Hall, even amongst the old settlers, on the lawn and grand-stand at the races, at the regatta, and at the bowling green. I saw pretty hats and pretty jackets, pretty capes and opera cloaks, but I saw no prettier girls than those we left behind in Marlborough. A Visitor to Nelson. Dear Bee, February 25. One would think after our gay week that we would all settle down to our usual quietness, but this has been by no means the case, for picnics and dances are still the order of the day. One of these latter was given by Mrs Mackay. It was quite an impromptu one, so consequently there were very few present. Among them were Misses Sealy (2), Curtis, Preshaw, Fell, Oldham, Worsp (Auckland), Broad (Wanganui), Williams (Blenheim), Duncan (Picton), and Messrs Oldham (2), Harden, Colt, Andrew, Wither (3), Kennedy, and Griffiths. Although only such a limited number were present, we had great fun, and pronounced it an awfully jolly little dance. The day after we all went to a most enjoyable picnic given by Mr Duncan, our destination being • Macky’s Bluff,’ about eight miles from town. Some of the party drove and some rode. Altogether we had great fun. The party consisted of Mesdames Preshaw and Pitt, and Misses Pitt (2), Levien, Preshaw, Duncan, Fell, Knight (Christchurch), Hosking (Sydney), Johnson (Wellington), and Catley, Messrs Duncan, Harden, McLean, Symons, Joynt, Northcote (Christchurch), Cooke, Wither, and Garret. On dit, the latest engagement is that of Miss Watson, the second teacher of the Girls’ College here, to Mr W. Atkinson. We were all glad to see our old friend, Mr Kissling, again, although lam afraid it is only for a short time. He has been in Australia for the last three years, but has now returned permanently to New Zealand, I believe, but unfortunately not to Nelson.

Phyllis.

We had such a jolly dance, Bee, given hy Mrs Hudson. Her brother, Mr P. Andrew, leaves for England next week, where he is going to study medicine, and the dance was given in his honour, and great fun we bad too, especially at the end, when we all sang ‘ Auld Lang Syne,’ and * For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,’ Mr Andrew replying briefly. The room was not overcrowded, and for the middle of summer it was a particularly cold evening, so the fates were in our favour. Mrs Hudson looked well wearing a black nierveilleux with silver ; Mrs Andrew (Masterton), wine-coloured satin with biscuit-coloured lace ; Miss Preshaw, soft green silk with chiffon frills, gold band in her hair ; Miss Wood,, black lace relieved with yellow ; Miss Kissling (Auckland). soft white silk and chiffon ; Miss Sealy, black net and silk, with primrose-coloured bows ; Miss F. Sealy, pure white net and silk ; Miss Mackay, heliotrope gown with chenille spots, gold bands in her hair Miss Pitt looked well in green net, her hair becomingly arranged ; Miss G. Pitt, soft white nun’s veiling deeply embroidered in gold ; Miss Hosking (Sydney), very chic robe of bright yellow silk, with black lace draped becomingly on the corsage; Miss B. Atkinson, black net and silk ; Miss L. Fell, soft white cashmere, the corsage braided with gold Miss Broad, black silk and net relieved with gold ; Miss Catley, pretty blue cashmere ; Miss Worsp (Auckland), blue and white striped silk ; Miss Holmes, black lace trimmed with black jet; Mrs Thornton, pure white silk and chiffon ; Mrs L. Adams, soft white silk, with deep flounces of lace ; Miss Greenfield, red spotted net. The gentlemen were Messrs Thornton, Holmes, Oldham (2), Broad, Wither (2), Harden, Andrew, Cooke, L. Adams, Symons, Harrison, Colt, and Pitt. The Brook Club again challenged the Nelson Lawn. Tennis Club. The match was played at the Brook Club courts, and very nice courts they are too, far greener than ours, and they can boast of three, while we have only two at the Nelson Club. The play of the members of the Brook Club has wonderfully improved. They were only beaten by eight games, and I would not be at all surprised if by the end of the season we find ourselves properly routed by them. There were a good many people present, who all enjoyed the delicious afternoon tea dispensed by the Misses Green and Sadd. The players for Nelson were Messrs Broad, Fernie, Macquarrie, Williams, Holmes, and Duncan ; and for the opposing Club Messrs Green, Levien, Broad (2), Mabin, and Gibbs. The ladies moved about a great deal, so I had a splendid opportunity of viewing their costumes, which you may be sure I availed myself of. Mrs A. Glasgow was wearing a very stylish robe of heliotrope, with velvet vest and gold trimming, small black bonnet with very palest pink heath Mrs J. Sharp, white robe, the skirt deeply worked with gold leaves, small white and gold bonnet; Mrs Broad, black soft muslin robe, black and gold bonnet; Mrs Bunny, black spotted gown, large black and silver hat: Mrs R. Kingdon, dark green cashmere, white felt hat with white feathers ; Mrs Levien, fawn costume, with small bonnet of pink heath, Mrs Holmes, soft white silk, large white straw hat with ostrich feathers ; Mrs Thornton, pink and white striped cambric, with lace yoke, small hat with spray of pink flowers; Mrs Williams, soft white silk, large white straw hat; Miss Monro (Wanganui), white flowered delaine, white and green hat; Miss J ones, heliotrope robe, black lace hat; Miss Broad, soft white silk, large hat; Miss Holmes, blue spotted zephyr, cream hat with cream feathers ; Miss Sealy, white striped muslin, small sailor hat with grey ribbon; Miss Worsp (Auckland), white pique, large white hat with feathers Miss L. Fell, red skirt, white shirt, large straw hat trimmed with red ; Miss Green, cream flowered delaine, sailor hat; Miss Sadd, flowered zephyr, large hat; Miss Mabin, cream cashmere, cream hat ; Miss Robinson, blue flowered zephyr. Mr Elliot, who is leaving Nelson, being promoted to the Collectorship of Customs at Wanganui, was entertained by the members of the Nelson Club at a supper, when a jovial evening was spent, all joining heartily in the singing of * Auld Lang Syne ’at the finale. We all wish him every success in his new sphere of duties. The season for deer-stalking has opened and one gentleman has already been successful in obtaining a good-sized stag. Next week there are to be more festivities in the shape of a dance, a tennis party, and some afternoon teas, so in my next I shall have still more news for you. The weather has been most unseasonable lately for February, such cold days—in fact, some people were quite glad to have fires, and the rainfall has been unheard of for this time of year. However, I see by the papers that it has been the same everywhere, so we must not complain.

[The Hastings letter has been unavoidably held over.]