LOCAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 82, 9 April 1869, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Thatcher's Entertainment. — Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher gave tin-fir farewell entertainment at the Oddfellows' Hall, last uighr, when the great hie of the evening was the new local song entitled " The Artillery and the Coal Hulk." City Artillery. — This Company meet ' for ball practice this afternoon, when the hulk is again to be placed in jeopardy. On this occasion we shall not venture to offer .'my predictions as to the result of the firing, but merely hope that the practice may be more successful than was the case the other day. Dr Cark. — This gentleman gave one of his seances at the Temperance Hall last night, at which he kept his audience amused and interested during the whole evening. Much surprise was created at the thorough control possessed by him over such subjects as ventured to place themselves in his power. All Saints Parish. — We regret to find that an error appeared* yesterday evening in our notice of the meeting of parishioners of All Saints,which we stated was to take place last night, instead of which, it should have been to-night, at half-past 7, at the Bishop's Schoolroom.

The Countess de la. Pasture. — It is with the deepest regret that we learn of the sudden de|ith of this lady, which took place at Canterbury yesterday afternoon. The Couutess was for rnauy mouths a resident iu Nelson, during which time, she contrived by her amiable disposition, her numerous charities, and her fas ioating manners to endear herself to a large circle of friends and acquaintance?, who will, one and all, unite in mourning her premature death. Improvements at the Government Buildings. — We are indebted to the approaching visit of the Duke of Edinburgh for somethiug more than the transitory pleasure of seeing in our midst a son of our Sovereign and the little excitement attendaut thereon. We notice in many portions of the Town that many little | improvements aud decorations are being ma<Je, but in no part is this more perceptible than at the Government Buildiugs and Grounds. All of us must have noticed the immense improvement that has been made in front of the Buildings by the levelling of the so called terrace and the removal of the sickly lookiug shrubs that concealed the principal entrance, but possibly there are many who are not I aware of the renovatious that have beeu made within the Buildings, one of the most strikiug being the new papering of the Provincial Hall. This fine room is now to be seen under an entirely different aspect to that which it presented in its old dingy coating of whitey brown paper, which has been replaced by a much lighter ! aud more ornnmental description of papering, an alteration that not only makes the room appear larger than formerly, but will cause it to light up much better, and give the Hall a more cheerful apj>earauce altogether. Whilst on this subject we would notice the spacious supder room that has been erected for the ball aud which when decorated and lighted, will form one of the prettiest rooms in NewZealand.