The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEB-RUARY 21,1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 43, 21 February 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEB-RUARY 21,1870.

Hop Picking. — Th© next few weeks will be busy ones in our various hop gardens, the picking having commenced today. Although there are some excellent crops this year, we are infomed that ou the whole the yield will not be quite so large as is usually the case. Maitai Quartz Peep. — An adjourned meeting of those interested in the working of this reef is to be held at the Wakatu Hotel, on. Wednesday evening next. We are iv formed that a small piece of quartz taken from the reef, which is two feet iv thickness, has been tested and gold found in it. Thanksgiving Service.— A Thanksgiving Service for the late bountiful harvest was held yesterday afternoon in the picturesque little church of St. Alban at Appleby, which was appropriately decorated with cereals and flowers. Notwithstanding the unsettled state of the weather the little building was well filled, nearly every seat being occupied. A sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached by the Rev. W. D. R. Lewis, who took for his text Isaiah ix, 3, "They joy befoie Thee according to the joy iv harvest." The offertory, which is to be devoted to clearing off tbe small debt on the building fund, amounted to £11 2s. Bd. Boat Race. — A race between the two well-known boats Queen and Favorite, is to take place this afternoon, starting at five o'clock. The course is from the old hulk to the entrauce to the harbor aod back io the wharf, iv all a little over three miles. The following are the crews : — Queen — Astle (2), Bradcock, Coombes, Freeman, and Scott, cox wain ; Favorite — Lloyd, Bird, Drew, Thomson, Wimsett, aud Stallard, coxswain. Festivities at the Hospital. — On Thursday last the hospital presented a most unusual appearance, the principal rooms having been tastefully decorated by the matron and servants in honor of the wedding ot Dr. Kemp, the late house-9urgeon, which took place on that day, and in the afternoon the whole of the inmates who were able to do so turned out to give the Doctor a parting cheer as he drove past with his bride. In the evening all the employees of the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum were invited to a capital supper which had been provided for the*m in the former building, by order of Dr. Kemp, and many and hearty were the good wishes that were expressed for t.he future happiness of him-s.-ilf and his bride. Theatrical. — The programme published by the Star Company for Saturday night, drew together, as we anticipated, a large audience, to witness the nautical drama of "Black Eyed Susan," in which the company were assisted by two Nelson amateurs, apparently . much to tbe satisfaction of those present. Tbo two farces which followed were given -with great spirit, and were received with a corresponding amount of enthusiasm. To-night the programme consists of " The Ticket-of-leave Man," and the kughable farce entitled "My Brother Bill and Me." We observe that the Company are to be again assisted by the same amateurs who gave their services on Saturday night. The encroahments of the sea at Westport are daily increasing, and it has again become necessary to lemove several small houses. Some seventeen houses have been either demolished or removed within the past few months, and the loss in the value of property cannot be estimated at less than ab many hundred pounds. So determinedly and extensively, says "the Westport Times, ip the sea now trenching upon the land at particular points of danger, that tenders have been invited for the removal of the bodies contained in the jpresent town cemetry.