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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 44, 22 February 1870, Page 2

The schooner Colonist arrived at Auckland a few days ago, after a whaling excursion on the East Coast. She had a hundred and twenty-two casks of oil. A "Foreigners' All Nations Picnic" was held at Westporfc the other day, and appears to have proved a great success. The Times gives the following amusing summary of the proceedings : — There was, in the -character of the sources ■of enjoyment provided, and in the,absolute, fiDJoyment of them, a degree of quietmess, peace, and pleasedness which, in the estimate of those who are more accustomed to the rough and boisterous demonstrations of an ordinary popular holiday, might be considered rather tedious and tame. But if there was little positive ex- I ciiement, there must have been less of that great negative to the pleasure of holidays — headache next morning ; and, if there were no such adventitious aids to enjoyment as betting-books and sweepstakes, there were sighs, and vows, and side-glances sufficient to justify a large accession being made to the number of Valentines sent this season by the twopenny post. Among the people at the picnic, St. Valentine seemed to he less a foreigner than any other gentleman present. He was as cosmopolitan as the committee, and, with the same generous spirit pervading the feminine bosom, there was a freedom in flirtation which, to those who like it, must have been quite exhilarating. The only possible drawback to the enjoyment of the day by the fair sex was the risk of acquiring a slight redness of nose or an auxiliary freckle under the influence of the too constant sun.