The Nelson Eveening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 313, 31 December 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Eveening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1873.

Abtizans' Association.— The general meeting is postponed until Wednesday, the 7th January. Temperance Hall.— New Year's Day will be celebrated- by a prayer meeting in this Hall, at 7 a.m., and a tea party in tho afternoon, ac 5 o'c/ock. Lottery Drawing.— -The drawing in Mr James's Lottery, on the Art-Union principle, will take place at the Ternperance Hall, this evening, very nearly all the tickets having been disposed of. The Watchnight.— Services will ba held in the Wesleyan Church, Hardystreet, this evening, commencing at halfpast ten, and continue till after midnight, when addresses will be delivered by the Rev. T. Buddie and others suitable to the occasion. Children's Treat.— We understand the teachers of the Wesleyan Sabbathschool bave arranged to givp the children of the school a treat on New Year's Day. The children will meet in the schoolroom at half-past nine in the morning, and be marched to a paddock in Brook-street Valley, when, arrangements will be made ! to amuse and entertain the children during I tbe day. The parents and friends ot the children are invited to join, refreshments beiug provided for visitors at Is a ticket. Fire at Collingwood. — The ketch Standard, which arrived last night from Parapara, brings the news tbat the bouse occupied by Mr. Schwass, and belonging to Mr. Johnston, Collector of Customs, was burnt to the ground on Friday evening. Mr and Mrs Schwase were absent at the time of tbe fire-, which was caused by ono of the children dropping a candle among some clothes. Everything in the house, including furniture and children's clothes, was destroyed. Freemasonrt.— The festival of St. John the Evangelist having fallen this year on a Saturday, it was decided by the craft to celebrate it on the following Tuesday. Accordingly the brethren of the Southern Afar Lodge assembled in their Hall at high-noon yesterday, when Brother C. L. Maclean was installed as Worshipful Master of tbe lodgo for the ensuing year. The following officers were then invested with tf.e!r collars of office bj» the new W,M., viz., Brother W. Lifcrhtfoot, S.W.; Brother J. Moutray, J.W. ; Brother E. G. Collins, Secretary; Brother H. J. Goodman, Treasurer;

Brother __.. Boor, S.D.; Brother w « Darby, Jud., J.D.; Brother Walter Good, 1.G.; Brother E. Wooicotf, Tyler. In the course of the proceedings an address of condolence, of which the following 13 tbe text, was presented by Paat- \ Master Hibble to Brother Past-Masier .Squires, on the occasion of the death of hia wife :— " Nelson, August 20, 1873.— The Brethren of the Southern Star Lodge of Freemasons, No. 735, having heard the distressing intelligence of the death of the beloved wife of their Brother William Westbrook Squires, twice PastMaster of their Lodge, beg most fraternally to condole with him iu his affliction, and pray that the Most, High will shield their Brother and soften his present sorrow. And it is their earnest prayer tlmt their Brother may for many years b8 spared to guide the steps of Lis gon through the intricate windings of this mortal life, so that there may be reflected in the son the virtues of a now deceased parent. — Worshipful Master, A. Hibble ; Senior Warden, C. L. Maclean; Junior Warden, W. Lightfoot." The address, which was neatly framed, was beautifully engrosssd, and most tastefully illuminated, and appropriately ornamented with Masonic symbols, by Mr. A. M'Kellar Wix, who displayed considerable artistic skill in its preparation. In tha evening the Brethren, (0 the number of about 50, amongst whom were some of the Brethren of the Nelson Lodge of Mark Master Masons, sat down to a good dinner prepared for them by their- host, Brother Tregea. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were drunk.