The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 243, 10 November 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1876.

The steeplechase at Christchurch to-day was won by Zetland, Moose 2, Jack .3. Tommy Dodd was scratched. The telegram although put in at Christchurch at 2 -30, did not reach us until 4-45. The receipts of the railway yesterday were £76. The traffic was all from the town to the country, the fares taken at Foxhill being represented by eignt shillings. A special meeting of the Auxiliary Fire Brigade will be held at their Hall, the Port, this evening afc half-past seven. A full \ attendance is requested. Messrs. Kohler and Bent gave a most delightful and amusing entertainment at the Masonic Hall last night. The former is a really talented musician, and plays the cornet, flageolet and English conceetiua in -such a manner that it is a real treat to listen to him. In addition to this he performs most cleverly on the " Tumbleronicon," a name given to a collection of tumblers of various sizes, from which some very sweet tones are extracted by rubbing the 'edges. He plays a big drum, a set of bells, and the side drum at ouce, beating ou the latter the {

most perfect roll with one hand, and even if he were alone the entertainment would be well worth the entrance money, but he haa with him that most humorous and racy of comedians, Mr Horace Bent, whose impersonation of various characters was most faithful, the changes of costume being effected with marvellous rapidity. His humorous songs were received with peals of laughter, indeed to refrain from it would have been an impossiblity, his every action being sufficiently comical to set the house in a.roar. Mr Waud is an excellent pianist, and also played with much sweetness a solo on the violincello, accompanied by Mr Kohler on the guitar. We can safely recommend the entertainment as the most pleasing and amusing that has been available to the Nelson public for a long time. The ironworkers of Nelson held their annual meeting at the Forest Inu, Wakefield, on Wednesday evening last, when about forty persons were present. Mr Walker of Takaka was voted to the chair, Mr H. Wimsett officiating as vice-chairman. We need hardly say that the dinner waa all that could be desired, being served up in Host Smith's usual style. After the removal of the cloth, the chairman gave the toast " The Queen and Royal Family." Song— Mr Blanche. The chairman then gave " The Governor and his Responsible Advisers." Song— Mr M'Farlane. Mr W. White, in au appropriate speech, proposed "The Ironworkers of Nelson." Song—Mr Rowlings. Mr H. Wimsett responded, and said he believed that Nelson in a few years would turn out as good iron and coal as the old country. Comic song— Mr Humphrey. Mr John Lammas proposed "The agricultural and pastoral pursuits of the colony." Song— Mr Adams. The Wakefield 'Band then played some excellent music. The vice-(-•-linuan gave "The Army, Navy, and \ m anteers," and said he need hardly remark that they would be all ready if they were wanted. Mr T. Wimsett responded. SongMr White. Mr M. Lammas then gave " The Invited Guests," and Mr White responded. Song— Mr Wimsett. Mr T. Rowlings proposed "Absent Friends." Mr Blanche, in a very humorous speech, said he could respond for one of them, as he knew the cause of his absence. Comic song— Mr Wallace. The vice-chairman then gave "The past Provincial Institutions," questioning whether we should be as well off under tha new system, and referring to the good the provinces had done in the past. Mr White responded. Song— Mr M. Lammas. Mr White then gave " The Band," and said he believed it contained two of the hest players in the Southern Hemisphere. A number of songs and more music followed, and the party did not disperse until the larks began to sing. The ironworkers speni yesterday in sports, kc, and returned to town iv the evening after a very merry outing. Thb members of the Loyal Marine Lodge, 1.0. G.T., may fairly be congratulated on the success which attended their festival yesterday. The room was well filled at th-s tea meeting, while at the after meeting the holding capacities of the Port Fire Brigade Halt were put to a severe test. Mr McLean Dunn officiated as chairman, and gave a brief outline of the progress of the Marine Lodge, which, according to his statements, has progressed satisfactorily since its formation. The District Deputy (Mr Smith) addressed the meeting at some length, as also did Mr Bond, G.S.J.T. Several members of the port and city lodges contributed to the harmony of the evening with songs, readinge, recitations, &c. "Votes of thanks were accorded to the ladies who had provided the tea, to those who had so efficiently carried out the programme-, and to the chairman, and the meeting dispersed shortly before ten o'clock. The Resident Magistrate was occupied this afternoon in hearing appeals made under the 6th stction of the "Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871," by Mr Thomas Marsden and Mr H. Stafford, both of Stoke, against the rates levied on their property by the Waimea, Road Board. Mr Fell appeared for the appellants, and Mr Acton Adams for the Board. The evidcuqe, which was most uninteresting, was very lengthy, and had not concluded when we went to press. His Excellency the Governor held au undress levee at the Provincial Hall at noon today. The Artillery Company formed a guard of honor, the Band playing the National Anthem on his Excellency's arrival and departure. Cards for the private entree had been forwarded to his Lordship the Bishop of Nebon; his Honor Judge Broad; the Hons Major Richmond, C.8., and N. Edwards, M.L.C.'s, Messrs O. Curtis, A.. J. Richmond, and J. Sharp, M.H.R.'s; the Mayor of Nelson; Captain Marshall; the Revs J.C.Andrew, P. Calder, A. M. Garin, and G. S. Harper. The following gentlemen also attended:— Messrs A. Adams, Augarde, Baddeley, Major Baddeley, Messrs Bamford, Blundell, Bunny, Catley, Corbett, H. E. Curtis, Daniell, Dick, Gully, H. V. Gully, Hayter, Huddleston, C. Jones, A. Kerr, Kingdon, Rev J. Leighton, Messrs Macdonald, A. Mackay, A. Monro O'Conor, J. Oldham, Oliver, Pitt, Sclanders, Scaly, Stafford, Stanton, Tatton, Turner, A. It. Watson, B. West, and H. Wharton. Wb are glad to learn that another boat is about to commence practice for the champion race at our next regatta. Yesterday the Anonyma, which has been converted from a batswing into a four-oar outrigger boat, was taken from the shed of Mr Taylor aud put into the water. A trial then took place, and she appeared to travel very well. There was a strong S.W. wind blowing, and against this the boat was pulled, when she behaved admirably, though of course being very wet, the crew getting well soaked. We understand that the Anonyma will only be used as a practice boat, aud tbat Mr Taylor will build another one for contesting the race. The residents of the town devoted themselves with a will to holiday keeping yesterday. Each train as it left the station for the country was crowded, and many of the pleasure seekers did not return till "late at night. The steamer Wallace, too, took a large number of excursionists to Cable* Bay, where they reniained four or five houra| most of them taking the opportunity of visiting the Telegraph Station. In the evening there was a display of rockets and blue lights on board the Hinemoa in honor of the Prince of Wales birthday. A boat accident of a serious nature oc- ' curred in the harbor yesterday evening, aud that it did not terminate fatally is really marvellous considering all the circumstances. About three o'clock in the afternoon Mr W Lausley, accompanied by a Miss Gibson! started for a sail in the boat Eclipse in the direction of Wakapuaka. Between five and six o'clock, by some mismanagement, Mr Lansley not being much of a sailor, the boat capsized, and the two occupants found themselves in the water, and mado at ores for the keel of the boat, to which, as it turned out they had to cling for nearly five hours, and in all probability would hare met with their deaths bad not Mr Joseph Gilbertson, who was on the Wakapuaka road, near the cemetery, about eight o'clock, heard their cries It being dark, and Mr Gilbertson bein-j totally unable to render any assistance, he hurried into town, and as there was no cab ou the stands he walked down to the Port and got Mr Thomas Astle to start with him in a boat to endeavor to find those from the cries he had heard proceeded. For a long time they carried on the search in vain and were just giving it up as hopeless' when a. faint cry directed them to tho spot, not far from the coal hulk, where the boat was found with, the two clinging to it in so thoroughly exhausted [a state that it would have been impossible for them

to hold on much longer. The young ladyj indeed, slipped off just as her rescuers arrived, but she was seized by Mr Astle, and dragged into the boat, as also was Mr Lansley. On arriving at the wharf they were put into a cab and driven to the Miners' Arms Hotel, and Dr Bligh was sent for, who found them in almost the last stage of exhaustion, some time elapsing before he was able to pronounce them out of danger. Mr Gilbertson deserves the greatest credit for the prompt manner in which he acted, as also does Mr Astle for the ready assistance he rendered, and they have the satisfaction of knowing that they have saved two lives which must inevitably have been sacrificed had they not exerted themselves as they did.