The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 113, 15 May 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1877.

As we anticipated, the tidal wave which swept the shores of Australia and New Zealand has been speedily followed by the news of a terrible earthquake by which the town of Iquique has been destroyed. Iquique is on the west coast of Peru in latitude 20 south longitude 70 west. Large quantities of saltpetre and Llama wool are shipped from thence, but as there is no harbor but merely an open roadstead somewhat similar to that in Taranaki there is considerable delay in loading vessels, as everything has to be taken out to them in sma 1 ! boats something like catamarans. The first of Mr Severn's lectures under the arrangement with the College Governors was given at the Provincial Hall last night, and the second this afternoon. There were large attendances of boys from the College aud the Bishop's school, and about 100 from the Town schools. We are requested to state that the public will be admitted on payment of the small fee of one shilling. The subject of to-morrow night's lecture will be spectrum analysis. At a meeting held at the Nelson Hotel last night it waa decided that if practicable there should be a day's racing on the Queen'a Birthday in Mr Canning's paddock between Richmond and Hope, and a programme with the amounts of the prizes left blank was drawn up. It was stated that the railway manager had agreed to take passengers out and back at reduced fares, and to land them on the course. A small sum was subscribed in the room, and a committee was appointed which will meet to-morrow evening to make the necessary arrangements. The members of the Naval Brigade will parade at the Botanical Gardens this evening at half -past seven o'clock. A Waverlet assembly is advertised to be held to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. A correspondent sends us the following from Stoke:— "Are not the old pioneers of Nelson getting less and less sympathetic?— a quality that is apt to confine our ways ard dealings within a very narrow sphere, in which space nothing but "No. 1 " moves about. Circumstances answer in the affirma- , tive. Had not this been the case, would the marriage of an old and well-known and much respected settler have been allowed to pass unnoticed in our local public press? lam referring to the wedding which took place last Thursday at St. Barnabas' Church, Stoke, when the Bishop of Nelson joined in holy matrimony Mr William Songer, the "Father of Stoke," and Mrs Mary Hubbard, of Richmond. Any antiquarian who is in search of the origin of names, let him come and ask this gentleman the derivation of Stoke, and he will learn the why and the wherefore from him. Mr Songer being a resident of Stoke in the old country came out here in 1841, and christened his new and adopted home after that much cherished spot. Perhaps it would interest those in search of curiosities to know that he possesses the first four-legged table that was ever made in Nelson. He has it different times built three houses here, a consideration ,in a small village like Stoke. In those dayß of make-shift what stranger ever went to Stoke who did not soon find out the free and open hospitality that Mr and Mrs Songer's home offered? His house was not only a comfort, convenience, and refuge to individuals, but if any religious denomination sent up a minister to Stoke the free hearted settler readily granted his house which for the time being was converted into a chapel, and many devout services have been held therein. The present church at Stoke was liberally contributed toward by him, and he was instrumented in procuring for It, from England, the bell that is therein. These faot. have not been entirely forgotten by the old identities living at Stoke, as the joyful proceedings of last Thursday testified. A determination was prevalent that such an important event should not pass without some demonstration of joy, and accordingly guns were fired, and dancing, aud festivities of various kinds were the order of the day on the memorable 10th of May. lam glad to say that he has married an old pioneer like himself, and trust that it will be a step conducive to happiness, and that their feelings and affections will tally as well as their ages, which, united, amount to the venerable total of 122— each contributing exactly half towrads it "