TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 33, 8 February 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1881.

The Australian Eleven, to whose visit all lovers of cricket are looking forward with very pleasant anticipations, will leave Wellington in the Wakatu this evening and arrive here to-morrow morning and the game will commence in Victory Square at 1 1 o'clock. By an alteration in the railway time table for to-morrow residents in the Waimea will be enabled to attend the match during very nearly the whole of the day. Messrs Twist and Gay advertise a coach to rnn during the two days, taking passengers at threepence each. There was an alarm of fire shortly after 9 o'clock this morning, and the usual excitement consequent upon the ringing of the bells, but nothing serious resulted, although the little cottage in Hardy-street occupied by Mr Scotland had a narrow escape from destruction, a pillow and mattress in it having taken fire and smouldered until they were just about to burst out into a blaze, when fortunately the smoke was observed and the threatened damage put an end to. We understand that Mr Holloway, who a few years ago was accountant in the Bank of New Zealand here, whence he was removed to Christchurch, is about to return here as manager in the place of the late Mr Alfred Jones. A meeting of the Ratepayers' Association will be held this evening. The Nelson Race Committee will meet at the Masonic Hotel at 8 o'clock to night. Attention is called to the advertisement announcing that Thompson's Confederate Diorama will be on view at the Theatre Royal on Friday evening. So great is the interest taken in the New Zealand tour of the Australian cricketers that the Telegraph authorities have thought it worth while to offer every facility to the public for obtaining information regarding fbeir several matches, end instructions bare

been issued to the office here to remain open until ten p.m. to-morrow and on Thursday for the reception ot press messages. We are requested to state that from the reports of the Wesleyan Conference furnished to us there was accidentally omitted a reference to the catering for the bodily comforts of the members. Dinner was provided daily in the Hardy-street school-room, Mr William Phillips, Waimea Road, having entire charge of this department, and> including visitors, there were from 60 to 60 sat down daily. Mr Fhillins and. his staff were assisted by relays of ladies from the congregation, about Bix daily waiting at table. When the cloth was removed on Thursday, the last day of the Conference, at the call of the President the Rev. J. Buller rose to move a vote of thanks to the ladies for ther kind services, and to Mr Phillips for the able and efficient manner in which he bad discharged his duties. Mr Buller said he had never before seen the Conference dinners managed so well. As the next Conference was to be held in Christchurch, he hoped Mr Phillipa would follow them and again serve them as well as he had this time. He paid the highest compliment to all concerned, and said he doubted not that Members of the Conference would be glad when it again came to Nelson's turn to entertain them. Mr Donald, a gentleman from Edinburgh, seconded the resolution. He said he Was astonished at what be saw. The abundance, quality, and beautiful variety of everything charmed him, and he could only say they must have sent to Edinburgh for their instructions. The Rev. E. Best spoke in support of the resolution, warmly eulogising Mr Bavin for his skill and attention, and referring in the highest terms to the courtesy and ability of Mr Phillips and the ladies assisting, through whom thi9 important part of the Confereuce proceedings had passed off with unprecedented success. The resolution was carried with the heartiest acclamations, and Mr Bavin replied in suitable terms.