GENERAL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 87, 20 April 1870, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The Wanganui natives who arrived yesterday by the St&r of the South, on their way home, landed this morning, and rnai'ched up to the Mount Cook Barracks, where, we understand, they are to remain for a few days, until the St. Eilda is ready to take them to Wanganui. Their appearance as they marched the streats, if not murtial or imposing, was certainly jiictureique in the highest degree. Few of them were troubled with superfluous garments, and not above one or two had shoes; all, however, had serviceable rifles. — Evening Tout, April 16.

Eace Between tjie Wellington and Aijiedale.—A steamer race took place between Tuesday afternoon and j'esterday morning, which was of almost as great interost as the Hutt races. The Wellington and the Airedale both left Wellington for Lytteltonon Tuesday. The N.Z.S.N. Co.'s " pet" got an excellent start from the Wharf at 3.] 5 p.m., and went away with a strong lead. The Airedale was handicapped by circumstances not to start till 4.15 p.m.; but with Kennedy in the saddle she overhauled her agile competitor in the straight run in, arriving at the Judge's stand, Lyttelton, at 10.10 a.m. yesterday, while the favorite did not get there till 11 o'clock. That nimble messenger " Wires" brought the news quickly back. Some people account for this unexpected defeat by saying that the " light weight" of " Permissive Bill" favored the screw, while James Q-illigan had handicapped the favorite down below the level of her antagonist, by putting the packet of salt, which the Premier had sent him to put on Te Kooti's. tail, on board the Wellington for the Canterbury Jockey Club to weigh by correct scales and report upon ; as the Stewards of the Hutt Races had nothing but a notoriol sly fibbing old dial scale. —Wellington Advertiser, April 16.

With inference to the fire on board the s.s. Claud Hamilton, Messrs. Johnston and Co., at Wellington, have received a letter from her owners, Messrs. M'Meckan and Blackwood, of which tne following is an extract: —" We are sorry to inform you that the Claud Hamilton, when coming up the Bay, was discovered to be on fire in the forehold. Luckily, it was soon extinguished, and no great damage done. There was only wool and flax in the hold, and it is our opinion that the wool was the cause of the fire, for some of the wool which had not been disturbed since it was stowed in New Zealand, was nearly red hot when landed this morning. It was very dirty and greasy, and everybody blames the wool. The flax was only burned a rittle outside. About 12 or 20 bales will require re-packing on account of wet, &c."

The Circxilar Saw Company's tender for the conveyance of competitors for the Government prize firing, to be held at Dunedin on the 29th inst., has been accepted, and the Phoebe's dates are so arranged as to carry out this service at all the intermediate ports from Manukau to Port Chulmers. The Phoebe will leave Wellington for the South on or about the 21st instant, and the Lord ABliley is laid on to bring them back, leaving Dunedin on the 2nd of May.—Wellington Evening Post.