NOTES FROM THE NEVIS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 45, 21 September 1870, Page 5

NOTES FROM THE NEVIS.

—o— our own Correspondent.) September 12, IS7O. I see sums person signing himself a " Nevis Man," has found Fialt with my stating that the movement for erecting a public library at the Nevis would stand over until the winter was pist, an 1 yet ha only prophjuies tint the building in ly be ready sometime about the Christinas hj >li lays. He states that subscription lists show a sum of nearly to;). From what 1 hear from some of the committee-nun, no money has been edleetel as yet; besides I ilon't think a treasurer has beonaopun :e I. As to the population decreasing, eight or ten men out of a co.umunitv of s iift3 tiJ or 70 persons is an appreciable deerei.se. The public meeting which a " N'evis M in" mentions was held with nit notice, and one mau was eillel up in to explain what the maetiug was held for, an 1 he stated that it was c died for the purpose of appointing a Committee to collect subscriptions for erecting a building suitable for lidding Divine worship in. This was overrule I. Some few that were in favor of a library held a meeting on the following night by themselves, an I appointed a committee, and [ have no doubt they will be enabled to put up a building for a library, but not before the winter is past. The preference given to a public library against a place f worship is, that it is expected the Govern.ii3:it will subsidise the one and not the other.. as to the intellectual amusement against the gin-shops, that's twaddle. My n )tes have been few lately : 1 hive not endeavoured to pass many of them upon the public, b it those I do piss through the oolum is of the Arijin are genuine, [f any one conies to the Nevi3, and describes it anything bettor than an increasing Chinese settlement, he will scarcely be stating the truth. If you will allow me, there are oie or two subjects of more importance than public libraries which I should like to see the pe >p e interest themselves ab rat, vernment Loans, an I such like matters. Imini-g-atiou would re pure but trilling pecuniary aid if the province was made su'licieutly attractive. Why not let the pe iple buy lan I where they may choose to selee - , it, instead .of where tae s piatter permits ? The outcry " want of labor" is not borne out by facts ; but if Chinese im migration was stopped, the diggings would maintain a great many of our countrymen who will otherwise be unable to procure a living. By what I see published about Thompson's traction engine, it might be made available f.jc a 1 traffic requirements for ye ire to come. A povate companv might be forme 1 for the purpose o: testing its utility. Another matter for serious consideration is the reekiess m inner of getting into debt the Government are f'i splaying, by c mtracting.loans, of enormiis sum \ of m mey, the interest of which will eventually absorb the whole of the.revenue, and the province will be in a worse position than ever. Members of the Council think they do their duty when the • obtain grants of m mey or subsidies f >r virio is works an l' purposes in the districts th it elec them, but if the people would only coasi ier that the m mey has to be borrowed, an I th it they have to subscribe to the paym >nt of the interest, they would see that it is not a right policv. The general feeling is to receive an grants of money fr>m Government as so mud' given to be scrambled for, an 1 one cry is, sue' l and such a district has got so many huud'e pounds, why should not we in an ither distric get-the same? Your new Mavor in one of his speeches said something about Criminal Sessions being held up-counfry, insteal of sending criminal eases with the whole batch of prosecutors, witnesses, aado hcial staff, down to iunelin. t thiuk if a .sessional judge is too much to ash for, or to ex psct, the prisoners might as well be tried at home, and sent down t-> town to receive their sentences. There will be a nice little bill foi ths-gold roh'iery prosecution through th's neglij g-»c"e of 3'oai3 of the oißsiaiu in j-athoriby.

I DUNSTAN SPRING MEETING. The annual hack races took place on the Dun-sj-att Course on. Friday and Saturday last, in the presence of between two and three hundred spectators. Cromwell furnished a considerable number of visitors to the course, and Alexandra, Blacks, Drybread, and the Nevis were likewise represented. The weather was delightful, and the roads, a3 well as the race-course, were singularly free from dust. It was nearly two o'clock when the horses entered for the first race were brought to the starang-post ; and the intervals between the races were unusually long and tedious. The events, however, were very well contested, and everyone seemed to enjoy the day's proceedings. The first race was the MAID2N PLATE, of If) sovs. Three-quarters of a mile. .Second horse to receive amount of eut-ance money (10s. each). Mr Beresford's eh in Oressidore, 3 yrs., Bst. lib. . '. (Edwards) I Mr Hayes' gm Kate, 3yrs., 10st. 4'b (Swan) 2 Mr T. A. Eraser's blk g Gipsy, 3 yrs.. Ssc 4ib 3 Mr W. Eraser's r g Hector, 3 yrs., Bss . . 4 Mr 11. Handyside's Comet, 4 yrs., 9st . . 0 Mr 0. V. Beck's g g Magic, 3 yrs., &>t . . 0 Mr Attfield's Wire-in colt, 3 yrs., Sst . . 0 Cressidore started off with the lead, which she maintained for a quarter of a mile, and was then challenged and passed by Kate. A struggle ensued between the two, and" the grey succeeded in leaving her opponent a ample of lengths astern. Hector and Gipsy then passed ('ressidore, joined Kate, and endeavoured to shake her off; but the. Kawarau (Jorge favourke was not to be so easily disposed of. The.thirty-two llis. over weight, however, told against her in the last quarter of a mile ; ami Oressidore, who had evidently been held in, passed the trio and came in a winner by about six lengths—Kate second, Gipsy and Hector third and fourth, and the other three a long w-.y in the rear. HURDLE RACE, of 15 sovs. One mile and a half, over five flights of hurdles. No weight under 11st. Second horse to receive half of entrance-money. Mr R. M 'Morran's blk hj Doctor Black (Gray) 1 Mr C. Turnbull's bl gTe Kooti . (Owner) 2 Mr T. A. Eraser's bhj Daniel . . (Owner) 0 Te Koori and Doctor Black went off together, and kept company until they reached the fourth hurdle, when the Doctor assumed the lead, and Won by two lengths. Daniel never had a chance throughout the race. All three took their leaps in excellent style. HANDICA P RACE, of 25 sovs. One mile and a half. Second horse to receive one-third of entrance-money (30s. each). Mr Newton's big Tonic,.Bst. lib. (Edwards) 1 Mr Cox's b m Madam, 7st. 121b 2 Mr Beresford's ch in Oressidore. Sst. ... 3 Mr Sinitham'sch g Rip, 9st. 71b 4 Mr Dawkins' g m Nelly Grey, 9st. 31b. . .0 Mr -—'s Welcome, 7st. Gib 0 Madam was the first to show in front, and it was only after a hard struggle that she was pissed by Tonic (a well-known Nevis horse), who carried off first honours. ' HACK RACE, of 1.3 sovs. Three-quarters of a mjle : heats. No weight under list. Onehalt x)l entrance-money to go to second horse. FIRST HEAT. Mr T A. Eraser's rin Kate . . . (Owner) 1 Mr H, Taylor's b g Stanley 2 Mr R. M 'Morran's ch g Roderick .... 3 Harkaway, Jenny, Odd Stockings, Venus, ar.d Doodlem Buck also started. SECOND HEAT. Kate won, after an exciting face, by a length. Stanley and Roderick both claimed the second money,-and it was decided they should run over again,—the result being that Roderick won. The Unnstan Jockey Club hold a meeting on Friday evening, when it was arranged to have three additional races on Saturday. The Club voted £2O towards the funds. The results of the races were as follow : HAN DICAP. Madam 1 HOSPITAL RACE. Madam 1 CONSOLATION' HAN*OICUP. Roderick J