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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 5 March 1901, Page 3

The "Westport races take place on Friday and Saturday noxt, when there should bo some good contests. Several horses ate already there. Hotu was landed on Friday; Redwood's team, Dialogue, Sainfoin, and ' Waitutu, left Nelson on Wednesday : W. Fergus' Millstream and Seabreeze and the sprinter Reveille left ltcefton on Saturday ; P. M'Conkey, in charge of llekanui and Token, and Stratford's trio, Haria, Skirmisher and Speculator left Rcefton yesterday morning. It is reported, says the Ashlmrton Mail, that one of thenativc officers of the Bengal Lancers expressed his astonishment when informed that Mr Sedclon was the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Jfe thought ho was somebody hired by the Government to go about the Indian Contingent, and give the same old jabberjabber everywhere." "We prefer New Zealand to New South Wales," said a stalwart Lancer to a Post representative, and he went on explaining. In Sydney the troops were subjected to a good deal of " barrack " from the crowds, and if was not always of a pleasant description. Then again, when conversing with the people, they were frequently told —"Our boys can beat you." Other remarks of the kind were frequent, and did not, to say the least, tend to foster good feeling. "We did not come over here to be compared with tho Australians or New Zealanders," said the Lancer ; "We came to show you ourselves as we are, no better and no worse, and such remarks as I have told you somehow took the gilt off the reception. Now, what I like about you New Zealanders is that you don't boast all the time of what your own ' boys' have done, but take us as we are —representative of the Army, sent out here to show you what the Army is like, and gave us a reception of which any body of men might feel proud."

The Committee of tho Westland A. and P. Association met at Kanieri on Saturday afternoon, when final arrangements for tho show were mad j. The secretary stated that tho prize money to bo given away would amount to more than £7O. In view of the early establishment of tho telephone exchange in Hokitika the Chief Postmaster (Mr Sheath) has receivod a number of applications from young ladies who are anxious to receive the position of telephonist. We understand that Mr B. McKenzie M.H.8., is likely to mako Nelson, or some place in the neighborhood, hi 3 homo for some time to come. Mrs McKcnzie's state of health requires the benefit of a mild climate, and for that reason Mr McKenzie has been resident in Napier for sometime past—Colonist.

A Maori message that now lias a touch of melancholy about it is (a Gisborne telegram says) given in the Maori journal just published. It was addressed to the late Queen, but was purposely kept private so that the Poverty Bay tribes, who sent it, would not be forestalled byother tribes. The message offers sympathy to Queen Victoria in her sorrows, especially in regard to the war. They express the hope that the Duke of York will visit their district.

The Maori land Government (says the Bulletin) seriously propCsc to build a special " Koyal " Railway car for the use of the Yorks. And now every one is asking '• who ia going to ride in it after the Yorks' have gone '.' " Just as the tro psh'p Dalhousic t?as being berthed alongside the Railway Wharf at Nelson, Mr Ernest Trade, who was standing on the edge of the wharf, over-balanced, and fell between the Trtanekai and the wharf into the sea. Ho was immediately assisted on to tlie wharf, none the worse for his sudden immersion.

Acting on the advice of Dr Jlacancirew the Woodstock Behooi Committee docided to keep the school closed until the llthinst, as a safeguard against a. reappcrancc of the late epidemic of scarlatina.