Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 444, 4 February 1857, Page 10

Colonial.

WELLINGTON. We have received, by the Canterbury Wellington papers to the 24th nit. through the mail bag, and one of the 28th by private hand. The city was holiday making, and the papers accordingly contain lengthened notices of the epo'rts. The Buniham water races occupied the 22ud and 23rd. The weather on the fi.gt day (Thursday,"» was gloomy and showery, but the rain did not last long", and the afternoon turned out so fair, that the attendance of ladies and others is said to have been more numerous than on any preceding occasion. "Of the running and the pace," says the ' Spectator,' "we cannot say much, as it was not of a first rate character in any .race, while in some it was miserably slow. 'Nor can we say much of the manner in which the various events were contested, nearly every race having been won with comparative ease, which, however, was more particularly the case with the principal race, the Produce Stakes, which was in reality nothing more than a chase from beginningl to end." & 5 The sports began with the Wellington Produce Plate, value 100 guineas^ added to a sweepstakes of 6 guineas each. There were 8 nominations, but only 5 came to the post. Mr. W. H. Rotermund's Miss Foote, ridden by Ashbolt, ran away from the rest, and won easily by about four lengths. Mr. R. Collin's Destiny was second. The rest, nowhere. Distance 2 miles. Time 3min. 50secs. The course was very heavy ;in some places almost fetlock deep in sand. The Burnham' Water Stakes, value £30, added to a sweepstakes of 3 guineas each. Heats. Four hordes started. The first heat was won by Mr. Rotermund's Scrip, and the second and third by Mr. C. Nairn's Charley Napier. Tie Ladies' Purse, 6 horses started, won with great ease by Gipsy, ridden by Mr. A. Hickspn. Mr. Clifford's <Julnare, second. ■ The Licensed Victuallers' Plate was won by Mr. Nairn's Sunbeam, against Mr. Moorhouse's Emperor. Won one heat each, and, Emperor being drawn, Sunbeam walked over. On the Second Day, the weather was still more unpropitious, being heavy and close, and rain falling incessantly. The rain is said to have improved some parts of the sandy course. The first, race was the Member's Plate, value 100 guineas, added to a sweepstakes of 5 guineas each. 6 horses started. Heats. Won by Gipsy, ridden- by Mr. A. Hickson, beat; ug

Narau by a bare head in the first .heat, Dr Hildebrand third, and Miss Foote iburik In the second -heat, Gipsy maintained the same place with some difficulty. Distance 2 miles, less 240 fyarda. Time, Ist heat| 3min. 32secs.; 2nd heat, 4mm, {Jsecs. ; i.. i • i. A Maori race Followed at which eight horses,o\yned.aud.riddenb,yMaorie,s, started. The race afforded-great amusement. .Won by Karitiana's Putu-putu in three heats. The Handicap was won by Dr. Hildebrand. . " ; . The Hurdle Race, heats; over six hurdles. Won easily by Namu, in two heats,, against" Emperor, second, arid Scrip, third. °The Consolation Stakes came off next day. Won by Mr. - Rotermund's Claret, against Emperor. Several Hack Races ended the Burnham Water Meeting.. The same papers contain the following paragraphs:— , , , „-; Native ENTERTAiNsiEyT at the Htjtt.—Captain Mundleof the Oliver Lang gave an entertainment to the native chiefs on Thursday last. Mr. Lang with his usual desire to promote these pleasant sources of recreation and friendly interchange, kindly placed the,grounds around Bloomfield at the disposal of the party. Epuni and about 40 chiefs and natives sat down to a. most substantial repast, and then through Mr. Buller, the interpreter, offered as their part towards the the amusement of the company, to go through the war dance, which they did .to the very great pleasure of all present, adding thereto a "variety of their old warlike songs. -We noticed amongthe company present Mrs. Mnndle, Mr. and Mrs. Hervey,1 Capt. - and Mrs. Rhodes, Mr. and Mrs. Adam McDonald, Dr. Macaul, (Oliver Lang), Dr. Gilison, (Mariner), Mr. Homer, &c, &c. On the-day previous several of the chiefs visited Captain Mundle on board the Oliv-"1 ;Lang, and we need not say how astonis ed pleased and gratified they were at.the spLWious proportions and elegant accommodations of this noble Ship. We cannot help mentioning however, that on arriving at the Cook's Gblley and seeing the extent of the: Coppers &c , an instinctive remembrance of former times . (Rauparaha's for instance,) seemed to come over them, and they refused to proceed any further forward, gladly taking their early departure.— Independent. J&n. 21. ; The splendid clipper :ship Rose of.Sharon, one of Messrs. F. Young and Co's Line of packets arrived in this harbour on Monday last, after a, very fine and pleasant passage of 104 days, having only reefed'topsails twice during the voyage. She sailed from Gravesend on the 6th October, 1856, and has brought four days later intelligence than had been- previously received via Sydney ; but it is of an unimportant character. Both Cabin and Steerage passengers speak in high terms of. the courtesy and kindness of Captain So utheron whose attention to their comforts and wants was unceasing. The provisions are -stated to have been excellent, and of : which there was abundant supply. She has I brought upwards of 100 passengers, some of ; whom have come out under the Provincial Go- | vernment Regulations and the remainder are \ bound for Canterbury. The next vessel of this I line placel on the birth for Wellington and Can- ; terbury is a fine n.3W ship called the Heroes of j Altna, of 1200 tons burthen, Captain Silk, to ;; sail oa the sth November.l^— lbid. ; Something Satisfactory.—: The news brought by the Z:nt;ari, from Auckland, is, of. a far more sa isfa tory cliara ter than any which we have received from the iSort\ for some time I pas!:. Some steps are at last to bj taken with a }' view to th? extinttfcion of the nuVve title to lands %■ in th) Ahuriri, Wararapa, and 'ofchar .^arts of | this provuice. .. M.\ Cjaper has b33ii appointed a Resideat Conmiss onar a^d is to proceed to the Ahuriri at onc3. Ml1. Me L,an is also to pay us a short visit, to sal tie up out standing affair.'?, but whether he ccrq.es down at once or no, we have not been abla to lean, w<j bsl'eve how v.ir no sp3c:fi.; time has bein yet fixed. \ A se;oul Resident Cjmmissioner is ; lso tj be ; appoin'el—p ssibly, we sup] ose, the gentleman ! al'uded to in hisJElonor's-speech, Mr. Ligar— | of whose qualifications for this kind of service I report speaks highly. As these arrangements I will doubtless ba .brought before the Council, j we defer making any comment until woarethus I put in possession of the particulars.

The liouvy ib;: •ly.iidi;-,^ iroo. -tad bonded goods at this i.)orfc,.:3uive,'.- wa ar ; ; happy to say, been length, j'uvi : ci^rii'.o- :;-i;> Summer months free good;-; caii be I.i-.;di'(lfvomßto4 and bonded goods from Bto 0, during the winter months the hours are from 9 io 4 and from 9 to 2 respectively. We thank His Excellency's Government for this alteration; we hope that as our trade increases it will be still further lengthened so as to avail ourselves to the fullest extent of our calm mornings. In the mean while the little experience we have had of Liverpool Ships, shows that if our London vessels would only be a little smarter, they might discharge far more quickly than they do.—- Ibid, Jan. 24.