WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 550, 10 February 1858, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

By the Canterbury we have Wellington papers to the 2nd instant. The holidays,

the disastrous .flood in the Hutt, the Assizes, and one or two other* subjects,,,throw politics for the present into the, background. The holidays on occasion of the, anniversary took place on the 21st and 22nd ultimo, when-'the' Burnham Water Races came off. The l Independent' summarises the sport ,as follows :—- The produce. Stakes were won by;Mri' ■ Collins's 'Nigger, Mr. Harris's Romp second. A. most unsatisfactory raee,7and a ' great disappointment' as far as spoilt was concerned." , , ' The Burnham Water Stakes were won by Scrip, who walked over for the second 'heat. . : The. Licensed Victualler's Purse was 'won in two heats by Meleager, Romp . being- !secon(J. , The Ladies Burse was won'in two heats by Namu,; Betty Martin second 'in each jlieat. A very good race. ; On' Friday the Gold Whip was won easily- by Scrip>• Nigger second. The Maori Race was won by Riku, Ngatiwhenuku second. The Handicap, with five acceptances, was won, by Meleager y Namu second! A good race. The Hurdle Racei was won in two heats, by Scrip. The race in the'first heat was a splendid one between Scrip arid Namu. The Consolation Stakes fell to the lot of Romp, Putu Putu second. A Maori race for a whip and pair of spurs and one or two hack races concluded the day's sport. Anniversary Regatta.—The Anniversary ' Regatta came off on Saturday last. The day proved propitious, the morning' being exceedingly fine with a light breeze from the N.E. j during the afternoon it hauled round to the N.W., and got fresher. The first Race for Whale Boats, prize £15; was won by Mr. Hunter's boat liord Duncan. ; Three boats started for this race, and although the Lord Duncan broke an oar in starting, and the other boats got ; considerably a-head, they cleverly caught an-oar thrown from a vessel, and succeeded in overtaking and passing the other boats. The next Race was a Sailing Match for dingys or skiffs. Three boats contended for this race, Mr. Mackay's Midge^ Mr. Plimmer's Rover, and Mr, Hewett's Eliza. The Eliza took th.c.lead in starting, quietly followed by the Rover and Midge; the Rover was the first boat in, beating Midge by about two minutes. ■

This was followed by the Cargo Boat Race. Four boats started—Try for it, (Haybittle), Try again (G. Roughton), Bumbam (A. Hewitt), and City of Lon-r don (I. F. Wills). After an exciting race; the boats being all exceedingly well hanrdled, the Burnham proved the winner. For the Beck Boat Race, four vessels ran—the Jane Peata, Matilda Hayes, Emerald, and Sisters. The Matilda Hayes made a bad start and got foul of a vessel at anchor, and the other crafts got about 20 minutes start. The Sisters took the lead and kept it throughout, closely followed by the Emerald. The Matilda Hayes after getting away continued to lessen her distance, and passed the Jane Peata on rounding the mark off Hickson's Wharf the first time round, but was unable to catch the leading boats. The Waterman's Pulling Match was won by Woodgate's Allow me to be there, McLean's Shamrock coming in second. The day concluded with a duck hunt, which afforded, considerable amusement, being the first race of the kind which has taken place here. Being Saturday,, and following immediately after the races, the assemblage of spectators was not so numerous as usual.;; — Ibid, Jan. 27. ' Flood at the Hutt.—ln our last we gave, such details of the disastrous flood which had occurred at the Hutt as had reached us, we now furnish the following ! particulars which we believe may be relied tipon, as 'being substantially correct. The number of bodies at present actually recovered is nine, viz.—Mrs. Stanway arid two children, one four years old and ike other,six-years ; Mr. Sollars, his wife and child • Mrs. Hagan and infant, and Mrs. Price j the other persons known to be missing, are the husband of Mrs. Stanway, and three more of his children, who were all seen to be washed away together. The particular locality where this fearful loss of life occurred was, near the " Barley Mow Inn," at the Upper Valley ,of the Hutt. When the flood was at its highest (about 1 o'clock, a.m., Tuesday morning) the force of the water at this point is describqd by an eye-witness as having been terrific. The water was seen rushing along like an immense wave, crashing and roaring, and carrying everything before