Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 671, 13 April 1859, Page 3

Colonial.

HAWKE'S BAY. Our papers from this province are down to the 26th ult.

Tha week ended March 19th was full of stirring events in Napier. Two days of racing, a puhlic dinner, and a ball came off, the dinner to. celebrate the separation of the province from Wellington — the races to help the dinner in creating festivity — and the ball to crown the whole. The races were on the 15th and 16th, and were, says the ' Herald,' a decided success, for though the course was a.long distanca from town the attendance of spectators was very great, .being estimated at from 2.00 to 250 on the first day. The Maiden .Plate, £50, for which seven started, was won "by,Mr. Tuke's g-g-Hoots, in two heats, easily. A Maori race, live starters, by Hatau. The Hawke's' Bay Stakes, £50, seven competitors, won by Mr. C. J. Nairn's Charlie Napier in two heats, beating Boots, the former winner, after an exciting race. A Sweepstakes won by Blain's Bob, concluded the day's business. The second day's sport opened with the Hurdle Race for £50, 1| mile heats, to jump four hurdles 3ft. 9in., each heat; won by Charlie Napier a'gfiinst Boots and three others. The race was a bad one, almost all refusing the hurdles. A Scurry Race followed between five horses: Morena was not placed in the first heat, took the second, ran second for the third, and won in the fourth; the second and third horses were 2, 3, 1, 2. and 1, 2, 0, 3, respectively, in the four heats. This was the best contested race of the day. The Consolation Stakes was the last event arranged in the programme,"but two or three unannounced followed.—The "' Herald' concludes by saying ".One or two accidents occurred on the course through indiscriminate riding, but no ! casualty of a serious character. A large number of natives were among the witnesses of the sport, till well pleased with the fun, and satisfied with tha decisions of the stewards. Several booths were erected on tha ground, and want of refreshment for man or boast was not to be complained of. The arrangements of the stewards elicited general satisfaction." TIIK SEPA.BATIOX IHXXEK. Thursday, March 17. It is to be regretted that the wont in Napier oi* a sufliiui'tttly spacious apartment precluded tho 'possibility' of this festive occasion bsVing one in which all could join. At a meeting of the stewards held on Saturday night it was found that ticket-.* h&d-baen sold'to an extent fully commensurate with the: number for whom accommodation coujd bo provaddd-;; in consequence of whirh, many persons who "tiad/deferred the purchase* of tickets till the last 'weak were doomed to disappointment. Tho party nevertheless was a large one—upwards of 70 persons having sat down to dinner. The sciiool-bouae, which, aa tho largest room in the town, h:ul been kindly granted for the .purpose, was decorated with iiaga and garlands of ever-

Tgreew, and prosontcd an 'appearance greatly at yaviiince with tho. iwhal .dreary aspect of th-tt much msgiected >trm;ture. The arrangment of the fcibles also was excellent, affording at once plenty of sitting room and ample space for tho avocation of the waiters. The chair was occupie.l by Captain Curling—Mwsiv.. Ferguson and Cooper officiating as vicertiK lirmon. Justice having boon done to a

very .good dinner.'the "following toasts were propo■Bad' in rotation :"• The Queen. Royal Family, Army -<*nd ISavw His Excellency, Prosperity to the. New

'•Province, Pastoral and Agricultural Interests, the ."Native Chiefs (lo.wlrich Ronata responded in a neat •speech in ?tho Maori tongue), the Guests of tho "Evening, the Press, Captain John Curling, the Stewar&s of the Race Meeting, and Colonel:Wyatt, •and in flvi intervals songs were sung by gentlemen of the company, after wliich the few remaining spirits adjourned to the. Golden Floece, and kept up the conviviality to a late hour. Tlu> la.>t scene of all, told vividly by the •"^JL'WiKi ' in the. words which we quote, is tho

SKI'AIUTIOK B.VLL. Friday, March 18. As wh prepare for press, the merry sounds of the -drum and fife, (the only available but not-to-be- ' despised music), proceed from the school-house and''vpenetrate into the remotest corner of the editorial sanctum. It is not, therefore in our power to chronicle the proceedings of the votaries of Torpsinhore, from the time of the first quadrille ♦ ill ' dav-lis'ht doth appear'; but we can testify ;.". that at this moment 36 couples are dancing a polka, Aaud that ther.umber'•■present cannot be less than between 40 and 50. -The room looks well, and .good humour appears on every face. We are happy .to-say that the 'attendance of ladies is largo, and that there-lsno lack of beauty to add to the other •embellishments of theball room. Many returns of so interesting and hilarious an occasion !

We add a few paragraphs from *r.Mier and later numbers. Posts to thr Interior. — Our country readers will be glad to learn that there is some probability of the inland postal communication of the Province being placed upon a satisfactory basis. For some time past a correspondence has been, going on between the Postmaster at Napier upon this subject, the object of the former, we believe, being to have a scheme of inland postal communication placed before him, with the view to steps Toeing taken for its adoption. Mr. Catchpool, we learn, has already collected information on the .subject; but, in order that such a scheme as that •required may be one that meets the wants of all ■ parts of the'province, he has resolved, before submitting his report, to await the meeting-of council, T-the more conveniently to elicit the views and -opinons of the country members. By.fpllowing this course, a well digvsted plan may be expected to be the result: and its operation such as will give •satisfaction to all parts of the interior.—March 26.

TnE Elections.—Tuesday, the lstinst./having 'been the day of nomination for the Te Aute electoral district, the Returning Officer attended at the principal polling place for the purpose of receiving the names of candidates. -Mr. E. S. Curling was proposed by Mr.-John Johnson, seconded by Mr. "David Henderson ; and, no other candidate being nominated, Mr. Curling was declared duly elected. On Monday, the 7th inst., being the nomination fiay for the district of Waipukurau, Mr. John Tucker was nominated by Mr. C. J. Nairn, seconded "by Capt. Lambert; Mr/J. B. Ormond, by Mr. 11. E. Eussell, seconded by Capt. Newman. No opposition offering, these gentlemen were declared, duly eleoted. The only district for which an election is yet to take place is that;of Mohaka, for. which it is generally understood Mr.; Eiddell will be the unopposed candidate. : :If so, the elections will be over by the 19th mat., and the writs duly endorsed within a day or two of that period. The Eeturnrag Officer, can thenconvene the council at seven days'J notice—that is, presuming the elections to be completed upon 'the writs being returned. Bat a doubt has been raised whether the names of the elected members should not be previously gazetted; and we believe that, to do away with the possibility of cavil, time will "be afforded for that to be done before the day named for the meeting of Council. We do not think it pr-obaible, however, that a later date will be fixed than the 20th April.

The floods throughout the -interior have been very great. Two of the three bridges recently constructed on the Te Auto line of road have been swept-away. There has also, as may he supposed, been considerable 'damage to private property and some narrow escapes; l)u't,so/far as we have-learn-jo&, no actual:loss of life.