WILLING lON.

Manawatu Herald, 10 February 1880, Page 2

WILLING ION.

, . [moM our own cokkespondent.] THE COMET. Much surprise and no little excitenien wan canaed here on Tuesday last by the an' pearimje of a very distinct beam of light on the S.W. ho'izon, extending up to an angle of fully 30 degrees. Many people thought it wtis a comet, others an auroral bi:nm, others again credited Dr Lemon with effecting great results in some experiments with the electric light, but by far the larger number seemed utterly unable to tell wh«»t it was at all, consoling thems-lve* by obseiving the fact that it was there — there was no denying that. All enquiring minds looked anxiously for the morning papers to satisfactorily solve the problem, but, alas ! the Times in no way mentioned or alluded to the affair, probably thinking that it would show its ignorance least by saying nothing ; and tha New Zealander, probably thinking that nothing but an entirely new theory would do credit to its columns, came out with the startling announcement that it was a comet, but that it was travelling away from the sun, and with its tail foremost ! This satisfied some people, who ttu-reby had the consolation of knowing that the New Zealanders mode of progression is not unexampled, even in nature. However, we have had ether opportunities (if seeing the comet sim-e then, and its rising is revealing an extraordinary length of train, which has extended to from 40 to 50 degrees, and the nucleus is not yet visible. If the comet does not pale away, owing to the pace at which it is travelling, we are liki'ly to have a splendid view of what appears to bo one of the largest of its species known, in the course of the next few nights. GYkXS "HINa" IN CANTEKBORT. News from the South tells us that the various wholesale buyers there have entered into a compact to keep down the price of grain. The harvest this year seems likely to prove an unusually prolific or.c, and on account of the English harvest having turned out so badly, farmers are expecting to realise good prices. But this compact which we hear of, bind* merchants and dealers not to give more than a certaiu very low price for tho grain yield. Of course, the object is to turn very largo profits into the pockets of those who buy from the dinners, and ship to England. Powerful farmers, with money at their back, can stand against anything of this sort by shipping their grain homo themselves, but nine-tenths of our producers are not men of this class, and if, after two years' bad yield, the merchants combine against them in this way, many fond hopes will bo blighted, and many too will meet their ruin. WELLINGTON RACEB. The Wellington Jockey Club's Summer meeting took place on tho 6th and 6th iust on the Mutt c >ur*e The weather on both days was glorious, there being senrcely a cloud in tho sky, uud a tolerably fresh breeze which tempered the heat a little. The Railway authoiities made special arrangements for the conveyance of travellers, and it very great number availed thetrselves of th'*t means of locomotion, the very moderate faro of 2s for first clisi and Is for sco ond ciass passengers being charged for the return journey. The ordinary carriage stock of the line proved insufficient to meet the demands made upon it, and accordingly a large number of covered wagons were ruu as "md class conveyances ; one train condistcd of 24 vehicles, another of 23, and a third of 15. Arrived at the Kutt, a goodly collection of omn busses, settlers' traps, expresses, etc., were in waiting to complete the journey to tho pourse, and but for the i dustineßs of thb road the ride would have b'-en a very pleasant one Others preferred to journey altogether by road, and from quite un early hour the town was all astir with fashionable parties driving away in fashionable buggies, with certain suggestive looking, well filled, hampers carefully stowed in convenient positions ; and numerous other less pretentious equipages in the shape of coaches, cabs, expresses, and almost every variety of vehicle one could mention, served to make the Hutt road a most lively scene. Some travelled by water too. being landed on the beach close to the course, while the officers of H.Af.S. Cormorant had their boat taken up the liver, and were thua able to land right on the around. Wellington seemed aimost deserted on the first day, that day being observed as a close holiday, and nearly evary shop being closed ; indeed many persons remarked that the town was much quieter thau it ever is even on Sundays. The prevailing depression in business has affected the Jockey Club as w»ll as other people and other institutions, the sukcrip. tions towards the prize nvney showing a considerable falling off this year. The Cup for instance la»t year consisted of a prize of Jb'oOO besides the valuable golden trophy, this year it is only £400 and without the trophy. On this account many people fancied owners would not care to enter their best horses for the raco.and that but a poor field would start for the event. Such was not the case, however, as the beat field that has over started for the race was that of ThurS day last, and the finest race ever seen hero was the result. Another year, when it is to be hoped more prosperous times will have returned again, the Stewards *vill probably Ree their way to restoring the value of the race to its old status. The racing as a whole was good, about ibt beat ever teen in Wellington, and the

time ntaipJty the winner in the Cup (3m. 37secs. for' 2 miles) has onfa once* been beaten. in New Zealand, so far at I can leara. v_-^*^ On the Tourae th**re were numerous at* tractions in the shape wheels of fortune, skittle alleys, shooting galleries, Annt tallies, etc. etc., and last, though not least, * real lire lion which the New Zealand Times tells us did a "roaring trade" Besides these attractions there were " profitable investments " in tho shape of tiro " total' isators," a new kiad of bolting machine, - whioh—the- South- Ausfcrnli m Paillament ~' has just gone to the trouble of passing » special Act to legalise, Jt/is Excellency* tb« Governor, with Lady .Robinson and party, _ar • iYsd on tbe.grouad-aUabaut. halt pasttwelve, taking up a position in the grand stand. A telegraph office was opened on the ground, and four operators wore em~ ; ployed in transmitting the various messages, ; The result of the more important .- events on the first day you hare already been informed of by wire, the only other race of any moment being the Flying Stakes Handicap, which after a splendid raou and much to most people's surprise resulted in a victory for Talent, with York second, and Bil* liDgsgate a goed third. The "knowing ones" considered this race- almost a gift to York, and 2 to 1 on him wag freely offered, but the colt that won the Maiden Plate shewod that lie had some good metal in him and secured the money. The attendance on the second day was hardly so large as on the first, tho holiday not being nearly so general, but still a very large number of people were present. The Empiie Plate resulted in an easy victory for H .rkaway, with Sailor (the only other horae running) second. The betting was '2,t0 1 on H urn a way ; she won in a canter. The Hurdle Handicap was won by Grey llomus, Kangaroo second. Wellington Racing Club Handicap— Vampire first, Hippocampus second, Chancellor third. nARBon Bo.inD. Tne election for th:s new institution of ours is not creating any very great interest. The Hoard is to consist of 10 members, three of whom are to be nominated by the Uoverumenr, twoelwsfcd by the ratepayers of Wellington, one by «he Chamber of Commerce, one by the shipping interest, one i>y the Hint County Council, , one by the Councils of the Wairarapa East and We»t Counties, and the Mayor of Wellington, ex offi.no. Not much is known with'rejrard to the Government's intentions with ■ eapect to their nominations, but it is thought thac Messrs Levin, M H. 8., and Pearce will be two of them, for the two seals ut the disposal of the ratepayers of Wellington there are seven candidates, only one of whom ( Bayliss) has yet addressed the electors, and he, 1 think, may be put down as n rank outsider. It is difficult to offer a decided opinion just yet, but I am inclined to think that Messrs E. W. ■Mills and J. H. George will head the poll. Tue Chamber of Commerce will probably elect its Chairman, Mr Robert Buchanan, should he be willing to act ; the shipping . interest will probably choose either Captaur' Williams or Captain Rose (tho N.Z. Shipping Coy.'o manager) ; and the choice of ' the County Councils is very likely to rest on Messrs Mason and Beetham, M.H R.s -: