WAIMEA STEEPLE CHASE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 43, 21 February 1868, Page 2

WAIMEA STEE PLE CHASE.

The first steeplechase ou the Wiiimea Phiins took plice yesienlay, and attracted a very large couc;ourse of spectators, not only from the immadiate neighborhood but also from Nelsou ; the appearance of the course being especially enlivened by the presence of a very large assemblage of of ladies, both ou horseback and ou foot. The weather, which had been exceedingly close and oppressive during the morning, with occasional showers, became far more propitious during the afternoon, and the sport, which probably owes its present favor io the community to the introduction of ' paper hunts,, was evidently much enjoyed by all present, though, iv sooth, through the absence of a stand from which the events of the race might be observed, a very large mujority of the spectators were compelled to content themselves with witnessing the finish only. The course was admirably selected, no less than 24 fences beiug provided to test the powers of the various animals, as well as the pluck of their riders, and every hccomraodation for refreshment had also been provided. The Stewards on the occasion were Captain Desaunais, with Messrs H. White and W. Price ; Mr Schroder acting as Judge, and Mr J. Gaukroger as Clerk of the Course — and we may add that all these gentlemen fulfilled their duties to the general satisfaction. The Wairaea South Handicap Steeplechase, of 4 soys eauh, half forfeit to go to the fund; with 4o siivs added. Over a'>out three miles of fair hunting country. Second horse to save his stake. Mr G>ibh's b g Rustic, list ... (Hope) 1 Mr ltiehardsun's br g Gamester, 1 1st 71 bs (Spiller) 2 Mr King's b m Chine, I Ost .. (UoU-) 3 Mr Devon port's !>r g Mazeppa, list (Gay) 4 Mr G:iW)'s er g Moro. 10-it ... (<T;ibb) 5 Mr Holder's eh g Sprightly. lt)st "lbs (Holder) 0 Mr Gaukroger having effected an excellent start, Rustic, Moro, and. Sprightly were the first to rush to the frout, closely followed by Gamester and the rest. The coarse then lay over some very stiff country at the back of the Wakefield Arm's, and at the third fence Rustic) came to • grief, falling and throwing fits rider, Hope, wliq shortly afcerwjrda collared fcha

field, and took the lead by several lengths, which he maintained until the last waterjump, where he was closely overhauled by G-arnester, who ran him very hard, and who, but for the greater weight he carried, and the heavy fall he got, striking a post and rail fence into the road, would, through his superior running, have probably been the first to catch the Judge's eye. Rustic was, however the victor, followed by Gamester, Chloe, Mazeppa, and Moro, whose rider had taken four or five severe falls in the pluckiest style. Sprightly had also fallen at the third fence ; and having bolted across country, was altogether out of the ruuning. Three hack races, for which the prize in each instance was a new saddle ami bridle, then took place; the first, for which ten horses started, was won fry a horse named Snooks, from the Hednesford stables, and the 'secoud, which was contested hy a similar number of horses, was taken by Mr Blundell's Chance, whilst Mr Walter's Ramrod carried off the third. The second great race of the day then took place, aid afforded still better sport than its predecessor. The Wakefield Free Handicap, of 20 soys, acceptors 2 so ys each, to go to the fund. Over about two a half miles fair hunting' countrj'. The winner of the Waiinea-South Stakes to carry JO lbs extr. Mr Holder's c!i g Sprightly, 10st'2lb (Holder) 1 Mr Gabb's er g Moro (Gabh) 2 Mr Galib's br g Rustic. 1 1 st Blbs (Cook) 3 Mr Kny vett's eh s Poncho, list (Hope) 4 Mr King's br m Chloe (Cole) 5 Only five horses cnme to the post, Gamester and Mazeppa having been scratched. This was a capital race over the same ground as the first, and Rustic, who was well ridden by Mr G. Cooke, would certainly have taken it easily, but for the severe full which he sustained at the,last fence, at which he baulked, throwing his jockey, who received a severe kick in the chest from Spiiyhtly, who was thus enabled to break through the gap, and won easily, followed by Moro, the * irrepressible cream,' by Rustic, Poncho and Chloe. A Scurry Sweepstakes, and a trotting match figured ; n the programme, but the entries for the first were not filled up and it consequently fell to the ground, whilst the other was wou by Mr I. Baigent's bay mare, Maggie. We are happy to add that no casualties, save those incidental to the two races, and of those none paitook of a serious character, took place during the day to cause any alloy of the general enjoyment; and the first Waimea Steeplechase may justly be deemed an unequivocal success.

The Taranaki, with the Suez Mail, will in all probability not arrive here before Monday evening next, and may possibly also bring on the Panama Mail, should it have arrived at Wellington to its time. A late New Zealand Gazette publishes a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the ordinary revenue of New Zealand for the financial year ending June 30th, 1867. The revenue from Nelson amounted to £76,073 12s. 2d. of which £64,995 9s. lOd. were derived from Customs Duties. As it may be satisfactory to our readers to know how the revenue collected in this province is spent, we give the following particulars: — Interest and Sinking FunJ, £51 os. ft! ; under Acts of Genera! Assembly, £125; appropriation for the Executive, £33 6d. 8J ; Electoral, £18. 17s. 8d ; Judicial Department, £2,036 18s. 8d ; Registry of Lands and Deeds, £872 19s. (id ; Postal, £2,73 1 ; Customs, £2,275 ; Refunds of Revenue, £189 7s. 3d. Amount of General Charges (less amount of general receipts) distributed proportionately amongst the Proviuceß, £52,492 Is. 3d ; to the credit of this Province, £14,880 17s. 6d. Tlie total receipts for the whole colony during the same .period amounted to £1,058,028 16s. 9dj and the expenditure to £926,554 10s; leaving a balance of £13 1,474 ss. 9d, as a surplus Revenue Fund.

By the Phoebe which arrived here from Auckland yesterday, we received intelligence of a fight which had taken place on the 10th inst between the Militia, under the commaud of Major St. John, with the Rangers, under Captain Mair, and the Hauhaus, near the spot known as Wilson's Station, at Opotiki, which resulted in two of the militiamen being wouuded, one slightly, and the other very severely, whilst eight of the Hauhaus were picked up dead, and it is believed that several othere have shared the same fate. About 20 of the Hauhaus were badly wouuded. It seems that the rebels had made their

head-quarters in the Waimana valley, from whence they were looting horses and cattle belonging to the Whakatane and Ohope natives. On the Bth an expeditionary party started, who were successful on the 10th in coining across the rebels, when the above fight took place.

A proposition was made at the meeting of the Volunteer Officers, which took place at the conclusion of the monthly inspection, on Tuesday evening last, by Captain Pitt, Commanding the Artillery Company, *>y wlm:h the uncertainty and inconvenience which is so frequently experienced by members of the various corps, in case of the postponement of parades through wet weather and other causes, wou ill be entirely obviated. It is proposed to eiect a flagstaff, 20 feet high, on the bell tower, on which may be hoisted distinctive flugs for each company, viz.: — St. George's Cross for the Artillery; the British Ensign for the City Rifles, No. 1 ; the Union Jack for the Rifle C'ifJets», No. 1 ; the first distinguishing Pennant for the Rifl-? Cadets, No. 2 ; and the Blue Peter for the Artillery Cadets. In case of the parade taking place, the distinctive flag would be hoisted from 8 a.m. until the appointed time, and if no drill is to take place, the flag would be lowered at 4 p.m. It is also proposed that some similar means should be adopted to indicate a practice or meeting of the Fire Brigade. The proposa l , which has received the sanction of the Officer Commanding the District, emanates from the Artillery Company, who have a.sked the cooperation of the other companies in the scheme, the convenience of which is so obvious that its adoption can hardly admit of a moment's hesitation.

We are happy to state that we have received reliable information that the missing boy Murcott (not Burkeit) lias been discovered. It. appears he hail been chastised by his father for some delinquency, and had in consequence left home some days. Hence arose the rumour which had gained sue hforrnidable proportions in town yesterday. It has also been ascertained that the torn and blood-stained shirt, discovered in the neighborhood of the Wairoa Gorge, did not belong to this lad, although any further information oa this subject is still wanting.

Ii will be seen from an advertisement in another column, that the Lady Baikly will not make her customary passage to Motueka to-morrow.

The Right Rev. Bishop Pompallipr, of Auckland, embarked on board the Frenc/i transport Ohevert on Tuesday morninj:, after a farewell service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland for Europe, on his decennial visit to the Holy See, and was accompanied to the wharf by the clergy and pastors and the teachers and pupils of the various schools, and the leading members of the Roman Catholic denomination in that city.

A very handsome phaeton, built expressly to the order of the Queen of Tahiti, by Messrs Quick & Co. of Auckland, has beeu shipped on board the French Government transport Cheverr, which was to leave for Tahiti on Wednesday last.

The Wesleyan Conference at Melbourne has accepted the resignation of two ujinisters, one in South Australia ami the other ia New South Wiiies. Ten caudiilute9 were received for the ministry on trial ; of these four are from New South Wales, three from Victoria, oue from South Aus tralin, oue from New Zealand, and one from Western Australia. Three ministers hare died during the year — the Rev. Thos. Angwin, io New South Wales; the Rev. Mr Overend, in Victoria; and the Sev. Thomas Baker, with the particulars of of whose murder in Fiji the public have been made acquainted through the press.