The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 3, 4 January 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1870.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. 1 0 ' Before J. Sharp, Esq, E.M., Saturday, January 1. George Allen, James Craven, and Frank Leathwood, were charged with obtaining money under false pretences from John Palmer, hotelkeeper, of Waimea West. Albert Palmer, sworn: On Wednesday last, the prisoners came to my father's house in a carriage and pair. They had dinner, after which Allen came into the room alone, and gave me a cheque for £7. The cheque was signed by Davidson. I asked him if it was Davidsou of Wakapuaka, and understood him to say it was. John Palmer, hotel-keeper, aud Joseph Harris, of the Bank of. New Zealand, deponed to the cheque being presented and dishonored. Prisoner Allen, being asked, after the usual warning, whether he had anything to say, stated that he received the cheque from a man who called himself James Davidson, that be believed it to be a good cheque, and had no intention of defrauding Palmer. There being no evidence whatever against Craven and Leathwood, they were discharged, and Allen was committed for trial. ■ Yesterday. [Before A . Mackax, Esq., ' and R. Pollock, Esq., J.F.'s.] Thomas M'Farlane was charged with asßaulting James Grove. Mr. Kingdon appeared for complainant. Defendant, who admitted the offence, was fined £1, and costs £2 Os. lOd. Clifton Flower Show. — We would remind our readers that the anuual Flower Show and Tea-meeting of the Clifton Horticultural Society is to be held on Thursday next. To those -who have visited this Show on a previous occasion it is quite unnecessary to say a word in its favouT, while to those who have not yet availed themselves of the opportunity of enjoying a day's thorough enjoyment in the beautiful grounds of Messrs. Gibson and Gilbert, we would say thst they have no idea what a fairy scene is there offered to their view. Every facility is offered to residents in Nelson to visit the spot, as we observe that the Lady Barkly is to leave here to-morrow evening, returning on Friday morning, thus giving visitors a full day at the Clifton pleasure grounds. Tee Westport Times says : — lt must gratify these whose interests are involved in the progress or retrogression of mining to hear the statement that, on the day before Christmas, this year, there was bought by the Banks in Westport, and as the product of the Buller district, about Twelve Thousand Pounds worth of gold. For a district described as in a state of atrophy, we think that this iff a very fair illustration of the, opposite, especially when it is considered that there is a large •xteut of untouched territory, and an

acknowledged amount of hard and protracted work yet to be done before tbe discovered auriferous area can be at all exhausted. Considering tbe reduced population of tbe district, and the regularity with which the Banks had been purchasing parcels up to the date of this last and largest purchase, it is eyident that at no time previous — certainly at no Christmas time — bave the people of the Buller district been better able to make holiday than at present. Westport Races. — These races took place last week and appear to hare afforded great satisfaction. The Times says : — The primary object of the meeting — the affording of substantial sport to the public by bringing together good horseflesh — was thoroughly accomplished. And, so far ns we can learn, there are none of the secondary objects of such meetings which was not also served. People patronised coaches, paid tolls, ate, drank, and smoked with a readiness indicative of excellent will, astonishing appetite, aud well replenished pockets. Even the most morbid tastes were satisfied, for two good horses — Cossack and Shillelah — were killed, and more than one jockey was " spilled." Fortunately tbe equine losses were the most serious accidents that happened; and, no doubt, to the owners of the horses they are serious enough. Human legs and collar bones "were on this occasion saved from fracture or dislocation. The only things broken were a few betting men who left the course wiser if not better men. Apparently even hearts, including our reporter's, were unbroken this year, for the barmaid element was chiefly of the order " plain " or of the genus married. The horses which were killed were the property of Mr. Forder and Mr. Wallace Woolfe. Both were valuable animals, and wellknown on the West Coast — Shillelah as a steeplechaser, and Cossack as a horse of good powers and speed. Shillelagh was killed by a fall, coming to the ground on his head, and so violently that he broke his neck. His rider, tf. Rouse, had au ugly fall at the same time, but fortunately was only slightly hurt. In the same race, Gipsy, while making a good show for first place, tripped over the hurdle in front of the Grand Stand, and her rider, Kennedy, was thrown heavily, but he fortunately escaped with a severe shake and a sprain. Cossack "slipped his back" while making an exertion round one of the sharper turns in the course, and necessarily had to be shot. Robin Hood, a horse well known in Nelson, not so much for his galloping qualities as ( his bolting propensities, contested several races but was beaten in all excepting the Consolation Stakes, his temper not having improved by change of air.