GENERAL GOVERNMENT PRIZE FIRING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 45, 23 February 1870, Page 2

GENERAL GOVERNMENT PRIZE FIRING.

0 The firing for the selection of District representatives to compete for the Colonial prizes commenced this morning, when the City Artillery fired with the following result : — 400 yds. 500 yds. 600 yds. Total. Sergeant J. Smith 16 ll 13 40 Gunner Black 17 16 0 33 „ Adams 11 14 8 33 „ M'Gee 5 14 4 23 „ Bird 10 9 3 22 „ Taylor 5 10 3 18

Bishop Suter arrived at Blenheim overland from Nelson on Thursday last, and was to proceed to Ifaikoura on Monday.

Mb. Kynnebsley, who has latejy been appointed to the wardenship at Wangapeka, arrived by the Stormbird this morning. Excursion Trip to Wellington. — An excursion trip to Wellington and back is advertised to take place by the Phoebe, on Friday next, leaving Weliington on the x'eturn trip on Monday. The low fare charged, only £l, will doubtless induce many to avail themselves of such an excellent opportunity of visiting Wellington.

Theatrical. —The programme of the previous evening, comprising the "Ticket-of-Leave Man" and "My Brother Bill and Me," was repeated at the Oddfellows' Hall last night. This evening the performance is for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Howard, whose excellent acting has rendered them general favorites with the Nelson playgoing public. The " Lady of Lyons" is to be played by special request, and the entertainment will conclude with the laughterproducing farce entitled " Mr. and Mrs. White."

Some of those amongst us who have any knowledge of mineralogy should walk down to where the prisoners are at work on the side of the hill at the entrance to Washington-valley, where a seam of something like coal has been struck. We have heard it suggested that a small sum should be subscribed for the purpose of testing the seam at a lower depth than that at which it is now exposed; but it might be as well if some practical miner were first to give an opinion on that portion which is at present to be seen.

Waimea South Steeplechase Meeting. — The races to-morrow promise to be the most successful and best attended of auy that have yet taken place afc Wakefield. For each of the two principal events seven horses are entered, including some of the best steeplechasers in New Zealand, and we may therefore expect to see somo excellent sport. At present Titoko Waru appears to be the favorite, he having obtained the higest price at the Calcutta Sweepstakes last night, and we understand that his owner ip open to take 5 to 1 that he wins both the races for which he is entered. Many of our Wellington visitors, who will be here about 8 o'clock this evening, will no doubt find their way to the course.

Excursionists from. Wellington. — The Stormbird, which arrived this morning from Picton and Wellington, brought about 30 excursionists from the latter place, who will remain here until Friday, when they will be taken back by the Ahuriri. The Phoebe, which left Wellington for Nelson at half-past seven this morning, also brings a large number of visitors. Fires in Marlborough . — Mr Phillips, Opawa, has had the misfortune to lose about 240 bushels of barley, the produce of five acres of land, by fire. The accident he attributed to a light from a pipe, and all fire made such rapid progress as to defy its attempts to extinguish it until the entire crop was destroyed. A day or two earlier some foolish person set fire to the scrub at the rear of Mr. Seymour's residence at Picton. The fire spread rapidly, and soon threatened the house of Mrs. Downes. After a deal of exertion on the part of the neighbors the flames were with difficulty extinguished, the house having in the meantime taken fire several times.

The following is the manifest of the Sarah aud Maria which sailed from Port Underwood for London on Saturday last : Shipped from Wairau — 108 bales wool, A. J. Richmond; 56 bales wool, Stafford and Hoclson ; 18 bales wool, A. P. Seymour ; 21 bales wool, Captain Baillie ; 121 bales wool, Alfred Warren ; 30 bales wool, Morrison, Sclanders, and Co.; 9 bales wool, Joseph Rayner ; 85 bales wool, H. H. Stafford-; 903 bales wool, N. Edwards and Co. Shipped at Nelson — 16 bales wool, E. Buxton aud Co.; 41 bales wool, Hodder and Talbot ; 39 bales wool, 15 bags horns, and 6 casks tallow, N. Edwards and Co. ; 7 bales wool, Robinson and Renwick. Total, 1641 bales wool, 15 bags horns, aud 6 casks tallow.

Wairau Steam Navigation Company. — A company is being formed in the Wairau for the purpose of getting a steamer built expressly to trade between the Wairau and Nelson, Wellington, and the West Coast. At a large and influential meeting,

I held at. the Ferry on Thursday last, Mr, | J. Paul, as the promoter of the scheme. I laid a model and drawing before those t present. It is intended to have a capital of £5000 only, in 500 shares at £10 each. A prospectus was adopted, and 200 shares ' were. taken up iu the room. Wiremu Kingi (William King.) noto- . rious for the part he took in bringing about the Waitara war, is now rendering every assistance in his power to the Cape Egmont Flax Company. Idea — Something which many persons never possessed in their life, except they stole it from some one else. ' It is stated that the legacy duty which Government will have to receive from the estates of the Marquis of Westminster, the Earl of Derby, aud Mr. Peabody, will I together amount to upwards of a million sterling.