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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 47, 25 February 1870, Page 2

The anniversary of the Loyal Takaka Lodge will be held at the Shamrock Hotel on the 17th March next. We understand a cricket-match will come off on the 7th March, on the grounds adjoining the Shamrock Hotal, Takaka, between the Riwaka and Takaka Clubs. Theatrical, —A performance, for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Joyce, is to be given this evening by the Star Company. The programme includes the two new pieces " Who killed Cock Robin" and ." The Lottery Ticket," concluding with " The Wandering Miustrel." Rifle Shooting. —The shooting made by Sergeant Catley, of the No. 1 City Rifles, yesterday, is worthy of notice as being one of the largest scores ever made in New Zealand. The ranges were 400, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at ench

range and the score — 54 out of a possible 60 — was run up as follows : — At the first range, 5 bull's eyes ; at the second, 3 bull's eyes and 2 centres; and at the third 2 bull's eyes, 2 centres, and 1 outer. Accident. — We regret to state that an accident occurred on the course yesterday to Walter Taylor, the jockey who rode Trump in the Free Handicap. In riding at the second fence, his horse tripped and* fell, throwing his rider heavily to the ground and giving him such a shock as to partially stun him at the time. He was at once conveyed to the Wakefield Arras where he was attended by Dr. Squires, who found that he had sustained a severe - concussion, but nothing of a more serious character. On enquiry this morning we were glad to find that he is progressing most favorably. As Taylor is not in very good circumstances it is proposed to raise a small subscription to assist him during ■ - the time he is laid up, a proposition which will, we feel sure, be well responded to on all sides. Acclimatization. — The Timaru paper of 16th inst., pays: — We are glad to learn that the English trout turned out some weeks ago are doing well. Last Sunday, nine out of the twelve fish .were seen at nearly the same spot where originally placed, and they seemed quite at home in their new abode. Flax. — Australian news informs us of a - fire that has occurred at Sydney, which is said to have originated iu some New Zealand flax that was stored in the building that has been destroyed. It is a strange thing that whenever a fire breaks out in any place where there is a single bale of flax, its origin is at once ascribed to * that much maligned article. These reports, however groundless they may be, must interfere with the new trade that is springing up in New Zealand, and it is quite time that some steps were taken to ascertain whether there is any truth in them in order to prevent the injury they must *■ inflict upon us by raising the freight and insurance of flax to exorbitant rates. As is remarked by the JLyttelton Times, our flax is an article of export similar to the Manila hemp, and it is not on record that any ships have been destroyed by carrying that as freight, why then should any fire that occurs where there is flax be at once, aud without question, ascribed to what has never yet been proved to be more liable to spontaneous combustion than wool? A Correspondent of the Grey mouth Star writing from Hokitika says : — Last ♦ evening, at about five o'clock, the fire-bell rung out an alarm, and instead of, as used to be the case of yore, the people rushing madly through the streets, exclaiming " where ? where ? " and " There ii is," and "No — it isn't " ; there were only Mr. Michael Cassius and two boys. The former, who is the West Coast Rothschild, was heard to say as he passed along Re veilstreet — "Mine G-ot, mine Got, I shall pe all ruined agaiu- — vill no vun tell me vere the fire is. 1 ' The two boys laughed. That was all. The man who was tugging at »- the. tower bell suddenly ceased. What was he going to exert himself for when nobody cared whether there was a fire or not. He descended the ladder. I enquired into the cause of such a most singular indifference to a threatened calamity, when I was informed that with the exception of * a pie shop and the four banks, the whole of the buildings of the town were the property of Mr. Cassius, either by purchase, mortgage, or bill of sale.