GENERAL GOVERNMENT PRIZE FIRING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 48, 26 February 1870, Page 2

GENERAL GOVERNMENT PRIZE FIRING.

1 \J The firing of the Artillery Company at Wakapuaka took place yesterday, when 17 competitors presented themselves. We give the scores of those who made 30 points and upwards : —

Supreme Court. — The next sittings of the Supreme Court commence on Tuesday next, the Ist March. The criminal business consists of but two cases — Megina v. Allen for obtaining money under false pretences, and Regina v. Graham for indecent assault. At present there is only one civil case set down for hearing, namely — Bitchings v. Monro Brothers, an action to recover damages for false imprisonment.

Slaughter House Ordinance. — As several complaints' have lately reached our ears of sheep being killed within the town, we would remind those who are in the habit of committing such a breach of the Ordinance, that they are rendering themselves liable to a fine of £5 for each offence. j Wangapeka Land Sales. —We } understand that a circular has been } addressed to the purchasers by Mr. { Daniell, the Commissioner of Crown i Lands, informing them that, in consequence of the General Government having expressed their opinion that the land was, at the time the sale was effected, within the boundary of the South- West Goldfields, he is unable to proceed with the preparation of the Crown Grants. The Late Accident on the Course. — We learu that a subscription to assist the unfortunate jockey, Walter Taylor, who met with an accident on the course ou Thursday last, was started last night, aud, in the course of a few hours, the sum of £23 was collected. We are glad to hear that Taylor is getting on as well ?<3 could be expected aud that he is now able to sifc up. Theatrical. — An amusing little piece under the familiar title of " Who killed Cock Robin," was played by the Star Company last night, greatly to the satisfaction of the audience. The "Lottery Ticket," aud " The Wandering Minstrel," were also given with much spirit:, the dancing of Mr. and Mrs, Howard in the latter piece calling forth the usual amount of approbation. Last night'a programme is to be repeated this evening. The Weather and the Crops. — The 1 long coutinuauce of dry weather which we have experienced, has not been without its effects in the country districts, •where the pastures are terribly burnt up, causing dairy farmers to complain sadly of the great falling off in the yield of milk, and graziers to give up all hope of fattening their cattle unless the wished for rain sets in xery shortly. But the effects of the drought will be felt most severely in Motueka, which is essentially a potato growing district, some thousands of tons be'ng raised there every year, whereas this season the whole crop is entirely lost, thus inflicting a most serious loss upon the settlers in. that part of the country, aud through them ou the province generally. In addition to the failure of their potato crop we are sorry to hear that some of the farmers have lost the whole of their wheat by the rust, so that taken altogether the season has proved a disastrous one for 1 many who had every reason to believe at one time that their year's labors were about to be crowned with an unusual amount of success.

400 yds . 500 yds. COO yds. Total. Captain Slater 17 13 7 37 Sergeant Wastney 13 8 11 32 Gunner H. Barnett 14 8 9 31 „ Hibbard 10 11 9 30 „ Northam 13 12 6 31