The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1371.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 77, 1 April 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1371.

The Caledonian. — According to our last advices from Auckland, under date 3Olh March, shares iv this mine were selling at £90. Stoke Farmers' Club . — The next rnouthly meeting of this club is to he held at the Stoke Schoolroom, on Monday evening next, at 7 o'clock. Nelson Eaces. — The entries for the Turf Club Handicap closed yesterday, when the Secretary received the following nominations, which will be seen to include Yiitterina, a celebrated Otago mare. The horses entered are Mr. Stafford's Lacenfeed and Vulcan, Mr. Redwood's Fair Agnes and Anticipation, and Mr. Wulter'a Yaiterina. Entries bearing the post maik of the 31st; March will still be received. Tlie sites for booths were offered for sale at auction this morning, by Mr. John JR. Mabin, and realised the sum of £27 ss. Takaka. — A fm meeting took^ilace at the Loner Plain Schoolroom, on Thursday, March 24th, iv connection with the examination of the children and distribution of the prizes. The meeting was originally appointed to take place on the 16ili, buc owing to the unfavorable state of the weather, was postponed as above. The children met at one p.m., and went through their examination iv a very satisfactory manner to the parents and commitfee, and it is bore worth noting that they behaved themselves in an excellent manner, which did credit to their schoolmaster, Mr. A. Lang ford. After the examination, the children were provided with tea and cake to their hearts content. Several of them recited pieces in a most creditable manner, after which the prizes were awarded as follows : — ■ (Ist class) : lat prize, Herbert Lang ford ; 2nd do., Jessie Scott and Jessie Spittal, equal. (2nd class) : Ist prize, Jane Hitchcock ; 2nd do., Annie Dodsnn ; Snl do., William Goldney c (3vd clues) : Ist, prize, Isabelln. Scott : 2nd do., Annis M'Caiium. (/illicit): Ist prize, Charles Hitchcock; 2nd do., Elhi Mary Walker. Attendance p'ize : Alfred Dodscm and Archibald M'Cailnm, equal. Arithmetic prize : IT. Longford. Good conduct : Margaret M'Caiium. This important ceremony being concluded the children gave three choers in a very hearty manner for the committee, after which the parents and friends sat, down to tea, while the young cues, about 40 in number, enjoyed themselves at various games until darkness came on, when they were -ushered into the Schoolroom, where Mr. Walker played some lively airs greatly to their amusement and. deligbi. The estimated population of Westporfc is 860, including children. The West port Times learns fron/<he Lyell that the Alpine Quartz Mining Company have all their machinery erected with the exception of the water-wheel and the shoofc. ■I A Hokitika paper states that 'the census returns indicate that there are at the present time no less than three hundred and thirty-two licensed public-houses in the County of Westland. A Man at Auckland has been sent to prison for three month?, with hard labor, for " brawling in church." The culprit had made some disturbance in St. Paul's Church, Aucklaud, and the Beach invoked an old Statue to punish him. The sentence ia severely criticised by the local papers. A new and rather curious channel for native industry has been opened by a Chinese tradesman in Wellington. Ho advertises in the local papers that he has accepted a contract from an Australian firm, to supply 30,000 sacks of fungus for shipment to China, and he offers to give local gatherers six shillings per sack. Pie does not say to what purpose edible, or otherwise, this curious shipment is to be applied.