COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 61, 11 March 1873, Page 4

COLONIAL PRIZE FIRING.

Testbbdat. Eunning Match. Range, 200 yards. Time, five minutes, to commence at first shot. Target, 6x2 feet, centre 2 feet across target. After every two shots, the competitor to carry his rifle, amunition (inany manner he chooses), rod, and everything he makes use of in firing, round a post 50 yards off, loading where he likes, but not capping until he arrives at the firing point. Ties to be fired off in the same manner as the match. Ist prize, £12; 2nd, £9; 3rd, -68; 4th, £7; sth, £5; 6th, £4; 7th, £3; Bth, £2.

The Otago Daily Times, of Feb. 24. states that two men 'were watching a covey of youDg partridges feeding in a field near Goodwood some days ago, one of the birds was seen to lift a spider in its bill. Tbe insect, however, wap almost immediately shaken off, and shortly after, th 8 bird turned several times and fell down dead. Death, it is presumed, was caused by the poisonous bite of the spider, and should . that supposition be correct, there must probably be some other New Zealand spider besides the Katipo, whose bite is deadly, as the latter is to be only found frequenting sandy places near the sea shore, and so far as we ara aware has never been observed in any locality south of Nelson. The Marlborough Express in reference to Mr. Eyes' case, says, " the Commissioners' report is of the following tenor. They find that he has not been guilty of open immorality, but were divided in opinion as to the degree in which his offices had been brought into disrepute; the one holding that it was but to a slight extent by a few, who were influenced only by personal feeling, and the other with regard to a greater number of persons. They endorse, as far as they were able to judge, the evidence adduced that he is a good public officer, and while they recommend that he should be removed from the Province of Marlborough, they respectfully submit that the Governor should retain him in the service of the Government in another part of the colony. They also recommend tbat no person connected with the province be appointed in his room. With regard to the expense of the late enquiry, they suggest that the General Government should pay the cost of the Commission, and those of each side should be borne by the respective parties. After adducing instances of Mo-pokes killing and devouring acclimatised birds, Mr Buller says: — There has, in consequence, been a crusade against the mo- ' poke in many parts of the country. But whether this wholesome destruction of an indigenious species on account of these predatory habits, is wise, or even prudent, may be seriously ! questioned. The mopoke, as we have already shown, not only preys on rats and mice, but is also a good insectivorous bird, with a voracious appetite. Its habit of feeding largely on the nocturnal lepidoptera is of itself an inestimable benefit to the agriculturist, as it tends to check the spread of the caterpillar, whose ravages are becoming more severely felt every year. It is a dangerous thing to disturb the balance of nature by violent means; and in a new country especially, we must be careful that in removing one evil we are not opening the door to an immeasurably greater one. For my own part, I consider ihe killing of a single owl a positive injury to the farming industries of the country, and scarcely compensated for by the introduction of a score of soft-billed insectivores in its place. — W. Independent. Horse-eacing, if properly conducted, would be of immense service to the colony by effecting its original and legitimate object namely, improving the breed of horses; and nowhere more so than in Wellington, as was clearly seen at the .meeting just over, when a Nelson hack beat the best horses we could muster on the occasion. Once, however, let the turf fall into disrepute as a place where fairness is not to be looked for, and races are decided, not upon their merits, but by chicanery and plotting beforehand, and the sooner, for the sake of public morality, that the Legislature steps in and prohibits the sport, the better. We did hope that the meeting just terminated would have established horse-racing upon a sound footing in Wellington. .The stakes were not large, but they, proved to be sufficient to induce entries from other places; and there were hopes of a handsome subscription next year. 'Circumstances; however, occurred in connection with the Hurdle Race and the Publicans' Purse which justly created' very great dissatisfaction,, and led many persons -to imagine that they had been swindled. We are noPg'ding'',to;Ba^7\who\is to blame; but** we only utter a feeling in .expressing our ; regret that transactions , of this character should ; have been ; permitted.— Wellington Post. •■'•;..#/.'■ -A-y .A^yA;^^ , yy:f£s. siNGuiAR incident -happened at a 'Parjflian;-:.f unlrai t'tf '^hort;i,tim^'iag£^|<;Ajlli Hhe^jrelat^ the last duties jtp the idece

hearse, vvhen.to the horror and stupefaction of everyone, a scratching was heard inside. " A screwdriver was quickly procured, and the lid opened. The defunct did not stir, but out flew an enormous rat, which the undertakers hod overlooked when screwing up the coffio. A Windsor correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette tells the following extraordinary story: — At the inaugural banquet of the Mayor of Windsor recontly, as the hour of eleven approached, some of the party exhibited a disinclination to abandon their enjoyments. In the midst of this difficulty some one suggested that, as there were three magistrates, a petty session Bhould be held, and that the landlord, Mr. Johnson, should apply for permission to keep open an extra hour. The suggestion was accordingly acted upon. The application ; was formally made and formally granted, and the party were thus allowed to continue their convivial occupation." An" exchange makes the following comments on gouges : — From America we gather that the narrow gauge railways gain in favor- — not as. objects of public in*vestment, but for private investment and use. '■ There is no such thing as building narrow gauge roads on paper," says the San Francisco Bulletin. "They are home enterprised to the extent at least of 6000. dollars a mile. The farmers have organised unions for the purpose in part of mitigating some of the evils of the transportation system, which they affirm exists ia this State. In what better way can these evils be met than by putting broad shoulders to the work of building narrow gauge roads?- There is not an acre of wheat land within six miles of the narrow gauge road contemplated between Stockton and Visalia which will not double in value if the road is constructed." Stockton, it seems, is a fertile valley, seventy-five miles from the main line, and neediog an outlet. So the Stockton people have . set the thing agoing with private subscriptions to the amount of half-a---million dollars, hopiDg to complete it by means of bonds. Local enterprise is to be developed for local interests, and in this colony the same mode of connecting with the main line or the coast may be adopted. We perceive that the British Government has . adopted the 18in wide gauge to the military camp at Aldershot, and signify their intention of putting it into use elsewhere. If this can be done for about 2000 dollars a mile, we see no reason why landed proprietors should not lay down such lines, to bring themselves and their tenants into the line of communication with the steam-going world. Ten Yeaks Buried. — The St. Joseph Valley (Indiana) Register publishes the following statement: — " Mrs Mary Owens, milliner, of this city, having ornamented her lot in the cemetery, and erected a beautiful monument thereoD, concluded to remove to it the remains of her mother, Mrs Anna Rees, who died after an illness of twenty-four hours, August 7, 1862, and was buried in ths graveyard, Lakeville, in this country. Accordingly she had the grave opened. On attempting to raise the coffin, which was but slightly decayed, it was found to be very heavy, and the front .. part of the lid was removed so as to make. a partial examination. The face was round, and full, and almost as natural as when placed in the coffin tea years before. It was determined to make a fuller examination, and on Monday last, the relatives, with Dr Ham, the editor of this paper, and one or two others, proceeded to the cemetery, raised the coffin, and removed the entire lid, when, lo their amazement, the whole body was found to be in a perfect state of preservation, and almost. as natural in appearance as when first buried; not the least visible diminution in size had taken place, while the weight had considerably increased. -Not the least unpleasant odour could be detected, nor was there anything to cause a repulsive feel- ! ing, but on the contrary, the appearance was more like that of a quiet sleep. The' doctor made several incisions in; many parts of the body, and thus found that 1 petrification had not taken place, but that the flesh had changed to adipocere^rot r fatty -wax- — a condition more wonderful than petrification, and a substance first discovered by Fourcroy in 1787. Mrs Rees. was a woman of fleshy habit, and of.excelr. 'lent health until the sickness which caused" her death in a few hours,' and which was induced by over-exertiori- Her- age* at 'the' 'ti^eiof.heridea^h^wßsS^rjears.'' „- t - , -, - Bollpway's, Fills are securities of health! '. tp. all' nationsj, in eyerj* .clime, and have given' hope',-' •relief, and comfort to minions,.;' ln! irritation anddebility, generated by excesses of any/kind;' or 'in s .general prostration of the system,, their,, effect, i^, rapidly, soothing/''' ra^ restorative." They 'rapidly *drive from the' sy i tern " .the; morbid cause of aijmeht, "and, renew. .the _ pristine animation, 5 health, iind 'vigor 'of the ftarn'e;* /Ihey greatly; increase the appetite,, giye , tone, to , 'the stomach. asßisi* th#^ • • ; elasticity to'the- Bjmi^^^fw^^'§iil^^^6 ' ckculation and, earned t& |:.its^cleansing power Cover^ eyer^ r prjgan7~ In^ the: lungsjthey effect indsistxikinglcliariges, converting the impure venous^mtb pure arterial blood, Ityiwhicfc'thi^^ JSW

Payne, Victoria 12 4 16 ' ' 6 22 Stonebridge, West 12 . 3 15 7 ,22 Partington, Tha. 12 - 4 16 6 22 Crawford, For. R. 12 4 16 6 22 Cato. Dunedin 9 6 15 6 ,21 . Thompson, In ver. 9 6 15 6 21 Ellis, Egmont 9 6 15 6 21 Buttle, Thames 9 6 15 6 21 Coleman, Hauraki - N 3 10 13 6 19 Trevallis.Christch 12 2 14 5 19 ReDoiif, Napier 12 2 14 5 19 Murray, Thames 12 2 14 5 19, Warren, Victoria 9 4 33 5 18 Hull, Oamaru 9 4 13 5 18 - Stone, Tharhes 12 0 12 4 16 Treseder, Otago 9 2 il 4 15 Welch, Taita 9 0 9 3 12 Grundy, Hauraki 6 2 8 3 11 Blake, Napier .6 0 6 . 2 8

<U g 00 oa •g .2 a « [« 8 cj "S -13 o O O a< CD H JJBuchanan.Taieri 30 2 32 11 43 Wilson, Port Ch. 27 2 29 10 39 Hoskin, Hauraki 24 4 28 10 38 Kitchen, Auck. 21 6 27 10 37 Guy, Nelson 27 0 27 9 36 Wales, Otago, Ch. 27 0 27 9 36 Buchanan, Taieri 24 2 26 9 35 Muir, Dunedin 24 2 26 9 35 Cowie, Diinedin 21 4 25 9 34 Stewart, Dunedin 21 4 25 9 34 M'Gregor, Otago 18 6 24 9 33 Taylor, Dunedin 18 6 24 9 33 Robinson, Rivertn 24 0 24 8 32 Bassett, Carterton 15 8 23 9 32 Prouse, Wainuio. 21 2 23 8 31 Fowler, Waimea 21 2 23 8 31 Shand, Otago 21 2 23 8 31 Leigh, Hauraki 12 .10 22 , 9 31 Douglas, Otago 21 2 23 8 31 M'Laren, Otago 21 2 23 8 31 Halse, Wellington 18 4 22 8 30 Gates, Carterton 18 4 22 8 30 Matthews, Militia 18 4 22 8 30 Sutton, Spring Ck 18 4 22 8 30 Orbeil, AC 9 12 21 9 30 Henderson, Rivtn. 9 12 21 9 30 Mills, Victoria 15 6 21 8 29 Boardman, Tham. 15. 6 21 8 29 Nutsford, Bruce 15 6 21 8 29 Chamberlain.Grey 15 6 21 8 * 29 Clode, Riverton 15 6 21 8 29 Finnertyj A C , 15 6 21 8 29 M'Lean, Thames 21 0 21 7 28 Fox, Christchurch 21 , 0 21 7 28 Adam, Bruce 21 0 21 7 28 Gordon, Thames 18 , 2 20 7 27 Forsyth, Westland 12 6 18 9 27 M'Leod, Hauraki 18 2 20 7 27 Soall, Thames 18 2 20 7 27 Bould.Panatahan. 18 2 20 7 27 >M'Kei*izie/Wa_kari 18 2-v 20 7 27 Elder, AC .18 2 20 7 27 Thompson, Tham. 15 4 19 7 26 Leigh, Hauraki , *15 4 ,19 ..:>.> 7 -26 Dickson, Portobel. ' 6 12 18 : 8 26 Morley; AC ,\ 12 r ! 6 18 v 7 25* Hayi^hamiesvf y 18-0 18^ 6 24. Richardson, Taieri 18 0,-18 6 ,24 * ''__-6rriron^M_^,;;■J.'!i , ls., ,^ ;/2 v ; ; ,;, "iT-. ' frA^iy 23 Twiba •15 2 .' ; 17 6 28 :':HowateiviV'elling^*'- 15 .'*' *-. fr ■' 17 • yy^y-y 23' ■JBlalcei Timaru^iyfAUSy -2'^i7 -?-V"6:::'^2i3* ■cHMreßna^^Haur.'**-^* ,6 y.^oyi\ibl6,rlhA7A^l^' i^-i'^i^B ■•..'.^i*« •vV.' r i*i'--j,-r.6^;i. -.-.JM.