The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 64, 14 March 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1873.

Dr Care. — We remind our country readers that Dr Carr whose Mesmeric Seances have afforded so much amusement in Nelson will lecture at Spring Grove to-night and Wakefield to-morrow evening. Bt the Eangitoto and Alhambra there arrived this morning the'Carandiois from the West Coast, and Miss Aiken from Wellington. Entertainments are advertised by both for Monday evening. The many friends of Captain Bough will be glad to welcome him back to Nelson. He arrived last night by the Rangitoto after an absence of eighteen months spent in travel in Europe and -America, Distribution of Prizes. — Owing to the state of the weather the distribution of the prizes won in the late competitions is postponed until to-morrow afternoon, when the volunteers Will parade in full uniform with arms and accoutrements, in front of the Police Station, whence they will, if fine, march to the Botanical Gardens. Should the weather prove unfavorable, the ceremony will take place in the Provincial Hall. We are requested to state that all the representatives and prize winners are required to meet in the Drill Shed tO'inorrow morning at 9 o'clock. Telegraph Shipping- Notices. — Greatly to the surprise of the pilot, the lights of the Rangitoto were seen outside the bank at a little after nine o'clock last night, whereas she was not expected until this morning, the telegraph having informed us that she left Greymouth at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. It turns out, however, that 9.30 p.m of the previous day was the date of her sailing, and hence her unexpected arrival, which was attended with great inconvenience to those interested, and indeed might have resulted in her missing the tide, as the pilot crew were not in readiness to go out to meet her. This morning, the Alhambra outstripped the telegraph, and the first intimation that she had left Wellington was the signal that told of her being in sight at Nelson. To be of any service these notices should be regular, correct, and speedy, otherwise they are of no use whatever, indeed, we should be better without them. Colonial Prize Fieing. — The firing for the General Government prizes is over, and we question whether any meeting of the colonial representatives ever passed off in so thoroughly satisfactory a manner. With the exception of that of yesterday, which was devoted to firing for an extra prize, the weather has proved as favorable as could possibly be desired, excepting, perhaps, for those who come from parts of the colony where the sun does not shine so constantly and so brightly as in Nelson, and it may be that to this circumstance is to be attributed the fact that Captain Wales of Otago, who, by winning the Champion Belt for two years in succession, has proved himself to be an undoubtedly good shot, has occupied so low a position in the scores. . However jmuch Captain Wales' reputation as a firstrate shot may have suffered by the ill-luck that has attended him this year among '■ those i- who : have not- .taken all the circumstances into consideratioQ, we < feel „ quite sure that all who take a real. interest ;in shodting omußf-re^i&fc'-anft admire him for the thoroughly^ good-tempered manner in which h© 1 has takea Ms defeat. ■,'., No

doubt it would have been more gratifying to him to have come to the front once again this year; as little doubt is there that he would have liked to see the Belt borne off by a representative from his own province, but Captain Wales is an enthusiast in rifleshooting, and can appreciate and admire a good shot when he sees him, and for this reason it was that no more hearty, congratulations were offered to Lieut. Hoskin, of the Thames, on securing the great prize, than those he received from the exchampion. Of such congratulations the present champion is well deserving. He has by constant practice, and by devoting a large amount of his time and attention to the work he had taken in hand, been enabled to attain the proud position he now holds among his brother riflemen. A keen rivalry has for some time existed between the Northern and Sputhern volunteers, and undaunted by repeated defeats, the former have steadily persevered, until victory has at last crowned their efforts. For two years — but that was long ago — Nelson furnished the winners of the Belt, but since then she has not distinguished herself at all in the rifle-shooting line. Might it not be well if, taking heart from the success that has attended the Thames volunteers in their at one time almost hopleless contest against the men of the South, she were to buckle on her armour once more, and strive to secure the muchcoveted prize ? We have said that the present meeting has passed off most satisI factorily. This is not entirely owing to the fine weather, but to the exertions of those upon whom devolved the management of- the details. Than Major Gordon it would be impossible to find a more impartial commanding officer, or one who was more anxious, while meting out strict justice to all, to make everything pass off smoothly, pleasantly, and quickly. Not an hour has been unnecessarily wasted in carrying out the programme, and not a murmur has reached our ears of favoritism towards either district or individual. Well and thoroughly has he done his work, and well and favorably is he spoken of by all who have been placed under his command. The staff officers have also earned the goodwill of all with whom they had to do, while to the Staff Secretary every praise is due for the completeness of the arrangements he had made. On the whole, the meeting hae been completely and exceptionally successful, and while we believe that our visitors will leave Nelson favorably impressed with the place and the people, and grateful for the hospitality shown to them, we may, we feel sure, take upon ourselves to say that they will carry away with them the hearty good wishes of those among whom they have for a time been located. For our own part we desire to return our thanks to the Commanding Officer and his staff for the courtesy they have displayed towards the representatives of the press, whose labors have been much lightened by the assistance that has always been so willingly rendered to them.