The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 20, 23 January 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880.

Our attention has been directed to a Government advertisement — which we very much regret escaped our notice at the time — that recently appeared in the Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin papers calling for tenders for conveying 276 tons of railway iron from Wellington to Waitara, and 249 tons from Wellington to Wanganui. Now, if there is one port in New Zealand which is the head-quarters of a fleet of steamers eminently adapted for this particular work, that port is Nelson, and why our shipowners should have been excluded from the chance of tendering demands some explanation, for in public matters of this kind all parts of the colony should be treated alike. Although it is too late for this particular contract, for which tenders were invited on the Gtb, and had to be sent iv on the 10th ins'ant, we call attention to the matter in order that our members may bring it under the notice of the head of the department, who, we trust, will take care that for the future such favoritism is not shown to the larger ports to the detriment of the smaller, ones. In Mr Rother's Bhop window is to be seen a very handsome sword, which is to be presented to Major Pitt by the Nelson Artillery Company. The hilt, which is of solid silver, is elegantly embossed, and both the blade and scabbard are tastefully ornamented. The presentation will take place next week. We are glad to see that Mr Taylor's boat Wheel of Fortune, which was sent over to Wellington in the Kennedy the other day, has been successful at the regatta held there yesterday. She was manned by a Wellington crew. A meeting of gentlemen interested in the holding of a race meeting on the 24th May next "(Queen's Birthday Wftß held last

evening at the Nelson Hotel, when Mr M. Crewdson was voted to the chair. The Secretary, Mr A. McGee, produced the accounts of the previous meeting, which showed a balance in hahd of sothe £30, and stated that he was compelled to resign his office on account of his leaving Nelson. The Chairman and those present felt that it was- due to their Secretary that whilst regretting his resignation a minute should be recorded in their books expressing the thanks oi the meeting and of the sporting community of this city for the energetic and untiring efforts which he had always made towards the success of every item of sport in which his services had been required; Mr Joseph Hariey then undertook the position of Secretary pro. tern., and after proceeding to the election of some additional stewards the meeting was adjourned for a week, when the preliminary arrangements for the forthcoming race meeting will be made. A meeting of farmers is to be held in the Agricultural Hall, Richmond, to - morrow evening for the purpose of discussing the action of the brewers and maltsters in requiring 52lbs to the bushel of barley. The return match between the English and Colonial representatives of the Nelson Cricket Club will be played at Victory Sqare to-morrow afternoon when the wickets will be pitched at 2.15 We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Colonial Museum of "Reports of Geological Explorations " containing many interesting papers, accompanisd by maps and sections, by several well known scientific men. A London telegram of the 20th inst., to the Post says : — Mr Childers, on behalf of the Victorian Government, had an interview with the Prince of Wales to-day regarding the Melbourne Exhibition. His Royal Highness promised bis hearty- support n promoting the success of the Exhibition.— The Indian revenue for the year exceeds the amount estimated by three and a half millions sterling. The whiteflsh ova, which were brought to Auckland by the. last mail steamer, arrived in the Taiaroa this morning, and the box was unpacked at the hatching ponds, when, as it was only reasonable to expect after the wretched mismanagement which had allowed twelve days to elapse between their arrival in Auckland and reaching their destination here, nearly fifty per cent were bad. The lot for the Bluff were sent down the east coast by the Hinemoa, and were unpacked and placed in the ponds there nearly a week ago. Had she brought the Nelson consignment down and left them at Wellington, they might have arrived here last Saturday, and thousands of them been saved. The packing was beautifully done in a box about four feet cube, round the sides of which was a chamber containing charcoal. The ova were laid between coarse scrim and packed in trays, each containing two layers, between and on the top and bottom of which were thick layers of moss. A quantity of ice on the top and at the aides kept the whole moist and cool, and, in, all probability, nearly the whole would have arrived here in good order but for the unnecessary delay to which they were subjected. The eyes are plainly visible in most of them, and in the course of a very few days the hatching is likely to commence. The whitefidi, which are only fouud in lakes/grow to about 3lbs in weight, and are considered a great delicacy. It is intended to place them in Lake Rotoiti, as soon as the batching is completed. At the meeting of the executive of the New Zealaud Rifle Association at Wellington, the ribbon for suspending the medals to be worn at the ensuing Nelson meeting was shown. The colors aro scarlet outer bands with a blue centre, beiog the reverse of the New Zealand war medal iibbon. It bas beeu manufactured by Mr Greenfield, of Auckland, and is at once stiong, handsome, and a highly creditable colonial production.