SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1782, 7 April 1874, Page 3

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Press Agency,) i" — . Wellington, Monday, Saunders'and O'Maliey, of Wellington, contractors, are the successful tenderers for the reclamation of 49 acres. The tenders, ranged from' .£56,000 ; (accepted) to £120,000/ It is Estimated- that the work will occupy two years and a half,, with 100 hands employed, and that the commercial value of the land when completed will be £4,000 per acre. The General Government contribute one fifth of the contract price, so as to entitle them to ~ land for a railway station and other purposes.—The barque' Oimille/ loaded, also broke loose away from her moorings and went ashore alongside the' Malay,' in Oriental Bay. Both vessels broke 1 their chains. It is said that the precaution of droppiug an anchor was not taken. No damage. Both vessels are expected to be got off first change of wind. They are lying on a soft bank.—A gale has continued throughout the day, but is now. abating. The small ketch' Alert' dragged ashore during the gale. The vessels at the wharf are all right. No other damage is reported. Napiee, Monday. Braitkwaito's run of 2,600 acres, situate about eight miles from port, has, been sold to Mr Maney for £10 per acre* and the stock at a valuation.-The' Petroleum Company's engine (from the Thames) has reached Gisbome.

Ciimsic lumen, Monday. De Bourbel reports the sharennrkefc : —Sellers: National Insurance, 31s; National Bank, 755. 6dj South British Insurance,^Os 1 ;' Shipping Company, 12s / Standard Insurance, 14s,', Buyers : National Insurance, 295; National Bank, 74s 6d; South 1 British, 48s; Shipping Company, lis; Standard Insurance, 13s. —Trial Stakes: Watts' Lurline, 10st, 1; Parawhenua, 93t," 2 ;" Campbell's Malice, 9at 81b, 3. Mr Watts declared to win with Lurline, who went from the post, and was, never caught, winning by sis lengths.—St. :Ledger States: Watts' Kakapo, 1; Mr Delaraain's Templeton, 2; Campbell's Castaway, 3. Templeton led for a quarter of a mile, when Kakapo took up the running, and was never headed, winning, easily by tsvo lengths. Lyttelton, Monday, Tho schooner ' Belle Brandon' saile d for Auckland to-day, with 616 sacks of oats, 92 sacks of wheat, 80 sacks of oatmeal, aud 100 sacks grass seed.

Dunedin, Monday. The Government have made arrangements with the purchasers of the ' Surat' to have the passengers luggage returned, —The heaviest criminal calendar ever known' comes cn this session; On the civil side there' is another libel case against the Star.—'The population of the province is 84,000. The increase in three years is 15,000.—The Submarine Gold Mining Company is to be wound up.

EASTER MONDAY HOLIDAY. Somewhat to the surprise of most people it was determined by the storekeepers and others, as well as the banks and Government offices, to hold high holiday. Acordingly, excepting a few butchers' shops and public-houses, there were no places of .business opened for business, Moat people, therefore, went in quest of amusement, and how far they were suecessful.in their,]quest no doubt in a great measure rested with themselves. There was an excursion trip to Ohinemuri to give delight to those enamoured of river scenery and a view of the Eldorado of the North Island. So far as the Thames is concerned, . there .was only the one scene of amusement open to the general public, and that was the Parawai Gardens, where owing to the forethought and public spirit of Mr Cassia and a few others some sports were arranged. The public did not commence to assemble in large numbers on the ground before one o'clockpeople enjoy.sports of ; this sort best after dinner-but at all events a start' was not made with 'the advertised programme of races until that time. A few boys' races were got up in the meantime to satisfy the craving for amusement of those in the gardensj but it was not until after one o'clock that the advertised programme of events was called. The first event was the

200 Yards Flat Eace (Handicap). Prize, '£110s. Entrance, Is Gd.

For this there were five entries:— Eoycroft, scratch; Summerton, 8 yards; Waite, 9 yards; Hynes, 12 yards; and Poulgrain, 12 yards. Summerton did not run. Waite evidently had the heels of the ruck, and came in a good winner, with Roycroffc about 6 yards in his rear, and Hynes in a fair position for third. This was a preliminary to the principal events of the day, and it was expected that the next raco would have afforded some good sport. In this, however, 1 the public ' wero somewha't disappointed. This event was the

Hurdle Race (Handicap),. 2 miles. Prize, £5. Post entry, 10s. There were only three entries. Hooker's Native -' - . . 1 Gallagher's Wild Boy .- ... . 2 Quinlivan's Belle of the,lsle - ■ 0

Tho race, was looked" forward to with considerable uncertainty,'' People were in doubt as to Belle's,capabilities for jumping, but were certain that if she took her hurdles her chances were firstclass. ' On the fall of the flag Native went for the first hurdle, and went half over-it, balancing evenly on the centre, and remaining like Mahomet's coffin for some time suspended.; His rider jumped off and dragged him over, taking with him the upper rail, and before Hooker was again mounted.VYild Boy and Belle were away ahead. However, Native raced them to the next hurdle, which both the leading ones refused, while Native took it slick. Wild Boy followed the lead, but no inducement was sufficient to carry the Belle over, and there she stuck.' The remainder of the race was between the first two, and gallantly Wild Boy stuck to Native's skirts up to the second last hurdle, where Wild Boy, then leading again refused, leaving the rest of the race to Native. The next race was a Truee-Leggd Race, Prize, £1. Entrance, Is. Eoycroft and Waite united, and ran against Wiremu and Eru for a distance of 150 yards. Towards the close the last pair lost pace, and the Europeans came in easy winners. For the running high leap there were 4 entries, but only lioycroft and Oassin came to the scratch, and the event was easily won by the former. Maori House Race. Prize, £5. Entrance, 10s. Taipari's Kerei ■ - - 1 Meremana's Titokowaru ' - - ' - 2 Hotene's Wairoa ■ - .■ 0 The race was an excellent one, as between the first two, .Kerei held a.slight lead throughout, and maintained it to the close, Wairoa was out of the race from •the commencement. Local Hobse Race, 1| miles (handicap.) Prize, £5. Post entry, 10s. It was expeeted that there would have been a good field for this event, but the entries ware only sufficient to make a race. These were, Belle of the Isle, which carried 12st,. and -Kerei and Wild Boy, which found such riders as could be .picked up. Notwithstanding the heavy weight carried by the Belle, she easily carried off the prize. 300 Yards Hurdle "Race (Haudicap). Prize, £2. Entrance, 2s.

Eoycroft, scratch; Waite, 15 yards; Summerton, 17 yards; and Hynes, 23 yards, entered for this event, but Hynes did not come to the scratch. After a good race, the event was won by Waite, with Eoycroft a good second. This brought the advertised events to a close. There were two or three races got up. for boys, in which a large number competed, and their efforts appeared to be watched with quite as much interest as those of the more advanced competitors, On the whole, owing to the paucity of attendance on the part of • the general public and the meagre, entries of competitors, the sports were not so successful as they otherwise would have been. We have no doubt many were deterred' from proceeding to Parawai at all on account of the exorbitant charges made by the cab-drivers.