The Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1872.

As the Evening Mail will be published at Noon, to-morrow, advertisers are requested to send in their notices not later than 11 o'clock.

Trotting Match.— A match for £50 a side came off to-dny between Mr. M'Glashaa's Creeping Jenny and Mr. T. Harley's Black Eagle, and resulted in the latter coming in an easy winner.

Intercolonial Boat Race. — This race for £150, for which eight boats started, took place at Christchurch yesterday, and was won by the Lyttelton crew, the Wellington boat beiDg third.

Nelson Institute.— lt will be seen by advertisement that the annual meeting of members of this Institute, which was to have been held to-morrow evening, has been postponed until Friday next at halfpast seven.

Government Gazette, — Hubert Day Church, Esq., has been gazetted Justice of the Peace, Resideut Magistrate for the District of Blenheim, and Deputy Registrar at Blenheim of the Supreme Court. — W. H. Eyes, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, has been appointed Sheriff for the District of Marlborough.

Wairau Election. —The foilowing Is the result of the polling at this election yesterday : — Seymour, Blenheim, 145 ; Renwicktowu, 9 ; Wairau Valley, 1 ; Flaxbourne, 6. Ward, Blenheim, 88 ; Renwiektown, 24 ; Wairau Valley, 8 ; Flaxbourne, 2. Majority for Seymour, 39.

Heavy Squall. — A severe squall from the S.E. passed over the town about noon to-day and resulted in the blowing down of a chimney belonging to the shop of Mr. Hopewell, next to Messrs Adams and Pitt's offices, in Hardy-street. The Church Hill was exposed to the full force of the wind, and some of the gum trees in the locality were bent nearly double by it. We are sorry to learn that a considerable amount of damage has been caused in the hop gardens.

Mr. George Cotterell. — Many of our readers will be sorry to learn that this gentleman has been seriously ill, hoemorrhage of the lungs having set in one evening after a performance he had given at Beecbwcr-b, Victoria. Mr. Coiterell, we understand, has been compelled to abandon his professional pursuits for a time, and purposes returning to Nelson for a few weeks in the hope that the climate will set him up again, in which case he will give one or two entertainments in Nelson prior to returning to Australia.

Waimea South Steeplechase Meeting. — A deal of interest is being taken in the racing to come off to-morrow, and great is the demand upon livery stable keepers for vehicles of every description. For the principal event of the day, there are five entries, but only four horses will come tothe post, Sailor not having put in an appearance from the Coast. Old Rustic maintains the honorable post of first favorite, but there are those who are of opinion that little Quicksilver, to whom he gives three stone, will be there or thereabouts at the end of the race. Equity, under the care of "Walter Taylor, is keeping dark, and but little is known of him, as he has only once appeared in public, and then in anything but first-rate condition. Ronald, we hear, takes his jumps well, and is in good fettle, and, on the whole, there is every probability of an exciting contest for the Waimea South Handicap. The interest in the Free Handicap will of course depend mainly upon the weights allotted to the various competitors, and as these will not be published until after the great race, little can be said about it just now. Hurdle races and flat races for small prizes make up the bill of fare, and a capital day's sport may be fairly anticipated. The day will be generally observed as a holiday, and the Government offices and most of the places of business will be closed. Every kind of facility is afforded for getting to the course, and, among others, Mr. Holder advertises that he will run his coach with six horses.

A Supposed Slaver. — H.M.S. Basilisk, bound to Cape York with Government stores, arrived at Cardwell, Queensland, on the 7th inst., with a schooner in tow, which is said to have been engaged in kidnapping. Captain Moresby reports boarding her off this port. She was waterlogged, and completely gutted. .No clue to name or owner can be discovered. On board were found fourteen South Sea islanders, in various stages of starvation, .and also three dead bodies. The white "crew had either been murdered, or had abandoned the vessel.

There was neither food nor water od board. The Basil isk. wisheß to be reported all well. On the : following day, Mr. SheridnD, Police Magistrate of Cardwell, reports to the Colonial Secretary by telegram that he visited the schooner picked up by the Basilisk. He took a Polynesian as interpreter, but could npt communicate with the natives on board. The three dead bodies were found in a state of decomposition. The fourteen islanders alive on board the schooner, which was found denting abont with sails bent and helm lashed dowD, were perfect skeletons. Two of the most intelligent repeated the word " Solomon," pointing to others ; leading to the impression that all came from the Solomon Islands. The name of the schooner is effaced, but there is a small board on the stern of the vessel painted black. The vessel is about thirty-five tons. It has no boat. It is New Zealand built, and has " Anckiand " on the sails. The Natives are to be retained on shore till the return of the Basilisk from Cape York. The stench from the hold is fearful. The Natives would not answer questions, apparently believing they were to be shot. Trade, consisting of hatchets, knives, rifles, revolvers, &c, was found on board by the Basilisk.