Mb. Thatcher, accompanied by Mrs. Thatcher, was a passenger by the Wellington from Auckland to Dunedin. Mr. Commissioner Brannigan is now in Napier, having arrived from the north by the Wellington, on the morning of Sunday last. Wautukai. — The Rev. R. Taylor haa requested us to intimate that on Sunday next, March 6 th, at 3 p.m., he will preach at the house of Mr. Collins, Wautukai. Routledge, Kennedy, & Co. will sell, to-morrow, at the Meanee sale yards, pure bred rams, cattle, horses, sheep, &c. Impounded Sales take place this day, at Petane, Havelock, and Meanee, if the impounded stock have not previously been claimed. The Approaching Race Meeting. — The list of entrances will be found in our advertising columns. By the Keera two additional horses arrived from Auckland, one our old friend Numa, the other a promising colt, as yet unnamed. Military Changes. — It' is generally understood, since the arrival of the Wellington, that Colonel M'Donnell and Major Drummond Hay have been deprived of the commands they held, until lately, in the Armed Constabulary force. Race Booths.— On Friday evening three booths were let for the approaching race days. For the grand stand Mr. Caulton gave £24 ; and Mr. Ashton took the others at £5 each. Resident Magistrate's Court. — With the exception of one inebriate on Friday, no cases, either civil or criminal, have been brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court since our last issue. Attempts at Artesian well sinking on the Spit are very risky. Every one, hitherto, has been a failure, except that which Mr. Garry so gallantly stuck to, and for which, to the disgrace of Napier, he has never yet been paid. We learn with regret that the last effort of the kind — that made by Mr. Beukers on the Western Spit —has also been an abortive one. Napier Races. — It will be seen from announcement that the Banks will be closed on Thursday next, and after noon on Friday ; also that Cobb's coach will, on those days, leave Waipawa at 7 a.m., instead of 8, so as to reach the race course in time. Daily Mail on South Road.— —We are requested to mention that in addition to the regular mails on the Forangahau line, mails . will, on and after this date be despatched and received on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, to and from Clive, Havelock, Te Aute, Kaikora, and Waipawa — being, in effect, daily communication — and that, during the summer months, the said mails will close at the Chief Post office at 8 a.m. on the above days, and, during the winter months, at 5 p.m. on the previous evenings. The Late James Horn.— A post mortem examination of the body of the late Mr. Horn has shewn that he had, at some former time, although, as it appears, unconsciously, swallowed a piece of wire resembling a common pin, round which an abscess bad gradually formed, until it terminated in death. The deceased being a member of the Arrillery Corps, his remains were followed to the grave on Sunday last by the members of the corps, as well as by a large number of friends — the Napier Brass Band playing the Dead March in Saul. HawkeY Bay Steam Boiling Down Co. — This Company's operations for the season 1870 commenced about a month ago, and have proceeded actively till the present week, during which there has been a partial lull in the business, owing to the sheepowners not having yet sent down their flocks of sheep. Arrivals are, however, shortly expected. One result of the Boiling Down works being in operation ia that the public have been able to obtain cheap legs of mutton again, — a real boon to poor families. Shoals of Fish, — During the last three weeks the Ngaruroro river has literally swarmed with fish of many sorts, but more especially with a kind of fresh herring, which is very delicate and excellent eating. Vast quantities have been caught, and some parties have salted down quantities of these very palatable fish. They are most numerous in the vicinity of the Boiling Down works, attracted thither probably by an abundance of " feed." Some Napier anglers may like to go out for a day's sport. They will not return empty. Government Annuities and Insurances. — It is intimated in another column that the chief post office will be the office, Napier, for receiving applications for government annuities or policies of life insurances, and that business will commence on and after the Ist March (this day). Mr. Lyndon will sell, this day, various parcels of land. The sale of Mr. Abbott's interest in the Abbottsford estate, has, however, been unavoidably deferred. Mr. Lyndon will sell, on the same occasion, globes, rifle, boat and sail &c. Big Bush Steam Saw Mill.— The enterprise and well-merited success of Mr. Cashmore are well known. Having in the course of three years " cleared " one end of the bush of all the available timber (or "good" trees), he has now obtained possession of the central portion of the bush. The machinery is all removed from its old site, and is in course of re-erection in a convenient spot to the centre. The enginehouse and foundations, beams, cross-beams, &c, upon which the machinery is to rest, are of the most massive and substantial character. A great improvement and convenience has been introduced ; a tramway has been constructed right from the mill to near the main road, so that loads of timber may be run down rapidly from the mill on the trucks, and transferred to drays, carts, or waggons, with great celerity, at only a few yards distance from the high road. Some valuable new machinery has recently been imported by Mr. Cashmore, which will add to the completeness of the establishment. It is probable the new mill will not be in full work for a fortnight or so. Mr. Cashmore has taken, we understand, a contract for the supply of a large quantity of timber at Waipukurau, the " raw material " coming out of the Waipukurau bush. A number of his men, with the necessary machinery, have proceeded to Waipukurau to perform the contract. Just now great activity exists in that district. Premises for a new Boiling Down Company's works are in course of erection, and 'it is reported that a brewery is about to be erected there.