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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 911, 21 January 1868, Page 2

The Wairarapa Race Meeting will be held on the 18th and 19th of March. It is expected there will be some good sport. Mr. A. S. Atkinson has resigned his seat as a member of the House of Representatives for the Omata district (Taranaki.) Mr. Atkinson is a supporter of the present Ministry. Billiards. — Mr. Jos. Dion, the billiard champion of America, has challenged Mr. John Roberts, the English champion, to play three games, English, French, and American, to be played in England, France, and America, for 10,000 dollars in gold each, and the championship. Expected Return of Troops. — The Wanganui Times of the 9fch inst. says : — "We can inform our readers that the Major-General commanding, has intimated to the military authorities in Auckland, that certain companies of the 18th R.I. will shortly return to Wanganui. The General never intended that the whole of (> the one regiment " should leave here, and has decided that at least two companies shall return." Dinner to Mr. Fox. — A deputation from the settlers of Rangitikei waited upon Mr. Fox last Thursday, to invite him to a public dinner. The invitation was accepted, and the dinner will take place at McDonnell's Hotel on the 22nd inst. The Times, in noticing this event, remarks : — " Mr. Fox must not expect to live in retirement. Never before did the colony stand in more need of his services, and he must nofc shrink from what may be arduous, and, perhaps, unpleasant duty. His presence in the House of Representatives next session will be the signal for a change, which, we trust, will tend to promote the best interests of the colony.' The Alpacas in the colony of New South Wales appear to have flourished well, and to be highly esteemed. From the Bathursfc Times we learn that a small flock were recently sheared with the following results as to weight of fleece : — One wether gave 11 lbs., one ditto gave 9 lbs., two wethers gave each 7£ lbs., one ewo gave 8| lbs., one ditto gave s_. lbs., two ewes gave each 4 lbs., one ram gave 85- lbs. The remainder of the flock were all wethers, and averaged slightly less. The animals gave very little trouble, but from their great size aud weight, two hands were required to attend to them — the legs being lied. Water Supply for Nelson. — The Colonist of the 3rd instant says : — " The pipes are now laid from some distance up the Brook-street Valley to the Porfc, although as yet, in all the cross streets they are nofc laid down. Near the entrance gate of Mr. Bennett's residence a clam has been formed, and the pipes thence down to the Porfc were filled with Avater on December 30, and the pressure tested. At the lowest level on the Haven road, near the beacon, the pressure, which was only about one-sixth of what ifc will be when the pipes are laid from the reservoir, threw a stream of water from a five-eighths fire-branch, a height of about 18 to 20 feet ; and up at the fire-engine house the water was projected about 35 feet high. Curious Triumphal Arch. — The good citizens of Hobart Town are preparing various demonstrations to honor the ai*rival of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Among others, especial mention may be made of a triumphal arch erected by the whaling portion of the community, as described in the Hobart Town Mercury of Dec. 24 : — The emblematic arch will be quite a feature in our preparations. The arch itself will span nearly the whole width of the road nearest the river, having a smaller archway on either side, the ground tiers to consist of oil-butts, upon which will be placed bales of wool, the front bearing the words "Welcome to Tasmania," and above this again will be placed bags of wheat and flour, wheat sheaves, bags of barley, jam and fruit 'cases, and barrels of colonial ale, a whale's jaw spanning the above emblems of the products of the colony, and a flag floating from the apex. The tiers of the side passages will also consist of oil-butts one upon the other, on end, the arches being spanned by whale-boats, with ferns and evergreens, and other graceful natural embellishments, and, when finished, the whole promises to be a very handsome and appropriate structure, emblematic of the products of tho colony, and well worthy tho purpose for which it will be specially raised. Australian Meat. — The following letter addressed to the London Times relates to the supply of Australian meat : — " Sir, — In the Times' leading article of the 23rd of October, in connection with the question of beef from Australia, ifc is stated : — ' Our correspondent yesterday said a good word for Australian beef, and we are glad to think ifc deserved tho praise.' Further ou — ' We should like to see the business of this supply taken largely and effectually in hand ;' and, again, — • It is of no use importing a few tins as curiosities.' Would you allow me briefly to state that something more has been done than importing ' a few tins as curiosities.' Since the first of March last the Australian Meat Company have imported and sold upwards of 30,000 tins of beef. We are daily expecting the ai'rival of the Sir John Lawrence with another large shipment, which we hope to distribute to the shops early in November, and we have advices of regular shipments to arrive monthly during the winter. Profiting hy the advice of the Food Committee of tho Society of Arts, we have this season reduced the portion of fat in the tins, and have also reduced the temperature while cooking. In answer to one of the Times' correspondents, perhaps you will allow me to state that any person can obtain this beef through our agents, Messrs. M'Call and Co., 137 Houndsditeh. — Yours obediently, The Manager op the Australian Meat Company."