NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1098, 20 May 1863, Page 6

NELSON.

We have received our files of Nelson papers up to May 9th; from the 'Examiner' of that date we make the following extracts:—

Election of a Governor of Nelson College.— The polling for a Governor of Nelson College, which took place on Monday last in the several districts of the province, has ; so far as is known, resulted in Mr. Sinclair being successful by about forty votes. The returns from the districts of Motupipi and Tahaka have yet to be received, but, the number of electors resident in those districts being small, the result cannot materially be altered. The votes recorded were for Mr. Sinclair 126, for Mr. Stafford 83.

Nelson Agricultural Association.—The fourth annual show of stock and produce, in connection with the Agricultural Association of the province of Nelson, took place on the Fair Ground at Richmond on Tuesday last. The attendance of visitors from all quarters was very large, and the great rural holiday of the year passed off remarkably well. The great characteristic of the show appeared to be, fairness of competitors, and excellence in the articles exhibited. On the whole, the number of the live stock exhibited was less than usual, but as regards its quality there was certainly no decline. The greatest interest generally attaches to the show of horses, in which class of stock the competition is always keenest; and to the sheep, to the improvement of which great attention and considerable capital is now devoted. In these two descriptions of stock it was generally admitted that the former, though falling off in numbers, fully maintained at least the average excellence of former exhibitions; and the latter displayed a manifest improvement in both respects. Of cattle, the entries were much fewer than usual, and altogether the exhibition of the year shewed some falling off as compared with its predecessors. This remark also applies to the show of pigs, which was not quite so creditable to our farmers as former ones. In the poultry department the show was larger and better than usual, and manifested increased attention to their breeding' The grain exhibited, though much less in quantity than usual, was generally admired for its excellence The prize wheat, barley, and oats were each exceedingly good, and the barley especially was a rare and perfect sample. As to the comparative merits of the different parcels of the last-mentioned grain there was no room for difference of opinion, but with respect to the wheat and oats the judges must have had some difficulty in arriving at a decision Considering the very droughty and unfavorable character of the season just passed, the plump and excellent character of the various grains exhibited elicits surprise as well as admiration. The rye grass seed which obtained the first prize was superior to any which we remember to have seen exhibited before. The roots were few, but remarkably fine; and here too, notwithstanding the season, there was no falling off in the quality of the articles exhibited. The show of dairy produce was small, but otherwise very satisfactory and creditable. The j prize cheese attracted general attention not only for its quality, but for its extraordinary size. Arrival from the Buller.—'The Thames, cutter, Games, master, from Canterbury to Nelson! arrived off Nelson from the Buller Eiver, which latter place she left on Saturday about half-past eleven, and was off Nelson at daylight on Sunday morning, making, we are informed, the shortest run from the Buller to Nelson on record. She brought eighteen passengers, all of whom are diggers and prospectors, and had 200 ounces of gold, besides what was not officially reported. One of those who have arrived, a quondam Victorian digger, who has been up the country and travelled overland prospecting and otherwise, informs us that gold is to be found in abundance in many places—" there is no mistake about that." The difficulty, he adds, is the conveyance of stores; but this difficulty, he tells us, is rapidly vanishing, for the men working on the road under Government are doing their work most energetically, and the tracks now forming are being quickly prosecuted.