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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 96, 24 April 1868, Page 2

Our engagements during next week promise to be very numerous, and include the two days' Races, the Agricultural Show, at Richmond, on Friday, the Harmoiiic Society's Concert on Thursday evening ; the Race Ball ou Friday night, tho Caraudini Concerts on three evenings of the week, and though kst not least, we may probably includo Mr. Stafford's long expected ' explanation ' to his Nelson constituents. It rarely happens that so varied and extensive a ' menu' is provided for a single week in Nelson, and should the present fine weather continue, we shall have nothing to regret save tba presence of Royalty, which for causes with which all are acquainted, would have conferred additional eclat upon the week's proceedings. Amongst the University Intelligence in the Home News we find it mentioned that at a congregation held at Cambridge, on February 27, Ralph Richardson, Trinity Hall, was allowed by special grace to c incept' in Arts in his absence, he being resident in New Zealand. A meeting for the purpose of appointing and electing Churchwardens and other parish officers for All Saints' parish for the ensuing year, will be held this evening at the Bishop's Schoolroom, at 8 o'clock. The library of the Nelson Institute has recently received a valuable accession in the shape of a work in six volumes, illustrative of British Sea Weeds and Ferns, presented through Dr Irvine by Mr H. Wrigg, C.E. The illustrations in this work are ' nature printed' by Bradbury, and the delineations of the various specimens are so perfect that they completely supply the place of the originals themselves, and require a very good eye indeed to distinguish the original from its impression. This donation is a very important one, inasmuch as it will afford an opportunity to young botanists to compare the various species of these exquisitely graceful productions, and enable jthem to a certain extent to examine specimens even of the very rarest descriptions. We understand that the various horses in training for the races next week are all doing well, and promise excellent sport. The different competitors are thus located : —Mr Webb's lot, Knottingley, Miss King, and Presto, are at Woodstock Park, with Mr Sellon's Robin Hood; Mr Mallock's Backbiter being at the Aunesbrook stables, which, as usual, will furnish a formidable phalanx, including Magenta, Owen, Nebula, and an untried three year old, Conquest. We regret to state that Mr Mallock's second horse, Scandal,broke down about a fortnight ago,and will therefore not figure amongst the entries. From the Hednesford stables will come Mr H. Redwood's Blackboy, and XXX, and also Mr G. Cutts' Moss Rose, of Auckland renown. Besides these, Star of the South, a mare which ran at the last Christchurch Races, and Don Pedro, a steeple chase horse belonging to Mr Barnett, of Christchurch, are expected from Wellington, in the Taranaki, on Sunday next, and will join Mr Webb's string. We hear that Captain Spiller is bringing Brown Stout from the West Coast, and

that those redoubtable cross-country horses Harkaway and Sprightly, of local fame, will also take part in the Steeple Chaee which figures among the * events ' of the second day.

Among the arrivals from Picton yesterday by the Phoebe, we notice the name of the Rev. Father Hickie, a gentleman who has been delegated by the Irish Catholic Bishops, under the especial sanction of his Cardinal Barnabo, the Prefect of the Propaganda, to collect subscriptions throughout these colonies in aid of the Irish Catholic University. The reverend gentleman has been engaged for the test four years on this mission, and has received very encouraging support iu California, Australia, and also in this colony, his appeal to the Catholics in Wellington having been responded to by the sum of £70. It will be seen from aii advertisement in another column, that Father Hickie will make an appeal to the Catholics of Nelson, on Sunday morning, at St. Mary's. We may add that the Catholic University in Dublin was founded in 1854, with the object of supplying to the Catholics of Ireland a superior education, they being debarred from entering Trinity College, Dublin, and the present Government having promised to confer a special charter upon the University. By the Charlotte Anne, which arrived on the 9th inst. the Rev. Father Garin received a fiue bell, forwarded to him by an eminent foundry at Lyons, for St. Mary's Church. The bell, we understand, weighs 12 cwt, and is probably by far the largest yet imported to this province. We may add that before the bell is hung, it is intended that its tones shall be tested, lest, by any unhappy chance, it should be found, like its predecessor, to assimilate too nearly to the sound of our two firebells, a contingency, however, which its superior weight is not likely to render very probable.

The Obituary for February contains the following names: — Louis I. ex-king of Bavaria, an eminent patron of art ; the Dowager Countess of Glasgow, daughter of the late Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair Bart. ; Francis Harriett, 6th Viscountess Torrington ; Lord Wensleydale, better known as Baron James Parke, on whom the celebrated life peerage was conferred in 1856, which was afterwards superseded by an ordinary patent, with remainder to his issue male, had such existed ; Lady Cranworth; Hon. James Gordon, brother of the Earl of Aberdeen ; Sir Norton J. Rnatchbull, Bart. ; Sir Charles Lemon, Bart.; Sir William Shee, one of the judges of the Court of Queen's Bench; Sir David Brewster, K.H., D.C.L., &c, the venerable Principal of the University of Edinburgh, aged 86; Admiral Jones, late M.P. for Co. Deny; Admiral Loch; Col. Hanmer, K.H.; Mr F. B. Beamish, late M.P. for Cork; Rev. Edwyn Vaughan, late assistant master of Harrow, and Mr A. Anderson, Chairman of the P. and O. Compauy.