NOTES FROM THE WAIRAU.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 56, 8 March 1886, Page 3

NOTES FROM THE WAIRAU.

[ From our own Correspondent.] We have got through the races and few are sorry they are done witb. We had the usual weather which now seems peculiar to the local races, and the heat and dust completely spoilt what would otherwise have been a couple of days' capital sport. Apart from the weather, however, the races this year have been a success. There were a number of outside horses competing, and the attendance on both days was larger thin has ever been seen on the course, the number being iargely increased by the great number of visitors from Nelson and Wellington. The result of so many foreign horses running was disastrous to the local horses, for, with the exception of one or two races, the visitors had it all their own way, bo that the greater part of the money offered, together with considerably more won by the " ring," which was largely represented, leaves the place, and that too at a time when we can scarcely afford to lose it. For years past it has been so customary for our " sports'' to carry everything before them that they can hardly understand being so completely defeated as they have been at this meeting. But nojdoubt it will rouse them up, and perhaps next year the result of the racing will be just the reverse. At all events it will give an outside interest to the future meetings, for now that owners of horses from other places can say " Veni, vidi, vici " they will find their way over here annually, and that is just what was wanted to make lacing a success as far as the actual sport is concerned. A rather remarkable fact, and one worth mentioning, is that at last week's meeting there were present no less than seven Secretaries of other Racing Clubs. This number included Mr Wix, Secretary of the Nelson Jockey Club, who no doubt picked up a few wrinkles for the 1 Nelson meeting. By the way, the Nelson races are now attracting a good deal of attention here, and there is every probability of your receiving a large influx of visitors and horses from Marlborough. To give you an instance of how great an interest is-_taken here in your races, I may mention that the Marlborough Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show was to have been held oh one of the days fixed for the meeting, but the promoters, rt cognising the fact that this would probably debar many from attending the races, at once decided to alter the date. There were plenty of amusements in Blenheim last week. Three Halls were engaged by various companies, but what attracted the largest crowd, and even amused them most, was an outbreak of fire in Market street early on Thursday morning. It was soon seen that fortunately. owing to the absence of^wind the fire would be confined to two small buildings, so that the crowd turned their attention to the Fire Brigade, and they it was who afforded such fun to those assembled. At the same time it was very lamentable to notice such chaos prevailing amongst a body of men organised for the purpose of protecting property from fire, and, under the circumstances, it was fortunate there was no wind, for had there been the least air from the south-east a large portion of the town would have been in a blaze before the Brigade were in a position to grapple with the fire. It was at least three quarters of an hour after the sounding of the alarm before the steam fire engine began to pump [ water on to the burning buildings. During that time the Brigade was, to borrow an expression from one of the local papers, *« nothing but a disorganised rabble." They did not appear to have the least idea what to do. First of all the fire was lighted in the steam engine, and allowed to die out from want of attention, then the old manual engine was taken to the scene of the fire, and pumping from the Taylor river, a few yards from the spot, was tried, but the engine broke down, then they began payiug out the hose from the Engine Station when it was discovered that the whole length was a series oi "-kinks," all of which had to be untwisted before water would flow. At length all being ready and steam having been got up again in the engine, water was at length brought to bear on the fire, and I must say a splendid Btream it was. A few minutes later the fire war. practically out, but the amount of damage that might have been done, I leave you to imagine. The Brigade complain t that owing to want of public support they are unable to be as efficient in every respect as they should be, but the question seems to be whether the public can possibly place any confidence in a body of men who appear in such disorganised fashion when called upon to do their duty. The Council have recently imported a valuable engine for them at a cost of £800, and surely that should be an incentive for them to become efficient. It has now been definitely decided to hold a regatta on the Wairau river on March 17th (St. Patrick's Daj), and the programme has already been made public. The prizes offered for competition, however, are not sufficient, I am afraid, to entice entries from outsiders, so that I expect the races will be confined to the two local and the Picton Clubs. Notwithstanding this, I daresay there will be good sport, and perhaps next season more substantial prizes may be offered. It is rather unfortunate that the Hibernian Society's Sports are held on the same day at Blenheim, as the two: will olash and the result will be a moderate attendance at each. The Begatta Committee, foreseeing this, endeavored to arrange with the Hibernians to hold their Sports close to the Regatta site, but without BUCceES ; so now there will be keen rivalry between the two, and it remains to be eeen which will be strong enough to attract the largest number of spectators. I expect, however, the Regatta will gain the day, as a day's amusement of that sort is something entirely novel in the Wairau. The- Salvation Army, who appear to be always getting into hot water in Blenheim, have once more been making themselves notorious. This time they carae to loggerheads with the Volunteers, who, upon returning to town after a march out, suddenly met the other Army at a corner of the street, and although a battle did not actually occur, still from all accounts there was a very narrow escape of a sanguinary encounter. The Salvationists seem to have acted in such a manner towards the Volunteers, being determined to molest them apparently, that it is really a wonder Major Badlie did not tell his men to charge. The result of this extraordinary behaviour on the part of the '• Army " is that some of the leading members have had to appear before the R.M., who inflicted upon - each of them a fine. On other occasions when charged with some offence, the Salvation Army have alwayn succeeded in getting off free, and possibly elated with these B'uccesses they consider themselves at liberty to behave as they please in the principal streets of the town. It is to be hoped that now the Magistrate has decided against tlievri • they willsee that they cannot do just as theylike, and that t they will behave themselves like rational beings. A roost remarkable change in the weathei was experienced here yesterday. A hot Sultry morning was followed in the aftemoor by bitterly cold showers of rain, accompanied by a tremendous downfall of hail. Later on the clouds lifting revealed lying on the bad ranges quite a thick coating of snow. Such . sudden change is unusual, and if it foretell! the rapid approach of winter, the worst result! may be anticipated in this pastoral district particularly after the long continued drought March 2.