LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1809, 12 September 1874, Page 3

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.

Our Motttebb Subscribers, who complain of not having received the last issues of this journal, ure informed that the papers were taken from this Office by the mailman (Mr. Haycock), therefore, we cannot account for their non-delivery.

Football Match. —The Nelson Football Club have taken advantage of the visit of the Blanche to get up a nutch with a team of officers and men of that vessel. The game will be played this afternoon at the Botanical Reserve, and there is every reason to anticipate a most exciting game, our visitors having some very good players amongst them who succeeded in beating the Wellington Club on their own ground lately. The Nelson fifteen chosen to play in the Interprovincial match with Wellington are requested to be on the ground at three o'clock, and to appear in uniform. " Courtship and Marriage."—A leoture on this subject was delivered in the Wesleyan Church, Richmond, on Thursday evening, the 10th instant, by the Rev. T. Buddie. The lecture, which extended over two hours and a half, was listened to with interest from the beginning to the end by a fair audience. The proceeds of" the lecture are to be devoted to a fund for fencing in the parsonage. A cordial vote of thanks was awarded to the lecturer at the clo3e.

Resident Magistrate's Covet, —On Thursday, last before L. Broad, Esq., R.M., John Hussey, a seaman belonging to the barque Adamant, was brought up charged with refusing duty, and was sentenced to four week's imprisonment with hard labor.—There were no cases before the Court yesterday. The Ram Show, —A meeting of the Nelson Agricultural Association will be held this evening at the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond, to make arrangements fox the forthcoming Ram Show..

.Dinners* the Mayob.—ltis satisfactory to find that Mayor Dodson, at least, is not unmindful that the reputation for hospitality of Nelson City should not be allowed to entirely depart from it. In addition to the handsome way in which he, not long since, saved our credit by suitably entertaining His Excellency when every other house was being painted we suppose. On Wednesday last he dined a large party; consisting of all the members of the City Council, Sir David Monro, L.- Broad, Esq., the Honorables T. Renwick and N. Edwards, A. Pitt and A. Adams, Esqs., and Dr. Squires. The Good Templaks.—At the Loyal Nelson Lodge meeting last night, nine persons were initiated, and a large number of candidates for membership were proposed. One pleasing feature of the evening's proceedings, was the welcome given to some of England's brave sons of the Navy, from H.M.S. Blanche, who belong to the Order. The bluejackets responded, speaking of the benefits they had derived from adhering to the total abstinence principles both on shore and in their floating home ; also of *he kindness and hearty welcome they had received from members of the Lodges they had visit od at different places. The Blanche came into harbor on Thursday morning, drawing seventeen feet of water, and anchored in the stream off Cross' wharf, from whence she has taken on board 100 tons of coal. We believe she will be prepared to receive on board those persons who may desire to inspect her on Sunday. Dbamatic—We observe that the Artillery Company will very shortly give an entertainment for the benefit of the Band Fund, and that Jerrold's nautical drama of "Black-Eyed Susan" and an amusing farce will form the programme for the occasion. If carefully cast and worked-up the drama should prove a great success. Chukch Paeade.—The Nelson Artillery Company will muster at ten o'clock to-morrow lor church parade. Nelson Cricket Cittb.—The annual meeting of this Club takes place at the Masonic Hotel, on Tuesday evening next. The Nelson Jockey Club will meet on Monday evening at the Masonic Hotel.

Another new craft has made its appearance in this harbor. It is a cutter named the Dauntless, apparently well built, and of nice model. Her measurement will probably prove to be about 17 tons. A Vai/uable Ageicultusal Publication. —We desire to acknowledge the receipt of the second annual report of the Secretary for Agriculture in Victoria (Mr. Wallis). It is a most valuable work, being a farmers' store-houee of information, as it treats on stock, soils, grasses, diseases among cattle, etc., and contains numerous illustrations of agricultural institutions and subjects. The last number of tho Australian Sketclier, besides a number of other-interesting pictures, has two of New Zealand scenery, views of the glacier at the head of the Waiho river, iv Westland, and " both are very grand," states a contemporary. Neison Scenery.—The last number of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald has a full-page engraving of "Slate River Peak, and Aorere Valley," in this Province, drawn by our local artist, Mr John Gully. " Mr Q-ully's sketch gives a fair notion of the country which a traveller in search of the picturesque has to traverse, but he will be well rewarded for his toils, as in few parts of New Zealand can be Been more grand or beautiful scenery." A new industry has commenced in Wellington. A peripatetic shoe-black is now one of our institutions (says the Tribune). The Governor. —The Evening Post understands that His Excellency Sir James Fergusson is not likely to leave this Colony till about December. Tkout Ova. —Of six thousand trout ova taken from Otago to Napier (ffawke's Bay) all but about two per cent, were landed alive and in good condition. Late I'ire in Dunedin. —We understand that Messrs Guthrie and Larnach intend to present the Dunedin Fire Brigade with the sum of £100 in recognition of their valuable services on the occasion of the late fire.

Imported Sheep.—By the Taunton (says the Canterbury Press, September 7th) Messrs J. T. Ford and Co import a very valuable addition to our stock, in the shape of 61 pure Lincoln sheep, bred in Lincolnshire, from the flocks of Messrs Clarke, Dudding, Kirkharn, and other well-known breeders. They seem in fair health, but are in low condition, no doubt owing to the very long and stormy passage the ship has experienced. The ne >••' arrivals show all the leading characteristics of true Lincolus, and the majority possess heavy lustrous fleece?, that we doubt have never been equalled in New Zealand before. 72 started, but of these 11, viz., 2 ewes and 9 rams, died during the passage. One of the rams that died was a prize animal. They are all two and four-tooth

sheep. Timothy O-rass.—A correspondent of a contemporary writes: —It's just as absurd to expect sheep or cattla to be in a heilthy state, ealiDg one sort of grass alone, as to expect man to be healthy eating bread, and nothing else. Eye grass is all very good in its own place, amongst other grasses, and if farmers and others try to dispense with it, they will soon find their mistake to be on the wrong side. Farmers generally content themselves with rye grass and clovers, and forget the most important of all grasses, namely, timothy, or catstail, which imparts to sheep and cattle the same nutriment as oats to a horse, making the flesh firm and euduring. Timothy, or phleum pratense, is one of the beat of English grasses, and is common throughout the whole of Britain. It has been for many years held in high estimation in America, where it is largely cultivated. Timothy thrives on all soils, and should always form a portion of grass seed mixture, where pasture is intended.

Sic William Fairbaien.—The following particulars relating to Sir William Fairbairn, whose death is announced in oUr London telegrams, are from " Men of the Time :"—Fairbairn, Sir William, Bart., F.R.S., civil engineer, was a native of Kelso, Roxburghshire, where he was born in 1789. Having received his early education atNewcastle-on-Tyne, he entered into business at Manchester, at first in partnership with Mr Lillie, and afterwards on his own account. Not long after the opening of the first railway he commenced some experiments in the building of iron vessels, which hn brought to maturity in 1835 or 1836. He aided Stepiienson with his practical knowledge in the erection of his bridge across the Menai Straits, and the profession are indebted to him for many important successful experiments on the strength of iron, iron ship-build-ing, the collapse of tubes, and a sjries of papers to the Royal Society, for which he received the Royal medal. He was one. of the founders and first members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and is tho author of many able papers on subjects connected with his profession. He published several important works, amongst which may be noticed, "Mills and Mill Work," "Iron, its History and Manufacture," "Application of Iron to Building purposes," "Iron Shipbuilding," and first second, and third series of "Useful Information for Engineers." Sir William was a corresponding member of the National Institute of France and of the Royal Academy of Turin, a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and has been president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He was created a baronet in October, 1869.

The rat stories by which our credulity has been now and then too severely taxed have f jquently missed their aim for want of authentic parentage. When, however, The Christian Union vouches for the truth of the following, we receive it on the strength of its sponsor solely : A young; rat had fallen into a pail of pig feed. Six friends—or relatives, it may be, but that ia only surmised— suddenly appeared and consulted how to rescue the unfortunate. So earnest were they in their consultation that the numerous spectators were entirely ignored. The six rats entwined their feet together and. formed a chain over the edge of the pail, and the foremost rat, " which was supposed to be the mother" of the drowning infant rat, grasped it in her arms, and both were drawn out upon the floor. The affecting story in its close moves one to tears. The infant rat was drawn out too late, and after it was found to be dead the six friends gave a last fond look, wiped the tears from their eyes with their fore paws, and departed without trying to resuscitate it. No wonder we fail in defending our corn cribs from such sagacious enemies.