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Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1014, 6 August 1883, Page 2

We understand that the prospecting expedition organised by the locally-formed company start from Ashburton on their tour to the Alford Forest district to-mor-row. In reply to a memorial from Invercargill citizens the Colonial Treasurer wired on Saturday :—“ Government has no intention, nor ever had, of proposing an increase in the present allowance to members, believing 200 guineas ample to cover all necessary expenses.” Three publicans at Port Chalmers were charged on Saturdaj with selling adulterated sherry, brandy and rum respectively, but in each instance his Worship dismissed the case, as the liquor was not sufficiently identitied as that obtained by the police, who should have adopted greater precautions. Captain Williams has received a cable message from Home, informing him that the Kerenut steamed eleven knots on her trial tap, and left Cardiff for Westport on the 25th July, with a cargo of 530 tons of coal. Captain Oliver, well known as in command of Captain Williams’ barques, is bringing the new steamer out. She is expected to make the passage in about sixty-five days. Fifty-eight applications for diamond prospecting licenses at Alford Forest, covering an area of 15,000 acres, have been lodged at the Waste Lands Office. Six joint stock companies are already formed, and others are in process of formation. Great excitement prevails in Christchurch. At the Police Cc urt this morning, before Mr Baddeley, B.M , J. Whiteside, for lunacy from drink and for wilful and malicious injury to properly, but who was unable to appear, was again remanded until Friday next. Wm Hill, an old offender, for drunkenness, was fined ss. Wm. Dowen, for a similar offence, was also fined ss, and for being drunk in a licensed house was finel 10s. Hugh Smith, for riotous conduct at the Alford Forest Hotel was fined 20s, or in default seven day’s hard labor. An audacious theft of a horse was committed at Dunedin in true highwayman style on Saturday at the stables of Messrs A. Mollison and Company, wharf carters. A man went in, and looking round at the horses in the stalls, selected one of the best looking, put a bridle on it and mounted. One of the stablemen ran up at this juncture, and asked the fellow what he was about ; but the latter only replied that he would knock his interrogator’s brains out with a heavy stick which he was carrying if he was interfered with. He then set the horse a-going and rode off at full speed. The man was arrested in the afternoon with the horse in his possession. He was to be brought up at the Police Court to-daj. Our Rakaia correspondent writes ; On Saturday Mr Turner, a gold miner of considerable experience from Otago and the West Coast, brought up a sample of sand from tho beach at Rakaia. After the usual washing, which was watched with great interest by a few of the residents, the gold was clearly discernible to the naked eye. Mr Turner is of opinion that it will prove probably, a “tucker digging ” and it is his intention to give it a fair trial with some men he has sent for from Otago. The party intend leaving here on Tuesday morning. The diamond fever has at last reached us. Until a few days ago the great Alford Forest diamond field created no excitement here, but now rumors are afioat about large companies being started, etc. Anything in the way of a little excitement may stir us up a bit, and goodness knows wo want it.