NASEBY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 676, 2 April 1875, Page 3

NASEBY.

(from cur own correspondent. March 29. Great dissatisfaclson is expressed here at the maimer in •which the Government arc proceeding with the Taieri bridge. After considerable labor, letters, promises to Progress Committees, petitions, &c., the Government consented to erect a bridge at the dangerous ford (Naseby to Hamilton) and tenders, after a lapse of ten months were called for its construction. The last day on which tenders could be rendered, has expired for some time, and we have heard no more about the matter. It is pretty generally believed that Mr Hold's Government—with its usual diffidence to gold-fields’ matters—will not have the bridge erected after all, the alleged reason probably being that the tenders were too high. The feeling in respect to this bridge, is very strong, several well-known residents of the district having been drowned while crossing at that ford. If, perhaps, any of your readers have seen a letter which appeared in the last issue of the Mt. Ida Chronicle deprecating the building of the bridge, I may explain that it is generally undei stood that that letter was not an unbiassed one. The author is credited with being a member of the Pastoral Company, at the foot of whose run the bridge will be situated. It manifestly will do them no good, for traffic over the bridge will be considerable. The road passes through their best lambing ground, and when traffic becomes more general, the goodness of the land will be seen, and it probably will be demanded for settlement. It is only a few interested people who do not care for the bridge, the bulk being extremely anxious for its erection. Speaking of land the Government have been very liberal to us in this respect. We have had a large block thrown open for settlement on the Pastoral Company’s run, which has been nearly all taken up. At Hyde and Macrae’s blocks have been thrown open (more still being petitioned for, only last week the signatures were being collectel.) and near Naseby another block has been thrown open, viz.—one of 5,001) acres on Messrs Sanders’ run. We are also promised an immense tract of country on the Hundred system, with sections for settlement surveyed throughout it. In this respect the Government have been very liberal to us. The Good Templar movement is taking great hold in this district. At Naseby where they have have been established about six weeks, they number about eighty members, and the Order is still being looked upon with favor. At St. Bathan’s a Lodge has been started, and already t numbers 20 members. At the Serpentine also, a Lodge has been started, but I have not heard with what success. Mr J.P. Armstrong has been exerting himself for the benefit of our district Institutions. He has delivered lectures at Kyeburn, in aid of the School committee ; at Blackstone Hill, for the same purpose ; at St. Bathan’s likewise ; and at Naseby, for the Mining Association. The subject is “ Travels and Experiences of an Irishman in America.” The Lecture is very interesting, and is spiced with dashes of wit and humor, for which Mr Armstrong is noted. All his Lectures, when due notice has been given, have been attended very fairly, and of course the various Institutions have benefitted considerably thereby.

Goldsmiths’ Work. —The process of fine-art manufacture in this branch of trade ia strikingly exemplified in a little -work published by Mr. J. W. Benson, of No. 25, Old Bond-street, and of the City Steam Factory, 58 and 60 Ludgate-hill, London. It is enriched and mbellishcd with designs, by Italian, French, and English artistes, of brooches, bracelets, ear-rings, and other articles, suitable for personal wear, or for wedding, birth-day, or other presents, with their prices. Mr Benson, who holds the appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, has also published a very interesting pamphlet on the Rise and Progress of Watchmaking. These pamphlets are sent, post free, for two stamps each, and they cannot he too strongly recommended to those contemplaing a purchase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are thus enabled to select any article they may require, and have forwarded in perfect safety.

THE LATE RACE MEETING AT DUNEDIN. —o—

“ Pegasus ” in the Evening Star winds up his Comments on tho Into meeting with the following :—“ Altogether, tho meeting was not a good ono for tho bookmakers some of whom] were remarkably hard hit, while very few of them have made money, Saturday was settling day, and tho metallioiana showed up well, every ono being present, and “ paring ” freely. We believe that only ono of them was unable to meet his liabilities in full, and this speaks well for tho “ talent,” hut, on the other hand large numbers of the public were conspicuous by their absence. This is not as it should he, for if bookmakers do not receive what is due to them, how are they to pay their debts? There was only one scone throughout tho evening, that being a disgraceful squabble between a losing bookmaker and a trainer of horses. These two took a cab and adjourned to the cricket ground, where a brutal fight took place, resulting in the betting man breaking one of his opponent’s ribs, Tho amount of the various stakes won by tho owners of horses are as follows : Delainain L 945; Mr Coombes L 200; Mr Nosworthy L 200; CaptHutchison L 177: Mr Barton 1.120; Mr White L 100; Mr Gourlay L 80; Mr Goodman L7O; Mr Cotton L 42; Mr MTCay L 35; Mr Blatch LI I, and the Master Howe silver cup presented by Mr E, Pritchard; Mr Keenan LlO, tho total amount being L 1,990.