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Dunstan Times, Issue 966, 22 October 1880, Page 2

Tho next English Mail “Via Frisco” will close at this office on Wednesday, 3rd November, at 2 p. m. On reference to the published dates of Courts to be held by Mr Warden Koddell, it will be seen that Courts will he held at Alexandra on the 2nd, loth and 291h of November next.

A Jockey Club has been formed at Boxburgh, of which, our old friend Mr Win, Berosford, late of Alexandra, is President.

It is rumored that a Chinaman has made a lucky find at the head of Butcher's gully of a nugget weighing 41 bs. On Monday afternoon last Blacks racecourse presented quite a lively scene, the ostensible object being to witness a trotting match between two local celebrities—Mr M'Morran’s Devil and Mr I’itches’s Sam, catch weights, riders up, for LIO a side, distance two miles. Betting was not particularly spirited over the event, though a good many new hats and such small fry changed hands. Both horses came to the post in fair condition, and evidently lit for the task imposed on them. On starting Mr M‘Morran got the advantage, and for a distance made the pace pretty warm. Suddenly, however, lie slacked off, while Sam, gaining speed, soon' took lead, which he maintained home, making the victory a hollow one. The ring of M ‘Morran’s martingale dipped over one of the buckles of the rein shortly after starting, thus preventing the horse stretching himself, and accordingly lost him the race. Several hurry-scurrys were afterwards run. One was specially amusing, as amongst the entries were some local cracks, and an old scrubber that was brought to the post barebacked, and to the intense amusement of all, was won hands down by the old-un. This is what a Canterbury contemporary has to say of the Cromwell Argus: “Wc know nothing of the quarrel between the Dunstav Timks and the Cromwell Argus, hut as uninterested spectators wo are bound to say that whilst it has been conducted by the former with the strictest regard to decorum, the last named paper has betrayed a savage disregard of social and professional courtesy. The Duustan paper seems, so far as we can judge, to be earnest in its advocacy of the general interests of the district wherein it circulates, whilst its Cromwell rival apparently has for its sole objects the depreciation of the character of Mr Vincent Pyke and the annihilation of neighbouring townships. As a specimen of journalism the Argus is a disagreeable blot.”

The weather in the Blacks district is very dry and anything hut indicative of prosperous times for the farmer. But as the season is young there is still hope. Most of the Autumn sown w heat looks well and should yield well. Mr A. N. Fanner, tuner of pianofortes, &c., will pay Clyde a professional visit about the beginning of next week. Orders may he left at this ollico. The Printers’ Register and New Zealand Press News for October is to band. It contains, including a supplement, 20 pages of interesting matter, and we can do no better than recommend it to the trade, also to the general public. With last Tuesday’s Daily Times was issued a supplement containing some particulars of the quinquennial investigation of the Government Insurance Department which is about to take place. In comparing the premiums charged by the Government with those of the Australian Mutual, there is a great saving equal to a profit in itself. The division of prolita to be made will be for the 10 years, and as yet ascertained the prolita of the first live years were L 12,000, while for the last five years it is expected to he much larger. Since starting the Government have issued nearly 12,000 policies, assuring over L 4.100,000..100,000. The accumulated funds are L 460,000 ; annual income exceeds L 147.000. During the past year 2274 policies were issued, assuring L 725.254. The death claims for the year amounted to L 32,500, assuring C 7 persons under 78 policies. The cost of management is 15 per cent, of the premium income.

-A gentleman in Nasehy has received letter from Mr Eggors, of Macraes, (says the Mount Ida Chronicle) who is the owner of a claim in the locality of Holverson’s, Fullarton’s, in which there are some items whielx will bo interesting. The shaft in Mr Eggers’ claim is 300 feet from Halverson's, and is 7o feet deep. There is four foet of wash, with a capital prospect. Mr Eggers thinks that they are just on the edge of a good patch, and believes that a short drive will open splendid ground. There is a large quantity of water, which requires two men to keep it under. Mr Eggers is et

opinion that in a few months time there will be a large number of miners in the locality, as the hill on which this gohl is being got is a mile jn length. It is useless, however, for anyone to go there with the intention of mining unless he has at least some capital with which to open up the ground.

At tho sitting of the Waste Lands Board, held on the 13th instant the following was amongst the business transacted : —The application of Charles Oolclough to purchase two acres of section 8, block ITT, Cromwell, was granted.—The application for deferred payment rural license was granted Alexander Purdie, section 8, block IX, Tiger Hill. It is notified in the Gazette that sparrows and linnets may be taken and destroyed in all parts of the Colony.

We have received the first number of Illustrated Christian Weekly—new series published in Sydney 7. Its contents are well worth read ing, and we cannot do better than recommend a perusal of it. As all works and papers teaching on theological questions are excluded from the library reading-room table we are precluded from placing it there, those so inclined, however, can see it at our office.

The Morning Herald has the following : having heard of the success which has attended the lectures of Captain W. J Harry in Canterbury, has, through the representative authorities in Dunedin, taken proceedings to recover tho money which the Agent General advance 1 him to re-enter colonial life. At the llesident Magistrate’s Court on the 18th instant an action H.M. the Queen v. W. J Barry, a claim of LS, was adjourned till the loth November.'

The Wakatip Mail says;—“la consequence of the reported retirement of his Honor. fudge Harvey, at the end of this month, from the position of District Judge of the Otago Goldfields, a movement is on foot for entertaining him at a hanrpiet or dinner, on Saturday. We have no objection to very transitory affairs of this kind ; but would suggest something more enduring and appropriate, namely, a memento in shape of a present, to he purchased by the residents of the district over which the Judge has presided since the decrease of his much respected predecessor the late Judge Gray. His Honor Judge Harvey is held in high esteem throughout the Goldfields, and we think there would he little difficulty in obtaining a souvenir which he would value far more than a reunion ot the kind proposed. A Sydney telegram states there is a convict now undergoing a sentence for forgery in Darlinghnrst Gaol has caused the Mayor of Mudgee to bo served with a writ for LSOO damages, as compensat : ou for injuries sustained through a defective road in the borough in 1879. Conquest was engaged on a newspaper iu Mudgee, which ho left in consequence of his intemperate habits, and while there, strolling about the streets he fell into a creek, hi—aking his arm, whereupon he threatened the Council with an action. He afterwards went to Sydney, where ho forged a cheque, and was sc - fenced to two years’ hard labour. From the gaol he se it the Council a letter claiming compensation, hut the application was rather hastily dismissed, and ho now serves a writ. The Press reports that a very curious wager was made at the Canterbury Saleyards on Wednesday in relation to the v. eight of two heifers. Mr Judge, a wellknown Lincoln resident, bet Mr J Sharp, also a resident of the same place, that a certain pair of heifers did not weigh 1.400. LSO a-side was staked, and the beasts were duly weighed on Thursday morning, when it was found that Mr Judge was the winner. Very great interest was taken in the affair, and upwards of LuOO changed hands over the event.