MOUNT BENGER.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2587, 2 June 1871, Page 2

MOUNT BENGER.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

My forebodings as to the weather were amply realised. The snow has come and gone, and now (31st ult) warmth and rain are the characteristics of the season. The ( Molyneux has taken one of those capricious rises whi- hj are so aggravating to the tam. pers and so attenuating to the pockets of * ihe mining community. In one instance— Eady and Co., Welshman’s Beach—a rich vein of gold was struck just the day before the rise, and 34 ounces cradled. Next day work was impossib’e. I believe it is gen.rally agreed in this district that Mr Macan, drew is entirely to blame for the open winter, and that “had those confounded Soutblandcrs npt interfered,” the return of the horny handed would have assured A prosperous season of dry beaches and w§t thrapples. Thank goodness, our political animosities arc a good deal blunted. We should, in fact, be in danger of sinking to the hum, drum level of universal peace and good-will, were it not fur the eccentricities of a pla> yosus Orhilius recently imported into the district. This gentleman is, 1 gather from Ids own conversation, a distinguished North ‘ Island statesman in disguise, on a sort of j missionary cruise to the benighted South Islanders. He has, at any rate, managed to | stir up some very pretty ructions consider* ing bis opportunities, and altogether we feel indebted to Mr Hisldp for so diverting an addition to our local oddities

I promised in my last to attend the great Liberal Banquet. Unfortunately, a pressing engagement with two friends and a gallon of whisky prevented my fulfilling my promise. A gentleman who passed through Tuapek t early on the morning after the spree describes the results as being patent to the most obtuse. After threading his way through prostrate Liberals, he, wh n close to Evans’s Flat, found the road fairly blocked by a recumbent individual in evening costume. After some kicking, the obstructionist removed leisurely, his only articulate utterance being—“ Yeah sir, libralschnoftempcr- ¥ ance, glorshuight! ” From his hang-dog and generally disreputable appearance, my friend surmised this victim of strong drink to b« one of the Liberal members. Ex* 4 tremely likely. You must admit that I usually perform my task of making bricks without straw { with commendable originality. 1 let tbe fruit season pass without favoring you with a single gigantic gooseberry Pr Brpbdignftgiaq kail stock. Do not then |br a n^on^t 'suppose that my introducing a monstrosity of the animal kingdom to your readers arls s from any lack of profound cogitations, original reflections, or startling occurrences, worthy of being duly treated with that ability, graphic force, and poignant wit which so distinguishes my style. But the truth is, a five-legged foal is so much in the way of my old fnend P. T. Bamnm, that I think it only fair to inform the enterprising showmen of New Zealand where such' a rarity can be procured. The gifted ahiifial is the property of'Mr Patrick SpylaW,'is 'a year old, and has one of its’ bifid legs in duplicate from the knee downwards. -Wonderful are the works of nature! This poor colt possesses what some of the great Liberal party would sacrifice their ears—their most prominent feature—to obtain: a fifth understanding. 1 do no know whether you are pi (he habit pf filling *>P a corner by &tttacte‘ frOm Registrar or wbetheg yen are the brilliWnfc'gealtia who ‘is perpetually discovering that in little Pedlington there are ten old men and ten old women whose united ages amount to the astonishing total of one thousand years. If so, I can give you - a genuine instance of longevity, leaving yon to add the usual puff about the “salubrious climate,” kc. kc. There is an old man resident here in the full exercise <•{ all his faculties, who was a bo/ when the Bos*

tonians made a gigantic tea-utn rf thelr harbor, who could have walked down hleetstreet with Ur Johnson, and watched the progress of the heaven-born minister ri« ; who, is short, to avoid the pst udo-histoncal allusive style, so popular with magazinepadders, must be close on a century old. The old fellow’s first recollection is of the ▼ear 1779, when he was able to go on an errand on horseback, so that oven then he must have been ten or twelve years ot age. He has a rooted aversion to going to the Benevolent Asylum, “because they make anatomies o’ folks there.” This serious •charge I recommend to the notice of his reverence Bishop hloran. And now I think I have spoilt my usual •amount of paper, no doubt to the great delectation and edification ofjyonr readers, f vouknew how miserable a poor devil is in this remote corner cf the globe, with nothin* to r. ad. and no public amusement but cettfni! drunk and making an ass of himself, you might send up now and then a Lu “ dl ?? f J.j t 'iWb ja not meant as a hinti “amiot; to your benevolent sympathies.—Kate.