YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3080, 2 January 1873, Page 3

YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

The lower parts of the Princes* Theatre were crammed hist evening, v, l.i'c the oress circle was well idled. His Exeellen y the Governor, Lady Bowen, and suite were present during the performance. '1 he sparkling and popular little comedy of “ Naval Engagements ” was given, Mr Hoskins, Miss Colville, and Miss Gassy Matthews, taking the leading charac’ers. The pantomime followed, and excited much merr ment. The transformation seme was much admired and applauded, and brought the entertainment to a successful close.

The crops as a whole, throughout the Waikouaiti district, are looking remarkably well; in fact, far more encouraging than for some seasons back, and in some instances heavy yields will be the result. On the other hand, again, the grub has committed severe ravages, and several line looking paddocks are likely to be very numb injured by this pest. The weather tor the past few weeks has been remarkably dry and sultry, and the grass is in consequence Incoming withered and burnt up. The Ilcrakl regrets t - find that fruit is not likely to be so plentiful as was at one time anticipated, owing to late frosts. Bain, it says, now would be most welcome, and do a great deal of good. The Palmeistou races were run yesterday, but, owing to the closing of the telegraph office at an ear.ier hour than usual, wc are without particulars b. youd the names of the first and second horses in each race. The Maidt.il Plate of 20 sovs, was won by Miss Vulcan, Da't Wattie being second. The Palmerston Handicap of 5 sovs. fell to Pose, Hobby B rns coming in second. The District Handicap of 2b sovs. was wmi by Miss Vulcan, Minnie Drey being second ; and the Shag Valley cup, va'ued at 40 sovs., was scoured by Medora, Miss King being second. The races were held at Meadowbank, the property of Sir F. D, Bell, and were largely attended.

Our Hyde correspondent, writing under date the 30th nit,, says The long-con-tinued drought has completely put a stop to all sluicing operations in this district, all the races being completely dried up. But if sluicing his bean put a stop to, it must not be inferred that Hyde is injured thereby 7. The banks of the Taieri, and the Bock and Pillar Bange continue to yield to the mm rs now considerably more gold than their sluicing claim ' have over paid. Some parties on the river, I am credibly informed, are making as high as 30s per d >y per man. One party of throe, who had not a shilling when they commenced work, sold in Hyde, in a very few days, Ll4 worth of gold. The Three-mile, or, as it is now called, “Jackson’s Kush,” still maintains its population, and I have no doubt, despite the prospecting of some of the Dunedin would-be miner*, that ere the summer closes, ground quite as good as this will he opened up on thin extensive and likely range. In fact, the riv* r alone is sufficient to maintain a population of many hundreds for years to come, where all can get a little. Of the weather, it is sufficient to say that I believe few, if any, recollect such excessive heat in Otago. The crops in this district, generally so prolific, will, 1 believe, bo scarcely worth mowing this season.”