THE ARNOLD.

Grey River Argus, Issue 153, 5 January 1867, Page 2

THE ARN OL D.

(FROM OUR OWN 'CORRESPONDENT.) '. Maor^GuUy }• January 2, 1867. . The good people of Greymouth must haye supposed that the denizens of this .had all disappeared from the, West, Coast and betaken themselves off to other more genial climes, such is, however, not the case, . ' . A considerable amount of excitement was created about a week back: by some Maoris stating that they had discovered a new gold-field, and were -going do^n to apply for a prospecting claim. Parties followed in pursuit, but up to the present time nothing definite has been known of the result: lam not inclined to. have much belief in the report, as Maoris are exceedingly fond of dealing in the marvelous. : ' There is a general impression throughout the whole district, and that is that some new gold-field will bo struck shortly in our neighborhood, as various parties are out prospecting in all directions ; my own opinion " is'that gold will be found at the foot of the Snowy Ranges,, A party brought iii two ounces yesterday not far from the Arnold Township. , This is significent as a vast amount of country is entirely untouched there, and has every, appci.u'ance of being, auriferous. The district taken in the aggregate is decidedly hoalthy, a. great amount of ground is being worked which was never thought of before. Buckley and party to all appearance intend siuicing the whole township away, in fact your correspondent's" office will be the first to fall a victim to: their operations; may every good wish attend their labours. I am glad to announce the return of many old residents back to the Gully from the Pakihi'and Fox's River, , and one party, who were before they left here, for a long period particularly unfortunate, since their return have got on to some first-rate ground. Italian Gully, still looks well, although many of its inhaliitants have gone down to spend their Gliristmas at Greymouth. ' Very foolish, as from what I can learn our Boxing Day sports Were quite as good.if not bettor than those at Greymouth ; however the sum of L 27 14s was hastily collected on the morning of the 26th tilt.,. and never was a plcasanter day spent in the district; ; not an angry word was uttered to mar the festivities of the day, and. strange to say scarcely a drunken man, all went on merry as a marriage bell. The most amusing part of the whole was the Sack race or Sack races, for we had four, the first being run: over twice — all the Stewards entered for this race. The following is a list of the day's sports : — Rifle Shooting, thirteen entries, prizes L 3 and LI ; winners — M Sheean, Ist ; P Riddle, 2nd. Wrestling—Cumberland st3'le — Prizes L 3 and LI. Collar jand Elbow— Prizes, L 2 10s and LI. Catch sis you can — Prizes, L 2 ]0s and LI. Running High Leap — Prize, L 2. Standing High Leap—Prize, Ll 10s. Throwing the Stone — Ll 10s. Sack Race—,, Prizes, Ll 10s and 15s. Second Sack j Race— Prize, Ll. Third Sack Race— Ll. I And this closed the day's sports. The Year 1867 was ushured in with the usual demonstrations of joy. Mine host ! of the Royal Hotel, Mr Langdon, did I himself in Suite credit by the really excel- ! lent supper with which ,he provided j his guests on tlie last day of the old year. i Everyone enjoyed themselves to their hearts cont- nt, if one might judge from the amount- of liquor consumed. Some of the songs sung upon the occasion were not only well rendered, but delivered with great taste and feeling. ] need scarcefy add that the usual amount of toasts were proposed and cordially responded to, and as a sine qua non that the party did not break up until after daylight. , New Year's Days Sports. Rifle Shootings — Twenty-six entries ; distance ,100 yards- Hugh Paterspn, first prize, L 5 ; Wm. Tyte, second' prize, Ll. There was a marked improvement on the shooting to-day compared with Boxing Day, the. target being completely riddled, and the i weapon' used upon the .occasion being anything but a first-class Eufield. Shooting, with a Fowling Piece at forty yards. — Prizo L26s ; W Young. Tin-owing the Stone — Prize, 15s ; J McDonnell. A Siick Race was to have been run, for which there were thirteen entries, but unfortunately night came on and closed the day's sports. We were all muclvdisappointed at there being no sack race, "as in all hum an probability , there w ould have been a case fora Coroner's jury. ..Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather the sports never flagged for a minute during the day. . . :