FERN FLAT.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 300, 20 November 1886, Page 2

FERN FLAT.

0 1 (from our own correspondent.) "Wake up Buller, wake up! Don't fel 1 us deprive Nelson of her well-earned title " Sleepy Hollow." We hear of the gaieties and sporting; activity being carried on all around us, yet we are inert. I see cricket has been introduced into Westport, that is the game has been introduced, but I cannot eulogise their play, even for new hands, until I see further accounts ot it. The Denniston team must have had some rather hot members in the field against Westport I diould think, judging from an account of the match Denniston v. Westport. Never miad Westport, everything must have a beginning, you know, and I hope shortly to see you turn the table on your opponents. Nelson too has even been indulging in a little cricket and a Race meeting. The worst of them is they will play in swamp and hay-paddocks like the Victory Square. I think Nelsou has been long enough Jn existence, now, to be represented by a decent cricket grouud, but we think nothing of it as we know that citizens of that town are not " up and doing as a rule. When they get the Association ground completed though, they will be able to play,cricket with Mr Fords' assistance, especially if they don't quarrel as usual about choosing the Intel-provincial team to play against Wellington. - KBqT ing goes by favour though. When t&fGrand Stand is finished at the Richmoiid Park, which is to cost £'looo, what a day we'll have! All that will then be wanted to make the Nelson Race meeting 4 f 'a one " is a Cup of .£SOO and Jockey Club Handicap of £3OO. I think they had better try and work the copper-mine though. We in the Upper Buller have not much to say for ourselves this week. The state of the weather has tended to slightly damp the spirits of the cricketers, and as for the cricketers themselves, •' why" they have been damped in good earnest. The gold-miners do not seem to be altogether satisfied either, as the high state of the river by no means facditatos the work.

Sometimes when the sun displays his exhilarating powers, by letting fall upon us his lucent rays for a short space of time, some of us are tempted (especially on a Sunday morning) to seek a little drive or ride. The luscious moments, however, soon pass away, and we are allowed but a short time to drink in the affects of the panacea, as it is proved to be but an insidious move on the part of his ecumenic majesty. The clouds begin to shower upon us their paregoric element to such an extent that it becomes anything but paregoric. Sporting men will now be to give us their tips for the races, as the handicaps are declared and published. The top weight for the Jockey Club Handicap,namely O' l lagan's Regret, appears to be in very good form, judging by her performances at the late Brightwater meeting, but it is just possible that she will find the company too good for her, and Mr O'Hagan may regret ever bringing his Regret. : ; Murchison is to be enliveud by a coiicert on the 26th of this month, but as it is not in my locality perhaps I am not privileged to make any mention of it, but I wish them every success for all that, and I ouly hope that it will be a great success, as failures are rather disheartening. The cause is one well worthy of patronage and it certainly is not a selfish one, as w f e will really reap but a sm til percentage of the benefit, but we will be satisfied in doing our best for the public good.