JUNIOR CLASS.

Southland Times, Issue 962, 3 June 1868, Page 5

JUNIOR CLASS.

First prize, Private M'Conechy ; second prize CX Mitchell ; third prize, J. Taylor.

Monday, 25th May, the Queen's birthday, was observed as a general holiday. The weather was wet and cold, and the general aspect of the streets uninviting in the extreme. Several picnics were postponed, and, with the exception of the rifle-match, little or any amusement was o bservable. It will be seen from our telegrams published elsewhere, that the same description of weather prevailed in Dunedin, and must have to a considerable extent damped the ardour of those loyal citizens who purposed taking part in the demonstration in that city.

The first of what is proposed to be a series of " Penny Headings" came off with very marked BuccesS, in the Exchange-building, on Saturday the 23rd ult. Considering that very little time had been allowed for preparation, the meeting having only been fully decided on four days before, the arrangements were really very complete, while the readers and musicians performed each their part with much good taste and ability. The audience at least, which was large (there were fully two hundred persons present), seemed much delighted, and warmly applauded the several performers. There was in one marked instance, however, a grave error committed, which we think it but right we should point out to the committee of management, and that was the extreme length of the first piece read. A reading which occupies over half an hour is far too long, even the hands of an eloquent speaker, to suite the taste of a promiscuous auidence, and necessitates either the protraction of the meeting to a late hour, or the hurrying over the rest of a programme arranged on the supposition that no speaker should occupy more than ten or fifteen minutes. We trust that now the Penny Beading movement has been fairly launched, it may be kept going with tact and energy. We are informed that notwithstanding the merely nominal charge for admittance, the sum taken at the door •will amply suffice to meet all expenses. While our mede of praise is due to all concerned, we must specially notice the liberality of Mr Patchett, of the Melbourne Hotel, who most cordially gave the use of his handsome and fine toned piano.

A correspondent furnishes the Australasian with the following recipe for a steep for smut in oats, and says : — " I have used it myself in sowing oats for a number of years with pefect success :• — Bore a hole liin. in the bottom of a tub or cask, put plug in, and strainer either of tin or a bunch of twigs over hole j then dissolve two pounds oi blues tone in hot water, mix with six or eight buckets of cold water in pickling tub and empty two bags of oats in, add sufficient cold water to cover the grain, and stir it well about to let the mixture get well through it ; let them remain in three or four hours ; then place a tub or cask under the plug and allow the liquor to run off saving it for further use. With every fresh two bags add one pound of bluestone to the old liquor and treat as before. I found it best to pickle oats the morning before sowing, as they •were then nearly dry when required for sowing, which can be done more evenly than if the oats are fresh out of the pickle."

According to the last accounts from America, new goldfields have heen discovered at a locality on the Bociy Mountains, at Sweetwater, in Dacota, fifty miles from Omaha, within a 100 miles of the route to be traversed by the Union Pacific Eailroad, which in extent and richness, and facilities for worMng, are likely to surpass

any yet opened up.

100 yds, 200 yds. 300 yds. Tl. Pr. M'Conechy ... 19 14 16 49 „W. Smith ... 17 6 8 31 „ C. Fraser ... 7 4 0 11 „ J.Taylor ... 20 8 4 32 „ G.Mitchell ... 17 13 15 45 „J. Dunlop ... 18 11 0 29 Serjt. Von Hammer 18 8 0 26 Pr. Dean 16 18 2 36