DRYBREAD. (From our Own Correspondent.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 8

DRYBREAD. (From our Own Correspondent.)

July 18tb.^ Since I wrote you last things in this district have been in statu quo^-oXd king frost having a mortgage on all the races. If you went through our little

township, the first question would be " What's your opinion of the weather ?"

Your answer would be " Oh ! don't mention it." Since Sunday, however, a thaw has set iq, and things are now looking more ship shape, The Blue J)qck Co., Tin kern, have had a very successful washing up, they baying just finished before the last fros>t

iet in. Considering the time they have Jpjsfc' trough want of water, this claim 1 has' produced good results ; in fact, ifc

is the best claim in Tinkers Gully. What a pity we could not get a better water supply for the district. I hear tbat Holmes and party, Tinkers, are going to introduce the iron piping in their claim. I hope they will be fortunate ; in fact, they must be, for they have fall enough and plenty of water all the year round, unless the season is exceptionable. So much for mining matters. Now for sporting items. I think I might sign myself " your sporting correspondent," as nearly all my reports are replete with sporting news. Last week we had a billiard match between two Tinkers men — Mr. Mellor, Ballarat store, and Mr. H. Devine, miner, for £5 aside. To save dispute as to the knowledge of the table, the match was played on Capt. Leiybold's table, at Blacks. Mr. Mellor won by about 6 points. After the billiard match, from some observations passed, a match to trot twice round the Drybread course, for £10 pside, w?s made, between Mr. John Mcl lor 's, Dry bread, Tommy, and Mr. J. Mellor's, Tinkers. Tommy, the latter receiving 400 yards. When I reached the course, I foand a goodly muster of Drybrf ad and Tinkers people, with a proportionate number of the Blacks and Devonshire sporting men. The course was very heavy — in some places fiere was a=« much as 4 inches of snow. The backers of etch hcr^ewere seaguine ; before the start howevev, fc'ae betting was 6 to 5 op the Drybread horse; and eventually his owner backed him at 2 to 1, but without much money on. The horses got off very well. Tinker's Tommy hitting out strong ; but the D^ybreaci horse was not to beder'ed, and ere the first lap was over had pulled on his antagonist 250 Tavds. On the second round he increased his speed, and collaring his opponc n" came in an easy win'ier. The winner was ridden by Jas. M'Gregor and t 1 c loser by Joe Liverty, who did his best to carry off the stakes, but his hors Mvnnted r!ie speed. Thfttime was a very few seconds over 8 minutes. There was then a handicap trotting race, in which 5 started. Tinkers Tommy, at srvafc!>. won ens'ly. To keep up the sport we improvised a foot race, which wound up the day's s')o; % t. This, I think, will he the close of the D.'yVead Whiter Meetings. The roads are in a fer.ful state; in f?ct, it i 3 not spfe to go round the district with a conveyance. We Ia I the pleasure to welcome home to Tinkers 5 , on Tuesday, an esteemed friend, Mr. A. Sutherland (one of the shareholders in the Blue Duck), wifc'i his bride. A gooc-ly cxvaleade met them at the White Horse Hotel and escoi ted them home. Mr. Sutherland is highly respected by all the mining community, and the good wishes of ail go with him in the fetching home of the ne plus ultra.