DUNSTAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 330, 14 February 1874, Page 3

DUNSTAN.

(From our own Correspondent.) Our annual race meeting, held on Thursday and Friday last, does not call forth much of special comment, only that it was the least successful of any annual meeting yet held on the Dunatan racecourse. V r hy it should have been so may be accounted for by a number of reasons j" but that of the prizes not being sufficiently attractive cannot be reckoned as one, for the programme may be considered a liberal- one. In days gone by, the Dunstan races ranked among the first of the province, and the Club is the pioneer one of the goldfields ; but then it was the only meetings held in .a large district, and competition and attendance were alike equally good. Since then there have sprung up three or four other clubs, which, at one time, were only considered branches of the parent tree ; some aye now bidding fair to eclipse their elder, at all events, if not so, the interest taken in what is considered x'ettlly local races draws away the attention from those of wider scope. Unless the Dunstan Jockey Club races can command better support from outside than it has in the present occasion, one of two things will require to be ? done — either to amalgamate the clubs and have one good meeting for the district, or alter the programme, and with far less money make local races for local and untrained horse 3. The district abounds with very good hacks : but training and keeping race horses is beyond the means of most residents, and in many cases is not a profitable adventure. A proof of this was demonstrated by the Trotting Bace, -which brought out ten competitors, ♦Ithongh the money run for was only £20; while one race for £40 was a walk over, and two for £70 and £100 respectively o.ily "brought three horses to the scratch. I • have mentioned that the programme was a liberal one, and it certainly must be considered «O for" the district which it now represents ; but the inducement is not sufficient to bring horses from a long distance, and tamake it ■» it requires the whole of the middle goldfield* to unite, and mako a really attractive meeting which need not always be held in one place. Tbe local clubs may still have their -meetings for local horses, I need not co into the details of the racing, the names winrers, Ac, have already appeared in your columns. ' About the next most attractive scene was the opening of , the newly-erected shop of 1&OT8. Attfield »nd Wilson, butchers, Clyde,

< wbieh took place on the morning of the first day's racing. The beautiful display of meat exhibited when the windows were opened iv the morning, gives great credit to the taste and skill of the owners, nothing like it has I beon seen, I believe, out of Dunedin. One ! would fancy it was Christmas eve in a large i town. For amusements we were well supplied ; Murray's Circus and Mr. Fred Clifton and- Fanny Sara were announced to give entertainments. The Ch'cus, however, had the best share of support, and was highly appreciated.

Turning to other matters, Mr. Coventry, the owner of the pneumatic dredge, held a meeting last night to explain the particulars of the proposed Joint Stock Company. He says he has been very successful in Dunedin in getting the shares taken up ; but wishes that the people of the district in which the dredge is to operate would signify their faith in the project by becoming shareholders. The fate of the former Company no doubt will be a little against him ; still, it ought to be remembered that the machine is all that ever it was put forth for, and the collapse was on account of their not meeting gold in the part of the river it worked, and not on account of the imperfection of the apparatus. It is intended to try the river from Clyde to Cromwell ; and as no dredge has been able to work much in that part, and this one will be able to bottom in any part, and the saving of the expense "of firing the engine and a man to drive it, which the water wheels will now do, will be a great reduction in the working expenses. I believe it will soon bs floated, and by the time the river gets to its ordinary level operations will be Commenced.