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Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1890, 16 August 1884, Page 3

In the early days of Ballarat (says the Sydney Bulletin), when man wanted little here below, but wanted that little hot and strong, the present lion, and thrice-gallant Majah Smith was an auctioneer, and on one occasion was selling off' a library. Amongst the books was a copy of Canon Barham's " Ingoldsby Legends," and, after struggling hard with the title, the local George Bobbins put the volume up in these words: "Now, gentlemen, this is a book I can recommend to all you miners. It is written by an American gentleman named Leg Ends and is called 'ln Gold.' The author of the delightful work is an old Californian miner of great experience, and, after describing the hardships and toils of a digger's life, winds up by depicting the joyous rouseabout times that were held in the camp when the hardy, sunburnt miners struck it rich at last, and were, as he poetically puts the case, 'ln Gold.' Now, gentlemen, start it right away; what shall I say for Mr Lee End's 'ln Gold ?' " And yet that auctioneer, afterwards became Minister for Education during the Berry >-:ginie. Times change, and all change with them. The Wellington correspondent of the N.Z. Referee tells the following singular tale rcgardig Mr Jones' horse Early Bird :—The late Major Morse, when removing his stock from Nelson to VVanganui some years ago, placed his favourite old mare Chance, with her foal Early Bird, then three weeks old, on board a sailing vessel bound for Wanganui. The boat made a three weeks' passage (two days being the usual trip), and as provender had only been put on board for a short trip, the old mare had to be fed on bread, potatoes, &c, for over a fortnight. When the vessel at last arrived at Wanganui both mare and foal were in a deplorable state for want of food ; the foal could not stand, and was carried on shore by one of the crew, and the mare had gone dry. Major Morse thereupon gave the foal (Early Bird) to Mr Crawley, a milkman, on condition that if he could rear him on cow's milk he was to become a half owner. The little fellow took kindly to the cow's milk, and as a yearling was admitted to be the best looking colt in the district. Major Morse wished to race him at three years of age, but Mr Crawley, not being a racing man, declined the risk, and an agreement was come to to put the colt to the stud. Last spring he was sent to Nelson, where he originally came from, and there he had a first-class season. His new owner being a bit of,a sport gave him a few canters, and started him for the Nelson Hurdle Race, in which he ran second though quite out of conditio and took to his work so kindly that he was persevered with, and has placed three wins out of seven starts to his owner's credit. The death of his dam, who was one of the few Sir Hercules mares left in the colonies, was, I see, noted by your contributor " Sir Launcelot" a few weeks since.