Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), Wednesday 11 September 1850, page 2


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[from our correspondents.]

ARMIDALE.

The Weather.-The weather continues mild, and we have been favoured with a sufficient quantity of rain to encourage the agriculturists to rejoice in the hope of a successful issue of

their labours.

The Races.-The sporting community are on the qui vive in anticipation of the forth-coming races, and from all the indications I have no doubt that their happiest expectations will be fully realised. A great number of horses are in training, including Mr. Goodsii's

New Chum and Little John, Mr. Protheroe'sFriendless, Mr. Cohen's Tommy, Coquette, and Forester, Dr. Markham's Brian O'Lynn, Mr. Dorau's Little John, Mr. Browne's Countess and Blue Bonnet, Mr. Rusden's Fly, and Mr. Cormie's Honest John. Sullivan's lot is also daily expected from the Clarence, including War Eagle ; and it is stated by some of the knowing ones that Sultan is on the road up ; but this I give as a rumour only.

Cricket.-A meeting of the gentlemen in the habit of playing this noble game in Al midale was held on the 27th ultimo, when reso-lutions were passed by which the first Armidale Cricket Club was established ; upwards of thirty members were enrolled. The rules, &c. are in course of preparation, and it is believed that as some of the members were of no little renown in the old country, the Armidale Cricket Club « ill in a short time be able to vie with any in the colony.

Quarterly Licensing Meeting.-A court of petty sessions was held on the 3rd instant, when the license for the Apsley Arms Inn, Walcha, which had been suspended for three months, was granted to Mr. Caldwell, formerly of Sin-gleton. Several publicans who applied were allowed licenses to sell liquors on the course during the race days.

September 5th,-1850.

WARIALDA.

The Weather.-We are greatly in want of rain. A hail-storm came on last night, which lasted about half an hour, the hail-stones being as large as marbles ; but this will do us little good. Some stations are most desperately ill off both for grass and water, especially the latter.

September 3rd, 1850.

WOLLOMBI.

The Crops.-The growing wheat has never, at this period of the year, presented a more favorable appearance trian it does at present ; indeed, to use the grandiloquent expression of our Wollombi Solon when expatiating on its appearance, "the superlativenessof itslnxuriantenticity is exaltedly indicatory of a super-exu-berance of ultimate productiveness."

The rather encouraging present price of colo-nial tobacco has evidently given an impulse in this quarter to its cultivation. A large surface is at present in course of preparation for re-ceiving the plants, which, owing to their for-ward state from the late genial weather, will

bear an earlier removal without risk this sea-son from their beds than could be safely attempted for many years hitherto.

SPORTING.-The races, which are to come off

here on Monday next, are the all-engrossing subject of conversation. Matters of public im-port, such as now agitate the surface of society, as the pro and anti-transportation question, list of grievances, &c, about which our "Clover clique" make such a rumpus, are here regarded as matters of moonshine compared with the ex-citing pomp and circumstance of a horse race. The arduous and well known task of picking up 100 stones, each a yard apart, within a certain time, is to bu attempted on the race day, in the township, by a young man of whom it is said in bush phraseology that he has "lost a shingle," meaning thereby a certain kind of softness in his upper works. However, if nature has been sparing in the mental garniture of his head, she has made him such amends in activity of limb as may eventually give him a triumph over the knowing ones.

Sept. 10, 1850.