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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 118, 22 May 1867, Page 3

The following remarkable freak of a horse is reported iu the Grey River Argus: —A very painful degree of excitement was caused ou Thursday afternoon among a number of persons who were watching from the quay the struggles of a horse in the midst of the surf ou the bar, which was very heavy at the time. Oa enquiry as to how he came into his perilous position, it was ascertained that Mr. Guudry, of the Union Bank of Australia, had gone out for a ride along the beach on the steeplechase horse '; Hatter," who not having- been out of his stable for -' several days, was very fresh, and when I opposite Mr. Thompson's Ballaarat Hotel | had bolted, taken the bit between his f. teeth, and iu despite of all the efforts of \ his rider to check his mad career, had k continued at a furious gallop, through all ;- the scrub along the line of the tramway, * amongst which he threaded his wav with the dexterity of a cat, until on arriving at the South Spit he leaped wildly into the flood, which was surging round him at the time with fearful violence. Mr. Gundry, not relishing the idea of a swim across the flooded Grey on a, frantic brute like the oue he bestrode, wisely leaped off his back and escaped to shore, at the expense of a wetting and some rather severe bruises. The horse, which everybody r concluded must infallibly be swept out to sea and drowned, was carried far beyond the bar, and singularly enough was carried northward by the curreut to a point about two miles up the beach, where he was recovered by those who were in search of him quite uninjured by his long swim, with saddle and bridle undisturbed, but trembling violently from fright and exertion. It seems that the workmen employed on the construction of the tunnel on the railway between Christchurch and Lyttelton, have so far succeeded in surmounting the ; difficulties of that undertaking, that last | week an opening was made through the tunnel, the excavators having met in the centre. . The event is one which is a legitimate subject of congratulation to the i Province of Canterbury. The Melbourne Age says : —The ques_ tion as to whether there are not alligators, ' or something very like alligators, in the mountain rivers of Gipps Land, seems to have been effectually set at rest by Mr. Jesse. Bray, of Crooked River. This gentleman has actually killed a specimen on his account, and thus announces the , achievement in a local journal: —Anybody ; feeling any interest in this subject can • convince himself of the fact by ocular '.]; demonstration, on calling at. my residence, •'■' that there are reptiles in our mountain streams, which, be they alligators or bun- > yips, are of sulficieut size and ferocious

locking enough to do mischief, if so inclined. Lately, while out shooting, near the cultivation paddock of Mr. Oliver Smith on the Wonnaugatta River, I noticed an object that at first appeared to me to be a log lying half out of the water on the bank. On my approach it suddenly disappeared (the water being discolored by the late rains). Feeling convinced that this must be the notorious alligator, I was determined, if possible, to capture him, and "wheD, a short time after, he again appeared on the surface, I fired at him. The shot appeared to take but little effect, but, as he rushed into shallow water, I easily managed to dispatch him with the butt of my gun. When dead, the reptile measured nine feet eleven inches in length. His color is dark brown, and of a sandy nature about the belly ; his claws about the shape and size of a human hand, and not webbed. His head, which tapers towards the snout, is rather small, but broad in proportion to his body. His jaws show a set of regular and very sharp teeth. His hide, or rather horny shell, I have carefully prose rved, and shall be glad to show it to anybody, at any time, who may choose to eall upon me. The practice of defrauding the Government by enclosing letters in newspapers and forwarding them through the postofiice, has, we (Melbourne Argus) understand, been considerably on the increase lately. The difficulty has been to detect the offenders, who are to shrewd too attach their names to the documents which they despatch in this illegal manner. A few days ago. however, the police succeeded in tracing one of these epistles to the pen of a young man named Webb, who was yesterday brought before the City Court, when he pleaded " Guilty" to the charge. Mr. Sturt informed the youth that he had been guilty of a very dishonest act, for which he was liable to be fined in a sum of not less than £5, nor more than £50, or to be imprisoned for a considerable period. In consideration of his previous good character, and the fact that he was probably unaware of the gravity of the offence, he was fined £5, that being the lowest penalty. It is to be -hoped, that this decision will act as a warning to others who have been in the habit of breaking the law in the manner described. The Melbourne Herald gives the following description of the St. Leger race, run on the XLanwiek Course, at Sydney, on the 4th inst., from which it will be seen that Mr. Fisher's stable has beeu at length victorious over the Sydney favourites. It is stated that at least 7000 persons were present ou the course: — "The race of the day came next — the St. Leger Stakes — and was looked upon in the light of an intercolonial contest, the Barb, the New South Wales champion, and his rival, the big colt Fishhook, from Victoria, being about the only horses talked off as likely to show up at the finish. The Barb was, however, the favourite in the betting and money was laid on pretty freely at evens, whilst Fishhook stood at 6 to 4 against him. The Victorian men were to a man friendly to the Hook, and both horses carried a big pot of money. The Hook never looked better, and Morrison was very confident. Some people thought the Barb was hardly up to the condition he was iu on the Melbourne Champion day ; at the same time no one who had fancied him but though he was quite fit to beat the whole lot of them. A sad dow r ncoine was it, then, when the race was over, for the Barb had. to be content with fourth place, never showing up after the first half mile had been run. Fishhook came in iu splendid style, amidst the most tremendous excitement and cheering. The time was pretty good — 3mitj. 18sec. Blair Athol and Bylong had a fine race for second place, the former winning."