HAMPDEN. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

North Otago Times, Volume VII, Issue 167, 28 December 1866, Page 2

HAMPDEN. ( FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

Hampden, December 21st, 1866. A meeting of the Races Committee was held last evening, in the Hampden Hotel. There was a ve?y fair attendance, and a considerable amount of bvuines» gone through. Mr A. Familton occupied the choir. The races were fixed to take place on the Hampden Race Course, on the 1st prox. (New Year's Day).^The Race Programme was then drawn up, chiefly on the basis of that agreed to at a meeting held in the Clyde Hotel (Mr Prosser's) on Saturday evening last. At revised and adopted, the Programme is as follows : — First Race, Maiden Plate ; second do., Publicans' Purse; third do., Town Plate; fourth do., Cheroot Stakes ; fifth do., Hurdle Race ; sixth do., Ladies' Purse ; seventh do., Trotting Match ; eighth do., Consolation Stakes. Messrs William Murcott, John Prosier, A. Familton, M. S. Q-leeton, and Wm. Stewart were elected Stewards ; Mr W. L. Leggat, Judge ; Mr H. T. Murcott, Clerk of the Course ; and Mr Wm. Murcott, Secretary and Treasurer. A Starter was not then appointed. Rules and regulations to be observed on the occasion were next drawn up and approved of. All entries to be made to the Secretary not later than the 31st

instant. A meeting of the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute took place in the Schoolhouso on Wednesday laat — Mr Wm Murcott presiding. The business before the meeting waa to consider the reply receded regarding the site choaen for the Institute — it being stated that the section fixed upon had been previously set apart for another pnrpoie. On inrutigmtion,

howerer, this did not appear to bare been the oa»e, at least so far aa known to any one here of whom inquiry was made. After duovuiing the fubjeot, it wm retolred that the chairman again communicate with the Cforernment thereanent. The weather during the last few dayi hat been rather changeable, xeaterday wm rery windy and cold.

s December 26th, 1868. I regret to have to report the low of the craft " Clarendon " in Moentki Bay during the very stiff breeze which blew from the K. E. on Thursday last— the first accident of the land which, I believe, has ever occurred there. It would appear that the Clarendon was bound from Dunedin for Oamaru with coals, and had come inside the Bay for shelter, from the roughness of the sea outside. In consequence of an anchor which had been dropped proving ineffective in securing her, and before another could b» rendered serriceable, she drifted among the rocks and soon be* came a complete wreck. No lires were lost and tht cargo was disposed of on the spot^/I hare not heard whether or not she was insured. On Saturday last we had another very heavy fall of rain — heayier than, perhaps, has been known to hare taken place here for years. The ground is thorough)/ saturated and probably farmers would not now object to a few weeks of dry weather. I am not aware of any damage that has been caused by the overflooded state of creeks and rivtrs. The weather now has • more settled appearance. The residents of this district seem determined to fully enjoy themselves on New- Year's day so far as races and other souroes of amusement are concemod. Besides those to take place at the township her*, there is issued an attractire programme of sports to take place (on same day) at the Kartigi Hotel, (Mr M'Kennsj's) Trotter's Flat— a rather awkward arrangement, one would say, considering th» oonti* gutty of the two places. Christmas appears to have passed off quietly in this quarter.