NEW PLYMOUTH.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 79, 18 March 1882, Page 9

NEW PLYMOUTH.

I think the Committee of the Amalgamated Societies picnic would have done well to have something else than teetotal drink on the grounds. The spectacle of people rolling about suffering from stomach-ache is a far more pitiable sight than a few jolly, good-tempered inebriates. The Iron Sand Works are really to be started once more. ' There are still a few shares, if any of my Auckland friends have a surplus amount of rhino to profitably invest. Your leading men ought to push on the railway between Auckland and Taranaki, as I hear some of our shrewdest men say it will be the making of Auckland. I regret to hear of a certain advocate, not a hundred miles from here, running a muck off the right path. I should have thought he was the last man in the world to do such a thing. . A comfortable home seems not to possess the attractions it should for him, but evidently he appears to have waxed fat, and kicked over the traces.

New Plymouth was in a state of excitement on Friday (March 10) when a vessel came alongside the breakwater to discharge her cargo. The daily "Buster," however, is in error in saying the s.s. Kennedy is the first vessel to come alongside. I saw the Clever Dog discharge a cargo of rock cod a short time since. The inhabitants turned out en masse to welcome the steamer and so overjoyed were some of the old fossils that Mr King " shouted" for all hands.

I quite agree with, the crusade at Home against paying extortionate fees to jockeys as has been the case in several instances of late. For steering Foxhall to Victory the jockey Macdonald received one thousand pounds. I certainly think such a procedure is to be condemned, as tending to put boys in a position for which they are totally unsuited. A case at New Plymouth of the same character has come under my notice, and I think the Taranaki Jockey Club should certainly do all in their power to prevent such extravagant fees being paid to jocke3-s as was the case in two instances at the last Urenui Races. For riding two winners at that meeting, a certain gentleman named Mr " Sawpaddock" was so elated at his success that a fit of frenzy seemed to take possession of him, and not seeming to value money in the least, very lavishly bestowed the tremendous amount of ten shillings on the jockey — 5s for each mount. I hear the boy did not ask for anything so lavish as that sum, and I trust Mr " Sawpaddock" will take this hint, and pay the usual fee in future.

Our grand swimming carnival took place on the afternoon of Wednesday (March. Bth). The first pi'ize in no instance, save one, exceeded the sum of £1, and there were no second prizes. The fair sex mustered in full force, and appeared to take great interest in the affair. On the whole, the swimming was good, but our new blood did not make the grand show expected. Canterbury declared he would have taken third place in the big event had he finished. I must ascribe his failure to the course being too damp, and not suiting his high delivery. If he had not forgotten that nip of real Irish he might have swept the programme. Undoubtedly, the big event was Pannell's, had his steering apparatus been in thorough working order. He is certainly a grand swimmer. Sir William Fox was present, but to my astonishment hung fire after all his practice. I think he could show some of the younger ones the way round. The crack lady swimmers were present (as spectators, of course), and it is rumoured got quite in a scot because there was no race for ladies. By-the-way, the timekeeper (no relation to the Channel hero) was not very accurate. I suppose your mind was slighty distracted, Greorge, and Avell it might be ; some of them looked " luscious" didn't they ? Dr Gribbs worked very arduously as secretary, and kept his eye on any symptoms of diphtheria amongst the swimmers. Our ex-Mayor made a fair starter, though rather erratic at times. The band attended, and discoursed sweet music at intervals, and helped materially to make the affair the grand success it undoubtedly was.