FEILDING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 3096, 6 April 1878, Page 2

FEILDING.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,) April 5.

AMUSEMENTS.

For some time past the doings of the people of this locality have remained unrecorded, if I except a few* paragraphs in the local paper, and therefore I must travel back a little distance, measured by time, to give a brief resum6. First, and certainly foremost in the list, comes " The Feilding Choral Society," to whose untiring exertions in the way of practice, the crowded audience who attended their oratorio of " The Messiah " are indebted for a musical treat ; many portions of which would not have been out of place at the festival of the " Three Quoirs," Gloucester, Winchester, and Lincoln, at which, it is said, the finest rendering of Handel's music is given. Not for one moment presuming to compare our local singers to the great professors who assist at' the festivals, but only with their fellow amateurs of the Quoirs. The concert was in aid of the Society's funds, and realised a handsome amount, I believe £14 10s.

The heavenly sounds of the sacred music had hardly ceased, when we were visited by a panorama of the Russo-Tarkish war, where all tbe pomp, pride, and circumstance of war were depicted on the canvas, as nearly as the artist, who most probably resided in Camden Town, could imagine.

THE GOLD DISCOVERY.

Then came a burst of joy and gladness over the face of all people who reside upon or near to the favored Manchester Block. The cry is gold. Nothing less. Feilding a goldfield. Gold found in the Makino Creek, in the centre of the township, quartz, aud really a splendid specimen containing, I do not know the number of " dwts " my informant stated, but he assured me in good earnest that the goldfield was beyond a doubt. Accordingly I at once proceeded to the creek at Queen-street, and found a number of men at work washing dirt, &c, and knowing that the sub-agent to the Company was for many years a digger on the Nelson goldfields,l did not for a moment doubt that my information was correct. Visions of a small house in Curzon-street, Mayfair, W., next years meeting at Goodwood, and such like burst upon my view, alas, the fabric of which was so soon to vanish. Meeting, on my return homewards, with a gentleman of sound opinions, and naming the golden subject, he informed me that having seen the specimen found in Mr Halcombe's portion of the creek, he was certain that it had only been in the water a short time, as any digger must know that it dotis not take long for the water to wear the stone, and the gold, but on the specimen there was no such sign, consequently the piece of quartz must have fallen in by accident. And such proved to be the case to a letter. The prospectors worked with a will, but found no more of the precious metal, and now I find the Manawatu Times had published a memo from Mr Halcombe stating that Feilding is not a goldfield or likely to be such.

MINEBALS AT FEUiDING.

Let me have a word then as to the minerals on the Manchester block. There isjron to be found, close to the surface, and I have no hesitation in saying that coal will be found in abundance close to the iron. This opinion is not from mere guess, but from observation. Seven years since I wa3 in Belgium, professionally, and on visiting Serang, a charming village on the river Meuse, where one of the largest iron -works in the Netherlands are situate, found the coal coming up one shaft, and within an area of 278 acres, or thereabouts, the iron was also taken froni.tha mine. Now, in many portions of this block I have seen strata that vividly reminds me of Serang. Perhaps I may tell your readers that the " factory" is a magnificent pile of buildings, formerly the residence of the Bishops of Liege, so that instead of the matin bell, the clang of the hammer is heard turning out the most approved engines of all kinds. The materials are taken from the bowels of the earth, smelted, and prepared for the fitter's shop, whence it passes out under the ancient Episcopal arched gateway, perhaps a locomotive for the Wanganui and Foxtou railway. Who knows what an allwise Providence has iv store for us in this glorious land !

SPORT AT FEILDING.

Perhaps you may think your portion of the country is the only sporting place in New Zealand? Well, 1 can now tell you that Feilding has entered the lists-iu the racing world, and mayhap become the Newmarket of the North Island. On Saturday last at 2 p.m. all the sporting men of the place were assembled on the green in front of " The Pines," the residence of A. F. Halcombe, Esq., to witness the start of two famous trotting cobs, the one Tommy, the property of Mr Campbell, our respected bootmaker, and the other a dark bay, the property of Mr John Hughey. Mr Campbell rode his own horse, aud a young Irishman in Mr John Hughey's employment the other. Punctually at 2.30 p.m. Mr Robert Price, the umpire, arrived at tbe starting posf, and the racers being placed, a good start was effected, Tommy breaking twice whilst in sight of the footmen. The race was from Lewers' store, Feilding, to Schultze's Awahuri Hotel, a" distance of about four miles and one quarter, fair trotting. The race from start to finish was closely contested, and won by Mr Campbell on Tommy iiv 17 J minutes, with thirty yards to spare. The cortege, which was composed of naany of our sporting friends, having regaled themselves at Awahuri, returned to Feilding. The race was for £10, the betting being 2 to 1 on Tommy, although the plucky animal came to the post lame on the hind leg.

TEMPERANCE LECTURE.

The Hon. Mr Fox, President of the Feilding Total Abstinence Society, addressed his brethren last .evening at the schoolroom, when one of the largest temperance gatherings ever held iv Feilding took place. The room was densely crowded, and the president highly complimented the abstainers on such a meeting as an evidenoe of the spread of his doctrine. The music and singing of the

teirperanoe melodies, under the leadership of Mr Dowling, and accompanied by Mrs Dowling on the harmonium, gave a tone to the meeting,- aud the performances of the Society's drum and fife band,directed by Mr S. Daw, honorary bandmaster, made the welkin riDg with the sounds of their clarions. Mr Pox, in his address, said he was glad to find such a fine lot of boys, about 24 in nutrber, all staunch abstainers, and trusted they would continue to hold to it for the rest of their lives. Mr Fox was to have delivered a lecture this evening in the Immigration Barracks on " America and Americans," in aid o* the funds of the Feilding Benevolent' Society, but the meeting of the School Board in Wanganui this morning demanded his presence, and thns the promised treat is postponed until Thursday next, the 11th instant. DEPASTURE OP MIMIST'SBS, I had almost forgotten, to mffiio&tthe departure of our two mbas~TßSj)eoted pastors from amongst us on Monday Jnorning lasfc, the- one the Rev. Robt. McG^or, Presbyterian minister, fqr Dunedin, and the Rev. P, Wright Jonas, of the Primitire Methodist congregation, for Auckland ; and as Ido not intend to repeat the manyflattering addresses both these rev. gentlemen have reoeived, accompanied by purses of gold, and a Bible to the latter as a token of love and esteem from the members of the Feilding Total Abstinence Society. I shall only say that no two parsons of any denomination ever left a place where they were more beloved, and deservedly so.