The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 1 Aug 1872 ¹

LOCAL NEWS.
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A SPIRITED PROPOSAL FROM BALMAIN. — Though the residents of Balmain have long been noted for their liberal support of aquatic sports few persons were prepared to a hear of a proposition made at the regatta committee meeting on Thursday evening. During a conversation respecting the forthcoming Intercolonial Champion Gig Race, it was suggested that the Balmain Regatta of 1873 should be marked by an International Champion Gig Race, for gentlemen amateurs, such as was recently rowed on the Thames between the London Rowing Club and the Atalanta Club or New York. The suggestion immediately took a tangible form by Captain Bloomfield offering to become responsible for £100, and seven other members of committee £50 each, so that on the spot £420 out of the proposed prize of £500 was guaranteed, and the balance is certain to be forthcoming. It is not at all improbable that some of the crack oarsmen of England may respond to the invitation, and America can without much inconvenience send a crew. The latter could make the round trip from and to New York in four months and have more than a month for training here. Such a race would conduce more to create a spirit of rivalry amongst the rowing men of Australia than any number of local contests. S[ydney] M[orning] H[erald], July 29.
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THE BALLANDEAN TIN MINE.—In our notice of this promising mine in our last number, we stated, among other things “We are also told that the company will probable, if all goes well, pay a dividend by the middle of next week.” It should have read, “by the middle of next month.”

SAD OCCURRENCE AT GLEN INNES.—We were informed, late last evening, that a man named Clarke, in getting over a fence, at Glen Innes yesterday, so injured himself that he died within a few hours. It seems to us that the fence must have been of iron as we are told that the unfortunate mau was wounded by one of the spikes. There was no doctor in town at the time, so the man had no medical aid.— Inverell Courier, July 21
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WEST MAITLAND VOLUNTEER RIFLES.—The remainder of the Henry Rifles, (15) have arrived for the West Maitland Volunteer Corps, making 100 in all — no more will be granted to tins company, Captain Wilkinson being informed that the number he has received (100) is the maximum allowed to any corps. — He was also informed that at present no short breech loading rifles were available for the sergeants of his company — those now in use by the infantry being borrowed from the Naval Brigade. — Blank ammunition for Henry rifles would be forwarded as soon as possible.
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THE WEATHER IN THE INTERIOR.—We have to thank a Maitland business firm for the following item of weather news: — “Mogil Mogil, July 23: We have had a further fall of rain, quite enough for this season of the year”
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VAGRANCY. — At the Morpeth police court, last Thursday, William Magrath was brought before Mr CE Jaques, and charged with vagrancy. Being convicted, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.

CHARGE OF BESTIALITY. — At the East Maitland police court, yesterday, Thomas [aka John] Blissett was brought before the bench, charged with having on the 25th July, at Mount Vincent, committed an act of bestiality. The affair seemed to have risen out of some idle talk of a mail boy named Fogarty, who did not know the nature of an oath, and was not sworn, and there was no evidence whatever to support the charge. The defendant was therefore discharged. Mr HO Meagher appeared for the defendant.
Police Business. — At the East Maitland police court, on Tuesday, Mr James Smith police magistrate, and Dr Wilton, were the sitting magistrates, and dealt with one case. — There was no business at the Morpeth police court yesterday.

¹     The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, (NSW), Thu 1 Aug 1872, p. 3. Emphasis added.