Old news from Armidale and New England

Thursday 10 October 1867, The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser

NEW ENGLAND.

(From the Armidale Express, Oct. 5.)

The weather continues exceedingly variable – ranging from summer to winter in a few hours at times. Of late a considerable number of trees have been struck by lightning in the neighbourhood of Armidale, but on Thursday morning, a little before 5, it struck a post in the fence dividing two small paddocks opposite Mr. Low’s, the blacksmith. The post was burst into splinters, which were scattered around, and the lightning also tore up the ground at the foot of the post. Singular to say, the six rails that had met through the post were undamaged. The peal of thunder accompanying the discharge was so violent as to cause a general awakening over the town. The same storm covered the streets with small hail. Yesterday morning there was a white frost, even in places usually exempt from the lighter frosts – Express.

The lovers of the turf will be glad to hear that there is at length every prospect of a Jockey Club being speedily established in Armidale – Telegraph.

Persons walking in the bush should now be careful in noticing snakes. On Sunday last a son of Mr. Gralton’s was near Mr Arthur Edward’s farm, when suddenly one of his feet slipped. On looking down, he perceived that he had trod on a large brown snake, which was biting at the heel of his boot. He quickly removed himself, but before he could get a suitable stick and return to the spot the snake had disappeared. – Express.

A fortnight back the mailman on his trip up from Grafton to Armidale, was thrown, and the horse managed to get away into the bush, with the mail strapped to the saddle. After a fruitless search for the horse, the mailman was compelled to push on to the next station on foot, without the mailbag. We understand that on the mailman’s return the horse was still at large, although every effort had been made to find the animal. Up to the present lime the mail has not been recovered. – Telegraph.

Glen Innes – Since last Tuesday the weather in this part of New England has taken a most extraordinary freak. First we had it for days frightfully cold, blowing a heavy gale from the west and south, accompanied by rain, sleet, and hailstones. Then it was fine for a few hours, principally in the mornings, but about midday the wind rose again to a strong gale, followed by a heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by rain changing suddenly to hailstones ; then thunder and lightning again, and for a while most calm weather – returning again to similar freaks, which are still being carried on. Such sudden changes must be very injurious to the young lambs, now dropping everywhere, and though the prospects were promising we fear our sheep breeders will not cut so many tails as they expected. Captain Dunbar, of Stonehenge, has started a brewery, and manufactures first-rate beer. Ho will, no doubt, have a good run during the summer season.-Glen Innes, 30th Sept. 1867. – Express.