Page:Charleston • Irwin Faris • (1941).pdf/174

 Jones, T. Dwan, J. Fenton, D. Maloney, P. Scanlon, W. H. Hillyar, J. Behan.

In later years meetings were held on John Warne’s farm at the back of St. Patrick’s School, and in a paddock behind the Welcome Inn at Little Beach. A feature of horse-racing on the Coast was the number of private challenges by owners of promising horses. For these the services of Harry Patten, of Candlelight, as a rider, were much in demand, he having been attached to Redwood’s stables at Nelson. It is told that upon one occasion he was engaged for a fee of £50 to ride a heavily-backed horse at Reefton, and walked the entire distance, 68 miles, won the race, and walked home. Jimmy Parsons, of Charleston, was another popular rider.

Although race-meetings were not annual fixtures, many were arranged during the early days, generally in proximity to a hotel, the owner of which contributed generously to the stakes—a sprat to catch a mackerel. They were the events of the year, which all felt bound to attend; everybody met everybody, and the few existing social distinctions were dropped, for “on the turf, and under it, all men are equal.”

A volunteer corps, the Charleston Rifle Volunteers, was formed in 1868. At a meeting held on 8th April of that year, and convened by Captain Alexander Beveridge, a Committee was appointed to arrange details necessary to the formation of a corps. At a later meeting Mr. G. C. Bowman was elected Captain; Mr. Furness, Lieutenant; Mr. Price, Ensign; and Mr. H. Vorley, Secretary. The drill-ground and rifle-range was on country Section No. 50 of about 21 acres, near to John Warne’s farm, behind St. Patrick’s School. Each member of the corps paid 2/6 entrance fee, and a monthly subscription of 2/6. The first drill was on 15th April, 1868, Thomas Kelly being the instructor. The corps was disbanded on 10th October of the same year, by Gazette notice.