The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1888. RABBIT ISLAND RACES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 1287, 16 November 1888, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1888. RABBIT ISLAND RACES.

The meeting to consider whether these races shall be continued takes place on Saturday at the Little Rivet- Hotel. It will he remembered that at a former meeting, held in May last, Mr Masefield moved that the question should be adjourned for six months, and this was unanimously agreed to. That time has now come, and, we presume, that tomorrow the matter will be finally settled.

It does seem a pity that these races should be allowed to fall through. They have been well attended by the public, well conducted by the stewards, and well 6poken of fy the Press. The course is said to be one of the best in New Zealand, and Rabbit Island itself forms a natural grand stand, from which all the races can be seen to the greatest advantage. ..As far as the racing itself is concerned, there have been very'good fields and close finishes, and the totalisator has been fairly supported. The Club, however, labours under several disadvantages. There is no enclosure, and consequently no charge can be made for admission, and this cuts off what might be a large item of J revenue. The weather, too, has been unfavourable, and both rain and wind did the ; r to spoil the end of the last day's sport, but this we think might be avoided by holding the meeting a little earlier in the year, which could surely be easily arranged. The great drawback, however, lies in the apathy ot lhe residents of the Peninsula, who will not support the meeting. The subscriptions have become less and less, and hitherto there has seemed no prospect, of improvement. Another drawback, as far as this side of the Peninsula is concerned, is the position of the course. It is at such a distance that it makes it quite a labour for ladies to attend and return the same evening, and this militates considerably against success also. Whether some new plan cannot be started to awaken interest now there is such a promise of better times, it is for to-morrow's meeting to consider. People it is said object to paying because they say the totalisator brings in such a revenue, but this is a most uncertain quantity, and hitherto has proved qaite inadequate, though a great help There are sporting men who declare that had it not heen for the totalisator people would have put their shoulder to the wheel, and the races would have been well supported. Be that as it may the totalisator is a fact and brings in a large revenue, and as long as it is a legal affair will always be seen at our meetings. It seems to us that the best plan would be to form a racing club, to which the subscription would be some small sum, say half a guinea annually. If a ticket of membership were given for this and a right to vote on any matter of importance affecting the club, surely there would be no difficulty in getting a . number of subscribers. Were the club strong enough we do not sec why it should confine its exertions to holding a meeting at Rabbit Island once a year. Why could it not undertake the management of the Little River races as well ? That course is much more easily accessible from the harbor and eastern bays, and meetings held there under proper management would he well supposted. There is even a possibility that a steeplechase might be arranged for on the Akaroa side of the range for there is no lack of lovers of the sport, and there are plenty of fair cross country horses. However this may be, we think it quite possible the club could carry out the Rabbit Island and Little River meetings most successfully, if an association were formed somewhat on the lines we mention. For the two gatherings there should be no lack of subscribers both from the hills and the plains, and as we say certain privileges might be given to the holders ot members tickets that might make them an exceedingly popular method of subscription.