A FAMOUS ENGLISH SPORTSMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 3

A FAMOUS ENGLISH SPORTSMAN.

It was* only the other day that the death of Baron Hirscb was announced. Now the cable flashes news that another equally well known celebrity has passed away in Colonel J. T. North; known as " The Nitrate Kins-" Although deceased had gained most) ef his fame in the sporting world as & follower of coursing, ab the same timo I>e paid considerable attention to the turf, his " light bluo, primrose and scarlet sap " being well tp the front in a number of events, notably with Nuathorpe in the City and Suburban Handicap and Kempton Park Jubilee Stakes. Money was no object with the Colonel when he'fancied a ytarling. For Instance, he gave 3,000gs for a colt by Hamptons-Land's End, at the Queen's Hampton Court e&le; 2,500g;8 each for coit* by St. Simon — Blue Rock and Isonomy — Moorhen, and 2,300ga for a colt by Wisdom — Candahar. A ' few years ago he electrified coursing circles, when at a sale, in London—described as the "most sensational ever held in this or any crther cbuDtry"—be paid 850 guineaa foi Fullerton, 510 guineas for the brood bitch Mug Glondyne, and 200 guineas for tha brood bitch Bit of Fashion. Not long after, the Colonel gave 470 guineas for Troughend. That he was nob the fool people took him to be lies in the fact that Jullerton and Troughend divided him the Waterloo Cup in 1889, while the firet.nnmed greyhound won him the "Blue Riband of the Leash" in 1890, 1891, and 11492. In 1890 Troughend ran up for the Porae. In addition to the foregoing phenomenal successes, Colonel North made his mark on the classic coursing grounds of tba Altcar and Kidgway Clubs, etc. colonel North was free-handed and generW8 with his wealth. A native of Leeds, he purchased the grounds of KirksUll Abbey, and several acres adjoining, and presented «ne whole to the famous Yorkshire town for the purpose of a public park and recreation ground. He passed many years <» his life in mining in South America, wh^. Deeh c ultimately returned to the land of his birth a millionaire, hence his sobriquet of "The Nitrate King."