THE WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 31, 9 February 1880, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

The Wellington Baring Club must be congratulated on the success which has attended its annual meeting. Splendid weather, capital fields, and keen, honorable competition for the various prize 3 combined to make the racing on Thursday and Friday last the best ever witnessed at the Hutt. As regards the " straightness " of the running, the meeting stands out in bright contf aat with previous reunions. It affords us special pleasure to testify to this, because more than once lately we have had occasion to comment on the club in an unfavorable way, and we Are aware that many of the etewards have been under the impression that the POST had; as they termed it, " a down upon them.". A little reflection, we should Mve thought; would have snown them the unreasonableness of Such an idea. The only object which our animadversions could have had was to stir them up to a moire lively sense of their responsibilities a3 officers of an institution which is mainly supported by the people, and the welfare of which it was therefore our duty to watch over. Now that the meeting has passed over so successfully the stewards will have an easy task in maintaining their improved relations with the public. The prompt investigation and exposure of the Commission swindle and the immediate punishment of the offenders did much to reconcile the "many-headed" to the increased charge for admission to the course — an innovation which we should have raised our voice against but for the knowledge that the falling-off in the subscriptions, and the consequent low state of the club's finances, rendered it absolutely necessary. We trust that next year the old tariff will be again adopted* TMb year's profits will, it iB expdctedj be sufficient to wipe off the" batik Overdraft, and there is every reason to believe that before next Christmas Jjje present anomalous position of the club TOfeh regard to the Hutt Park trustees will be replaced by a community of interests solidified by a bill for that purpose, which both parties are preparing to have brought before Parliament next session. The immediate effect of this will be to release the stewards from their agreement as tenants of the Hutt Park Estate, and to constitute a fresh board composed of the present trustees and representatives of the Racing Club. This will mean a large saving of expense to the club, which should enable it not only to reduce the admission tariff to the old scale, but to offer much larger stakes for competition, an important consideration if there is any ground for the belief which is already expressed by some that the rout of the bookmakers by the totalisator will make it difficult for owners to back their horses. The first object to which the new trustees will hay c to direct their attention will be to get an Act passed for a branch railway to the course- Until this convenience is obtained the races will never receive their proper patronage from the public. The expense and annoyance of the dusty two mile journey from the station to the course and back is mainly the reason of the large falling off which is always perceptible in the attendance on the second day. The construction of a new grand stand, which is urgently needed, and the institution of an Autumn meeting, are also subjects which we should like to see taken into early consideration. On these and other matters, intimately connected with the well-being of the club, we are quite sure the stewards might depend upon receiving the best advice from his Excellency, their Patron, whose ripe experience and love of the sport should make his accession to their ranks a source of much additional stability. The special object of these remarks iB to remind those gentlemen in whose charge the Boeing Club is that the success of institutions, like that of individuals, depends upon the improvement of favorable opportunities. The tide which should lead the club to fortune is just now at the flood ; let theji take it in time.

On Saturday evening the Government received a telegram to the effect that a dispute had arisen in reference to the Murimutu block, between certain hapus of the Wanganui and Taupo Tribes, headed respectively by Topia and Major Kemp. The quarrel is purely among the natives themselves, and in no way affects European interests. So far as we can understand the casils belli, it is one of "mana" between these two chiefs. Topia, we believe wants the whole block to be surveyed, but Kemp objects to this, and wishes only a certain portion to be surveyed at present, each thinking his "mana" would be best exalted by -his course being adopted. Each declares that if the other attempts to carry out his plan he will shoot him. This is regarded, however, as mere "tall talk," and not likely to lead to any bloodshed. It is probable that the affair will be amicably settled. The polling for the Harbor Board election opened at 9 a.m. to-day, and has been proceeding with considerable vigour all day. A good deal of interest appeared to be taken, Messrs. Harcourt, Coffey, and Bayliss having numerous posters up, conveying, the usual pressing invitations to the electors. The other candidates, Messrs. George, Mills, Jackson, and Plimmer, took matters very quietly, but a good deal of canvassing was done in an unostentious way. The result is quite a matter for even betting, there being so many candidates for only two seats. The poll will not close until 6 o'clock this evening. The steamer Kangaroo leaves this afternoon for Wakapuaka, where she will start laying the new Cook Strait cable. She will first lay five miles of shore end there, and then will proceed to Wanganui and lay five miles at that end, after which she will lay the main cable connecting the two shore ends. The Lyster Opera Company, numbering no fewer than 57 artistes, arrived from the South yesterday, and open at the Theatre Soyal to-night in Vincent Wallace's ever popular opera, "Maritana," the heroine's part being taken by Madame Eose Hersee, the celebrated English prima donna, who no i doubt will have a cordial reception on her first appearance here. Mr. Beaumont, an old colonial favorite, will take the role of Don Caesar, Mr. Templeton and Miss Lambert, two more Wellington favorites, being cast for Don Jose and Lazarillo. We hope they will be greeted by a crowded house. The meeting in the Newtown Schoolroom, to take steps for protecting the district in case of fire, will be held to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, at 8 o'clock. The prizes won in Ames and North's sweep will be paid over at the Star Hotel this evening. We are requested to state that the stakes won at the late race meeting will be -paid over to the winners at the Empire Hotel, at 8 o'clock this evening. Mr. G. S. Graham, the manager of the Colonial Insurance Company and chairman of the Wellington Underwriters' Association, left for England by the s.s. Arawata to-day to inspect the London and Indian officrs of the Colonial Insurance Company. H.M.S. Cormorant leaves for Lyttelton this evening. The captain and officers of that ship have expressed great surprise at being charged for the water supplied to them by the Corporation, their view being that her Majesty's ships should be supplied with water free "of expense. We are requested to remind .all officers and non-commissioned officers of the various volunteer corps of the parade called for this evening at 7.30, at the Mount Cook Barracka. The Fire Police and Salvage Corps will hold their monthly meeting this evening at the Manners-street Hall. Those members who fail to attend will be fined. It is announced that Messrs. Hicken, West, and others will give a " grand assault at arms and gymnastic entertainment" at the Academy of Music to-night, and on the two following evenings. Amongst the passengers who left for Sydney by the steamer Wakatipu on Saturday last were his Honor the Ciiief Justice and Mrs. Prendergast. We shall be glad to see a good -attendance at St. Mark's on Tuesday evening, when the " Franciscan Troupe," of 50 juveniles, will give a miscellaneous entertainment ; prizes will be given for right answers to a charade. The Franciscan Troupe, Lilipntian Minstrels and Our Boys, or, in other words, the juveniles of St. Mark' 8 congregation, will have contributed about JE4O towards the Organ Fund in the year, and deserve great commendation and patronage. Saturday's yacht race ended in a decided victory for the Red Jacket, which fairly distanced her opponents, the Flirt, the Minnehaha, and the Ida, and sailed lie course in the fast time of exactly three hours. The chief interest was cented in a private match which was sailed during the other race between the winner and the Pet The owners of the latter boat conceded the Bed Jacket a start of 3Jr minutes. The Bed Jacket finished the first lound lOmin 15sec ahead of the Pet. During the second round the '"Jacket" increased her lead, and eventually won by over half an hour. There is some talk of the owners of the winning' boat contesting the decision of the committee in reference to the first prize. We trust that this is not the case, for it should be remembered that the extra value was added to the second prize in order to smooth what every one of the

committee recognised as a difficult point. It should also be borne in nlnid .by the owners. of. thi. Bed Jacket that it was very lucky for them that no buoy was laid down at Sgahauranga in the second race, as but for that they would have obtained no prize at all, in consequence of the carrying away of their mast. If a private match can be got up well and good, but for goodness Bake let us have no nagging over the matter. This afternoqnj Captain Boee was elected to represent the shipping interest on the Harbor Board, the other candidates, Captain Williams and Captain M'lntyre, retiring in his favor. A match was played on the Basin Reserve on Satnrday between the Wanderers and Excelsior Cricket Clubs, but it resulted in a draw. When time was called the Wanderers had scored 179 runs, and their opponents had lost two wickets for 25 rnns. The following statement of admissions, Ac., to the Hospital during the month of January has been forwarded to us I—Ad*1 — Ad* mitted, 45 ; discharged, 30 ; died, 2. There aro at present 88 patients in the institutioni s?he creditors of W. J. Eoberts were invited to meet on Satnrday, but nobody attended, and the meeting lapsed. the bddy df the" young man Thomas Cqchrane, who was drowned through the capsizing of a boat in the harbor, on Monday last, was found on the beach, opposite O'Malley's reclamation works, near Kaiwarra, shortly after six o'clock this morning. The body was conveyed in an express to the morgue, where it now lies. Deceased was very much disfigured, and waß identfied by means of his shirt studs, which were of a peculiar pattern. The body was discovered by Mr. Martin, of Kaiwarra. Am inquest will be held at the morgue at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. Mr. Powdrell's racehorse Hailstorm left for Wanganui in the steamer Stormbird on Saturday afternoon. Before he left the owner refused 700 guineas for the third in the Cup, but we believe he is under offer for 800. The following race horses left for Dunedin by the s.s. Arawata this afternoon : — Mr. Walters* Libeller, Hippocampus, and Billingsgate, Messrs. Mason and Variance's Pinfire and Vampire, Mr. Ray's Lone Hand and Templeton, the Hon. W. Robinson't) Foul Play, and Mr. Goodman's Chancellor and York. Mr. Butler's Numa left to-day by the Hawea for Poverty Bay. Mr. M'lvor's Balmoral, Grey Momus, and Awatere; Mr. H. Redwood's Norseman, Mr. C. Redwood's Magnolia, and Mr. Gentry's Talent leave for Blenheim this afternoon, to fulfil their engagements at Marlborough Races. Of Mr. Butler's horses, the Agent goes to Dunedin and Laertes and Te Whetu to Wairarapa. Mr. Horsfall's and Mr. Keith's are bound for Wairarapa. Lara is under orders for Wairarapa, but it is questionable whether he will have sufficiently recovered to start for the races there. The question of the validity of bets on the second-class yacht race has caused much diversity of opinion. The point is a knotty one. which we shonld not care to decide on our own responsibility ; but we may mention that the subject was discussed at a recent committee meeting, and it was the prevalent opinion that unless specially renewed before the re-sailing of the race, they were off. Fisher's sweep on the Wellington Cup will be paid this evening. Young Scott was walking about town yesterday apparently quite recovered from the fatigues of his previous day's exertions. We understand that it is not unlikely he will before leaving give a display of his powers at a shorter distance, probably seven miles. 1 The open meeting of the Pioneer Lodge is postponed till a future date. The Carandinis gave their final performance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night. The" "Happy Hours" entertainment -by Mr. and Mrs. Hart was given for the last time at the Academy of Music on Saturday evening. Messrs. Laery & Campbell have receiveda" letter from Sydney asking what prospects there are of disposing of potatoes and oats in this market, as there are likely to be very abundant crops there, which will require some outlet. On Saturday evening an alarm of fire was given by one of the sentries on duty at the Mount Cook Barracks, and the bell was immediately rung. It appears that the man isaw a blaze in the direction of the Newtown 1 Hotel, and thinking that a large fire had : broken out, he pealed the bell at a fearful rate. The alarm was taken up by the Te Aro and Central bells, and the brigades were soon on their way to the fire. When they arrived at the barracks they found that there were no signs of fire anywhere, and learned that the alarm had been caused through the burning of some gorse at Newtown. The 1 firemen were anything but pleased at having to turn out for nothing. The settlers at Castlepoint and Uriti have fairly started the growing of grain for exportation, and the steamer Go Ahead, which arrived here last night, has brought no fewer than 800 bags of wheat. This is the second shipment which has come from the district. Sergeant Anderson, who was recently appointed an Inspector under the terms of the Employment of Females Act and the Licensing Act, has evidently made up his mind to fulfil his duties faithfully. Having prepared a list of all places in which females were employed in the capacity of barmaid, seamstress, &c, he gave the employers of these womeni notice that the provisions of the Act would be strictly enforced. On Saturday night an inspection was made, and it was found that no sempstresses or needlewomen were called upon to work beyond the proper hour, but several barmaids were. The result of this is that three hotelkeepers will be proceeded against for a breach of the following clause of the Licensing Act : — " No female other than the licensee, or the wife or daughter of the licensee, as the case may be, shall be employed in the bar of any licensed house for more than ten hours in each day of twenty-four hours. And no female, except as aforesaid, shall be employed in the bar of any licensed house before the hour of eleven in the forenoon or after the hour of eleven post-meridian." We may mention that any person committing a breach of this clause is liable to any penalty not exceding .£SO. By an error in transmission the telegram sent out by the Press Association on Saturday respecting the recent inquest at Waimate, was calculated to convey an impression prejudicial to the Colonial Insurance Company which was not warranted by the actual language of the jury. The following is the correct wording of the rider, as given in the Lyttelton Times : — " That the jury strongly condemns the reckless and loose style of business adopted by the Colonial Insurance Company in the matter of insurance on Clarke's stock, as the evidence tends to show that the stock was insured for about 60 per cent, over its real value." This was made to appear in the telegram as a general condemnation of the management of the Colonial Insurance Company. Mr. G. S. Graham, the general manager of the company is admitted to be the oldest and most experienced insurance manager in the colony, and we are informed, in proof that the company is conducted on the most careful principles, that during the severe fire losses of the past eighteen months this office has been the smallest loser pro rota. The agents, we are assured, are instructed carefully to inspect all risks prior to acceptance, and to insure for two-thirds of the value only. It is evident that the want of discretion displayed by the local agent at Waimate in this particular case does not warrant the sweeping assertion recently telegraphed all over the colony. A correspondent of the Nelson Mail writes: — The comet which has so suddenly burst upon our view appears to me to be our old friend of 1843, then first observed in New Zealand, and as it was a nameless comet I have often thought that we ought to have claimed it as our own, and given it our adopted country's name — Zealandia. Its period has been calculated by astronomers to be about thirty years, but should this turn out to be the same, as another night or two will show, its period will then turn out to be in round numbers thirty-seven years. The first appearance of its tail was on a Sabbath evening in the winter, and in the north-west. Its appearance was very brilliant, and alarming both to saints and sinners, rising up as it did like a drawn sword higher and higher in the heavens for three days and nights ere the nucleus appeared above the horizon, when its tail then covered ninety degrees of arc.

The mimetic arb has been in existence from time immemorial, we might almost say ; and the word, although usually, may not be strictly and literally confined to the dramatic age. To imitate, and especially what is successful, is a very old habit. Liberalized in its meaning, it not infrequently trenches on stealing. The story of Chatterton, the bypoet's plagiarisms, evidently began in initiation, until failure to emulate his original led him to pilfer. So those who endeavor, fruitlessly, to manufacture a cordial like Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Abomatic Schnapps, breaking down in the attempt to even stimulate the renowned anti-dyspeptic invigorant, are almost invariably tempted to pirate the article. — fAuvr.]