Our Woodville Letter.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3, 4 January 1889, Page 2

Our Woodville Letter.

(Ow Own Correspondent.) WoodtiljLß, 2nd January. Sporting people in this neighbourhood and the pnblio generally evinoed the greatest satisfaction at the arrangements at the "Woodville meeting on New Year's Day. The new course is abont 60 chains from.,the Club Hotel — handy for the town and central for the district. The ground has been stumped, cleared, levelled, and sowed with grass, and is pronounced by judges as pretty a piece of ground for the purpose as can be found in the country, for which the Woodville Jockey Club are deserving of unqualified praise ; but it is further to be congratulated for rendering the races more locally popular by giving the bulk of the money to local horses. The argument has been frequently advanced by a section of the-otub that big stakes induce a few good horses to compete, and all the money is monopolised by professional outsiders. A few of the club maintained that it would be better to have fewer events, and maintain the high standard which first-class competitors alone could ensure. However, the club was right in its conclusions that to nineteen out of twenty a race is a race irrespective of a second or two difference in time. From an early hour on New Tear's Day the roadß approaching Woodyillo from Falmerston, Fahiatna, Danevirke, and Kumeoa were alive with pedestrians and equestrians wending their way to the races, and the fact that the totalisator put through .£llOO shows that there must have been a large number of people present. The protective works at the Manawatu railway bridge between Pahiatuaand Woodville are progressing rapidly, and when done this structure will have cost the Government about .£30,000. The people here are wondering why it has been ereoted, and they also seem surprised that the expensive piece of work at Eketahuna should have been undertaken unless it were intended to complete the link with Woodville at an early date. Thanks to the Fahiatua County Council, the toll-gate at the Manawatu Eiver ia to be abolished next month. The Wairarapa North County Counoil would do well to act similarly, and abolish their relic of the remote times of Dick Turpin.