AUCKLAND R.C. WINTER MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 129, 1 June 1907, Page 14

AUCKLAND R.C. WINTER MEETING.

Somewhat sensational was the scratching of Mahofc at 3.40 p.m. on Thursday for all engagements at this meeting. At time of writing it has not been mode public what is the cause that has led to his withdrawal, and it may be that the clont he gave one of the obstacles in the Kaitoke Hurdles on tho first day of the Wanganui meeting has interfered with his preparation tv such an extent that his owner saw success in Auckland was out of the question. I confess that whep the name of the Son-wester gelding was not included amongst the arrivals at Ellerslie on Wednesday, I felt that something was seriously amiss with the Century Hurdles winner, and if the theory regarding the knock he got at Wanganui is correct, it is a pity that his connections did not publish the fact sooner, in fairness to the large army of double eventers. Since the withdrawal of Malioe weight of Auckland money has mode Shrapnel favourito , with his penalty of slbs for winning at Tnkapuna, the Workman gelding win carry 10.13. Another Northern representative that is receiving a lot of support is the C.J.C. Grand National winner Cuiragno, and many shrewd judges consider that a solid stayer such as this horse is, will show to great advantage over the .trying journey of two miles and a half. However, lam a great believer in the maxim of "weight to distance," and imagine that the last half mile will severely test all those handicapped close up to the list division, and Le Beau, who is in at the minimum, may be plugging on at the finish, when the heavier weights aro dog-tired. Regarding the Steeplechase, tho feature of the week has been a movement in favour -if Wait«rerc, and track reports are to the effect that this muscular and powerful Torpedo gelding is thriving in his work and jumping in grand style. This race is a tremendously open one, and it is difficult to reduce the probables to two, but Ncstator and Waitarere are both fast horses and capablo jumpers a and they should render an excellent account of themselves.

The tall, mild, quiet man with the trustful brown eyes cleared his throat: "Once, when I kept fowls, I noticed a hen limping i-ather badly, so after a while I fixed it up with a bread poultice. Tho hen seemed to like it and it did her a lot of good — until she pecked tho bandage off and tasted the poultice. Then she ttnd her friends made a meal of it. Next morning when I went out I found every hen in the place limping." Several ladies sat in their club a few evenings ago discussing the virtues of their husbands. "Mr. Bingleton," said one of them, referring to her life partner, "never drinks and never swears — indeed, he nas no bad habits." "Docs ho never smoke?" fcomo one asked. "Yes; he likes a cigar just after he has outen a good meal. Jiut I suppose, on an average, ho <Joc«n't smoke moro than once a month." Some of her' friends laughed, but she didn't seem to under-4**-i ObZ-