AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 126, 7 June 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

SPOTTING—TIP FOB GRAND NATIONAL.

[Special to Times. | Auckland, last night.

Before daybre k this morning, the Times' sporting correspondent, accompanied by Mr Mason, of Gisborne, journoyed to Ellcl-slie to witness tho final gallops previous to the A.B.C. Winter races, commencing next Saturday. Among the large number of horses engaged, the following ran most prominently:—Cannongate, St. Peter, Rosella, and Balbirnio. Cavaliero showed signs of soreness this morning, and was running very short. I look to Cannongate to annex the Grand National Steeplechase. Truly, indeed, Cannongate has never been so fit before.

NATIVES IN CAMP. About 2,000 Natives from all parts of the Island are now encamped in a huge canvas-town on the racecourse. A large street, a chain wide, runs down the centre of tho temporary town, and from that there aro side streets named after the tribes represented. Vast copper-Maoris, with dozens [upon dozens of boilers and huge tanks, are busily employed in the proparing of food. The weather is wet, but the scone is one of extraordinary activity and animation. BIG MEETING. A large meeting was proceeding this morning. The Hon. James Carroll and Messrs Donnolly, Mair and Ngata wero present.

ABAWAS SNUBBED. An invitation was forwarded by tho Arawas to all visitors to como to Ohinomutu, where the Arawas would challenge all-comers to a haka. The invitation was declined, as tho visitors consider thoy come to show the Duke of York what they can do, and not tho Arawas. Tho visitors express some dissatisfaction because tho Arawas did not receive them on tho racecourse, this being considered a slight. A VETEBAN.

Amongst the veteran fighting men of the Ngatiporou (East Cape) who left here yesterday for Rotorua is tho celebrated Luke Aratapu, who was one of Major Bopata’s right-hand men in tho guerilla campaign against Te Kooti, from 1868 to 1871, especially in the wild Urewera country. He bears the mark of a bullet wound received in a fight with tho Hauhaus.