A Reply to “Cross-Country.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 579, 7 March 1891, Page 2

A Reply to “Cross-Country.”

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, —Your correspondent signing himself as above, evidently possesses a wane of knowledge as to English, and for his information perhaps you will permit me to stats that nothing in my letter re the Toroa Steeplechase meeting could be construed as implying “ indignation ” on the one part nor “ impudence ”on the other. The conttnrion h simply this •- Meetings such as the one in question are got up as private epecu’ations, and do more harm than good to racing. A glance at the programme is sufficient to any lover of England’s National Sport, to eh >w that the tide of tho C ub is a m anomer', or else, that ateeplechasing in this the first discovered portion of New Zealand has descended to a very low ebb. All the bolstering-up that C C may attempt to do will not hide the fact as stared, or at any rate that tho Ciub is not one annridtred by owners to be of a bona fife character, And now the “Colleen B*wn ” has to be dealt with. If the writer really happens to be one of the “ softer sex,” it is to bo hoped she is neither a wife nor a mother ; but, being extremely doubtful as to the authorship of the gushing effusion (far too gushing for any sensible woman) I may inform “Colleen” that when replying to something (be or she) may take exception to, the best thing is to start straight. Rubbish such as steeplechases being deliciously—lovely — gloriously — beautiful, embodiedharmony, etc , may pass in three -volume novels, but on the race track they are lost and wasted,—lam, etc., True Sport. P.S.— I have no intention of continuing in this controversy, but still adhere to the facts as at first stated—these being that meetings like the above are hurtful to racin'? proper, are ready not desirable and should not (to my mind) meet with public approval,