THE ISLAND BAY RACECOURSE

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7412, 1 December 1884, Page 3

THE ISLAND BAY RACECOURSE

t.Wir Zetland’ Tisws.j

Whatever doubts were raised when tlu idea was conceived and the proposal made to fora a really first - class racecouhre between the bills opening oat and forming Island Bay must now be forever set at rest, for a prettier, more accessible, and is every way suitable course it would puzzle the brains of anyone without prejudice te imagine. Situated in a little valley with a natural amphitheatre almost aurroundiaa it, the well - defined lines of the track stand out in a manner calculated to gladden the eye of any true lover of the kingly sport. Hie course may be described as an elongated ellipse with conjugate and transverse diameters of about 700 and 400 yards respectively. Naturally enough the turns of a course of this somewhat unusual shape might be considered too sharp, but they have been so judiciously rounded cS and the running track GGft is so wide that —to use the words of Mr Henry Redwood, than whom no truer sportsman ever lived—the jockey who could not get round them without difficulty would not be fit to take a straight. The great feature of a course of this description is that two lengthy parallel straights are given, along which the eye can trace with nicest accuracy the movements of the horses, and the advance or recession of the colour*. The distance of the track is one mile two chains and five links, every inch of which has been properly drained and sown with grass. At the present time the holes, where seen, are being carefully tilted in, and the slightest inequalities levelled, while the grass, which has grown beyond anticipation, will be cut, and the irward will be as fresh and springy as the most exacting could wish. Fencing, painting, and rolling are going on briskly, and before the eventful opening day approaches we venture to iay the ensemble will be such as to warrant the assumption that the course has existed for years. Aa these remarks are penned more particularly for those who have not seen the site of the new course, we may say that It runs due north and south. There sire two entrances, one at the northern end for foot passengers and horses in training, the other at the extreme south for horsemen, carriages, and other wheeled traffic. The grand stand, judge’s box, saddling-paddoct. Ac., are on the west, or right-hand side of the course going from town. The grand stand is as handsome aa most structures generally are, and covers an area of 80ft by 25ft, the seating and standing accommodation being estimated at 650 persons. A box of honour occupies the centre, while at the back are rooms for Indies’ cloaks. Ac. The stand is built on the ledge of a hill, which rises rather abruptly at the back, and forms a natural grand stand. Walks of a zigzag kind have been laid out—somewhat roughly, it must be admitted—from which a splendid view of the course and surrounding scenery can be obtained. The judge’s box is to be situated at the southern corner of the stand, and the telegraph board at the northern end of the lawn, lire saddling paddock, which will be laid down in hut, adjoins the lawn, and is divided near the weighing, stewards’ and jockeys’ rooms by a fence, through which none but the jockeys, horses, and officers will be allowed to pass at the conclusion of each race. Stalls for ten horses are provided in a neat stable at the rear. Water from two 400 gallon tanks situated in a back gully supplies the various taps placed at convenient distances round the office* and stand, so that there will be no lack of this necessary element. The drainage has lava sedulously attended to, and that this work has been an extensive one is proved by the fact that the drain pipes alone cost AW. Trees have also been planted round the course, and in a few seasons will base a very pleasing effect. To sum up, the Wellington Jockey Club has excelled itself in its endeavours to provide a handsome and well-appointed and to the indefatigable secretary. Mr h. 11. Goldsmith, is due the boa’s share ot the credit, tor this gentleman has been almost übiquitous in bis efforts to wmg the course to its present state of perfection. We cannot close these remarks without reference to Mr Henry Kedwood! who paid a visit to the course, amt who walked round the track with a critical eye. /low gentleman states, without reservation, that the Island Bav course is the host m the Colony, and would be hare! to beat anywhere. Ho considers the track tit for any horse to race on.

It appears that the total number of cigars made in the United StaUe in 1888 was 8,077,494.087, and of cigarettes tU0.031,058. The total taxes paid wore 17,825,189d01. The taxes on tobacco productions yielded the Government upwards of 43,000,000d0l last year. It is stated that among the Home Exile notions in Ireland a mo vement is on loot to expunge all traces of English conquest in Dublin by substituting Irish for English names to all the streets. Hie leading streets of Dublin are it present named after English statesmen. Hie official report of the cyclone which swept over Arakaa last May states that 9000 native hull were destroyed and 16,000 damaged, and that 2500 tens of paddy were hast, TChe number of persons killed was 40; of whom 18 were carried away by the tidal wave, 10 who were out In a bo»t«w» drowned, end the remainder were killed la various parts of the provinces-