The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 16, 22 March 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1866.

IThk Nelson Animal Race Meeting for 1866 |is over. The various events which have jlately excited so much interest are decided the speedand bottom of the Yarions horses entered for those races have' been put to an effectual test. : Horse racing is an institution not altogether ■unattended with good results to the community. As these noble animals : are of great use to maif hi many ways, it is important that ,'their useful qualities should be sedulously ! No other means than those S Afforded by the race course can effectually !' ntest the results' of different- modes of breeding; in fact, in Englaud, among the best ! studs, no horses are used for breeding purposes but those which ' have proved their speed .and powers of endurance oh the race course. As these races excite considerable interest among that portion of the community who are either horse breeders, or are con* necte'd' with 'that pur suit, "they bring "many J people frequently . from great distances to j witness the different events of the day ; and J so cause frequent meetings with our fellow colonists in other parts of New Zealand. Thus, the ' Wanganui,' steamer^ brought a greafmany visitors from the ""North ' Island, purposely to see our races. Probably many - among them came to Nelson then for the first time, and who but for that attraction "would "~ ' never have come here at all. Any cause which brings about frequent interchanges of friendly visits with our "fellow- colonists in other parts, confers great benefits upon the community. Unfortunately there is another side to the question. Races foster a spirit of gambling among excitable people, and as they briug large numbers together, undoubtedly a great deal of drinking is too frequently the result. But those who were on the race courseat Stoke during the last two days, and noticed the generally orderly and decorous manner in which the large numbers there cougregated conducted themselves, aud the general absence of those scenes which are supposed to follow in the wake of all amusements of this description, can have arrived at no other couclusiou than that races as they are conducted in Nelson cannot have any very injuiious effects upon the morals of the people.