Sporting. THE RACES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 32, 21 April 1869, Page 3

Sporting. THE RACES.

Our annual race meeting, which had been arranged to fall in with the Prince's visit to Nelson, opened yesterday, but the crowded state of our columns will prevent our doing more than briefly noticing the sport, leaving the fuller accouut for our next publication. His Royal Highness drove to tho course in a carriage and four, and arrived a few minutes before, twelve o'clock, and was shortly afterwards followed by his Excellency the Governor, with whom was his Honour the Superintendent, in another carriage and four. The Prince was received at tho gate by the stewards and conducted to his stand which had been tastefully decorated. The Maiden Plate, of 60 soys ; second horse to save his stake. For three-year-olds, Bst lib; four, 9st lib ; five, 9st 61b ; six and aged, 9st 81bs ; 3lbs allowed to mares and geldings. Entrance, 5 soys each. One mile and a-hilf. For all horses, maidens at the time of entering. Mr Stafford's eh f Lacenfeed, 3 yrs ; Towfcon— Symphony 1 Mr Redwood's eh f Misfortune, 3 yrs j Towton — Regalia 2 The pair ran neck and neck for the first mile, when Laeenfeed drew away and won easily by three lengths. Time, 2 mm. 52 sees. The Duke of Edinburgh Handicap Plate, of 100 soys, added to a sweepstakes of 5 soys each, 2 soys ft ; second horse to save his stake. Entrance, 5 soys. One mile and three-quarters. Mr Stafford's eh g Magenta, 5 yrs, 9st Slbs . . 1 Mr Redwood's eh f Peeress, 3 yrs, 7st 121bs . 2 Mr Stafford's b f Lacenfeed, 3 yrs, 7st 71bs . . 3 Lacenfeed made tho running as fast as Bhe could for the first mile, followed closely by Peeress, Magonta lying off. The Symphony filly then gave way and Peeress led by several lengths, but Magenta, who gradually improved his position, caught her at the last tnrn, raced her hard up the distance, and won by a length. Time, 3 mm. 23£ sees. The Waimea Plate of 15 soys, added to a sweepstakes of 1 Boy each ; for all horses that have never run for an advertised race of the value of 20 soys. Catch weights. Entrance, 1 soy. Once round. Mr Blundell'B b m Deception .... 1 Mr Stafford's r m Occult 2 Mr Gibb's b g Jerry 0 Mr Page's b m Rainbow 0 Mr Barrett's b g To Kooti 0 Mr Marr's eh g Sultan . . . .0 Mr Sellon's Heartsease 0 A good race, but won easily by the black mare. Tho Galatea Steeplechase, of 100 soys, second liorao to receive 10 soys out of the stakes. Entrance, 8 soys each. Over about three miles of fair hunting country. Three-year-olds, 9sfc; four-year-olds, lOst ; five-year-olds, lOst lOlbs ; six and aged, list. Mr Thomas' b g Rustic, aged .... 1 Mr Sellon's eh m Quicksilver, 5 yrs . . .2 Mr. Richardson's br Gamester, aged . . .3 Mi* Redwood's b g Bones, 5 yrs . . .0 Mr Harford's b g Ranger, 4 yrs ... .0 For tho first mile, the race appeared to lie between Gamester and Bones, but the chance was lost to both by one or two falls, while Rustic took all his fences admirably and won by several lengths followed by Quicksilver. The Ladies' Purse of 50 boys ; entrance, 4< soys ; second horse to save his stake. Three-year-olds, 7st lOlbs. ; four, Bst 12lbs ; five, 9st 41 bs ; six and aged, Ost 91bs ; 31bs allowed to marcs and geldings. One mile and a-quarter. Mr Redwood's bk m XXX, 5 yrs ... 1 Mr Stafford's eh m Nebula, 6 yrs . . .2 Mr Sellon's br g Robin Hood, 4 yrs . . .0 Nebula WO9 the favourite at starting, but tho black mure won easily, while Robin Hood, although got safely past his bolting corner, could not run home with his company. A Maori rare finished the first day's racing. His Royal Highness and suite were entertained on the course by the Stewards of tho Turf Club, where an admirable dinner was provided by Mr. Everett. After returning from the course His Royal Highness dined at Panama House, and went off to his ship about eleven o'clock. The vessel was brilliantly illuminated to receive His Royal Highness, and she shortly after took her departure for Lyttelton. Before the Prince took his departure, his Royal Highness, through the non. Elliot Yorke, thanked the Stewards of the races for the hearty welcome he had received, coupled with his reception by the Jockey Club, and he also expressed himself well pleased with the day's eport.

Gii-lixcuiaji's Derm.vtopercha Leg. — One of the wonders of the age is most certainly the artificial limb invented by Mr. J. Gillingham, of Chard, in Somerset. " Seeing is believing," and. wo {English Mechanic) have seen and believe. The other day Mr. Gillingham called at our office, accompanied by a strapping-looking youth, who did not seem at much loss in moving about our rooms. His story was an interesting one. By au " accident," both legs were crushed, and both had to be amputated — one just below, the other above, the knee joint. By many it was considered impossible the boy would evor be able to walk without crutches; Mr Gillingham thought otherwise. Travelling into Lincolnshire, to whore the boy lived, taking with him a pair of legs, with knee, ankle, and too action, he set to work, and in a very short time the boy w.is able to trot about without the uso of a stick — he never used a crutch ! The boy has been brought to London, that the surgeons of all the hospitals, Chemica 1 Society, &c\, may see for themselves what has been done in the cause of humanity by tho very ingenious inventor. After he had climbed np our tortuous staircase to our second-floor rooms, tho youth trotted about qtiito unconcernedly, evidenUy enjoying the exercise. The various actions of the legs seemed well done — the exactness of the imitation being simply wonderful. A letter ha 3 been received by Mi*. Gilliughain from Sir W. Forgusson, in which it is stated that there is no case on record where a patient has been enabled to walk, with knee, ankle, and toe action, where both amputations are equivalent to " above the knee." Thus this great success is the first. Religious Influence in AVales.— A correspondent of tho Standard writes : — " Two persons were dissuaded from voting for Mr. Vaughan, in Cardiganshire, by a preacher who pressed upon them that is was v ' matter of the soul,' and that ' neither of them had a chance of being saved in tho day o( the 1 Lord if they voted against Mr. Richard.' Another preacher uttered the following at a chapel near Llangranag: — ' I know all the Dissenters in the lower part of the country. I shall be at the poll on the dny of election, and if I see any Dissenter voting for Vaughau, I will expose him without mercy.' Near Carmarthen a preacher told one of his flock, 'If it is your intention to vote for Jones and Puxley, then, in case you die to-night, you will find yourself in hell.' At a prayer meeting a devout Disseuter uttered the following : — ' We thank Thee, 0 Lord, for the excellent harvest this year ! We thank Thee for tho seasonable weather by which our cattle have had food this Autumn ! We thank Thee for all Thy mercies, both temporal and spiritual ; but, above all we thank Thee, 0 Lord, for having sent unto us a stranger to defend our rights, and to relieve us from tho unjust tyranny under which we suffer ! Bless him, 6 Lord ! Bless Mr. , Mr. Sur (aside to a neighbour, ' Davy, do you remember his name ?') ' Mr. Sur ' (but failing to recollect or obtain the name of Sartoris, he proceeds) : l 0 Lord, Thou knowest his naino better than I do ; therefore do Thou give him success at the election, that we may trample upon the enemies of liberty, both civil aud religious." The death of Mrs. Augustus N. Dickens, widow of tho brother of Charles Dickens, tho celebrated English novelist, is announced as having occurred iv Chicago, on Thursday evening, the 2-ith December, from taking an overdose of morphine. The New York Times states that since the dtfth of her husband Mrs. Dickens has been in reduced circumstances, and very much depressed in consequence.