A REPLY. TO THE EDITOR.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8087, 27 September 1894, Page 3

A REPLY. TO THE EDITOR.

Sm,—l notice a letter in your paper of ♦hit) morning signed " Cocktail re tho Jockey Club " giving a race for publicans and chemists." Now, sir, this is intondod to bo a little s\tirical, but I will draw a litfc'o comparison, and show on whioh aide tho 1-iugh oomos in. The chomiat in this town who koops racfehorsos started by building a stable at which carpenters and others gained a living. Ho also employs a (minor and two boys, who of a Sundiy arc jusb as woll dressed as the bosH. 1 mysolf have fcluoo hoisea in training at Mr Ooorgo Iloborlaon'b, North Road ; and pay him bo much a horse for training them — not a ! starvation wage, but one that ho can mako a respectable living al, and bo a benefit to tho community at largo, do and his boys also look as r^Hpectablo as anyono could wish to bo, and <tlso pay their way. All tho othuis 'lub are training horses now are in tho sumo boat. Now for tho other dido of tho question : A gentleman who generally wears a stand-up collar, umbrella, and all the requisites of v, regular "howling masher," and puts on moro sido than Lord Glasgow, brought a horse into a district, and after trying to loiso it to ovcry person who had a Btablo (but could not, aa the terms wore too high, and tho horse too low), succoodod at last in loasing it to a poor man— with a family all told of about a dozen — on terms which would havo made Shylook blush. The poor man, having very littlo if any money, could not aflord to p.iy for such little things as shoeing, course foes, otc. Then you should havo hoard thosecietary of the local Olub perform, also tho blacksmith (who was about 1G stone — I believe his weight, got him home first). Now, I a&k " Cocktail," which class of men should bo encouraged—the publican and chemist who pay thoir way without a murmur, or tho masher who has a row with ovory ono before parting 1 I don't say whore this man lived, but if it was in o<tmuru I hope it will bo a long timo before wo havo another of his class. As to tho stewards of the Club, X think —with tho exception of one or two— they have tho goodwill and rcspoct of all racing men in thedistiict, and havo also donea lot , to further tho cause of racing in tho district of O'imuru ; and although I am not in touch wi-h thorn as rogatds district raosp I hope this will bo tho most suo^ cossful mooting they hate ovor'lnd. But I muat say that one of tho stows? rds made statements regarding myself and another owner in this district that wore, to say the loast, ungentlemanly, and uncilled for, and untruthful ; and if tho stewards will only give me tho opportunity I will bo only too happy to give tho namo of tho steward, of tho two gontlomon to whom ho mado tho remarks, and also to clear mysolf and the other owner of such malicious and untrue statements. As to my not backing my maro at Timaru, that was a mistake, as X had two pounds to pub on for friends, bub had nob time. But it will show how good a sport 1 must be to race for tho lovo of a ncblo pastime— and uot a "Cocktail." To show "Cocktail" that ho choso ai good norn de plume 1 will undertake* to provo (provided he discloses his real name) that X havo spent moro money in racing and other spurt, albo that I have subscribed more to help all kinds of sporb than ho has j and further that I havo given more to help tho families of unfortunate sportsmen during the last ton years than he haw, and if I havo not X will give two guineas to any charity he may namo. Until ho signs his own namo X must tell •* Cocktail to kennel up, as curs should not bo at large.— X am, etc., O. R. Wish.