SPORTING

North Otago Times, 17 December 1904, Page 2

SPORTING

OHRISTCIHJRCII RACES,

By Telegraph. Christchtirch, Pec. 16. For the Christchurch Racing Club's second day there was line weather mid a good attendance. The totalisator investments were £5102.

Kindergarten Handicap, of 50 sovs ; 5 fuilongs.-llandel 1, Vardo 2, Hilarity 3. Also started : Cznrcvna, lugleneuk and Hucletigh. M'on easily,; Time, lmin usees. Dividend, £3 2s.

Midland Welter Handicap, of 50 sovs ; 7 furlongs.—Lee Knlield 1, Klibank 2, Ordnance 3. Also started ; Magnificent, -Merrymaker, .Natalie and Ronga.; Won easily by a length.- Time, lmin 30 2-ith' sees. Dividends, £l 14s and £l.

Templelon Jlandicap Trot, of 15 sovs; 1J mili'S.-lldi'oy 1, Gimernl 31 uc l>, Siinol ;i. Thirteen slnrlcil. .Won by a length, half a length between second and I bird. Time, Ijmins 48 3-sth sees.; Dividends, fil 'Ms nnd ,CL 18s. Anniversary Handicap, of 150 sovs; 1} niiio.-Stcpdnnccr 1, Antigone 2, Ability a. Also started : Secret Society, Terrapin, Sandy, IMatey and Sholluro. Won easily. Time, 2inins 10 1-sth sees. Dividends, £2 and £(> 2s,

Hack Handicap, of 85 sovs ; one mile mill n (listanre.-Wet Blanket 1, Calotype 2, Conal H. Also started : 'Bayonet, Firstshot, Brookside and Taxpayer; Won in a canter. Time, 2mins usees Ditidends, .11 8s and £2 Bs<

Islington Handicap Trot, of 35 sovs ; 1. inlle.-Sal Tasker 1, Rosencnth 2, Heai'est !!. F.ighl started. Won by three lengths. Time, 2mins -Hi 3-slh sees. Dividends, £1 Ms and £3 Is.

Farewell Handicap, of 15 sovs j 1 mile. The Mohican 1, llnnjess 2, Quick'ire 8. Also slailcd: iLnlah. Won by two lengths Time, Imin 44 4-sth sees, Dividend, .Ct Ms.

SEUUO.V v. TAYLOIt SLANDER CASE.

By Telegraph. Chrislchurch, Dec- 111.: The heating of tho Seddon-Taylnn libel action was continued in the Supreme Court to-day, The evidence of Philip 11. Kcililelf, a member of the Seventh Contingent, was to the effect that he was with tho main body tlurng the retirement. He stated there was no truth in the statement that the main body galloped away,. Hit-hard John Spntswimd Seddon, the plaintiff, then went into the box. He had a good deal of military experience before going to South Africa. He was appointed to a captaincy in the Seventh Contingent; had seen n good deal of ULtive service in South Africa ; had been mcnli Hied in despatches by Lord Roberts mid was ra'cmnwiided for the D.S.o. by the officer command ng the company in August 1901. On the day preceding the Illeshok affair he was engaged with tho Boers, nnd Colonel While complimented him on the day's wirk. He was consequently sent out next day.- Witness was told tn go out with a party In support the scouts and was placed in charge of the whole, lie was not ordered to reconnoitre a certain position, mid was not engaged in sem-cliing for the enemy, and was not sent out to fight; He gave Dillon no orders whatever at that time, nnd bad no reason to conclude that Dillon had advanced to search for the enemy. Witness detailed the movements leading up to the time when he rerorcived a message 'from Dillon saying the latter was in a tight place with the enemy, He ordered Dillon to retire, as lie (witness) was then too far out. He then (proceeded a mile,forward to get into touch wilh Dillon, and at that point came in view of (he scouts, Ho was then two miles further than instructions warrants'.!.- There was no force o'f the enemy between his party and Hie scouts, and there was nothing to prevent the latter retiring.- Ho received another message stating that Dillon was surrounded, and asking him to come to his support, He hold a conference with the Oflicers-Drm-y, Cameron and Snxi'v-aml they decided that tho main body was too far out, and it was not advisable to go further.' There wis no dissent aiming) the officers that tho scouts should retire, and Dillon wns ordorcd to rolii-o< " '—^—^w< WOLFE'S SCMAITS is absolutely in. invaluable, to tfia traveller). i

Witness detailed tho measures taken to protect tho scouts in their retirement, More than half the wholo nunjber of men wore left to light the. rearguard action. '•The retirement took place at the rate.of a very slow walk,- liofcre starting with the main body witness saw that tho scouts Uiad got in touch with tho supPorts. Dillon later reported to Jilm that tho scouts had all got back safely. Witness nsked Dillon to go back and givo assistance to Snxby, and Dillon made no demur of any kino. The movements of the main body were very slow, with occasional kits, and it kept in touch with tho rearguard. Witness received no lequcst. from the rcirguarcl for further support; Scaring the Spruit about CO l.'oert appeared, and witness sent out a company to protect tho right flank. Tho main body took up a position across tho spruit, and the position was hold for half an hour when all tint men had crossed the drift as far as witness know. After retiring from tho drift the engagement was practically terminated. Dillon was not obeying witness' orders when he advanced beyond the farmhouse. In witness'' judgment there was no position from which Dillon could not have withdrawn his scouts. Most of tho men had not been tinder lire before. In his opinion ho did the right thing in retiring and not assisting the scouts. If be had advanced towards the scouts the enemy could have occupied tho vacated positions, and cut them off from the main column. No courtmartial- had over been held oni witness in which he was accused of irregularity on Hint day.- Ho had never been asked to givo any evidence, and had never ncarc. oi any charge ot cowardice until ho heard Taylor's speech in the House.

Under cross-examination by Mr Taylor witness said he thought Taylor referred to him in his speech because everyone looked at him (witness). He received verbal orders from Colonel

White on the day of (lie llleliok affair. Dillon was acting under witness during the day. In witness' opinion it was not tlio duty of nn officer sent out to support another body to keep in touch with that body. Ho letired his men becauso ho could sec the- scouts, . and Captain Suxby could luivu protected the scouts as well as w tness could. In bis retirement bo kept the supports of Drury ami Saxliy in sight. Several men who were the last to cross the spruit told witness they were (lie only ones left to cross. He mustered his men beyond the spruit, and thought there were four missing. When in wimp ul'lerwnrdsj he found that three men were killed, one officer mortally wounded, one man wounded, and eight captured. During the retreat Dillon rode alongside witness for some timo and appeared satisfied Willi Hie day's work.

Continuing, witness said that us senior officer in charge of Hie force that day be would not have thought it strange if an inquiry on oatli among tho men under his charge laid been held without acquainting him with tho fact. Colonel drey had asked for an explanation of the events of the day, and bad appeared satisfied with the explanation. Witness had nn additional officer lo rido with him after the spruit affair. , Tlio remainder of the cross-examination was devoted to an unimportant inquiry as to the steps taken by witness to got up his case, which was ultimately ruled by the Judge to be irrelevant. Alter occupying the witness for fivo hours Mr Taylor resumed bis seat. i

Colonel Bnuchop, who was conversant with tho ground, deposed that he was satisfied, from the evidence, that Captain Keddon had handled his men in the best possible manner, ond occupied tho best possible positions. He saw Dillon, In!io was a personal friend, several times ill (ho hospital, and he made no complaint of anyone. Although witness was second in command to Colonel I'ortcrhc heard nothing of any inquiry. The Court then adjourned.