CAMP TE AWAMUTU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 227, 4 August 1864, Page 4

CAMP TE AWAMUTU.

[rito.u outt ow.v ccmnF.si'OXDK.vr.] July 2Stli. This afternoon, the great monthly event, vi/.., the meet ins of the Te Awamutu gymkhana took place. The expectations of those interested in the proceedings were somewhat, "damped" yesterday evening. a~ the rain feil in torrents, and continued with periodical showers of a very ominous description, until about 8 o'clock this morning, when a sudden break in the clouds was visible, and in a short time the sun hurst forth in all its glory, gladdening the hearts of the votaries of the turf, who, until this time, had been haunted by visions of postponement. The state of the ground was not as favourable as could have been de. ired, having been rendered very heavy by the copious fall of rain, still this disadvantage was not so great as to prevent the fulfillment of any portion of the programme. At about one o'clock, there was a considerable gathering of spectators on the ground, and by two o'clock the course was literally thronged, some of those present having come great distances. 1 saw even some from Xgaruawahia. ISy the extreme courtesy of Lieutenant Rait, R.A., the indefatigable clerk of the course, 1 am enable I to lay a concise account of the entire proceedings before your readers. Ist. Private matches between Mr. Marshall's cli. m. " Queen of the Mersey," ridden by Mr. Jackson, ISth Regiment, and Mr. Klkington's b.m. " Polly." Won by " Queen of the Mersey" by half a length.' 2nd. Mutch between Mr. Jackson, ISth Regiment, and Mr. Gomez, -i-Otli Regt., to run 100 yards. Won by Mr. Jackson. Distance accomplished in about 10 seconds. 3rd. Throwing the cricket ball. Prize 15s. ; open to all soldiers in the command. This did not come oti'as there was no suitable ball for the purpose. -Ith. llaek race, value 5 sovs.; entrance 1 sov., half forfeit. Open to horses bona Jiile the property of, or named by members. To be ridden by ofiicera. Catch weights; unless fourbi>rs,u«ut«.-l'j wont! ho>-2<5 will tiot save hi? st>th?Bi

There were eight entries for this race. 'Won 1, Mr. Kait's b.g: " Little Cliai-lcv ridden bv \t' T Anderson, R.A. Mr. Philips, M"ith Kegt., g g." » \yKingi," hate " Fisherman." coming in 'ec-ond' stii. Mile foot race. First prize, £} los. ; secon-1 prize, 10s. Open to all soldiers in the command Won liv Gore, 10th ; Leslie, C. T. Corps, rankm-i second. b fifh. Wheel race. Prize, iOs. Open to all soldiers in the command ; unless three cuter, public mone'v withheld. There were_ three entries for tins Mar-hall, R.A.. winning, and SSunimerhavs, 40th' making a very close second. * ' 7t.li. Wrestling.—!So entries. Bth. The Posseniskio cup, value 5 sovs. ; entrance 1 sov.; non-subscribers, 2 sovs. ; half forfeit. Open to ali horses io/nr Ji-Je t lie property of customers of Posseniskie. To be ridden by officers over two and a-halft:iiles of fair hunting country. Four names were . entered for this race, the priz e being won by Major Miller's (12:h lt-.gt.) bp.« " Charley," ridden by C'aptaiu Govrer, Got 1 l The position of second being accorded to Mr. Dawson's (ISth Regt.) b.g. "Twilight." 9th. Match to run a quarter of a mile, between Mr. Jaekson, ISth Regiment, and ill-. King, -10th Reaiment. Oil aceount of Mr. Jackson having encountered an accident, this match was uuauoidably postponed. 10th. Officer's flat race, value - sovs. ; entrance, 10s. No entries. 11th. Scratch match for 1 Mr. for ponies 14.2 and under, open to all officers present. Distance— once round the course. Won by Dr. Stewart's br.m. 12th. Consolation stakes, value 3 sovs., to be run for by the beaten h .rs<-~ of th.s > Say's «n • -tin; ]); s . tance —one mile; catch weights. Elkington's b.m. "Polly,'" Mr. Tookcr's . h.tr, " Robin," ranking second. The horse racing cannot bo s-tid to hare been an improvement upon that of the last meeting (to which we were appy to bear such flattering testimony). There, on the whole, seemed to be a lack of spirit, which may, in a great measure, be accounted for by the heaviness of the ground, and the extreme dullness of the day, the first of these two drawbacks being much calculated to produce an apathetic feeling amongst the riders generally. However, whatever feeling oi/'iini't may have been experienced as regards the horse racing, it was fully counteracted by the spirited runing of the pedestrians. The match between Mr. Jackson and Mr. Gomez (Xo. 2), was well contested, the winner only gaining by a verv trifling distance. Concerning the mile race won by Mr. Gore, -10th, I cannot speak too ilatteringly, that is as regards the running of the winner and second, the other competitors having started too eag rlv, they were compelled to give in before proceedinghalf the distance. The distance was accomplished by Gore in five minutes. W hiie speaking of this race I would most humbly suggest that the prize offered should be made more worthy the excessive labour expended on its acquirement. This sport is the heaviest of the programme, unci when we take into consideration the amount of hard training required, I hardly consider the present prize commensurate with the requirements of the case. We were rather astonished to find that there were no competent athletes forthcoming to contest for the wrestling prize. I have to record u slight attempt on the part of two person, but I should be more inclined to term their exertions " floundering," as they could in no wise come under the scientific head of " wrestling." It will be seen by referring to the Bth race, that Jlr. Posseniskci, the Army Tailor, of Shortland-street. presented a handsome cup to bis customers to be ridden for. This gentleman lias set an example which I hope to sec imitated in many other quarters. There are in Aucklaud many commercial men who are " feathering their nests" by means of army contracts, or indirect army expenditure. I should much like to see some of these gentlemen step forward as their townsman, Mr. Posseniski, lias done, and offer a good prize for the " soldiers" races by the next meeting. During the steeple chase one of the riders came to grass suddenly, did not receive any injury heyoiul a severe shaking. On the occasion of the two former meetings tha want of some intermediate amusement between the races, was much felt. At Ascot, the Derby, and ether celebrated English race grounds, this vacuum is generally supplied by the presence of all those minor spwrts over which gentlemen of the " thimble rigaer" 1 genus generally preside, these sharp gentlemen we do not wish to make the acquaintance of here, as their place was supplied by amusements of a better order, as between each race the Band of the 40th Regin.-jnt, conducted by the inspiring baton of Sergeant Murrell, who discoursed "sweet, enchanting strains then wo espied a marquee pitched near the weigliing stand, to enter which we were kindly invited by a gentleman dressed in flannel tights ; hu-ic we viewed the gentlemen of the " fancy," gloved, and vigorously engaged in " tapping clarets," " rattling ivories,'' and all those polite mutual attentions for which the King is so celebrated. Order was well sustained by Messrs. Jackson and Connery. AVe cannot speak too highly of the exertions of the stewards, umpires, and other officers of the course, to l-i ndcr this, the third meeting of the club, a perfect success. The course was cleared by about six o'clock, njnl by the general tone of comment used among the visitor?, we may conclude that everyone was heartily sati-tied with the afternoon's amusement. Daring the evening we wore requested to attend what was termed a spairing beuefit, held in one of the new lints, recently erected at the rear of the camp. During the evening there was some very passable j "play" between different member* of the T.K., and, j to diversity the entertainment, a couple of impromptu ! "locals" wore sung by a mail of the Transport Corps. | We understand that a fight has been made up ho- | tween Jaclvx.il, -10th, anil Torphy, Forest Bangers, tor a side, to come off within a fortnight from the present lime, j July 29. j Yesterday evening, Sir Francis Murphy, Mr. Gimn, I and the other gentleman appointed to investigate the seat of Government question, accompanied by Lieut.Colonel M'Xeill, A.D.C., arrived licre at about 5 o'clock, and were entertained by the Brigadier General commanding. This morning, the Commissioners, accompanied by Brigadier General Carey, ro-.ie out to view the outposts of ICiliikihi, and Kangiawa'nia, and left for town this afternoon at about -1- o'clock. I cannot ailow the visit of such important and responsible persons to pass without a few words of remark, especially when 1 consider the immense influence which the visit of these gentlemen to the interior is likely to exert in the future prospects of this province, and the settlement ot the all absorbing topic. That they must have been struck with the resources of this vast and inexhaustible tract of country, we cannot iloubt, and they also must have been delighted with their trip up this noble Waikato. Yet all these rich tracts of country are now brought before their notice in their most un--1 favourable aspects, such ns the savage has leit them, i so are they now, except perhaps in one or two places ! where civilization has left a foot print in its hasty j march over the conquered territory. Who, coming j up the proud Waikato. can disguise his astonishment ; at resources yet undeveloped. Take, for instance, the J rich cord mines of Kohui Pokaki, which for extent j and richness can vie with many of our important I coal fields at home. Then oil leaving the Waikato river, and travelling along the placid Waipa, resources of another description meet the eye, —miles of tiie most fertile land, —land which for richness cannot be exceeded in New Zealand, irrigated by never ceasing streams ; what will the relative importance of this Province be when these rich tracts ot country are studded with the homesteads of an agricultural community. What would the flooded and heartbroken agriculturists of New tiouth W ah- I ', not give to have an opportunity granted theni of | settling down on the beautiiul banks of tne Waipa? On arriving here the unbiassed visitor cauuot but have his ideas of the future importance of the Province strengthened. On every hand there are presented to his notice subjects for Kuropean enterprise, he is surrounded by a thoroughly Knglisli scene, —the land (of which large tracts are already ploughed | and ready for the settlement of the farmer) is here I as before of the most rich description, and as the eye stretches southward it. meets the ranges of ! Maungatuutari and Mateinore, and to the west the the towering Uakepuke mountains, the whole of these rich in mineral productions, and by the accounts of natives of old standing, highly auriferous. When we reflect, and view these rich and productive plains, brought under cultivation by ail industrious and persevering class of husbandmen, and tenanted by thousands of our English poor, we are, however prejudiced, bound to acknowledge that the conquered Waikato must eventually become the garden ot Zealand, and Aucklaud the recipient of all '•** wealth. It is currently reported that the 65th Kegiment will proceed to Turannki via Auckland, during " ost month. The rcjowt, hue not been cuith;-n!!«!'-.y pc-rt-ci.