LATEST CANTERBURY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 779, 4 February 1887, Page 13

LATEST CANTERBURY NEWS.

[By ‘ Fossickeb..’] pT-r-mci'rntnT'D OTT TTaK 1

Chkistchukch, x*eo. i. My letter last week had hardly got into print when it became known that Mr Stead had decided to send Lochiel across the water, to try his luck against the Victorian •cracks. I must admit that Ido not consider his chances in the Dunedin Cup anything particularly rosy, and though there is no moral for him on the other side, I hope in his master’s interest that the son of Prince Charlie —Nellie Moore will do mere than earn his winter oats. Now it is also certain that Nelson accompanies him. Lochiel left Dunedin on Friday for Melbourne. A case of some interest and considerable expense to the bookmaking fraternity was heard on Thursday in the Supreme Court, when the appeal of Mr Alfred Porter against the fine of £25 for acting as a cash total!* sator on the racecourse on New the Zealand Cup day. On the occasion in question, Mr Porter (brother-in-law to Dan O’Brien), and a man named Clarke (who has since left the Colony, leaving numerous anxious and enquiring friends), while acting in concert—the one booking client's names, and the other taking the cash and inviting speculators to invest. They got on fairly well over the two first races, as it appeared some ±3O or £4O were invested on each race, but no one backed the winner, consequently they pocketed the whole of the spoil, but the the detectives had them arrested before they had a chance to go any further, and future chances were spoiled. As it is, Clarke has succeeded in evading the fine, he having got away without paying it. Mr Porter is, however, supported in his action by the members of the ring, hence the appeal. The case was well arguod out be* tween his Honor Judge Johnston and the three lawyers engaged in it, two of them representing the Jockey Club. So far as it has gone, and without wishing to discuss a matter that might be considered sub judioe, I must admit that the Judge appears to lean immensely in favor of the appellants, despite the able contentions raised by Messrs Wynn Williams and Gresson, who try to reason that backing a horse in a race is undoubtedly a chance, whereas Mr Stringer argues, and His Honor appears to favor this view, that a man does so and exercises judgment, showing a wide difference between throwing dice or playing cards and hacking a horse. As the Court does not sit till February 10, we shall not have his Honor’s decision till then, but I think on his own way of arguing, I should he safe in backing the appellant. Should the result be as it appears at present, I fail to see how the jockey clubs can prevent, as they are trying to, the bookmakers acting as walking to taligators. One day last week I had an opportunity of inspecting some of Mr G. F. Fodor s recent triumphs in art. I use the word in all honesty, as there is no disputing the fact of this artist being, withomt exception, the best animal painter we have had in New .Zealand, “as his works do testify.” His latest achievements since his return from Dunedin have been those now on view at Mr Fisher's picture shop in the Triangle, viz : Spade Guinea, Bundoora, Victor, and one or two other and lesser lights. That of Spade Guinea is generally admitted to be a masterpiece, the mare’s symmetry being well brought out and the best judges admit •that it is a true picture. He has made three copies of the mare, one for Mr R. J. Mason himself, one for her part owner, Mr A. Drake, and one which Mr Mason has decided to present to TattersaH’s Club—a very ihappy idea, and one that should commend itself to other owners of turf celebrities for imitation, Bundoora is also faithfully pourtrayed, as are the others, which together make a nice collection. He has also been engaged in painting Patrician, but his ■osvner has not exhibited the painting, though lam informed that he is justly proud of it, being a faithful representation of the little horse.

Now that two of the champions are out of the running for the Dunedin Cup, it may be as well to review the merits of the eighteen candidates left in from my own point of view. “Chacoe d son gout,” is an aphorism commonly usedj and seeing that other scribes have through no fault of mine been beforehand in this matter, I may be deemed guilty of plagiarisms but having a few ideas on the matter which may not have occurred to others, I proceed to plump for my favorites m the race. I predict that that the first three to catch the judge’s eye on the 23rd inst., will be —Fair Nell, Rubina, and Apropos, with Spade Guinea as a disappointment, if the money is on in the right quarter, I select the first from the opinion I formed of her in the Derbyp where she proved to me that there is, more in her than was wanted to be shown on that occasion. It will be remembered that on that occasion, viz., Nov. 11th, Mr Stead had the string to his bow, both Apremont’s progeny, viz., Fair Nell and Chantilly, Rudnip on the latter, evidently having the Jancy, as the betting showed. Sst lOlbs in ithe mile and a half found out the weak place •in the colt just when ho was reaching the (Straight, and it was only then .that the mare •wa3 asked to make a forward move, which £sbo>did in as game a manner as .could be, so •mnoh so that though too late to make a possibility of winning, she ran Artillery to a length and a half for second place. . The Uteferee's remarks o« tjie race, as tfar as the mare ,w.as concerned, were as follow— ‘ Fair Nell, .who had been gradually sneaking up on the inside, came very fast from the bottom of the raffls, and was only beaten by a length and a half for second place.’ Considering that she was then carrying Bst 51b at the time of year when mares iare not usually at their best, and that she acted as whipper-in to the field for the first male, this performance stamps her, in my opinion,'as a clever mare ; and I look no further for the winner of the Dunedin Cup, with 6st#lbs, if she is brought to the post fit and weH. Rubina has top weight, but her chances are good, despite the impost of Sst 2lb, and though she has entered into the first stage of maternity, she hae once before proved herself so good at this -time of year that I have faith in her nearly accomplishing a win j while the next that takes my fancy is Spade Guinea’e half sister, Apropos, a really clever little mare, who is in the hands of a Dunedin trainer —Mr H. Goodman. Her performances recently have «bown that she has a good bit of stuff inside

her, one of the last of which makes her entitled to respect in this coming event. I refer t* the Flying Handicap on New Year’s Day, when, with Bst lib, I note that Billy White succeeded in piloting her to the front of a lot of good sprinters such as Maligner, Rubiua, Mirella, Rnssley, and Sierra. This being the case, 1 must go for her when, with only 6st 21bs she is asked to test her staying powers over two miles and a distance, and with as Bound a set of legs under her as can be seen. I look upon this as her likely position in the race. Spade Guinea’s chances so much depend upon the state of the betting market that I only refer to her a 3 likely to do it, even with 7st 121 b ; but she has been made too hot a favorite of late with the public to give me any reliance in her running ; besides the fact that she would have all her work cut out to accomplish the task ; and as I learn she was far from being in racing form on Boxing Day, I think it is doubtful whether she could be got in thorough fettle for such a contest in the time. Derwenter and Patrician are both well treated in the matter of weights, and will race against each other fairly well if judged by their performance at the midsummer meeting ; but they neither can be expected to get near the finish ; and I see nothing else in the race now of sufficient quality to show prominently in it. Tit Bit, I have relied on too long, and in anything over a mile and a half I pass him. By the 21st inst, lam of the opiuion that the number of payees left in will be reduced to about ten—eleven at the outside ; for, upon public form, I fail to see the necessity of keeping in Beresford, Wild Rake, Puck, Qubble, Itepo, Tit Bit and Hermitage, and Torrent’s fractiousness has not yet been overcome, or he might have been included in the first five.

Mr H. D. Bradley has returned from his West Coast campaign, bringing down from Wellington with, his other horses, Athol Daisy, Camarine, &c. Polly, the hurdle race mare, is, I fear, in a condition never to race again, and the Apremont colt he purchased from Mr Stead in November, named Memento, is suffering from an attack of paralysis. With these two exceptions, Mr Bradley's trip has been a decided success financially; but there is seldom a rose without a thorn, and these two have been a source of expense, without, except in one race with Polly, any profit. Qur sporting rendezvous, the Empire Hotel, was in imminent danger on Friday, a fire having broken out on the roof. It was a pity to see the damage done to the elegant furniture by the members of the Fire Brigades and their plant, and a great deal more damage has resulted from the water than the fire did, though the fire was thereby suppressed in a remarkably short space of time, and it is hoped that the genial proprietor, MrR. Richardson, will not be subjected to any los3 through it. How the .fire originated in the slated roof of a brick and stone building is not yet explained. Mr H. Westmacott, a well known and respected breeder of good stock, has been on a trip to Kimberley, and having returned from there poorer, but wiser, has notified his intention of selling his stud of mares, viz., Wai-iti (dam of Fusillade), who is now in foal to Albany, and lias a colt foal at foot to Cadogan—Mignon (half sister to Mischief and Maligner),, who is now rearing a filly to Apremont and Albania, with a colt foal to Hornby at foot. There are also a number of young things well bred and well cared for, so that a good sale should be effected. Though rather out of the season for sales of blood stock, they will, I have no doubt, realise fair prices if submitted to auction. I learn that the property known as Plumpton Park willshortly besubmitted to auction, with a view of seeing whether a price can be obtained for it sufficient to recoup the shareholders for their outlay. There is no doubt that the property has not been the success it was expected to be. For one thing it is too far away from town to attract a large attendance at any of the meetings, except at the coursing, and the few enthusiasts in this class of sport are getting tired of repeated calls on their pockets. The race meetings have done fairly well till the last one on Anniversary Day, December 16, when a loss was incurred owing to the meeting clashing with New Brighton (a far more popular resort) and the other attraction of a general holiday. This and the loss by death and other canses of some of the leading spirits has caused the remaining shareholders to think about winding tip, and the contemplated sale of the property is the outcome. It is a good property in any case, and in the hands of a good syndicate might prove a success, as for coursing purposes alone it is admirably well fitted, while the racing track needs but little improvement to make it as good, if not better, than most of the suburban racecourses. As I predicted, there is an overwhelming number of entries for the Heathcote Trotting Meeting on St. Valentine’s Day, forty.two having entered for the Champion Saddle Trot, thirteen for the Pony Harness Trot, and seventeen for the Novel Saddle Trot, in which the winner ia sold and all proceeds go to the club. This predicts good spurt after its own fashion. Referring to the Hurunui races last week, I hardly anticipated the turn things have taken, as I said then the Hurunui and Waikau residents have held meetings, and despite the Culverden action have determined on going on with their meeting as before. They are issuing a small programme, and hold their meeting on March 22. So there will be two race meetings now within a few miles df each other. Nelson passed through here to-day and was joined on the Wairarapa by E. Cutts, ■who also took with him the two-year-old colt Maxim, by Musket—Realization (Wapiti’s dam), Mr Stead having entrusted him to the care of the veteran trainer for delivery to Rudings, on arrival for preparation for some of the favorite events on the other side. This is a bold venture on his owner’s part, but as on arrival he will be quartered with his stable companion, Loehiel, it is probable it may prove a wise move. At any rate the fact of so many New Zealand horses being over will give us islanders an extra interest in the Australian autumn paces. The vessel sailed this afternoon. The betting market is still dull, owing to the absence of so many of our local bookmakers. For the Dunedin Cup, Spade Guinea still retains her position, and 4 to 1

cannot be got about her here. A good commission has been in the maaket about Derwenter, the backers wanting all they can get about him at 100 to 6, at which price they have been fairly well accommodated, but the layers are only offering 100 to 7. With these exceotion the list remains the same as last week. There is little or nothing dcing over the Wellington Cup, Pasha and Artillery being the only two fancied hero for it.

CRICKET. The Senior Cup match between Lancaster Park and the Midland Club brought out some good play, the result being as yab, however, undecided. Midland went in first and the principal score was made by the veteran intercolonial player. Barnes, who, however, gave a chance to Cuff, who was dead on, and had to retire clean bowled after putting together 21. The Midland innings finished for 137, and the 4 swells ’ went in and lost six wickets for 47 runs, showing no form at all as compared with with Midland, whose bowlers and fielders are much too good for them. It was like shelling peas to Barnes and Garty to bowl, and Fowkeat the wickets (he is our best wicket keeper) was in immense form. , , In the United v. Addington match, some good play was shown by Million (captain), Mathias, E. Cottrill, Harman, ancl McDowall, who all reached double figures, though the latter should have been stumped at a low score, but escaped. Addington’s innings so far was unsuccessful, five wickets being down for 53, against their opponent s 175, which does not look at all promising for them. A newspaper match, between the ‘Press staff and that of the 4 Timam Herald,’ took place at Ashburton, being half way between the two places, and the Christchurch people outdid the others easily. It was more of a picnic than anything else, however.

CYCLING. The Pioneer Club (the first formed in Christchurch, as Vindicated by the name) has decided upon procuring one of those useful inventions, 4 the homo bicycle trainer, to be in use for members at the rooms. This, I should hope, will prove an immense success, as it must be an inducement to novices to join for the sake of the initial training. I almost feel like joining myself, as I have a dread of the usual method, viz., the boneshaker, but a fixture would suit me immensely. Entries for the Christchurch Bicycle Club’s races at Lancaster Park on February 10 close on the Bth, and there is likely to be a good muster there owing to thd promise of entries from a number of other clubs. This club, finds the trips to Sumner on moonlight evenirg3 not only pleasant but profitable, and they are to be continued for some time. The trip last night, I am told, was most enjoyable. THEATRICAL. “Jim the Penman ” continues to draw good houses, and will be supplemented, by “ The Magistrate ” to-morrow evening. We have never had a company in Christchurch who are so thoroughly en rapport, and who not only deserve, but command success, as the present show under the auspices of 44 the Triumvirate.” and there is no fault to find with them in any one case. There is, however, the prejudice, which is militating to a great extent against bumper houses, of the prices, which have not been reduced despite repeated suggestions. We are so used to 4s, 2s 6d and Is, that when 53, 3s and Is are imposed, we kick, no matter how agents talk or how the papers extol. A party of Christchurch gentlemen are proceeding to Dunedin during the race week to favor the inhabitants of that city with a specimen of their ability in the burnt cork biz. I succeeded in obtaining the entree to a rehearsal an evening or two ago and was pleased and gratified at what I heard. One member of the company will afford mirth enough to put the audience in all sorts of good humour, and there is a lot of good fan besides. I have not yet heard what the performance is in aid of but presume the object is right.