LATEST CANTERBURY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 786, 25 March 1887, Page 13

LATEST CANTERBURY NEWS.

[By ‘ Fossicker.’] Christchurch, March 22. St Patrick’s Day celebration was ushered in at Heathcote in the shape of racing, during a very bleak cold day, which, as well as the fact that there was nothing specially attractive about the programme, didnotcause a great attendance to assemble, those who did being principally the usual frequenters of these gatherings, an almost entire ablence of the fair sex being specially noticeable. Hobbs and Goodwin negotiated £IBB6 in their two machines, and Mr R. Richardson was very successful as starter, while Mr Bamford’s duties were as systematically performed as usual. The sport as a whole was well sustained, and one or two good finishes testified to the correctness of the handicapping, which, as usual, was done by Mr Richardson. It commenced with the Hack Hurdles, which proved a fairly easy win for a Woodend horse named Defiance, in whom H. Mnrfitt has a very powerful weight-carrying hunter, with a good turn of speed, and he fairly spread-eagled his field of seven other competitors. That well-bred mare Mainboom, who has been carrying Mr W. Rutherford’s colors in the rear of a good many races since he purchased her from Mr Redwood, came out of her shell in the Open Hurdles, as with lOst 21b she put down Azim, Secretary, Mammoo, and a couple more, and won a good dividend. The St Patrick's Handicap brought out Mirella, Bst lib; Derwenter and Patrician, Bsfc 121 b; and’two other of an inferior class. From her form and performances Mirella was the most fancied, and she gave her supporters reason for supporting her during the first mile, but the game little chestnut, Patrician, after disposing of Derwenter and the two duffers, challenged the mare, and coming up the straight gave the spectators a proof of his useful staying powers by securing a length in front at the post in 2min 2Qsec. In the Flying Handicap he did not start, and Mirella was again made the favorite ; but the lightweights had a bit the pull of it, as Mr J. E. Pilbrow’s Gaiety (7st) and Mr Webb’s Vaultress (6st 101 b) had the race to themselves after the fourth fur. long, the former securing the judge’s eye by abont a length. The nsnal trots and hack races made up the day’s sport, whioh wound up with a Scurry. £4 13s paid out on Defiance in the Haok Hurdles was the largest dividend. There was a meeting at Waimate the same day, bat the sport was entirely local, and the particulars afforded were of the vaguest possible nature. 1 notice, however, that the sturdy Southern champion, Jack, secured the big event. On Saturday evening a few of our sporting men left here in the Rotorua to assist at the Nelson meeting this week. Among them were Captain Cotton, the Club’s handicapper, Mr W. Weston, and others. The same evening the weights for the North Canterbury J.C. Meeting were declared by Mr J. B. Gr«3son, and have undergone a considerable amount of criticism since. Those for the principal event are— Patrician; Bsfc 71b ; Ruby, B=t 51b ; Fog, Bst 21b; Marlborough and Mirella, 7st 101 b each ; Spec, 7st 31b; Lavender, 7st; Popit, 6st 71b. Mirella is thus placed at the same distance by weight for the mile and a-half as she had at Heathcote with a mile and a quarter, and I cannot fancy her chance at all. Still less do I like Fatrioian r s with the increase of weight, though judged by bis performances recently, he must run a game race for it. Ruby has been under somewhat of a cloud since our Spring Meeting, while, as to the merits of the remainder, with the exception of Lavender, who has done some speedy work occasionally, I am slightly in doubt. I think, however, that, fit and well on the 4tb, and with a good jockey up, he will be more likely to carry my money than any of the second-class lot. The same evening came the acceptances for the C. J.C. Autumn Handicap, with the result of 17 being left, which have already reached you in the ordinary way. The impression seems to have bten from tl e start that Rubina must hold her own against the field, as she was never before in such good going order ; and though we hear much of the chances of Pearl in the distance, yet, with' his penalty and her condition, she mast hold her own. The betting has not been seriously affected by the ‘ acceptances, with the exception of hardening up the acceptors a point or

two. The following is an approximate of the betting given over by a prominent member of the ring : 6 to 1 Rubina (tkn) 7 1 Hermitage and Marion (tkn) • 8 1 Tit Bit and Lochiel 10 1 The rest It is considered improbable that Lochiel will start for it, and very doubtful if Fair Nell’s foot will allow of her undergoing a preparation for the race. Hermitage I should look upon as doubtful, as, if Rubina is sent, she must represent that stable, and the horse will be reserved for his engagement at Timaru at the end of the month. However, I shall expect to see the raoe between Rubina and Tit Bit. , “Beacon,” in the Witness of the 18th inst., proves his ignorance of things in general, and of ray individuality in partioular, when he indulges in a few cynical remarks, as he thinks, at my expense. I decline to know or be known by a man calling himself a sporting writer whose temperament is of so bilious a nature that he prefers to enter into long discussions on the merits or demerits of men with whom [he, anyhow, cannot compare as a sporting writer Several of the visitors at Hawkes Bay returned to-dav, full of *deriaion at the arrangements up there, the starting being particularly objected to, while the racing generally was denounced as poor sport, particularly resulting from that defect. The deliberations of the Conference will, the representatives think, be of great benefit to the racing community, as they hope that the use (I call it abuse generally) of the totalisator will in future be entrusted to the charge of the metropolitan racing clubs of the Colony. This will be a step in the right direction, and one which would have been hailed with deligbt had it been inaugurated sooner. CRICKET. The cricket season is fast drawing to a close, and in another week or two football will be in full swing. On Saturday last the Midland Club wer e pitted against a mixed team of the Adding, ton and United clubs. The former wentin first, and remained at the wicket all the afternoon, making the respectable score of 197. Wheatley and Garrard were the principal run-getters, with 49-and 43 respectively, the other double figure innings being Barnes (24), Lawrence (20), and Hill (13) ; while extras contributed 24. R. D. Harman and E. J, Cotterill were the most successful trundlers, the former capturing 3 wickets for 23, and the latter 4 for 40. Lancaster Park commenced a match against Christ’s College, and so far have considerably the best of the game. Going in first, the Park ran up 198, of which Cuff claimed 113 and Glasgow 48. Each man gave a couple of chances. The College lost three wickets for 35 when stumps were drawn. White, playing for Dixon’s Addington eleven versus Christchurch Railways, scored 92, not out. .' A match was played on St. Patrick s Day between the Christchurch Banks and Insurance offices, which resulted in a victory for the latter by 137 runs. Cuff played a good innings of 75, not out, for the winners. FOOTBALL. The football season in Christchurch was opened on Saturday last by the Merivale and Normal students having practices. Most of the clubs have held their annual meetings, and the season promises to be an especially busy one. The Christchurch Club will visit Wellington in May to play their annual match with the Wellington Club, while the East Christchurch proceed to the Empire City in September for the purpose of meeting the Athletic and Poneke Clubs. Besides the above, the following foreign matches will be played by our looal clubs : East Christchurch against Pirates (Duntdin); same against Montecillo ; same against Oamaru ; Merivale against Union (Wellington) ; Christchurch r. Timaru; Sydenham v Union (Wellington) and Montecillo play against Christchurch and Sydenham. It is rather early yet to know much about the teams, but I hear that O’Brien and Dobbs will not play for Sydenham. Francis, Taiaroa, and Harden will be missing from the East Christchurch ranks; while the Merivale will be considerably weaker by the formation of the Papanui Club, as the Horners, Dewsbury, and Crow have thrown in their lot with the new Club. The Secretaries of the senior Clubs are : Christchurch, L. Cohen ; East Christchurch, T. L. Smith ; Merivale, V. L. Pozzi; and Sydenham, J. Garty.

CANINE. The Dog [Show, held for the first time under the auspices of th 9 “ New Zealand Kennel Club,” in the Garrison Drillshed, cannot be said to have been as great a success as its predecessors by any means. By its predecessors, I refer to those held here and in Dunedin ; but this, the inaugural show of a colonial institution, was as purely local, as far as exhibits have been, as any of the others. The show of sporting dogs was inferior to any previous in number and quality, and, though the officers did all that men could do, their efforts were not adequately supported. The St. Bernard’s proved the best olass, and attracted the most attention. The Greyhound class was poorly represented in the extreme, but this may possibly be from the fact that most of our trainers are commencing the season’s operations, and can hardly be expected to break through their work for a three days’ exhibition and small prizes. THEATRICAL. The Jubillee Singers are attracting large audiences, principally of the goody-goody olass, who go in raptures over the undoubtedly clever singing treat provided for them. But those Jubillee fellows are no fools mark me. They arrived here on a Saturday, and were doing yeoman’s work all Sunday in vatious choirs, Sunday schools, &c. Trust them, they know their way about! LATEST. [By Electric Telegraph.] Christchurch, March 23. The races at Ellesmere and Hurunui both came off yesterday and were fairly successful.

At Ellesmere the Cue;. Flying Stakes were won by Leeston and Spec respectively, and both Hurdles by Gunpowder ; while at Hurunui the Rutherford brothers scooped the pool with their two Perkin Warbeck mares, Lady Eva and Lady Eveline, Maywood winning the Hurdles and Albany the Ladies’ Purse.

Among the horses arriving from the North were the Musket —Venture colt, Snapshot, bought at Napier by Patsy Butler. At a committee meeting last night the total receipts of the late regatta were shown to be nearly £234, of which £lll was subscriptions. The wins of the various clubs were —Canterbury, £3l and Cup; Cure, £27 and Cup; Union, £2O and Cup; Lyttelton, £lB ; Star, £lO The Club carries forward a credit balance of £6O. £5 was voted to Mr Bright, the secretary, with a special vote of thanks. The Geraldine Racing Club will hold a steeplechase meeting on Jubilee Day. Fossicker.