SPORT IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5728, 25 October 1905, Page 2

SPORT IN WELLINGTON.

SOME MINOR REMINISCENCES. (To the Editor “N.Z. Times,”) Sir, —I feel obliged for your kindness in finding room lor my reminiscences of the Racing Club. I only thought of the matter on Saturday afternoon, and the tact of itß bringing Mr J. li. Pollock's Island Bay records to the front is in it* self a record of its utility. 1 feel indebted to Mr Pollock for separating the two clubs’ mixture at Island Bay, and every credit is due to Mr H. M. Even, our secretary, for the part played by him in securing the Bay least—again demonstrating that we wore a band of brothers in our club. I just gave a lew of our leading episodes in our history jolted down on the spur of the moment, and shot into the editor's box up a flight of stairs to an altitude which gives the staff of the '‘Times’* a long distance start over competitors that will enable Saint Peter to declare them winners before some competitors could get into the straight running. I could not remember at the time the names of the stewards of the Island Bay Jockey Club, but on looking over the list I note they were a lot of good fellows, many of them personal friends of my own for half a lifetime. In particular, 1 must single out tlie secretary, George Donne, kindly, honest fellow, entrepeneur, journalist, theatrical lessee, mining advocate, politician, racehorse-owner, etc., as well as lessee of the Theatre in Dunedin, when the late MrFargcon. editor of the “Otago Witness,” and 1 were chums. Afterwards, Mr.Doune represented Charleston in the Nelson Provincial Council, when I represented Westport, George had many ups and downs, finally handing in has chocks at the house of and under Iho kindly influence of my Did friend, D. M. Luckie who represented Nelson City at the time Mr Donne and the winter represented the ‘W.est Coast.

This loiter is remmieccnt. discursive and digressive, but I have been so mixed up with editors, and they have always been so good-natured to me at all times that I have a notion they will escape Purgatory, and ascend aloit under full-sail and with a fair wind. Well, v;o bud a humorous side, and, as Vernon said in the character of Bimthorne, “you would not think it." For instance, we had no uniform to distinguish us from common humanity, but our president and vicepresident hud—-that was, belltopper hats; and it was unanimously agreed upon, and put'from t he chair (whether it was placed on the- minutes of the meeting or not 1 cannot remember), that the stewards would a/Jd to their dignity by appearing on tho course clad in the belltopper hut. That was a head-gear not indulged in on the AVest Coast, and some of us found it difficult to accustom ourselves to the unwonted headgear, as when a breeze threatened the structure, we generally struck it amidship with one hand, to the permanent damage of the article, and wo used to look at cadi other, and pass jocular remarks on our improved appearance. Mr Pollock’s remarks on another brotherly and highly social society bring up a host of kindly fellows to one’s memory, and the annual dinner on New Year's night at Johnny Mclutoh’s New Zealander Hotel—our head-quarters—a function at which it was then compulsory for each one of the governing body to sing a song long or short, as the spirit moved him. Our president had just one song, and lie led off with it, invariably “Order for Mr - Crawford, the president’s, annual song." It was always the same—“AVe did not Catch that AA r hnlc, Brave Boys." Among other songs, were James Gilligan's "Teerrybus and Tecrydram and Sons of Odin" (thirty-three versos). Andrew Young’s annual was "Molly Darling," G. H. Bethulie’s “Hearts of Oak," James McDowell’s a standing portion of “Tho Wearing of the Green." None of us would shine on the concert stage. As a rule, the palm went to’tlie singer of the “Fainshon Swore a Feud Against tho £lnn MacTavish," but the time came when I got snuffed out, as a greater singer look up 1 my song, and I had to take an inferior seat as a vocalist. It was this way. An old friend. P. A. Buckley, was knighted and became Sir Patrick Buckler, and we, liis countrymen, decided to give him a dinner in recognition of the event. AA r o gave tho dinner in the top flat of the building of George Thomas and Co., a concert hall opposite the Pier Hotel, and amongst tho vocalists of tho evening was the Right Hon R, J. Scddon. and he sang “The AVearing of the Green" in tho same masterly stylo that characterises everything he puts his hand to. Sinco limidate I, like tho strolling player, only sing at count it functions.—l am”, etc.. J. McDOAVELL. October 24th.