FROM THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1862

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18514, 27 March 1922, Page 6

FROM THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1862

A troupe of Maori women were proceeding along Princes street yesterday afternoon, about throe o’clock, when the rude gaze of a curious and vulgar crowd which followed obviously disconcerted them, ahe quiet demeanour and self-possession of the natives presented a favourable contrast to the semi-civiiised gallantry and quaeireiinement of an Anglo-Saxon race. DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB RACES First Day. The sport-loving public of Dunedin were fortunate yesterday in having most propitious weather for the first, day of the Jockey Club Races. . . . At a comparatively early hour Dunedin presented a very lively appearance, from the unusual traffic of wheeled vehicles of various kinds, and of people on foot and on horseback, evidently “on pleasure bent.” Some of the stream of traffic began to set outwards in the direction of the West Taieri, and by twelve o'clock in the day the pleasureseekers had all cleared out and the town was quiet. The road to the races was marked by few incidents, and to tho.se who remember the road to the Derby, or even the rush to the Melbourne Race Course, must have appeared dull. . • ■ Ihere was positively no accident worth, mentioning on the way out; two or three horses fell, but were got up again without injury and wore able to proceed on their way. . , . On arriving at the course, it was plain that, although the road had at no time been crowded, yet large numbers must have travelled along it, for long before one o’clock, the time fixed for the first race, there was a very large number on the ground, and in the course of the day there could hardly have been less than 2000 visitors. The proportion of equestrians was very large. The course, in the vicinity of the Grand Stand, presented a very busy scene, with the bustling crowds of people on foot and on horseback hurrying to and fro. The Grand Stand was not very extensively patronised, partly no doubt by reason of the high charge for admission and partly, also, because there was no special accommodation for ladies, and no covering to protect them from the sun or rain. Below the Grand Stand was an extensive bar, and a long room for refreshments. Here, also, was a room for the accommodation of the judge, end for weighing. ... A few knowing hands had established a gambling table near the Grand Stand, at which the gentle public were invited to risk their money, being encouraged thereto by the persuasive voice of the presiding genius, who assured them that it was “the fairest game as ever was, a game that a child might play with his grandfather”— all they had to do was to bet upon the color that would turn up after the pretty particolored ball was set in motion. A few bystanders soon began betting freely, and losing and winning with the best grace in the world; a crowd was speedily collected, and_ the business of the table was getting brisk, when suddenly the police appeared in strong force, and in a twinkling the keeper of the table and a number of his patrons were in custody. . . .