from Sydney to new zealand

Otago Witness, Issue 1793, 3 April 1886, Page 20

from Sydney to new zealand

By " Warrior."

The good ship Tarawera left Port Jackson on the night of the 18th March, with a fair number of saloon and steerage passengers. Looking over the list, I was glad to find that we only bad one parson on board, and he happened to be a missionary of 20 years' standing, who I fouud, after a long conversation, to be a most liberal man. For instance: " I have just come. up to Sydney, from one of the Friendly Islands, on business connected with the late Wesleyan Con. ference. The King refuses to acknowledge the Rev. Mr , the nominee of a lot of old fossils. The Victorian Wesleyan Conference agrees with the course pursued by the Kingites, and we have therefore decided to cut the painter and form a conference among ourselves." When questioned about the Rev. Mr Strong and the Melbourne Presbytery, he declared : "Mr Strong, I am glad to 6ay, has advanced- with the times. He is nothing more nor less than a martyr. I believe the Colonies will suffer by the loss of Bishop Moorhouse." Strange [to say, after this expression of opinion, we had nothing through the whole of the passage but delightful weather. I will never believe any more that "parsons always bring bad weather." We hadn't left the revolving light at South Head (Sydney) 100 miles astern when the alarm was given " a man overboard."' Mr Stott, the chief officer, happened to be on the bridge at the time, and he instantly stopped the steamer, and gave the order " full speed astern." He soon had the captain's gig in the trough of the sea, and within 10 minutes had the unfortunate man in the boat. During the whole of the time Mr Stott never lost his presence of mind, which speaks well for so young a gentleman under such trying circumstances. It appears that the unfortunate man, whose name is Ramsbottom, recently arrived from Brighton, England, in the Cuzco. He partook of a large quantity of "tangle-foot." in Melbourne, and Queensland rum (buund to kill at 40 yards) in Sydney, the effects of which caused " cockroaches" and " kangaroo rats" to run all over his body, and "five Maori chiufs to attack him with spears," in fact he Wits clean " gone off his head." Whilst trying to effect an escape from his supposed murderers he jumped into the sea. The saltwater bath certainly made an impression, for on landing ul Auckland he joined the Good Templars. We anchored alongside the wharf at 6.30 p.m.

SYLVIA PARK

My usual bad luck. Rain began to fall heavily sib daybreak on the morning after our arrival (March 23), and continued at short intervals throughout the remainder of the day. I was determined at any price to visit the thoroughbreds of .the New Zealand Stud and Pedigree .Stock Company. Having been introduced to Mr T. S. Morrin, chairman of directors of the Company, he did all in his power to make me comfortable. In company with Major Walmsley and Mr Andrew Jackson ("Hippona") of the Star, we left Auckland at noon for Sylvia Park. After a pleasant drive of six miles we reached the stud farm. Major Walmsley, the indefatigable manager, didn't waste much time, but introduced me at once to the stallions.

The five-yeat-old St. Lkger was the first <hat came under my notice. He is a ehestmvfc hoi>o, foaled in England, by Doncaster out of Atlantis, by Thormanby out of Hurricane, by Wild Dayrell, and was bred by Lord Falraouth. He cannot very easily be wiped out, if blood goes for anything, for the Stud-book points out that Doncaster is by the sire of sires, Stockvvell. No doubt the Company may give St. Leger a show next season ; if so, I feel certain he will prove a payable sire. I was very much struck with the chestnut

LEOLINUS, who S bred by Sir Richaid Bulkcley in_ 1871. On looking up his pedigree I find that he. was got by Caterer, the son of Stockwell (winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and English St. Leger of 1852, and siro of gt. Albans, Caller Ou, The Marquis, BJair

Athol, Lord Lyon, and Achievement, winners of the Legers of 1860, lfifil, 1802, 1864, 1806, and 1867), out of Ta-niania, by Melbourne, out, of a mare by Picaroon, oub of Bonny Bonnet, by Muley Moloch. I felb all at home when my old friend

CAP-A-FIE

came up for inspection. He looked as well as on the day he won the Australian Jockey Club St. Leger (1878), but, I am sorry to say, has not proved himself a successful stud horse. My pick of the establishment fell to

ANTEROS, who looks the picture of a racehorse, notwithstanding his having served 100 marcs. The late Prince Batthyanny bred Antcros in 1870, and when a two-year-old ran second in fho Criterion Nursery Stakes and won the Ancaster Welter Handicap at Newmarket. Anteros has two strains of Glencoe in his veins, being by Loiterer (by Stockwell out of Ennui, dam of Saunterer), out of Adrasla ; by Orlaudo, out of Torment; by Alarm, out of a daughter of Glencoe and Alea. He reminds me very much of the Australian celebrated three-year-old Fireworks, who got at the stud Goldsbrough, Robin Hood, Lapidist, Guinea, and Spark. Judging by " The New Zealand Turf Record," Anteros has been a pretty fair success, having got The Poet (winner of the Wellington Cup, Auckland Cup, and Wanganui Cup), Louie (winner of the Napier Cup), Canard (Auckland Steeplechase winner), The Governor, Psyche, Spec, Miss Puritan, King Arthur, and Black 1 Rose. Having partaken of refreshments, the Major had me driven into a number of paddocks which contained several of the most brilliant blood ranres to be found in any part of the world. Memories of the past were awakened on entering the first enclosure, for straight in front of me stood two Australian-bred beauties, with foals at foot by Musket — the favourite old Sylvia, and Onyx. Major Walmsley assured me that if ever the two fillies met as two or three-year-olds the full sister to Nordenfeldt would beat the sister to Martini-Henry, but " Hippona " and m3'self were not of the samo opinion. I feel confident that if the Hou. James White had been with me, or if he should be present at the yearling sale next January, he will certainly become the purchaser of the daughter of Musket— Sylvia, for she is one of the finest fillies ever foaled south of the line — the dead image of Martini-Henry. Onyx's filly takes after herself as regards colour, but possesses Musket's limbs. Sylvia is in foal to Miibket, and Onyx to Auteros. A most strange thing about the old daughter of FishermanJuliet, that since she became the property of the Company, seven years ago, she has never onco laid down, and the Major is afraid that this will bo her last foal. Sylvia is now 22 ytMins of age. It was with regret I had to take leave of two of my old racing acquaintances. The next paddock we came to was well stocked with autocratic mares with foals ab foot. Lady Ravensworth, who, by the bye, is a daughter of Voltigeur, winner of the St. Leger and Derby of 1850, notwithstanding she is one-and-twenty years of age, looked first-clasr, and her black foal by Musket I fancied much. A very muscular filly by Cap-a-pie out of Raupo (dam of Mata winner of the Adelaide Cup) appeared to me to be the making of a really good racehorse. Of the 22 foals by Musket, with the exception of Sylvia and Onyx none pleased me better than the colt out of Locket, who I am certain will prove as good, if not superior, to his sister Necklace. Take away tho two Australian - bred celebrities, and Locket) becomes the premier mare of the stud-farm. She is the last that was put to Musket. The bay mare Pulchra took my eye, and I couldn't help expressing myself that it was a great pity she couldn't be put to St. Albans ; the two strains of blood would certainly blend. It would be needless for me to take up my readers' time with her pedigree, but it is sufficient to know that her sire was sold for 11,500 guineas (Rosicruoian), and her dam, Formosa, ran a dead-heat for the Two Thousand Guineas with Mr Crawfurd's Moslem in 1868, and won tho One Thousand Guineas, Oaks, and St. Leger, and was sold 10 years Ago for 2700 guineas. Her filly at foot, by Musket, should bring a respectable price at the yearling sale next January. Mersey, in foal to Anteros, is a very short chesnut mare, and her last foal by Musket will, in all probability, make his mark as a three -year-old. The New South Wales bred mare Maid of Honour, by Kelpie out of Fairy Queen, may have been a good racer, but I can't stand any of her stock, with the exception of the foal at fool. Two flllios out of Miss Laura and Moonlight, and three colts out of Lovebird, Naiad, and My Idea (by Yattendon out of Ladybird, by Boiardo out of Mirror, by Sir Hercules out of Prism) are a credit to Leolinus. At the yearling sale next January the defunct Musket will be well represented by colts out of Steppe, Lady Ravensworth, Tres Deuce, Petroleuse, Rosette, Leaurant; also fillies out of Florence Macarthy, Pearl Ash, Sister Agnes, Florin, Maid of Honour, Atalanta, Antalantis, and Pulchra. Considering that Perfume carried 12st 41b to victory in the Auckland Steeplechase of 1878, her filly by Cap-a-pie should make a good jumper. The making of a first-class racehoi\se is a colt by Anteros out of Sweet Cicely. Naiad, a chestnut mare, by Traducer out of Mormairl, full sister to Lurline, dam of Darebin, I certainly respect. ; and should she be fortunate, she may make a name for herself. Antero.-, served her last. Having disposed of all the stock, the Major showed me the hide of Musket, which has been bpautif ully tanned. On our way home ■re c called at Mr T. S. Morrin's neat little stud-farm, and was there shown the making of the best racehorse in tho North Island. I speak of the Anteros — Frailty colt His owner intends running him in tho Victorian Derby. You very seldom see a horse nearly 16 hands at the early age of 18 months ; at any rate one can be found at Mr Morrin's establishment, by Musket out of Pungawerewere. Before concluding this article allow me to thank Mr T. S. Morrin and Major Walmsley for the attention bestowed on me during the time I was in Auckland.

In my next letter I will treat the Middle Park Stud Comdany.