OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1838, 11 February 1887, Page 24

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

(Fkom. Ouh Special Sporting Correspondent )

Auckland, February 8.

Wiring from Sydney on Monday Jack Keau states that Mitrailleuse had a fino passage across and was lauded without a hcratch. F Ciarke went over by the mail steamer on Sunday to B3»ist iv the preparation of ( he mire. I understand that the cuiumMMou executed in favour of the mare for the Newmarket Handicap was £2500, , which was taken on behalf of the syndicate who sent her over.

Atthesettlingover the Takapuna Jockey'Club'e meeting a letter was received from Jlr B-. Thompson, awuer of Jessie, claiming the stake and the dividend on two tickets ov er tue Anniversary Handicap won at the late meeting, which was declared *'no race." After some discussion the writer O e the letter was referred to the club's solicitor. T ie amount of the claim was for £360 Thomp001 has declared to me his iutention -of taking tie question to court, but I fauny the matter Will be square 1 by thu payment of the' stakes. It was undoubtedly very hard on Mr Tuompson declaring the race off, which was S mUj only done by. the t>teward-» on account of tie menace* and attitude ot the crowd. It is a g'>-at pity that the mare did not start the §co 1 nil time, however, as I fancy bhe would have a am won and have thus put an end to all t ouble.

Tne wielders of the pencils here are of course d ing a gr.-at chuckle over Nelson's withdrawal fr tin thu Dunediu Cup, as with two favourites wi itiiug the Inland Bay and Wellington Cup, t ley would have had a bad time had the son Oi King Cole remained in. Spade Guinea in red b "t; here for the Dunediu Cup, 2to 1 would be t ikeu but 6t04 is the bes-t offer. Derweuter has b eu claiadug a large share' of support at 10 tol.

Tne best accounts continue to reach here regarding Mr Mitchelson's colts iv training in Vict >ria. Tranter, of whom we have heard so much, is etpected to make his debut at the V. R. C. in <-'tmg this mouth. The party who own the steeplechaser, Guy Fa-vkeP, talk of' sending trim to Aubtnlia, not b cause his performances woald warrant competing with big company, but. on account of tbe t^eat.nent he has> received from • the handicappers. tommy Cressy, who was thrown from Silvio w'rilo riding in the Auckland Steeplechase lnst m >n th, has itf c the hospiul ; but I regret to hay t tat tuu poor fellow is a long way from hims-elt, tliougb over a month has elaps> d hince the accident. The matter is an entire blank to him, an i he dots not even remember riJing in the ra;e. lam afraid he will always be a bit dizzy.

With a view to the R.C meeting Major George (owner of Nelson) and Mr R. Adams (owner of MitrailleuseJ'left for Sydney by the aaiil steamer on Sunday.

The statement that the stallion Rotherhill ha I been purchased on behalf of the New Zealand Stud Company is without foundation.

CRICKET.

The weather was very unfavourable on Saturday fur cricket. Auckland and G >rdon continued their match tor the senior Cup. With six wickets down for 56, the former continued their innings, and they topped their opponents score by 80 Robertson played a capital innings for 40. The United and Hollands also contiuued their match. Thp lattt r were at the wickets nearly tbe whole afternoon scaring 114, Mills being ti»p score with 30 to his credit. Holland won on the first iuniugs by 36 runs.

FOOTBALL.

I understand that the T>uuedin uuion will *b) tly be a'^ked if they intend sending a team North next season. Aucklamiers w'oul'l delight to sue your boys ap tute way, and 1 hope the union will see to tlie matter. There is likely to be a"' great rowat'the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby ' Football Union. Toe gross receipts last Heasun were £803,' and there i8 ( on0y a credit balance of £90, and some memtbecsare determined to know the reason. The fealancea&ouid be about £300. At the WdlhigIton iban^aet £40 is cbarged to the union for champagne. Some' of the accounts are lump sums and .give.no details.

ACQUATICS. Ernest Bailey, a popular young local sculler, who stroked the notorious Waitemata crew, in the recent champion whuleboat nnv, goes to Sydney to-day. H« intends to < nter the ranks of professiounl scullers. He takes with him letters of introduction to Diebl^, the backer of Beach, and to William Beach himself.

The North Shore crew, which finished second to the Wailemata fwr the Champion Whale-boat Race, were very 1 anxious to row tho winners again for £100 a-side, but their efforts in eu« deivouring to get a match ended in failure.

An «-ffort, it is understood, is to l>e maile to raise the Auckland regatta next year hoth in sailing and 'rowing to the portion it held some few yesrs back There .is plenty of material

from which to get oarsmen,' and it only .requires Ihe necessary prizes to bring the mosquito, fleet out.

ATHLETICS,

Athletic circles are a good deal agitated over a pc 1 named Goodli-t, who swept the board at the Demonstration sports recently.' I fancy he is an Australian under an assumed name.