SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1893, 2 March 1888, Page 23

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

(From Ook Australian sporting Correspondent " Warrior.")

Melbouene, February 21.

We are now in the thick of the autumn meetings, the principal of which in Victoria are of course those of the V.A.T.C. and V.R.O. On Saturday week a very successful gathering was held at Elsternwick Park. Maroney, by Captivator — Meta, started favourite for the hurdle race, and despite the fact that it was his debut at the illegitimate game, he won cleverly. The February Handicap was carried off by Richworth, very much against her rider's (Creeber) wish, by a nose. It was apparently a clear case of pulling, but both rider and owner escaped with a caution. Now, as the mare won, and the boy's instructions were to make it a close finish, I very much question that the stewards were altogether called upon to adjudicate. Had the nose been the other way, and Newmarket, who was second, got home, then they would have had something to go upon. The Brighton Cup was won by The Nun, who captured the Geelong Handicap and Stewards' Purse on the last day of the Geeloug meeting. Across the strait, the Hobart and Launceston peoplp, largely augmented by the Victorian contingent, have been holding their racing carnival, and matters in Tasmania have been pretty lively during the past fortnight.

DEATH OF MR BEN HEPBURN.

Yesterday Mr Hepburn, long identified with racing and coursing in Ballarat as well as in the metropolis, died suddenly in Launceston. As vice-president of the Ballarat Coursing Club, deceased was well-known for his opeuhandedness,and his generosity as a donor of trophies to racing, coursing, yachting, and all descriptions of sport made him most popular. In the coursing field he was very successful, and won many important stakes.

SPORT IN BRIEF.

The V.R.C. Winter Steeplechase meeting, instead of being held in July as has been the case heretofore, will take place on August 4, that being the Saturday after the opening of the exhibition.

General regret has been expressed both in sporting and social circles at the demise of Mr Henry J. Bowler, the well-known stud master of Mitta Mitta.

Don Giovan, recently purchased by Mr A. M'Loughlin, of Ballarat, for 950gs, and who afterwards ruled first favourite for the Newmarket Handicap, for some weeks 1 had been knocked back to any price for the great race over the T.Y.C. The cause has not transpired. My own impression is that since the brother to Don Quixote arrived at Dowling Forest he has been tried at the illegitimate game, and found to be aufait. Now as the Newmarket Handicap will not be worth more than about £1500 to the winner, those connected with the Don have decided to wait for the V.R.C. Winter meeting, at which large prizes are certain to be given in the various jumping events, as they will be witnessed by the many exhibition sightseers. Such is my idea, I may be wrong. Mossy Isaacs was refused a license to bet at Elsternwick on Saturday week by the Elsternwick Park stewards, and out of some statements made by one of those gentlemen at the time an action, for libel, ifc is stated, has been instituted. " Mossy "is a well-known " double-eventer," and was never known to stop laying a " stiff one " when he had an opportunity, and consequently was not beloved by backers; although through the detestation in which he was held he no doubt owed much of his good fortune. Backers dearly loved to take him down, and thereby supported the long-nosed gentleman. They failed of tener than he did, I guess. If the licenses of a few more such geutry were refused it would help to lead to the muchneeded purification — if such a consummation is ever to come about — of the turf.

On the 29th inst. the well-known Wonga stud farm of blood stock are to be sold by auction. The sires are Rapidity (made famous by his son Archie), Ambassador, Kong Meng, and Napoleon. The latter is the son of Mozart, the winner of the last Stand ish Plate amongst other important events.

Mr Leslie M'Donald, a trainer well known by his successes with Hortense, The Levite,. Lord Wilton, and other equine celebrities, has left the turf for the Stock Exchange. Hortense is enjoying a spell, Lord Wilton has gone into F. M'Namara's stable, The Levite and Impetus into J. Morrison's, and Maude and Toronto have formed the nucleus of a string for H. Munro, who was head man for Mr M'Donald.

Since the arrival of Nelson and Pearl Shell at headquarters Joe Morrison has been giving them good work. The triple Auckland Cup winner looks blooming as he skims around the tan just as day breaks every morning. The filly is a very fine two-year-old, and will clip the wings of some of our flyers. Away up in Queensland the other day a jockey named Waddell rode five winners. It is very evident that he did not allow his mounts to waddle in their races. ■ ', ■ The first deposit of £50 a side in the trotting race for £100 a side between Paddy and Wanaka in Queensland has been made. The match will come off shortly. The New Zealander is most fancied. Last Tuesday night the Totalisator Bill passed its first stage hi the New South Wales Assembly. The ayes numbered 30 and the noes 11. Mr F, <

Farnell, the youngest member in the House, was the introducer. At the Mooroopua races, held recently, Abuse, by Slanderer, won the principal handicap, and at Numurkah also. The Morphettville and FulhamPark yearlings will be sold at Newmarket on the 24th inst. Arrivals from New South Wales are coming almost daily, one of the latest to reach headquarters being Tom Brown, with the Hon. W. A. Long's formidable contingent, and, rather strange to relate, he was the first to draw blood, or rather a goodly cheque, for his employer — for with My Lord and Moorhouse he captured the V.A.T.C. Oakleigh and Hawksburn Handicaps. Gorry was up on each occasion. The remainder of the string includes Dainty, Yellow Jacket, and Consequence.

Spade Guinea, The Gift, Mackay, Faugh-a-ballagh, and Cricket (Mr Oxenham's horses) have also arrived. The former never was so well.

The Hon. James White's trainer, T. Payten, came over last week with Knightsbridge, Volley, Carlyon, Cranbrook, Acme, and Lava. The two former are two-year-old 3, and all are in tip-top condition.

Old Trenton has joined Niagara, Lady Betty, Solo, Pantomime, and Epicurean, under Foulsham's charge at Flemington, and the son of Musket moves along with all his former vigour. May he place a big race to his worthy owner's Credit is the sincere wish of yours truly. No gamer horse ever looked through a bridle. Enfilade has improved out of all knowledge, his race in the V.A.T.C. Summer Cup seemingly having woke the son of Onyx up.' With Mick O'Brien on him he moves remarkably nice, and in both the Australian Cup and Champion Stakes he will make the fastest of them travel. Of two things in the brother to Nordenfeldt's composition there cannot be the shadow of a doubt, one is — he can stay as long as a boy in a lolly shop, and the other is bis indomitable gameness. Mick O'Brien has been engaged to ride him in his autumn engagements.

A letter in the Melbourne Sportsman, from A. Stevenson, of Coleraine, has the following buckjumping challenge :—" Some time ago a person, whose name I have not by me, issued a challenge to ride seven horses, four minutes each horse, against any man in the world, the said horses to be buckjumpers. I shall be happy to accept this challenge, on condition that the match takes place at Wentworth, which is halfway between Wilcannia, where he resides, and Melbourne. On his making a deposit with the editor towards the £100 stake or more, I will cover it as quickly as possible."

A number of metallicians recently subscribed a sum of money to test the right of the Victorian Trotting Club imposing a fee for the privilege of betting at Elsternwick Park. The opinion of counsel was obtained, and he stated that the club has the power. Get thee behind me, Satan. Not content to fleece the public now and again and yet refuse to pay a small fee for the privilege, is almost too much to bear — even for a bookmaker apparently. I have been told that it is the intention of one of the leading members of the A J.O. to bring forward a motion that no horse bo allowed to train at Randwick if not entered at some of the meetings of the A.J.C, Tattersalls, or the Sydney Turf Club. If carried it will come somewhat hard on the public trainers.

At Flemington the training of ponies has become such a nuisance that the executive of the V.R.C. have given orders that the miaiature racehorses be not allowed upon the tracks— at least when horses are working. My idea is that they should only be allowed to use the tracks for a certain limited time each afternoon*.

The handicaps for the Hawkesbiiry races will appear on the 7th prox., and those for the Sydney Cup a week later.

On Thursday last a special meeting of the A.J.C. was held to consider a proposal to alter the rules by providing "that any vacancy occuring in the committee should be filled at an election by the general body of members of the club, instead of by the committee as at present." Keen interest was taken in the question, and after an animated debate, a motion in favour of the alteration was carried by 59 votes to 50. The following scratchings have been made for the V.R.C. Newmarket Handicap: Newmaster, Karma, Gloire de Dijon, and Bridegroom. St. Leger: Locksley, Nulli Secundus, Toujoura Pret, Rupert 11, iEneast Rupertswood. ' Ascot Vale Stakes : Kautauka, Heidelberg, Bay Lord, Tipsy Cake, Loyal Lass, Silver Queen, Lord Coxcomb, Grey Lord, Baron's Court, and Ivanhoe. Champion Stakes : Grace Darling, First Consul, Rupertswood, and The Tinman. . Whakawai is coming ou famously, and Tranter is showing signs of improvement, but is not able yet to leave his box. The youngsters under Mr F. F. Dakin's charge are all improving the right way. Escutcheon has sprung a slight curb. Yetman, the property of Mr Tom Ivory, met with an accident the other day owing to a bandage coming loose when galloping.. The son of Julian Avenal is likely to be an absentee from the track for some time.

At the Sydney Driving Park Club's races last Wednesday there was a little hanky-panky played. In the Maiden Trot Emperor was disqualified for galloping, and the race awarded to Town Time. The Hammer Stakes gave rise to more unpleasantness. Numba Maid was pulled, and her rider (Boyle) and the owner (M. Kelly) were disqualified for a year, whilst the pony was shelved for ever. Still more. In the Handicap Galloway Flat Race Kiora and her owner were disqualified for six months, and a boy named Hayes for double that time. The latter would probably have been let off with six months but for being rude to the committee.

Bargo, who won A.J.C. Derby for the Hon. J. White in 1884, has been nominated for the Cootarnundra Cup.

Dick Swiveller, who is engaged in both the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, with 7st lib and 6s fc 121b respectively, has not incurred any penalties for his recent wins around the country, the most important being the Ararat Cup, with Bst 61b. His owner, who purchased him for something like 40sovs, was asSed the other day what he would take for the 'son of Swiveller, replied 1200sovs.

I am pleased to learn that Joe Scott, the New Zealand champion walker, won hi 3 first match on English soil. It took place in the Westminster Aquarium, and was for 12 hours. His opponent was Hancock, whom he met in New Zealand and beat. On the completion of his 43rd mile Hancock cried peccavi, but Scott continued, and notched 64 miles at the end of the dozen hoars.

WELSHING.

A case of welshing occurred at Moonee, Valley recently ; but through the failure of the prosecutor to go on with the case, a charge of obtaining money under false pretences had ' to be abandoned, and the police then proceeded under the " Vag." Act. The never-pay-ron-away gent got three months. Another case of welshing took place at the last Queenseliff races, but the party who was had was determined to see the matter out, and consulted the local sergeant of police. That functionary having read of a justice's decision in England on a similar matter, arrested the welsher and entered a charge of obtaining money under false pretences. Stephen Weston, a yonng man of the masher style, was brought up at the local court on the following morning and remanded to appear at the Geelong cessions on the 14th iost. Oa that date Weatoq

appeared, but the Crown prosecutor stated that as he had only received the papers from town he was unable in the time to state whether a presentment could be filed or not. Judge Quinlan then gave the learned gentleman a couple of hours' to consider the question. At the expiry of that time Mr Smyth asked for an adjournment on the ground that a material witness for the prosecution was absent. Mr M'Dermott objected to the adjournment, and stated that he would venture to say that no lawyer would declare that there was sufficient in the depositions to sustain a conviction. His Honor stated that he recognised the hardship the accused incurred through the adjournment, but the interests of justice must be considered, and he would adjourn the case'until the Court of Assizes, to b9 held in Geelong on the 22nd of March. Bail was allowed in one surety of £25 and the prisoner's recognisance of £50. Bail was forthcoming. It was extremely unfortunate for Weston that judge Quinlan was on the bench, as he is one of our staunchest racing stewards and % pillar of the Turf. FISTIANA, ETC. Slavin, who is at present in New Zealand is likely shortly to meet "Professor" JackBon for £250 a side in a 24ft ring, with any sized gloves. The match is to come off privately Bomewhere near Albury. The only stipulation the backers of the champion make is that the match be really fought in private (not more than 12 a side) and in the field. Burke, the " Irish Lad," has been giving exhibitions in some of the principal towns in the interior of New South Wales, accompanied by Fogarty and Williams. Burke also intends visiting Queensland. Whilst Burko is keeping in condition for his forthcoming match witu Foley by reason of his " shows," the latter has not gone into active training yet, but will do so this week. The coming set-to between them is for £500 a side, with 2oz gloves and in private. In the Assembly of the sister colony the other evening Mr M'Elhone drew Sir Henry Parkes' attention to what he termed the " brutal exhibitions given in public at Foley's Hall. He considered 2oz gloves for boxing as brutal." The Premier, in reply, stated that he " was hardly qualified to deal with the subject. He deplored not having had included in his educational course instruction of the noble arc of selfdefence, or the art of pummelling another man's head. — (Laughter.) But he did know that bo tar as boxing with gloves was concerned, some of the bust men that ever lived had approved of it." Mr M'Elhone did not receive much satisfaction from Sir 'Enery. At the Apollo Athletic Hall, Kirby,the Queensland champion, and Lees, who met Pettengell over in New Zealand, box eight rounds for a purse on Saturday next. Next Monday Keegan will endeavour to knock P. Boland out in six rounds for a purse of £30, given by M. Victor. The match will take place at the latter's Athletic Hall, Melbourne. Should Keegan fail to perform his task, his opponent is to receive " the purse." In a match at Sandhurst the other day of putting the 561b weight, D. Considine put it 19ft 2in ; but J. Malone succeeding in sending the weight lin further, won the stakes. Last Tuesday the second deposit of £25 a side was made good in the Cannon and Connor wreatling match, which is for £200 a side. The conditions are the best of three falls, GrsecoRoman style. Cannon is being trained by Christol, and Connor by Rafferty and Sullivan.

BICYCLING.

I hear that a match between Libeau and J. Eoffe is being arranged for the championship of Australia. A 20-mile contest, horses v. bicycles, came off on Saturday last at Ashfield, near Sydney. The horses won easily by a mile and a-half. On Saturday next a 50-mile road race will take place under the auspices of the Melbourne Club. The start will be at Kyneton, and the limit man will be sent away at 1 o'clock. The entry is a very numerous one. AQUATICS. Since my last another rowing championship has been lost and won. On the 11th inst. Peter Kemp and Tom Clifford met on the Parramatta river for £200 a side and the muchcoveted aquatic honour of the world. Kemp scaled list 21b, whilst his opponent brought down the beam a trifle over 13st. The holder of the championship was the favourite at odds on, and they were never in doubt, as Kemp won easily by six lengths. Both men narrowly escaped being run down by steamers, and unfortunately during the proceedings there was a collision between two of the latter, and a couple of men drowned by the sinking of one of the steamers. The following compilation shows the list of past champions and where the contests took place :—

Courses-a, Westminster to Hammersmith Bridge, QJiaroes ; b. Putney to Mortlake, Thames, four miles aid a-quarter ; c, Parramatta, Charity Point to the Brothers, Sydney, three miles 330 yds; d, Tyne, Mansion House to Scotswood Suspension Bridge, three miles 760yds j c, Point of Pines, Boston, U.S.A., three miles with a turn ; f, Oxenberg, St. Lawrence, Chnada, four miles ; g, Nepean, New South Wales, fcoree miles 330 yds.

By the above table it will be observed that Beach and Hanlan each won seven matches, and the latter was successful three times against Laycock, an Australian, whilst Beach was victorious the same number of times against Hanlan. Sort of even play like, and a bit in favour of the retired Beach, who has made his bit and kept it, whilst the Canadian has to regain his lost laurels and money. In the evening, after the match, the most of the persons concerned in rowing met at Lee's Hotel, where the usual high talk was indulged in. Clifford said he had done his best, and could do no more. He believed that Kemp would beat any man. The latter stated that his win showed that Beach had not acted unwisely in handing him over the championship. No one knew better than Beach what he could do, and the ex-champion knew he coisld retain the fhampionship. Kemp said he was now prepared row Hanlan or any other man in tho world

for £500 a side. It was then agreed that the stake for the forthcoming match be for that sum.

Beach, before the proceedings terminated, said he should like to make a few remarks anent the champion and himself. When he handed that title over to Kemp, he knew perfectly well what he was about, and also that Kemp could hold the title.

For the match to have taken place on the Clarence river on the 25th inst. between Hanlan and Neilson, the former, in view of his engagements with Kemp and Trickett, has forfeited his deposit of £20. Neilson would have liked to have gone on with the match, and very naturally complains of being humbugged. They will, however, meet later on. Hearn's visit to Sydney did not prove a remunerative one, and he has gone back to New Zealand. Tho intercolonial eight-oared race will be rowed on the Saltwater river on the 21st of April. CRICKET. The combined English team met Australia on the N.S.W. Association ground on Monday week. It can scarcely be termed an Australian Eleven, however, seeing that there were only three Victorians in the team and no South Australians. The match was concluded on Wednesday, and resulted in a victory for the Combined by 126 runs. Lilly white's team commenced a match against an Eighteen of Newcastle on Thursday last. The former won the toss and went in first, their score totalling 226, Briggs making 80. The local men replied with 107 in their first innings, and following on scored 222 runs in their second essay. In a shower of rain the Englishmen went to the wickets, and when time was called had made 42. The match therefore resulted in a draw in favour of the visitors.

On Friday last Mr Vernon's Eleven met a similar number of the New South Wales. The captain of the former team won the toss, and elected to send his men in first, who remained at the wickets the whole day for the loss of seven wickets, W. W. Read being responsible for 119, run out. On Saturday the total reached 337 before the last man, Rawlin, was caught. The New South Wales team only made 193. The inclusion of C. Bannerman is noted.

The intercolonial match between South Australia and Victoria was commenced on Friday last, and ended in the crushing defeat of the Victorians. Geo Giffen made the fine score of 166 for S.A j who scored 407 in their only innings. During the interval in the M.C.C. English Eleven and New South Wales match on Saturday last Moses was presented with a valuable gold watch, suitably inscribed, subscribed for by friends and admirers in appreciation of his merit as a cricketer, and especially for his recent 297, not out, in the intercolonial match.

On Saturday afternoon, whilst some boys were playing cricket at South Williamstown, one of them playfully, when the ends were being changed, threw a stone at Henry Wood, aged 12, who was acting as one of the umpires, and struck him behind the ear, with the result that Wood's skull waß fractured, and he died several hours afterwards. At the inquest it was shown that George Laidlaw,aged 9, accidentally inflicted the injuries. On the Adelaide Oval on Saturday week G. Giffen, for Norwood, took eight Hindmarsh wickets for 22 rnns. The other two men were run out.

Frank Allan, one of our old-time bowlers, has evidently not lost all form, nor is his left hand void of some of its cunning. Playing with Warraambool against Camperdown on Saturday week, he clean bowled seven and got one 1.b.w., and all for 19 runs. Three wickets were secured with four successive balls.

The members of the English cricketing teams having expressed a wish to see the Australasian game of football played, it has been determined to gratify their desire. The contending teams will be the Melbourne and Geelong, and the game will be contested probably on the evening of the 10th of March on the Melbourne Cricket ground. Mr Stoddart, one of Mr Vernon's eleven, will play with the Melbourne team. Ihe thing will be a novelty during the summer months, and will likely be very enjoyable for the spectators — but what about the players ? Sultry, to say the least of it. RIFLE SHOOTING. On Saturday last the shooting in conneotion with the Centennial rifle matches in Sydney was brought to a close. Most interest was centred in the Centennial teams match, and the firing occupied the whole of the afternoon. The ranges were 300, 500, and 600 yds, the prizes for the winning team being £100 aggregate. The totals at the three ranges were— New South Wales, 1423 points ; South Australia, 1387 points ; Queensland, 1377 points ; Tasmania, 1346 points ; Victoria, 1329 points. New South Wales thus won by 36 points. The prizes were paid over during the afternoon, and when Mr F. Page, Victoria, the winner of the grand Centennial match prize of £100 and gold medal of the association, returned to pavilion he was greeted with a most enthusiastic and demonstrative reception. YACHTING. The race for Lord Brassey's cup, under the auspices of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, having to be resailed, was contested on Saturday last. The handicaps were as follow : — Era, scratch ; Sirocco, 30min ; loknthe, Sao, and Assegai, each 50min. The finished times were as follow :— Era, 4h 35min 15sec ; Sirocco, 5h 16min ; Sao, 5h 27min. Thus the Era wins Lord Brassey's cup, and the Sao the race for Commodore Milford's trophy. The Centennial Regatta, to be held in Hobson's Bay, promises to be a great success, as close upon £3000 has already been subscribed for prizes. Every description of boat and yacht have been provided for in the lengthy programme. COURSING. Tho season will soon be in full swing again. The South Australian Club have notified their opening meet for the 20th March. A new club under the title of the Melbourne is being formed, the intention of the new body being to course in the open, a welcome innovation after so much enclosed coursing. Mr Andrew Chirnside has not only granted the use of the paddocks on the Werribee estate near the bay, but also promised to preserve the hares. The first meeting will be held in April next.

Year. Champion. Loser. Time. .831... .846... .852... .854... 857... .859... 1865... :808... m.. .875... 187«5... .877... 1879... 1880... ;881... £82... 1882... !883... L-J83... L«B<t... L 584... L 885... L 885...1 L 385... 1386...: L 386... L 887... L 888... Charles Campbell Robert Coombes ... Thomas Cole Jas. Messenger ... Henry Kelly Robert Chambers Henry Kelly James Renforth ... J. H. Sadler J. H. Sadler Edward Trickett... Kdwnrd Trickett... Edward Trinketfc... Kdward Hanlau ... Kdward Hanlan ... Bdward Hanlan ... Hdward Hanlan ... Edward Hanlan ... Edward Hanlan ... Edward Hanlan ... William Bench ... William Brach ... William Beach ... William Beach ... William Beach ... William Brach ... William Beach ... Peter Kemp 0. Williams 0. Campbell R. Goombes Thomas 0010 Jas. Messenger ... H. Kelly U. Chambers H. Kelly B. Bagnall It. W. Boyd J. H. Sadler Michael Bush ... E. C. Laycock ... Edward Trickett B. C. Laycock ... R. W. Boyd B. Trickett J. L. Kennedy ... Wallace Koss E. C. Lavcock ... Edward if nnlan... Thos. Clifford ... Edward Hanlan ... Neil Matterson ... J. Gaudaur Wallace Robs ...j Edward Hanlan... Thomas Clifford... — a 20.15 b 25.15 b 24.25 li 24.30 b 25.25 b 23.36 b 23.15 b 24.15 b 28.5 b 24.25 b 23.25 b 22.25 c 26.12 c 25.41 b 21.25 d 28. 0 b 19. 4 c 27.57 t 22.45 g 20.28 c 26. 1 c 22.51 C 22.46 t 23. 2 b 19.55J g 23.47* c