OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1957, 23 May 1889, Page 25

OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

(Feom Oub Own Cobbespondhkt.) Auckland, May 21. . The handicaps issued by Mr Evett for the i two principal events of the A.B.C. Winter | meeting appear to have given pretty general ; satisfaction, and there seems every prospect of a good acceptance in each race., In the Great Autumn Steeplechase, Guy Fawkes (10.5), Oddfellow (10.0), and Recruit (10.4) appear to me to stand out as the most' likely to supply the winner. For the chance of the firstnamed I have a great liking, for I am fully persuaded that he should have won the Autumn steeplechase, ran at Ellerslie last month, instead of his stablemate Orangeman. Oddfellow is thought to be far too leniently treated with 10.0, and if he is as good as represented must take a Ideal of beating witt such a nice impost. In the Hurdle race, Orangeman (10.12), Oddfellow (10.6), and Armourer (10.2) read about the best, but this event has a very open appearance. < ; A little wagering is being done over the meet- ] ing. Guy Fawkes may be said to be favourite j for the Steeplechase at 4 to 1, but business is pretty well confined to the double event, 15 to 1 being offered on the field. 11l lack still dogs the footsteps of the New Zealand Stud Company. Onyx (dam of Nordenieldt) last week slipped her foal (a colt to St. Leger). I understand that Mersey (dam of Carbine) has missed to St. Leger. Sylvia (dam of Martini-Henri) is in foal to St. Leger, but there are, I understand, doubts as to her carrying the foal the full time. | The Auckland- Coursing Club Pony 'and Trotting meeting at Epsom on Saturday last was a very poor affair, and ' there were only about a couple of hundred persons present. However, about £532 was passed through the machine, so that the club, though deriving very little benefit from holding the meeting, will not suffer a loss. The principal event— the Plumpton Park Cup, of 25sovs, for ponies 14-2 and under, one mile— was ! won by Bigness (11.7), who started a warm favourite and beat seven others. I believe that the Sydney market was recently | sounded with regard to Corunna's price for the V.R.C. Derby, when 100 to 10 was the best offer j about the half brother to Lochiel. , When the Takapuna Jockey Club advertised the Compulsory Stakes, of SOsovs, to be ran at | their meeting in order to comply with the order of the metropolitan clubs for an increase of added money, it was the general impression that the conditions attached to the race were so cunningly framed as to praotically get the dub out of paying the stakes away,' and; it was understood that only two horses were eligible to compete. The entries, however, number five, but it is freely stated that the; " riuging-in process " has been id operation, and that there is really only one horse eligible to compete if the conditions are fulfilled. . . AQUATICS. \ The aquatic carnival, organised by the Auckland Rowing Association, m honour of Edward Hanlan, the great oarsman, took place at Lake Takapuna on Saturday afternoon. The first race was for whaleboats, and three crews started — North Shore, City, and Waitemata, They were despatched te an even start by Captain Mearin, and a good contest ensued.* The, Waitemata forged ahead- and finally won with ease. The crew were :—A. Batley, R. Moore, G. Barrett, G. Collins, E. Moore, and G. Moore (steer oar). Mr Hanlan then got into his boat, a beautifullyfinished racing shell, just imported from Sydney by Captain W. F. Farquahar, who kindly lent it to the ex-champion for his exhibi* tion. In the Scullers' Handicap, Hanlan conceded Walter Bailey, of the Waitemata Club (the only 'local sculler who came to the point), a start of lOsec, gained steadily on

him, bat as his skiff was not up to his weight' he could not quite catch Bailey, who cowed in excellent style and won after a olose finish, The " Canadian wonder " then paddled down opposite to the landing, and gave an exhibition of trick rowing. A gig race 1 between crews representing ' ' the various ' local dabs then took place; six crews competed, theWaitemate boat arriving just, too late, for the start. A spirited contest ensued, bat about half way the North Shore established a good lead and won with a good deal in hand, St. George being second, and West End third. The winning crew were : — Mat Eeefe, A. Sims, Michael Eeefe, A. Logan, Alex. Logan, (cox). Hanlan's feat of walking on . the water was bat a partial success, as the shoes used, though amply buoyant in salt water, proved insufficient to sustain his weight in the dead water of the lake. He managed to progress some 20yds, and his upset in the water was hailed with loud laughter. Hanlan. left by, the Zealandia for 'Frisco. Hanlan stated that he hoped to be back in New Zealand in the, course of another year, and would, if possible, bring with him a rower good enough to take back the championship to America. . „ Mr Logan has found a purchaser for his handsome little yacht Akarana, which, spice she left this port some, six months ago,, has established an excellent reputation in Australian waters. The purchaser is Mr Abrahams, chemist, of George street, Sydney, and the Akarana niost probably will for the future have many additional opportunities of trying her speed againqt the Sydney and Melbourne oraoks.