D.J.C. AND NORTHERN OWNERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1907, 28 August 1890, Page 26

D.J.C. AND NORTHERN OWNERS.

It will be seen by the following correspondence that the misunderstanding in connection with the handicapping at the Exhibition has at last been settled. Mr Stead's letter is manly and sportsmanlike in tone, and is accepted by the committee in the same spirit ; indeed, the result is honourable to all concerned, and will be gladly received by the public generally, who regretted the absenoe of Mr Stead's colours at our meetings.

We understand the committee of the D. J.C. has withdrawn the notioe to Mr Dowse (the handicapper) to resign or commence an action to clear his oharaoter. Mr Stead's acquiescence in the committee's decision of 26th May, exonerating Mr Dowse from any insinuation as to want of integrity, malpraotice, or irregularities in handicapping (other than possible errors in judgment), seems amply sufficieut to confirm the confidence of the publio in the olub's official handicapper.

Ohrlstchuroh, August 20, 1890. The Chairman of Committee Dunedin Jookey Club, Dunedin. Dear Sir, -As you are aware, mutual friends have been mediating for some time past with a view to bring about an amicable settlement of the difficulty between your eommlttee and tbe owners with whom I am associated. With a sincere desire to give effect to their efforts, I now address you, feeling that it will remove the friction whioh, if prolonged, must prove injurious to the cause of racing generally. I may at once say that I never intended to imply any connivance on the part of the oommittee of the club either collectively or individually with any irregulaiities, nor to acouse the committee either colleotively or individually of sympathy with any malprnotloe, and if any words of mine unintentionally conveyjsuch au idea I have no hesitation in unreiervedly withdrawing them . With regard to the handicapping at the Exhibition meeting, whioh has led to the unfortunate difference between your committee and the owners with whom I am associated, I feel bound to say that we oonsidoredit most uusatisfaotory, and nothing has since transpired to alter our opinion. Your committee, however, having held an inquiry, decided that the irregularities complained of were simply errors of judgment, and in my letter of June 21 1 intended to convey our acceptance of the committee's deoision, but the tenor of this letter appears to have been misunderstood. I therefore desire to repeat that I feel justified, on behalf of the owners interested, inoludiug myself, in accepting your committee's decision; and this renders further discussion unnecessary as to the interpretation to be placed on expressions used in past correspondence. I sincerely hope that this assurance will enable us to commence the new racing season with a renewal of ' our former friendly relations, without whioh racing would cease to be a pleasure.— Believe me to be sincerely yours. Q.Q. Stkad.

Dunedin, 35th August. G. G. Stead, Esq., Ohristohurch. Dear Sir,— Your letter of the 20th inst. has been duly considered at a speoial meeting of the committee of my olub, and I am instructed to oonvey to you the committee's unanimous acceptance of your disclaimer of any intention of imputing the committee, or any individual member thereof, with connivance or sympathy with any supposed irregularities or malpractices at the olub's Exhibition meeting held in November last ; and that your acceptance of the committee's decision exonerating the handlcapper, after inquiry, from conipiraoy with a particular stable or other malpractice is reoeived as an assurance that you honourably confirm suoh deoision, and that the disorepanoles complained of were simply possible errors of judgment. . I am further to state that my committee regard these asiuranoes as an amicable and honourable removal of all the misunderstanding whioh has for some time existed between it and yourself and the other owners acting with you, and it was unanimously resolved to oordlally reoiprooate the wish that our former friendly relations may be fully restored.— l am, 40., Bydnby Jambs, Seoretary Dunedin Jookey Olub.