AUCKLAND ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 26

AUCKLAND ITEMS.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobebspondent.) Auckland, August 18.

At a meeting of the A.R.O. Committee, held yesterday[afternoon,the programmes for the meetings to be held during the forthcoming season were submitted by the committee appointed to frame the samo, and were adopted. The total amount propoied to be given in added monoy is £8735, which turn has been distributed as follows :— First Spring, £525; second Spring, £1310; ISummer, £3910; Autumn. £1750 ; Winter, £1240. The added money to the Auckland Cup remains at £600 ; but at the Winter gathering, which is this year to have the more ambitious title cf the North New Zealand Grand National Stfc9p!ectaase meeting, there are two noteworthy increases— namely, in the Hurdle Race, the added money of which hai gone up from lOOsovs to 25080V8, and the Great Northern Steeplechase from 300sovs to 400a'ov8. Altogether Ihorßeowners 'have been very liberally provided for, and it is worthy of note that the entrance and acceptance fres have in many cases been reduced. Compared with last year the added money

shows an increase of £1430. Owing to the agricultural show being fixed for 7th November it was decided to alter the date of the Spring meeting to Mocday the 9th and Tuesday the 10th November, and In connection with this meeting it was resolved, as Mr Evett could not attend to witness the racing, that Mr W. Knight be appointed to frame the handicaps for the third' day's raoing. This action of the committee has given much satisfaction. It is most unfair to Mr Evett to ask him to handicap by telegraph when he hat not witnessed the raoing. The report and balance Bheet presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the Auckland Pony and Trotting Olub it of a satisfactory character, showing that the club has the nice little nest egg of £435 in hand. The report concludes :- xour committee have deoided that at the financial success of the olub hat been so great it is advisable to Increase the atakes very tubstantially for the prejent season, and intend giving an average of*about £400 per diem in stakes, including one race ineaoh days programme, of at least £100; and at .the Summer meeting It is their Intention to Increase the amount of added money to the Auckland Trotting Cup by making it £200. Oar reasons for theseactions are to give horteowners the full advantage of the club • great success, and in the hope that the increased stakes will be the means of bringing out a better class of horses." Mestrs Edward Halstead. J. Martin, W. Adams, and Messrt T. MEwen, S. O. Coulton, and,E. M. Auge were appointed to fill vaoanclei on thefcommittee.i At the recent conference in Wellington it will be remembered that a bit of a set was made on trotting clubs iooluding pony races in their programmes, and a letter ,wae addressed to the Colonial Secretary requesting him not to grant the right to use the totalisator to any trotting club whioh includes any other than trotting races in its programmes. The Auckland Club have evidently determined to have a trial of strength on the matter, and the programme issued foi their Spring meeting contains several pony races. The racing authorities of the metropolitan clubs teem to be very sure that the Colonial Seoretary will decline to grant the totalisator permit to the olub, but it will not surprise many to find them wrong in that respect. Not a little Interest is attaoked to the outcome of this matter, as should pony raoes be ruled out of trotting programmes it would be a serious blow to Auckland. . The first of the progeny of the imported Castor made its appearance at Wellington Park yesterday, Veration. the daughter of Patriarch and Pidei, produolng a filly to the son of Zealot. Maid of Athol (dam of Scots Grey) has foaled a fine filly to Nordenfeldt. H. Harrison last week disposed of Raglan to Mr G. Barr of Onehunga, the price paid for the son of Cap-a-pie being 130gs. He goes to the stud this seaion.