AUCKLAND TOPICS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 29

AUCKLAND TOPICS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

An invitation to have a day's pheasant shooting and inspect the Paeroa Stud farm, found me in company with another well-known sport on board the s.s. Ohinemuri bound for Paeroa. The proprietor, Mr Nathaniel Dickey, better known as Nat Dickey, although a new aspirant to breeding honours, is well-known as a genuine good sportsman, who can take a defeat with almost as much grace as a win ; and as he has spared no expense in the selection of his stud horses, and having a few well bred matrons to start with, I accepted the invitation to visit his stud farm with much pleasure.

The estate comprises some 500 acres situated at the foot of the Te Aroha ranges and skirted by the Waihou river. The soil is a rich alluvial deposit, and judging from the condition of the stock, to say nothing of the magnificent crop of clover and other English - grasses, is a most suitable spot to form a stud farm. The homestead is a nice, substantial wooden dwelling of 10 rooms situated 'about the centre of the farm, which is managed solely by Mr Dickey and his sons.

Our first day was devoted to the long tails, of which we secured six and a-half brace. A good night's rest and up in the morning as fresh as larks, and after a hearty^breakfast we devote our spare time inspecting the thoroughbreds. Tetford, by Musket from Pungawerewere, the sire whos" services have been chiefly used, and to whom I am first introduced, has grown into a magnificent animal. A whole brown, with a blaze, standing 16.1 high, with immense power, all over looking lusty and well. His temper seems all that can be desired, for I find him quietly grazing in a small paddock near the house, where Mr Dickey's children are playing round him without the slightest fear. This horse was proved very fast, but had the misfortune to get into the hancjs of trainers who never seemed to be able to wind him thoroughly up, albeit he won several goodraces — viz., Wanganui Cup and Stakes, Victoria Handicap, A.R.C. Thames Plate, and Free and Flying Handicaps. Mr Dickey informed me he intended sending Tetford to Auckland for the coming season, there being «o few thoroughbred mares in the Thames district, and by way of giving him a chance of making a p&me for himself he intended offering the

norses services to mares (dams of winners) free. We next interviewed Radames, by Leolinus from L'Orient. Beautifully shaped," and a most taking horse to the eye, an excellent performer besides, being related to such fliers as Fraiicotte and Impulse, he would, if opportunity weregiven him, I feel sure make a name for ( himself as a sire. He is a rich brown in colour with a blaze, standing 15.5 high, with a lovely temper. He shows wonderfully muscular power all over, more especially in the gaskins, where he is tremendously Btrong. His services will be obtainable next season 'at the stud farm and surrounding districts: His stock so far, out of hack mares, are very highly spoken of,- which ought to ensure him a still further share of public patronag'6.

We next interview the matrons, the first to comje to meet us being 'the chestnut Lady Sterling, by Sterlingworth from Lady Elizabeth, by Terenga from Ladybird. This is a great, fine roomy mare, and has been mated with Tetford, to whom she shows every' sign of being in foal, and a result of this union should be both able to gallop and stay, A beautifullyshaped mare is Weasel, a chestnut daughter of Anteros and Zealandia, by Maroro from Toitois, by St. Aubyn. At her side was running a well-grown chestnut filly, showing any amouut of quality by Tetford, and if looks are any guide she contains another pledge of affection to the same sire. A handsome, immenseboned mare is the dark brown Virginia, by Resolution from Confidante, by Daydawn from Fides. A nice chestnut filly running at her side' claims the parentage of Tetford, .and has many of his racing points to commend her. Tetford has again been mated with this mare. Further afield we meet the blue roan Vixen, by Vortex from Gorgi, by Bishop of Osnaburgh from Althea. This mare was lately an inmate of the Wellington Park Stud, Mr Dickey having exchanged Lioness (by Leolinus from Miss Laura) for her. Vixen has a very symmetrical roan filly by Castor running at her side, and is in foal again to the same sire. In another paddock, quietly grazing, is St. Mary, a racey-like chestnut daughter of St. Leger and Weasel. She is about the smallest of St. Leger's get that I have yet seen, but inherits the dash of speed that is so noticeable in all his progeny. Browsing close by is a handsome brown filly by the Dauphin from Lioness — one of the long, low sort bearing the wellknown Traducer blaze, which she inherits through her sire. This filly looks like going fast, judging from a spin she treated us to.

lii another paddock we interview the yearlings. The first to come under notice is a fine raking brown by Tetford from Weasel, a tremendously powerful colt all over, with immense bone, and one that should worthily uphold the name of his graudsire Musket. Another strapping colt is the rich brown son of Cap^a-pie and Lady Sterling. He shows plenty of power, and if not fast enough on the flat should make a beau ideal steeplechaser. A nice| lengthy brown is the jfilly by Tetford from Virginia, and if looks go for anything she should be a rare traveller, being particularly well let down, with regular Musket quarters on her.

An adjournment was then made to the stables to interview the hurdle racer Try Fluke, by Puriri from a Traducer mare, and the steeplechaser Silvio, by Isaak Walton from Mokaumoka. The latter looks none the" worse for the tremendous cropper he came in the Autumn Steeplechase, and the old -veteran is now receiving a careful preparation with a view to annexing the A.R.C. Great Northern in June. The only other in training is Bulrush,, by ! Rad&mes from Weasel, who met with' an accident when being broken in which will always stand in his way-- in good; company, albeit he may pay his way at upcountry meetings. The whistle of the steamer is nOw heard in the distance, so wishing goodbye 'to Mr Dickey and family with many thanks for their hospitality, we hasten to the -wharf to catch the steamer. Of all cheap travelling I think the trip from Auckland to Paeora takes the Jpalm — 140 miles for 2s. This is the result' of an opposition company running in the trade. Both steamers left together at 1.4Q p.m., and part of the journey, where the river is narrow, we were, metaphorically speaking, shaking hands with the passengers in the other boat. It was a most exciting passage, as the boats are of equal speed, and after steaming the 75 miles home as one boat made fast the other had her bow against the wharf. In racing parlance it might fairly be termed a dead heat, and was about the best-contested race between two steamers I ever saw.

H. Harrison, trainer to Major George, informs me that he has started breaking in the Nelson—Tenambra colt, and has also decided not to geld him. You will remember I strongly urged this' course in my report of my visit to Wapiti, and' I am glad Harrison has followed the suggestion, as he is really a well made, handsome colt.

Tamar, by Tasman, from Waterwitch, lately the .property of Mr D. O'Brien, has been purchased by the gentleman whose norn de course is Mr Marangai, and will be the bearer of the Huia colours at the Takapuna meeting on the 30th May.

Mr Marangai has presented his race pony Assassin to Mr D. Stewart, of the Thames, who also owns the yearling filly by Nordenfeldt — Tres Deuce purchased at Major George's ' last sale, and which I had the pleasure of seeing last week at Harry Hickton's stables, at Ellerslie. This filly has grown wonderfully and filled out, and looks as if she will grow into a much grander mare than her full sister Namoa.

Dolosa, by Leolinus from Lure, in foal to Castor, has been purchased by Messrs^ Duder Brothers, of Devonport. I see ihc is entered for the Birthday races at Takapuna, which looks as if they intend racing her. I think this most injudicious, as at the Autumn meeting I heard more than one good judge say she was looking too heavy to race. Still a person can do what he likes with his own, but I would not care to give much for the foal.

Mr D. M'Kinnon, with the racehorses Lochness and Scot Free, arrived from Wellington on Saturday last. I have been invited to interview this stud, so more anon. MrF. N. Jones, owner of the trotters Rarus, Rover, Shamrock, and Sandgate, informs me that his horses will leave by the Tarawera next week for Wellington, and there await the Johnsonville handicaps. It is uncertain until then whether he will proceed as far as Dunedin, but he will for certain take his team to the Christchurch trotting fixtures.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club had a most exciting stag hunt last Wednesday. There were only a few present — viz., Messrs Wm. M'Loughlin (former master), D. H. Stewart, Dr Collins, and Mr Slanfield, of H.M.S. Ringarooma, the master, Tom Bremner, and the whip, Charley Goodman. The custom is to take the hounds out every morning. On this particular morning a try was made at Mr M . Loughlin's farm, where the Hunt Club have had a young stag running with the cows for the last- 12 months. No idea was entertained of his promising sport for some time, when Tom Brown with his 13£ couple of beauties were taken by surprise to see the pack start in full cry. Sure enough they were on the young stag, and away

he cleared, taking everything before him in splendid style— wire'fences or sft - stone walls were all the same, and for 40 miles he gave them a splendid' time of ' it over pretty rough country, until Mr M'Loughlin ordered the hounds to be whipped off. Mr Perceval, the master, was very .pleased, as the obtaining of a stag hja'd, been his idea for some considerable time,' and was delighted at the hounds having run §6 ifue. The club are in hopes they will have many a run from this stag. Tom Brown, the huntsman, tells me the hounds had no show with the stag. He cleared right away from them. Anyhow, those present say it was the best sport they have ever had, and loud were the lamentations of the " sports " who overslept themselves when they were informed of the run.