WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 31

WELLINGTON NOTES.

By Onlooker.

February 3.

A lack of condition necessitating a putting to grass for a short spell, I chose a little out-of-the-way corner of the Wairarapa aa the place, and this last week as the time. Papawai is a small native settlement back of Greytown, in the reclaimed (from the bush) portion of which a few Europeans have settled, and it was among these that I had the opportunity of seeing some goodlooking horseflesh. The Natives themselves have a good eye for a nice horse, and one or two of them have racing ambitions. Mr Jury has a couple of yearlings by Administrator, and Mr Harry Pratt (son of the southern member) also has three youngsters running on the banks of the Ruamahunga, but the nature of the Native is of such a half-done class that it is doubtful whether they will carry out their ambitions. The level-headedness of Mr "Dick" Tilson has done a great deal in improving the breeding of horses in the Wairarapa. Through Mr Tilson's enterprise, and his firm belief that the best is the cheapest, the Wairarapa can now boast some of the best records of the colony. For the last three seasons he has enabled breeders to use the thoroughbred Remington, and for two seasons the gentlemanly Lethe has also been at their disposal through the same enterprise. Remington, when I saw him, had just completed a big season, which had been closed with a full list, and consequently was not in the best of condition to look at, but for all that the beautiful bronze of his coat was 'a thing to admire and remember. I found him to be of a very gentle nature, and he is so well treated that even the youngest of the Tilson family can toddle beneath his belly without fear of harm. The bot scare was about, and the dreaded fly has taken so strong a liking to Remington that even in Wellington I heard the report that "Remington had the bot," but in speaking to Mr Tilson on the subject he said that although his horse was troubled with the fly, he himself had no fear of it, " for," says he, with a little care one need not fear the bot." Remington, who is 12 years old, was bred by the Auckland Stud Company, and is by Musket out of Rangi. He has produced a big list of winners, and every meeting brings out nis stock. The recent Wellington Racing Club's meeting witnessed a winner from Remington on each day in Tenby (Hack Hurdles), and Pumau came home on the second day in a similar event. Other winners who claim him as their sire are Musketeer, Mataweta, Waituna, Karamo, Deeming, Hoopla (who has lately been down Tinjaru way, but I fancy has now gone across Tasman Sea), Reek, Porepo, and others— a goodly list. Mr Tilson showed me a colt running in his paddock whioh promises to be the picture of his sire. The colt is out of an old Traduoer mare. Remington baa

produced some first-class hurdlers, which is not to be wondered at when we remember that from his mother's side he inherits some of the best jumping blood in New Zealand. Lethe, as ho jumps around full of the best of spirits, i 9 a perfect gentleman in appearance, although he also, like Remington, has just had a full season over in the JVlartinborougn district. With his black-bronze coat and beautitul head he " takes" instantly, and one cannot wonder at his being such a favourite. Lethe was bred by Dr Prins, of Canterbury, by Cadogan out of Siesta, and is consequently full brother to Dreamland, so well known in New Zealand, and is half-brother to Daydream, who has done so well in England lately. Lethe was owned by Messrs Hill and Poole, of Wanganui, who intended running him in the Newmarket Handicap, when he broke down, and so passed into Mr Tilson's hands for stud purposes, and he has every reason to be pleased with his speculation during the two years he has owned Lethe. lam told his yearlings are all looking well, and he has been a pretty sure foal-getter. The Budget says:— "A remarkable feature in the Forced Handicap at the Stratford races a few days ago was the winner being ridden 241b overweight, and without a saddle." On Tuesday Fair Agnes, dam of the well-known Master Agnes and others of goodly records and doughty deeds, was shot, as being too old for further use, the owner not having enough love for the old mare to spare her the oats and grass necessary for life ; and it reads rather queerly in this respect that her hoofs are to be mounted for Messrs Redwood, Tancred, and Corlett. At the Wellington Summer meeting T. Sheenan won £403 15s and trophy ; H. Lunn, £280 ss ; E. Halward, £152 ; J. A. Holmes, £123 103 ; G. Smith, £85 10s ; W. Rathbone, £85 10s ; I. Freeth, £61 15s ; G. Hunter, £G1 15s ; Hon. Captain Russell, £28 103 ; W. Douglas. £28 10a ; G. Knight, £23 15s ; R. Ross, £23 15s ; J. H. Prosser,£23lss. On Wednesday last Mr H. M. Lyon, secretary to the Wellington Racing Club, paid a visit to Otaki at the request of th.c Otaki Racing Club and when in that place of Maori-racing enthusiasts was made the recipient of a handsome present. It took the form of a splendidly-carved cup, cut out of a matai block, and a n'celywoiked mat. Mr Ropata Te Ao, M.11.R , made the presentation. A dance was given to celebrate the occasion, at which most of the residents in the district were present. Mr Lyon met with a great reception, and they gave him a real good time. This was the reward given Mr Lyon for the liberal help and counsel he has many times rendered the club.

A very interesting point cropped up at a recent meeting of the Wairarapa Racing Club. Mr I. Armstrong claimed second money (to be paid from the stakes) for his horse Vivacious in the Hack Hurdle Race on the second day, his contention being that though the horse fell and tho jockey was so injured as to be unable to remount he completed the race in the time specified by the Rules of Racing with the weight up, weighed in, and generally complied with the formula. Mr M'lCenzie, the owner of the winner (Kaika), on the other hand, it is understood, claimed the whole of the prize, denying that these conditions had been complied with, also stating that the judge had left the box when Vivacious came in. The committee of the club discussed the matter at length, and we believe decided to pay the amount claimed by Mr Armstrong. There can be no doubt that the latter'a claim was a perfectly valid one, says the Observer. Rule 109 of the Rules of Racing specifies that "No race shall exceed 20 minutes, and at the expiration of that time from the start the judge shall leave the box," Ac. In this instance the judge did leave the box before the expiration of the time specified, but an accredited steward of the club kept his eve on the watch, and we believe testified that Vivacious had not exceeded the allowance. Rule 187 providei that in the event of a rider being disabled a substitute of sufficient weight may ride a horse home, and in such an instance no penalty for overweight shall be exacted.

A meeting of the stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club was held last Saturday, when the treasurer's report showed a credit balance of £202 2i lOd. It was decided, after some discussion, to make some convenient building additions. It was resolved that in future the starter receive £5 per meeting, and the secretary reported sending the late handicapper (Mr Henry) a testimonial. It was decided to distribute £600 over the Easter meeting. The racecourse betting arrests made at the recent W.R.C. meeting— Willmore and M'Master —came up for judgment before Mr Martin, R.M., the other clay. In the hearing of M'Master's case, Acting-detective Gautley stated thafc he saw M'Master qn the racecourse on Anniversary Day. He was carrying a pag marked " B,ob M'Master, cash fielder," and leant against a, fence about 15 or 20 yards away frbni the totajis^tor, and made bets with various people. He had a clerk to enter the b.ets in a book. Most of the bets were made and pa}d out at th,e same place, and defendant was there for abou,t an hour. Jn reply to Mr Edwards, the witness said tfya't the only time he saw the defendant mp,ve from' $he fence was when a race was being run. Witness wag aware that a publip road ran through the racecourse, but could not say whether defendant w^s standing on the road when he wa,s arrested. The decision \ipon the two. cases, as given, by Mr Martin, means the total exclusion, of 'bookmakers from the racecourse. In t^he course of the case his Worship said his impression wa,s that the intention of the act was to put down betting in any frequented pla,ce. If a man advertised himself and induced people to come and bet with him, as the defendant had done, he A'\<i not think he need have a fixed place, and it would be sufficient if he were in an enclosed paddock. Mr Justice Hawkins, one of, the leading English authorities on criminal and common law, had laid it down that it was not necessary that a man should occupy any particular spot, and he (Mr Martin) would feel himself bound to follow that decision until our own courts had said that Mr Justice Hawkins was wrong. The eminent judge, in his opinion, dealt with this description of case exactly as the Legislature intended it should be dealt with. Mr Edwards said he had a defence on the merits, and he called Asher Cohen, Cecil Murray, William Ballam, Charles Woods, and the defendant himself, with the view of showing that the bets were not made in a fixed place, but in different parts of the outside paddock. Defendant admitted that his bag and placard were for the purpose of advertising his business. Mr Edwards urged that a fine would meet the case, it'having been shown in evidence that M'Master and Willmore were only two of a number of cash bettors who were on the course the same day. lie assumed the police had brought the cases as a test, and only desired a conviction as a warning to others. His Worship, in giving judgment in both cases, said the Legislature had marked its opinion of this class of offence by fixing the very heavy penalty of a fine not exceeding £100, or six months' imprisonment. He could not impose a nominal fine in these cases. The two defendants apparently asserted a right to do what they were doing, because though they were warned they continued the offence. This was tlis first case within his recollection in which a bookmaker had been convicted unless his position on the course was marked by an umbrella or something of the sort. He proposed following the example of Mr Robinson, R.M., a magistrate of far greater experience than himself, in another case under the same statute, when the first fine was made one of £10. At the same time he hoped the defendants would appeal. It was most important to the jockey clubs, the public, u,nA the bookmakers theruselyes that this gaming question should be definitely decided, because it was a s.eriouß one. If the Supreme Court upheld his present decision, in all subsequent cases which came before him he would, unless there were some extraordinary circumstances to palliate them, inflict imprisonment without the option of a fine. He thought it was only right to let the bookmakers know this. E,ach defendant would be fined £10, with costs. The fines and coats were paid forthwith. In notifying Mr A. King that he has been appointed handicapper to the club, the secretary of the Wairarapa Racing Club sends Mr King the testimony of the club upon his past handicapping. The woathor was .fine, and thero was a good attendance at the Hack meeting of the Pungarehu Club (Manawatu). Fauntleroy and Petoi ran a dead, heat for the Maiden Plate, paying dividends

of £2 3s and £5 13s respectively, and in the run off Petoi won by a head, returning backers 2gs. Dick and Austral were the only starters for the Hurdles, Dick winning and paying £2 9a. Three went for the Flying, Golden Lock getting there first to the tune of £2 12g for speculators. Kiora beat sax others for the Welter ; dividend, £S 14s. In the Cup eight ran, the result beingBell 1, Itch 2, Austral 3. Dividend, £6 16s. Two guineas were paid to backers of The Twin in the Selling Race, and in the Pahotu Stakes Australasia came in first, and paid a dividend of £9 ss. Mr Ellingham, of To Aute, the well-known owner who rode Dainty in the Hurdle Race at the Wairoa meeting and had his leg broken through Dainty coming down, was taken to the hospital, where his injuries were found to be more serious than was at first anticipated. He is now making excellent recovery. Writing of the Wairoa meeting reminds mo that the croBS-country rider E. Gilpin acted as starter at that meeting, and so well did he do his duties that the club has given him a flattering testimonial.

At this same meeting there was an incident with a sneiler, who, in spite of threats, erected and stood by a table for the carrying on of his biz. The "moveon" order was smiled at, so that the club authorities put him up to the hammer dodge and smashed his table to matchwood. Ho never smiled again.

Mr F. R. Jackson tells the Wanganui Chronicle that he has declined to act as judge to the newlyformed trotting club. The Wanganui Trotting Club is negotiating with the Wanganui Jockey Club for the use of the atter club's course.