WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2198, 16 April 1896, Page 31

WELLINGTON NOTES.

By Onlookek.

April 9. • .

Dull enough in our own immediate circl< sportsmen have found their Eastertide, but- waj back tn the boundaries of the province there haa been enough and to spare of racing—indeed, some Manawatus would have liked to halve themselves to get a portion of their enjoyment in the Wai« rarapa, whilst Wairarapararians—looks a funny word that, eh? —would have been delighted to return tne compliment. This is a roundabout way of saying that we havo had race meetings at Feilding (in the former district) and at Tauherenikau (m the Wairarapa Vnlley). You will have had your .Press Association re« ports and results of both fixtures, so it is unnecessary to recapitulate. It may strike some of your readers as being odd that such difference! should be observable in two meetings so close to Wellington as that the totalisator was used at Feild> ing and the man with book at Tauherenikau. Those who are constant readers of " Mazeppa's" notes and this column will not "need to be told that it is " all »long of " the now-historic Masterton-Opaki Incident, in connection with wh'ch I may mention that the secretary of the Wellington Racing Club tells me that racing in Wellington will be as dead as a training track after a flood during the winter—if we except the faint shadow of sporting life revived in the coming meeting of th« Wellington Trotting Club at Miraraar Park. It has been a most peculiar expsrience to read in the Wairarapa meeting—Betting: 2 to 1 Revo, lution, 5 to 2 Sea Serpentj 6 to 1 Prince Cole, *c We were wont to read—Dividead, £2 6s. Speaking of dividends, just take a glance at those for the events during the two days' racing at Feilding on Monday and Tuesday of this week. First day—£4 6s, £4195, £4 7s, £25 12s, £2 6s, £15125; second day—£l7 I««, £11 149, £8, £6 13s. m ' -' I noticeHthat the Napier News, after giving up three parts of its back page one aay this week to sporting news and results, does a big fat grumble, " regretting we have to do so," and then goes on muttering thusly : —" It is not too much te say that this colony Is rapidly becoming the breeding ground of a race ot gamblers, and unless something be done to check the evil, we shall awake to the knowledge that we who have sown the wind may reap the whirlwind. The agitat'on against drink is made much of, and the evils of the drink traffic are discussed and condemned, while the whole colony is suffering from a very much worse evil in the shape of gambling. It has invaded every department of sport and dominates every town and village in the colony. Trade suffers in consequence, as also the moral fibre of the people." If it doesn't like it, why doesn't tlie News cut it out? . . Of course the back blocks have had their little but enjoyable meetings. At Patea the folk bad a good time, and the bare results were :—Hurdles: Conspiracy 1; dividend, £5 17s. In this event Docility was first past the post, but Stevens, the rider, struck the rider of Tell Tale during the running, and on a protest being made and inquired into Docility loat the prize and Stevens got a sentence of disqualification for three years. Flyirg Handicap: Kawaka 1; dividend, £2175. Catch Weights: St. Vincent 1; no "dividend reoorded. Patea Handicap : Yoltigeur 1, Fish Oh 2, Novelty 3; dividend, £2 Bs. Farmers' Plate: Bilbah 1; dividend, £3 12s. Alton Handicap: Errand Boy 1; dividend, £3163. Post Stakes : St. Vincent Is~ dividend, £118s. On 'Wednesday, the 29th met., and Saturday. May 2, Miramar Park will see all the gaiety and liveliness and excitement'*of a trotting meeting, under the auspices of the Wellington Trot Club. A programme of coven events for each day has been set forth, for which close upon 400sov« in" stakes have been allotted, £20j3elng the " carrot" held before owners' noses in one-half the 'events, £75 being the tip-topper and £15 the other extreme. With the growth in popularity of this sport, and the killing of the winter programme of the Earing Club, the Trotting Club ought to have a good time in their coming meeting. The third horae (Trentham) in the Sydney Cup has fallen to a Wellingtonian in Benson's sweep. Should it turn out that the list filled up, then Me M'lutyre will receive something close upon 200Csov« for hb investment.

Oa Tuesday Sir Geoige Grey was 84 years «£ age. Lopg may the veteran live I