CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2260, 24 June 1897, Page 33

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Br M. Quay.

Tho nominations received by Mr Wanklyn on Friday last for the Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdle Race are quite as good as could have been expected by those who had taken the trouble to look over the names of animals iv the colony likely to be competitors. Mr Douglas has named Mutiny, who twice won the Steeplechase, and although this fine juniper is sure to be top weight, he knows the country so well and is such a great stayer that he cannot be ignored no matter what weight tie get* in rejson. Mutiny is one of the few horses in the colony able to negotiate the Riccarton country without trouble or mistake, and I would give him a great chance even with 13.0 on his back. The other animals engaged who have already negotiated the course are Kingswood, Dundonald, Gillie, Booties, Te Kooti, Dromedary, Nat, and, I think, Morag. Of these Gillie is unsound, and Te Kooti pulled up terribly sore after winning a steeplechase at Ilincarton. Dundonald greatly impressed me with his jumping ability, but Nat will scarcely stay out the journey— that is, judging of his last display here. Dromedary is a good mare of her class, aud can be depended upon to get round. Booties is a good jumper, but none too fast, and after Mutiny I would prefer Kingswood's chance. When this horse ran so fairly here he had only just been landed from the ateamer, and 1 «m inclined to reiterate the remark I made then— that Kingswood's visit would give him a look at our fences in view of next National. In the same stable is Levanter, who has two North New Zealand Grand Nationals to his credit, and is evidently a good horse. He jumped the Wanganui country all right also, but until I see a horse get over the fences at Riccarton I would not recommend him. Liberator won at Auckland, but how did he shape here? He was not himself on one occasion certainly, but he certainly never showed the slighte«t idea of what was expected of him. Liberator was a game horse, who would not refuse anything, but all his gameness was thrown away. It may be the same with Levanter, so I should like to see him do some local schooling. Morag is reported to be in good order ; and Highlander is evidently to be given every chance over the big country, as his name does not appear in the Hurdles. He is jumping post and rails, about the height of hurdles, decently. Perform has shown more than average ability in the north, and jeturned visitors speak well of him. Raogipai and Bradshaw are fair animals, the latter's win at Wanganui being a fair performance. Tally-ho ran so well in Auckland that her chance of scoring may be a rosy one, and aB to Dummy and Muscatel, I know but little. Rhino, Flirt, and St. Simon have' recently performed in the north, and itr is possible we have not *een the best of the St. Leger hoise. The other line -tre reported to be good jumpers, with si f*iv amount of pace. Violence, Ulaymore, Ulster, Kaitoa, and Freedom have done little or nothing over big fences, but The Friar must be a fairish horse. The Hurdle Race list disclose* many who are making their first appearanca in a hurdle race. Jewel, Agent-geueral, Arquebus, Quiltiri, Miisfire, Chaos, and Sippomeues are d\» South Island novice^ and a decent lot they are if able to jump. Donald M'Kinnon is entered only in the Hurdles. He is a good horse, but he will have something faster to defeat this year thtfn when he won the race. Blany of the entrants have keen really fan 1 horses on tbe flat, wotably Drury Lane, Sylvia PArk, Golden Plover, Monte Carlo. Slaideu, Sea Serpent, IJxHslopogaas, p enrosa, Voltigeuv. and Sylvanus. if some of these have learned to jump the race will be worth watching There are 39 entered for this prize of oSOaov*, and I should not be a bit surprised to see one of the debutants declared the winner. Of those trained here Quiltiri is jumping well,. and vrquebus is improving. Chaos is also shaping faitly well, but JLam afraid his. pins will not sstaud the jumping. Jewel is reported to be training and jumping b,s -.veil as her best friends could «*e3U« Agent-General is another peeuHarly-tiasned North Canterbury horse. He is by Ahna, so sbo°ld make a jumper. Hippomenes is nure to run well up if he has beeu persuaded to jump, and Miasfire oughtto turn out a good hurdler. The Beaufort Steeplechase nominations show the narue3 of Kawai, Undesirable Bill, Ulysses, Peter Simple, and Clarence, who are not entered for the longer race. Sir G. Cliffoid could not agree as to terms with a would-be buyer for his filly Goldleaf. Speculator is being given light taßks, Stratford's efforts to persuade the horse not meeting with much success. Bizarre is taken out every day in the lead. She should soon be all right again. Marquis of Zetland, in the same stable, has improved in appearance by his long rest. He is not at present doing much, buc as his owner has no fear of the horse going wrong again, he will soon put the colt into useful work. Murray-Aynsley has a youngster in his stable 3aid to be by Castor. Addington is standing up to his work in firstrate style. Would it not be as well for the committee of the Canterbury Trotting Club to lay a printed report on the table every year, the same way as they do the balance sheet? Moreover, why uot have the names of all the officials and members printed thereon, together with . all notices of motion and names of gentlemen willing to stand for election to any position? The rules might easily be altered bo that all such names would be before members at least a week before tlie meeting, so they could come prepared to vote. As it is now, first one name is proposed, then another, until the probables are almost exhausted. A printed report is the p-«per thing to have, and the same document could be made the medium of convej ing any suggestions thought necessary by the committee. Now these ideas are brought along at the last moment, nul members often vote in a direction entirely different to what they would had more time been given, thecj.

There are plenty of people who still express the opinion that the bouth Island Trotting Association did an injustice to the Canterbury Trotting Club when that body decided Loughlin's appeal iv favour of the appellant. The stewards of the club have still the coufldence of its members, as was instanced by the almost unnecessary vote in that direction after the stewards had nearly all been re-elected. The passing of such a. motion, however, does not by any meanß alter the fact that insufficient care was exercised by the stewards in their deliberations, and I ani forced to the opinioa that owners and horses are frequently unfairly condemned. I take it that no matter how wellmeaning and conscientious these gentlemen intend to act that very honesty is defeated by their own action. According to the evidence taken at the inquiry, and which was read over at the meetin? of the association, there was not one tittle to support the first clause of the indictment against Loughlin— that of auspicious running. Count was left at the post, and without taking the trouble to ask or inquire rrom outside sources whether the horse was in the habit of playiug up in a similar manner elsewhere. Loughlin is convicted on the charge of suspicious running. Was The Count left at the post, or did he start off all right? I say that The Count did not- trot one yard from the post, and that Loughlin could not apparently persuade the horse to trot until he was almost half-way down the back stretch. This was borne out by several witnesses before the association, and eince the association's decision a gentleman who occupied the judge's box, whence the horses start, affirms most positively thai the statement before the stewards that The Count got away all right is entirely at variance with fact. Now, then, which statement is correct? I was standing right in front of the starting line, and »m positive the horse did not trot off the mark. The gentleman I have alluded to was in au even better position, and as he is entirely unbiassed I take it that if he had been called to give evidence before the stewards it might have materially altered the verdict. Then we have the evidence of reliable men like It T. Mason, R. Cutts, and C. Korr, men who are accustomed to watch these things, and they also affirm that The Count, did not trot away properly from the line, besides describing the horse as the most unreliable brute they had ever kuowu. If these gentlemen had been called by Loughlin (that is, if the opportunity had been offered), surely the stewards could not have ignored their statements. But Loughlin was not asked for evidence ; indeed, the whole inquiry wub unduly hurried, and the decision bad. I can only see oue reason why the club disqualified Loughliu, the horse Count, and his owner Itett, and that was because Loughlin refused to allow the horse to be ridden by the club's nominee. Had the stewards inflicted the disqualification on this account they would have stood on firm ground, the only thing which could have been cavilled at being the severity of the sentence ; and although the stewards agree that' both counts must be taken together, I absolutely fail to see why a strong false charge should be added to a weak one to enable officials to inflict a severe punishment. Loughlin proved that he had invested £30 on the totalisator, and offered to prove that he plnce"d another £10 with a bookmaker. However, the club, perhaps rightly, takes no uotiGe of betting transactions, but they raii't fairly take wagering into account, or why ask, " Did you back your horse ? " Why put such a question if it ha/* no value? If it could be proved that Loughlin supported Ned Kelly, would not that have been distinct evidence that a fraud had been committed ? I say yes. Here was a faot that -£30 had been put on the totalisator on Lcugalin's feehalf, and that gentleman does not usua ly throw away money. It is immaterial to the stewards whether it was merely a, minnow to catch a ti-out— they bad no factß to show that it wa», therefore some little notice should be taken of the amount invested before disqualifying a man for 12 months. I cannot blame Loughlin for declining to allow his boi-j-e to be ridden by the club's nominee, because nothing whateve could have beeu gained tbeieby. Mr Matr states that it was intended to start the horse in another race, making the conditions similar, but Loughlin says he was not so informed. If a horss trotted at all, and af tei showing up decently kad suddenly stopped, the stewards would have been justified in bryiug the horse, notwithstanding the ambiguous, wording of the rule dealing with the matter To take a case. Honest Wilkes was in the leaf! for arnile in a two-mile race, and subsequently finished some distance in the rear. Why did not the stewards demand Honest Wilkes, seeiag that several of them stated bfifore the association ihat they were dissatisfied with the horse"3 perform ance? Then there would have beeu some reason in their action ; but to demand a borae that never trotted at all was simply arbitrary in the extreme. Supposing Count had trotted kindly when ridden by the club's selected, and had put up remarkably fast time, the fciewanls would have proved nothing. But what about the owner? Would it be fair to show up a mau's horse and go kill him in future handicaps? .*°fore the association Messr* Marr and Matseu argued strongly that the stewards were as weil or better able to judge than tbe witnesses who had been called, and of course there is a deal of common sense in their contention, most of the stewards binng experienced men. However, I think they wuuld have been infinitely better to have fined Loughlin for disobedience rather than disqualify him. I say this because the stewards had the power, although I doubt tha fairness of the request which would have led up to the fining. But if it was iibsurcl to fjisquilify Loughlin foe 12 tnonthF, what will be said when I say that one steward proposed that tlia sentence should be for life? Talk about making the punishment fit the crime, I wonder whit toe proposal would have bpen if Loughlin had bean .proved to have perpstrated a Benou* fraud ? In conclusion, I can only state that 1 cannot say whether the -stewards were right, but I can say that on the evidence before the association that boiy could scarcely hay« avoided upholding Loughlin's appeal, and I am quite in accord with ibai decision. It would have been preferable, perhaps, to send the whole case back to the Canterbury Trotting Club, and I am pleased to see that the association did this in another case where fresh evidence had been forthcoming. Btfore concluding, I rnußt say that it would be fairer to all concerned if gentlemen who had sat in judgment as stewards did not vote as delegates on thu association. Almost invariably their votes are the ?ame, and the whole system of appeal courts show that it is not usual. Ido not fancy delegates themselves are aDxious to so act. The chairman of the S. I T.A. ruled that a delegate could sit and vote on any case sent by his club to the association. This should be decided at the forthcoming conference. The Houth Island Trotting Association have commenced their task of revising the rules governing trotting, and seemed to be getting through a good deal of work. It would not greatly interest my readers to chronicle the proposals submitted, but I hope some of them will become law. Very little speculation was indulged in here in connection with the first day's racing at Tahuna Park. Professor Bristol, who is at present showing what his trained animals can do, paid a visit to Mr Mace's establishment at New Brighton on Tue&jay, and expressed himself as highly pleased with all he saw there. The professor took an especial fancy to the stallion Mambrino Abdallah (the champion pony) and Brooklyn. The Chokebore trainer, IS. Outts, has his string looking and travelling remarkably well, Choroicl aud the Apremont — Dudu colt especially so. Norman, the roan trotter, is now, after many j changes and occasionally hauling a cab, gone into M'Millan's stable at Heathcote. The same trainer has also got the two year-old colt The Builder, by Specification out of a Dioniedes xnare. Mr L. Matson, representing the Canterbury Trotting Club on the Trotting Association, stated at the latter's meeting that at the stewards' inquiry) on the ground he had been in favour of giving Loughlin the benefit of any doubt that might exist. This statement seemed somewhat inconsistent with Mr Matsou's action when the appeal by Loughlin was being considered, as this gentleman propo&ed that the appeal be dismissed, and voted therefore. I certainly think Mr Matson made i mistake in acting as he did. At the same rime I believe it was done under the honest conviction that his first duty was to his club, and that he was loyally bound i to vote as did, the majority of the stewards,

I think Mr Matson will admit that his position was illogical. Moreover, his club can have no desire to see him sacrifice his opinions on account of loyalty to its members. However, so long as thin gentleman honebtly tries to do that which he conoeives to be right he will not go far wrong, even admitting that in this case he made » mistake, though, fortunately, without injuring Loughlin. The remarks which fell from several members of the C T.C. as to the good services rendered to the club by Mr A. I. Rattray (secretary), Mr O. O'Connor (starter), Mr H. Brinkman (handicapper), Mr Reynolds (timekeeper), and to " Old Dick " (the well-known caretaker) were quite deserved, although 1 have no doubt the caretaker could do better with a few more ashes, for, to use his own words, " you can't make tracks without material." The club can well afford to supply these cinders, and I am surprised that they have not done so. Mr J. Perkins, the president of the C.T.C., was also the recipient of some flattering remarks, and although I have frequently crossed swords with him, 'I feel sure that he has always conscientiously tried to do his best for the clulu. A little new blood was imported into the committee, and this should do good, although the retiring members had done a lot of work for the club. At a special meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club on Tuesday afternoon the following resolution was confirmed :—": — " That the following new rule be added to the rules of the clvb — viz., Rule 20a : ' Not less than seven days befora the annual general meeting the socretaiy shall forward to each member of the club a voting paper with the names of members proposed as stewards, committee, and officers of the club ; such voting paper to be returned, duly completed, to the secretary, at the club's looms, for deposit in the ballot box not later than the hour appointed for holding the said meeting. I hear there is a movement on foot for the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, New Brighton Trotting Club, and the Canterbury Trotting Club to amalgamate for the purpose of renting large and commodious premises for the transaction of their business. I am quite sure the patrons of the clubs will be only too pleased to hear that the proposal has been adopted. The present rooms are somewhat out of the way, and if new ones were taken it would be a great boon to all concerned, especially to those who object to nominations and acceptances being taken in a publichouse. The annual meeting of the Amherley Steeplechase Club was held at the Crown Hotel, Amberley, on Monday. Mr F. Courage, president, occupied the chair, and there were 18 members present. The balance sheet showed that the receipts and subscriptions had amounted to £93 I7s ; nominations and acceptances, £66 15s ; totalizator, £94 3s ; sale of priviliges, £17 14s ; sundries, £6 16s 4d ; balance from last year, £114 Ss 9d ;— total, £i 23 8* 4d. Expenditure : Stakes, £171 ; working expenses, £i>7 10s 4d ; sundry expenses, £60 Is ;— total, £?9S 11s 4d. Credit balance, £124 17s ;I in nilitios, nil. Tfaft balance sheet was adopted. Officers for tha year were appointed as follows :— President, Mr V. Courage ; vice-presidents, -Mnsars O. DsunpierCrossley and G. B. Starky; stewards--^les-TS 1 ? . H. Courage, S. Ooleman, D. Rutherford, R. J. Parsons, P. T. Baker, T. Chapman H.D. W. Gray, L. H. Lane, J. If. B. OJJivar, W. Thomson, b\ Lance, W. O. .Rutherford, %x\A R. C. Wilscn ; judge, Mr I\ Courage; baudicappp', Mr J. S. Henry ; starter, Mr VV. Thomson ; clerk of tho scales, Air W. H. Rhodes ; clerk of course, Mr F. Laace ; treasurer, Mr T M'Naug'uly ; secretary, Mr A. S. (Jlai-kson. The race rurterug \va<i fix<od for Angnsi 26 Plans for weighing and jockos' room, officers' roorue. and booth were submitted and approved of, and initrnction w&s given to have the building erecred. Last year's programme \va* adopted, with, the oxcepfcion of the conditions of the Final Steeplechase Handicap, which was alte:e.j fiotn a consolation to an opon event, handicaps to be declared on the ground. A vote of thank's to the chairman lerffiiaatcd tb.« meeting. The committee of the Canterbury Trotting G'luh paid a visit to the thow ground on Thursday with the object of deciding whether it was advisable J.i alter the place of starting-, which is jutton a bend. Owing So tho fact that the A. and P. Association are about lo erect building* op the ground which would hive to be used it tvss decided to allow tbo subject to stand orer. I had a look at some of G. Murray -Ay ii si ay's team a, few days ago. One of them, Oouvpirator, the colt by Catesby exchanged for Artilleur, is a bay, standing about 15bds 2in, and appear likely to furnish into a fairish fcorsa. The colt wan bred in the Marlborough district, where Artilleur will take up yturt duties next season. Trainers hav<s be*n unable to work u/ilil after sunrise of late, the. heavy frosts racking the going too hard uutil tempered by the sun. I hear ihat -Mr Fri«dlander lias disposed of Grand Oros». He \ra<s never niu«*h good. The bookmakers biive done a fair amount of j business over the New Zealand Cup during the ' week, and backers he.ye comtneuced to select doubles for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles and .-Steeplecb;we Mutiny ;s; s this favourite for the Steeples, but it would aurely be well to leave this borss alone until his owner has decided whether last year's winner is to be taken to Australia. Bristol is 'tho name bestowed by Mr M. Hobbs on his colt by St Clair — Lady Vlorent. Some time ago th'a Canterbury Trotting Club erected telephone wira from the distance posti to the judge's box. The pi e*ent arrangement is for a man to stand at the distance post asd ring up the jmlgei, wbon the second and third hoises pass him. This, il has been frequently rjoinled out, is apt to lead to blunders. For instance, Hia 'lovbe lirst at tho distance post may Jus beateu home in the Jast SOyJs by an arrival just outside the distance when tbu bell rang, and the question arises whether the noise inside the distance when the win&er passes the judge should not be placed second. As it La now, another animal xn--iy succeed in. (jetting ac-cond money Of course this seldom Uappeiig, but it hah occurred, and a horse i> frequently beaten over the lastSOyds of a two-mile )oatney, as it is here the pinch comes. Should a race be considered orer when the first horse passes the winning post, giving second money to whatever animal is then inside thft distance, whether he passes the judge in that position? There are plenty of people wko kffn-Ki that the race is over when the first horse gets to the line, hecond and third money going to those horses occupying those positions at that moment. A. gentleman who has had a lot of experience :n: n judges' boxes is of opinion that a better plan would be for the judge to signal to a distance judge when the first horse passes him, leaving it to the distance judge to place second and third horses. This system would certainly posßess many advantage* over the present arrangement, and it would give ownera an oppoitunity, if they thought it necessaiy, of standing at tbe distance post and judging for themselves whether an animal was inside the distance, as they could hear the bell ring jU3t as early as the official. Should this idea be given a trial, I hope the club will appoint a good niau to occupy the position of distance judge. The remarks of one of the Trotting Association's delegates to the effect that he thought that body should pardon all wrong doers and start afresh with a clean sheet, and so fall in with the clemency which should be nhown iv the Queen's Jubilee year, did some credit to his heart, but showed probably that that organ was in much better order than his he id. Mr E Clarkson, a member of the Canterbury Trotting Club, took occasion to refer at the club's annual meeting to the action of the South Island Trotting Association in upholding the appeal entered on behalf of Mr Loughlin aisd who was disqualified for suspicious riding of The Count and disobedience to the stewards at ihe Canterbury Trotting Club, ilr Clarkson said Air Loughlin had beeu represented by a solicitor, whtlst fcne disqualifying club had not been represented by anyone, consequently the case had gone against the club by default. [Mr Clarkson evidently forgot that two of tbe club's stewards were sitting as delegates on the association, and did their utmost on behalf of the club.] The speaker stated that as a matter of fact Mr Loughlin had flatly refused to obey the stewards, and for this alone lie was entitled to a twelve months' disqualification. If the club's decisions were to be repeatedly up^et as they had been during the past 12 months by the association they might as well have no stewwdt;

! but Bead such matters dlroot to tha association, —(Hear, hear.) He thought it would have lookoj better if the association had sent the fresh evidence back bo the olub, asking it to reconsider the en««. Ho believed that some of the delegates comprising the association pobsessed »r much, knowledge of their business as any rnea in NewZealand ; but there were others who kne\y I nothing about it. He considered such a body properly constituted was much needed, but thq present association sadly needed reorganisation. Mr L. Matspu thought that it was still open to the club to inflict some puuisfiment on Loughlin for disobeying the stewards Next month a, con.. ! ference of tiotting associations would take place* in Wellington, and Mr Matson suggested that this meeting would afford au opportunity fo? I making alterations in the rules in any direction; S trotting clubs might deem necessary. Mr Barnes , said that he heartily endorsed all that Mr Clark- | son had said as to the incompetency of soraa lof the trotting association's delegates. This f body might and ought to make its presence felt in the world of trotting, but he wa3 at a loss ' to understand some of the fearful and wonderful decisions of that body. Was it to be supposed, asked Mr Barnes, that tho association knew mora aboufwhat took place than the stewards who had decided the case, and who had the advantage of seeing the race ? Mr Barnes concluded some strong remarks as to the penonnel of the association by saying that he personally knew nothing about trotting if some of the delegates on the association possessed that knowledge. Mr Delamaia said he should like their representative gathering to give its opinion on the matter. He moved — " That this meeting endorses the action of tho stewards in disqualifying Mr Loughlin and. Count." The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Bfr Sunderland, who has acted as cleric of th» course to the C.T. Club for some years, was made a life member by the members of the club on Tuesday last. This honour carries with it the presentation of a gold medal, and I would suggest that the committee should each year select two of its members to be recipients of this medal. When the club was first started several gentlemen guaranteed to make up any deficiency which might arise, and there are many of thess pioneers still members of the now flourishing club. These gentlemen have worked hard to assist the cluh to arrive at its present condition , of leading club in the colony, and if any members deserve a medal it is those who came to the front in the club's callow days and engineered it to its p-esent high positing. Such presentations would lend an additional interest to the annual meeting, and would bs a pleasant method of cementing the* members of the club and giviug them an opportunity of honouring an old and tried enthusiast. At the Chiistchui'ch Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, before Mr Beetham, S.M., George Hyde;for whom Mr Donnelly appeared, and F. M. Bucklev, for whom Mr Bcattie appeared, were charged under »üb-sectiou ,'?, section 6, of "Tha Police Offences Act, 1854," with having wilfully refused or neglected to leave grounds »t Adding, ton when warned off or requested to leave. Air tStringer appeared to prosecute. A. I. Hattray stated that he was secretary of the Canterbury Trotting Club. He was instructed to employ two " detectives." Sandman and Cox. The evidence of these two was of auoh a character that (he magistrate was unable to convict, the whole matter re&ling on what words were actually usod by the detectives when ordering theaccußei? oft' the ground Mr Beerham, H.M., said that the man should have said, " You are a bookmaker and must leave the course," not " If you don't stop you must go." If they chose to act in such an idiotic manner so much the worse for their einoJo} era. It seemed to him that the club had picked out two of the most stupid men they could employ. They had been described as detectives, but althcugh they might be respectaisle men, they did not take the cako" as detective 3 . On another case James Nelson pleaded, when accused of being a " bookie," thai h6 was a jeweller and shopkeeper, and scorned the impeachment. Mr Rennessy, who appeared for A'elson, said 1 b.e hoped the magistrate would not convict on the evidence of two men, who, having heard the comments of his Worship and counsel for the prosecution, had every opportunity to patch up the holes iv their evidence in the pre» vious cases. —(Mr Beetham : "I don't think they hare u«noC enough to do it.") The accused said he had never been warned off, had never bee» spoken to, did not bet, never read a notice forbidding him to go on the course. Could not read. VVns to Id the notice was a love letter, 4c In answer to his Worship, accused aaid he sometimes plied Lis pencil. Mr Beetham said the defeuclant clearly was one of the objectiouable persons whom the club had a right to exclude. He had received a writteu notice and had been warned off tha coursa Fined £1, with costs. Tho President, of the Trotting Association read a. lctte.- io his fellow-rlelegateb which he had raceivsd from I\Jr V. Harris, one of the stewards of tbe <J.T.C, complaining that Loughlin had spoken to him in the »treet and threatened to raske it warm for him if the verdict of tue a23Oci3Hoii went against Loughlin. Mr Harris claimed rlie protection of the association, ana «sted it to deal with the niar-ter. The association decided to iefer tho lettef to the Caulerbuiy Club. It is questionabla whether the association or the Trotting Olub can take action, and it is a moot point if either, body has auythinjj -co do with what takes place' in o. public street, between an owner who considers nitnfcclf aggrieved and a steward. That Loughlia made a mistake there cannot be a doubt, and it is noc fair that a steward should be abused for doing wfaat he considered to be his duty. Tha whole epi?ode is most regrettable. The trotting mutch between the nell-knowa stallion General Trfteey and the gelding Sam Slick for £100 a-fcide was decided on Thursday last at she Bbow grounds. The arrangements of the nialoli wsi*e in tha hands of Messrs V. Harris, A. I. ltattrsty, and J. Uhadwick, whilst Mr Carl, «£ the Empire Hotel, acted as stakeholder. Mr Mac© rilled the jmige'a box, aud Mr O. O'Connor per* foitned tae duties of htarter and timekeeper. There wan a fair attendance. Probably between 400 acd 501). The weather was fine, and the coumg was mi splendid order. General Tracey, by Berlin — Jenny Tracsy, was driven by Starr, and Sara ttlick, by Borton— Perkin Warbeck mare, by Rae. Sam Slick drew inside position, and wheutho word was given Rae's horse was just a little ■ quicker tbaa General Traeey, and ran rouad the top a length in front of big opponent. Just after commencing to go the back stretch Starr drove iris hor&e level with Sara Slick, f.he last-named immediately breaking, and before Hae had got him into hU strids he had lost five seconds, General Traeey reaching-tbe quarter post that much in advance. Thus early in the contest it was evident that unless Komethinp unforeseen happened the contest was all over. General Traeey, beautifully handled l>y St-arr, gradually drew away from la's opponent, and -.yon eASily. Sara Slick did not trot in hie usual ste.idy fashion, aud with the exception of ou.B lap, ■which he covered in. exactly the same time as General Traeey, he_ did not show anything ltkf 1113 true gait. Sam Slick, has frequently put up better halves than he was able to accomplish on Thursday, and probably the horse was not his usual self. Tdo not think he would defeat General Tiacey, altboutch I am of opinion that Rae's horse could accomplish quite a3 good time. Starr's horse trotted faster the further h<J went, his last half-mile beiug covered in lmin lo3ec, a real clinking gait at the end of a three-mile journey. I am quite convinced that bad it been necessary General Trapey could hays beaten Specification's record of 7miu 35Jsec, registered on the same ground, although not on so good a track. Specification put up his performance in a race, certainly, but, if I recollect aright, he was not inconvenienced in any way by this fact. Indeed, General Tracey's friends aver that the horse is not yet as fit as he can be made, but whether this is bo I cannot tell, but I can truth-. fully say tb.*t the horse was turned out ia rare buckle by his driver, and so also in appearanca was Sam Slick, but the horse certainly did npfc trot yip to anything like what he has shown during his training- for the contest. Sam Slick lias never beeu known to- break so fiequently since he won his maideu race, but Kae bad tba bad luck to bo obliged to force his horse in tha endeavour to make up lost ground. Previous ta the match there were many who believed that Sam Slick would win the race over the last mila — that if, if the pair were nearly together ; but after seeing General Traeey cover his third mile 1 am not of that opinion. The following ate tUf times registered by both:-*

It will thus be seen that whilst General Tracey's last mile was the fastest, Sam Slick's best time was over the middle distance. The fastest half yr&B 1.15 by the winner over the last portion at the journey, whilst Rae's horse put up 1.16 over the lap completing the two miles. The Canterbury Trotting Club is in an enviable financial position, and this satisfactory state of affairs gave the club's members an opportunity of granting 20gs to the Jubilee Home, and a like sum to Herrick's Home, besides voting bonuses to its handicapper, timekeeper, starter, caretaker, treasurer, and secretary. A jocular sugge<tiou to enrich the prossmen in a like manner met with but little response. Had such a bonus been granted I have no doubt the filthy lucre would have been declined. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club Mr L. Matson threw out the suggestion that perhaps it might be advisable to ask some gentleman outside membership to accept the position of president of the club, and the idea met with some approval. Mr Matson said that he had no desire to reflect on the ability of any member, but he thought if what he suggested ■were done it-would considerably increase the , prestige of the club. Mr Matson's ramarks were occasioned by the fact that few of the club's ; members can see their way to accept the duties of the office, and whilst I can quite understand Mr Matson's idea 1 am of opinion that it is better to appoint a member of the club, if oue can be obtained. There is a certain amount of honour in being elected president of the Canterbury TrottiDjr Club, and if its members can bestow that honour on oue of its own members, so much the better. No one has a greater right to the position than the man who has for yeais done bis best to forward tbe interests of his club and that of the sport. Such an office should only be held for one year, thus giving the hard workers of the club a chance of being chosen to occupy the highest position their brother members can elect them to fllL When the two trotting associations were formed, the result of the Wellington Conference, some of the gentlemen present expressed the » opinion that each delegate should only possess one vote, and that any club possessing a two-vote qualification should elect two delegates to represent it on the association. However, it was agreed that each club should appoint but one delegate. This meant giving some i epresentatives two votes. I have no desire to cavil at a club holding the required number of meetings exer- , cising two votes, but I most cer.'aiDly think that j the principle of one man one vote is much better j and fairer than giving one delegate,two votes, j Presuming that all the delegates are equally in- j telligent and equal in expert knowledge, the man with two votes holdß too much power. I am of opinion that if all clubs possessing two votes were to send two men to the association, it would add greatly to the debating ptiwer of that body, and although a club's delegates might vote the same way, it is jnsc a* likely they would take opposite views. This matter might very well be discussed at the next conference. As an instance, take the , voting in the Count appeal case—six men voted to uphold the appeal (eight votes) whilst four . voted against (seven votes). This ia not as it should be. As a matter of fact three delegates t with two votes each can defeat five with one each, and could tie with six likewise situated, which ■ might mean defeat, as the chairman would naturally give his casting vote not to disturb existing 1 conditions. • j The members of the Canterbury TYotting Club j recommended the incoming committee to confer ■with other trotting clubs, with the view of combining to hold a trotting meeting on Jubilee Day, but the committee, after consideration, decided that as a totalisator permit could not be obtained, such a meeting would be unlikely to prove a success. There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club, the president (Mr Perkins) occupying the chair. In moving the adoption of the report and balance •heet, the Chairman congratulated the members on the great prosperity of the club. He referred to the various items as set forth in the balance sheet, and remarked that he thought it would be conceded that few clubs in the colony could point to such a satisfactory sheet. The club had made wonderful strides during the year, and he prophesied that at the next annual gathering a still , better state of affairs would be disclosed. ; The report stated that after disbursing £4671 in stakes and expenses, they were able to , show a profit for the year of about £200, As com- ; pared with the previous year, the amount paid for nominations had increased from £47S to £7Q6 ; for acceptances, from £392 to £504; totalizator receipts, from £1198 to £2259, the actual totalisator ipveatments being £25,793, or nearly double those of the previous year. Then £3310 had been ■ given in stakes, against £1619 in the preceding . year. Facts like these spoke volumes, and gave ; great confidence in the future of the sport. Their assets, after deducting the fees for the Juvenile j Stakes, stood s at £1649, as compared with £1401 ! for the previous year. It was gratifying to find that the committee's effcts in offering large "stakes for competition had had the effect - ■of inducing owners from Australia to com- I 3>ete on the Canterbury tracks, and another Jjleaßing fact was the nomination by Mr J. C. Auckland, the trotting magnate of Australasia, of 'bis two stallions for the Sires' Produce Stake of ', '1898. In conclusion he referred to the reforms ' •which the present committee had iuitiited, and which had been highly appreciated by owners. The stakes were now paid in full, and nomination and acceptance moneys had been reduced to 2£per j cent, of the stake iv place of a possible 5 per cent, i and now they also had the more equitable distribution of stake money in the proportion of 70 per Ctfnt. to the winner of a race, 2'i per cent, to ! the second horse, and 10 per cent, to the third. ! Owners under the preseni system could now know what it would cost them to start, and what their net winnings would be without consulting a programme. He moved the adoption of the balance sheet.. The motion was seconded by Mr V. Harris, ' and carried. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr J. Perkins (re-elected); treasurer, slr G. Harris (re-elected); delegate to , Trotting Association, Mr Leicester Matson (reflected) ; committee—Messrs L. Matson, G. Pavling, G. B. Ritchie, D. Barns, E. Clarkson, V. Harris, T. llallinshaw, H. Brinkman, J. S. Slade. L. Wilson, and Marr; stewardsMessrs H. Mace, W. Hellier. H. J. Derrett, and R. Morrison; auditor, Mr G. E. Wade (re-elected) ; secretary, Mr A. I. Rattray. j Sir V. Harris, pursuant to notice, moved that i 20 guineas should be presented to Herrick's Home | and the Jubilee Home respectively. Mr Barns seconded the motion, which was carried unani- i mously. It was also resolved to raise the secretary's salary from £128 to £150, the mover (Mr 3?ayling), Mr V. Harris, and other speakers praising the manner in which Mr Rattray performed his duties. The following bonuses were also passed ; —Treasurer £10 10s, caretaker £10, starter £1010s, handicapper £1010s, timekeeper £5 ss. Mr 'Sunderland_ was elected a life member in recognition of his past services as clerk of the course. Angus has sent tbe trotting horse The Frog I back to his owner's place at Akaroa. j I saw King's Errand one day last week, and I ' must compliment Angus on the improvement he has worked in that horse's appearance since he has ' been in that trainer's hands. j A special meeting of the South Island Trotting /Association was held on Thursday evening in the City Hotel; present—Messrs Rollitt (chairman), Marr, Selig, M'Namara, Chadwick, Myers, M'Lean, Howell, and L. Matson. The case in which Charles O'Reilly, Akaroa, appealed against the disqualification for life of himself and the horse Homeward, for having competed in a district trot when it was held that he was not eligible, was reopened. Mr Fisher appeared for the applicant, after which Charles O'Reilly gave

, lengthy evidence. He stated that he believed he , was justified in starting Homeward in the District Race, as the' rule statwd that " district horse meant an animal owned in the specified diatrict at least two months previous to the race meeting. The horse was foaled in the district, and had only left it to be trained at Middle Park. He had bought the horse from a man named James Wright, acting as agent, and the same Wright had delivered the horse to him. Did not pay for the horse at the time of sale. j Did not know who Wright's principal was. Heard 1 that Sefton at one time owned the horse. When called before the Akaroa me wards he was led to believe that it was on a charge of inconsistency, and did not know until after the disqualification was passed that it was for wrongful entry. Had never received any notification that the horse was not a district horse. Other people had horses trained at Riccarfcon and Yaldhurat, and ran them at Little River as district horses. Could not understand why he could not do ; the same according to the club's rules. ; The protest was entered on the ground that Homeward was not a district horse. The animal was ridden by D. Price. Uodc another auimal in tbe race himself. When Akaroa stewards asked for a receipt he could not produce one, as the horse had not then been paid for. Bought Homeward on or about January 3. Believed Mason sent Homeward to Sefton, who declined to keep him after a trial. Never saw , Sefton, and was positive he did not sell the horse j to witness. Dumlop and Spectrum were the two horses mentioned by witness that were trained at Riccarron aud ran as district horses at Akaroa. James Wrieht told witness Homeward was a bona fide district horse. Sworn statements were leceived and read, and also telegrams dealing with the case. .After a lengthy discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr Selig, seconded by Mr Howell— " That thi appeil of O'Reilly having been re-opened and new evidence supplied by O'Reilly which the Akaroa County Racing Club could have obtaiued, had he been given an opportunity to supply it, the association remove its endorsement of the disqualification for life of O'Reilly and the horse Homeward, to allow of the fresh evidence tendered to be con*idered by the Akaroa Couuty Racing Club, and that the club be requested lo reconsider the case and report to the association." The members then went into committee for the purpose of revising the rules with a view to suggesting necessary alterations to the coming conference of the two associations.

General Tracey. Sam Slick. / m. s. m. s. Half-mile 1 19£ 1 25 One mile ..- 2 351 242 One mile and a-half ... 2 53 4 3 Two miles 5 9 5 19 Two miles and a-half ... 625 637 rhvee miles 7 40 7 56 3-5 The following are the times registered at each mile : — General Tracey. Sam Slick. First mile 2.35} 2.42 Second mile 2.33 4-5 2 37 rhirdmile .». ... 231 2.37 3-5