CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 37

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Ttv M. Qvut.

; There is very little news to chronicle this ! week. The tracks at Riccarton are in a terrible state, owing to bad weather; but there seems a probability that the improvement o£ the last few days may enable trainers, especially those whose charges have immediate engagements, to send their horses along. Strathnairn and Wedlock were looking extremely well when shipped for Wellington on Thursday, and though the meeting will be commenced ere these notes appear in print, both ought to run extremely well there.

Starßhot is looking well, as also are Dundas and Hermosa, and the other members of the Racecourse Hotel team are doing nicely.

Cutts's lengthy fctring was shortened by one last week, D. Price purchasing the rising two-year-old filly by Apreniont — Melusina. The youngster is just a little bit fractious, but she looks well, and ought to be able to gallop. Price is training her on the Plumpton track.

Cup betting has not materially changed since my last. The backing of St. Lucia, as notified a week ago, has caused several inquiries to be made, and nearly all the pencillera declined to do business at a longer price than 100 to 5, and are not anxious to do much at that rjrice. Who it was that supported her it is difficult to say, though it is generally supposed that a well-known backer is responsible for the wagering. There does not appear to be any suggestion that the filly has been backed by anyone closely connected with the stable. A veiy large number of horses have been backed, and during the last few days some of the " rough 'tins " have come into the market. The business done this season has been greater than in any previous year.

The unfortunate death of Mr John Dilloway last week has removed one of the most pleasant and courteous gentlemen that ever took a prominent part in trotting clubs. lie was a member of the Canterbury Trotting Club, and it is safe to say that the late gentleman had gained the re&pect of everyone connected with sport in all its branches. He frequently acted as judge and in other capacities at the Canteibury country meetings, and whatever he did or said was always regarded as the action or words of an honest man. Mr Dilloway's father used to own the old Plough Hotel on the Riccarton road, and the subject of these remarks successfully farmed land in the Dunsajidel district for some years, but of late he had been living a life of comparative leisure. He was a wealthy man, and leaves a wife, but no children.

Messrs Rattray, Rollitt, V. Harris, and Howell left for Wellington on Saturday. I hear that the delegate to represent the Tahuna Park Club at the Trotting Conference is not in favour of doing away with the present system of representation on the Trotting Association. The proposal, therefore, to the effect tka£ them shall a^Uw h* one association fen:

the two islands will probably lose the support of the southern delegate. What argument can be adduced against the, obviously fair proposal that the delegates shall be elected by the whole of the affiliated clubs in New Zealand I am unable to discover. ' As it is now, a club elects its own delegate; but I am sorry to say that many of those appointed know very little about the sport. This, as I have frequently said, is not wholly the fault of the clubs, as they are almost obliged to select someone residing" where the association sits, and several of the delegates accept the position merely to oblige some friend who has suggested his name. Of course, even by ballot, local residents will almost necessarily be elected, but every club can vote for every member, and will therefore not be under the necessity of asking an unsuitable 'man to represent them. Again, if every delegate attended the meetings, the represunta- | tion is too cumbersome, and seven or nine good men will probably do much better work, and get through it expeditiously. Even if the one association idea is not carried, there seems lo be no reason why the delegates should not be elected by ballot of the affiliated clubs. If the suggestion is adopted, the chairman of the asI sociation should be given the same power S3 j that possessed by the chairman of the RacI ing Conference of appointing three persons to I inquire into any matter occurring at some, distance from the headquarters, and so save time and expense. There seems to be a chyi'ce of Christchurch being selected as the city where the one association shall be located, and it is strange that any southern trotting men object to the proposal. The bulk of the colony's work has been done here, and it is fitting that the city of the plains should be selected. A Clanranald gelding, formerly an occupant of H. Lunn's stable, has joined- the Racecourse Hotel string. . „ Mr H. Mace on Saturday purchased a RotKschild youngster bred by Mr Duke, who is leaving for Waikakahi. Viking and King Harold, owned bj Mr Jardin, are for sale, their owner having decided to keep Rothschild only. Barnardo is jumping the big schooling obstacles in fine _ style. He looks very Well. Powder Monkey is on the improve. The annual meeting of the Plumpton Park I Racing and Trotting Club was held on ThursI day afternoon. Mr C. S. Howell, the president, 1 was in the chair, and there was a good attend- ! ance of members. The balance sheet showed that the club had begun the year with a credit balance of £24 19s Bd, and closed with a balance at the bank of £504 16s 7d. The receipts had been £2482 8s sd, the principal items being: — Totalisator £1190 7s 2d, gates, £313 Is, nominaj tions £354 103 Gd, acceptances £274 ss, and privileges £94. The expenditure had been £1977 I 11s lOd, the largest amounts being stakes £1263 j 10s, and Government totalisator tax £206 16s 9d. The assets were £2934 6s 7d, giving a balance- of £1286 11s' 8d over liabilities. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the balance sheet, gave the following figures, showing from 1891 the amounts passed through the totalisator and the amounts given in stakes: — 1891 and 1892 (five days), totalisator £6399, stakes £1082 10s; 1892 and 1893 (four days), totalisator £7653, stakes £1072; 1893 and 1894 (four days), totalisator £7706, stakes £950; 1894 and 1895 (four days), totalisator £9118, stakes £965; 1895 and 1896 (three days), totalisator £7611, stakes £760 3s; 1896 and 1597 (two days), totalisalor £8393, stakes £665; 1897 and 1898 (four days), totalisator £11,621 10s, stakes £1260 ; 1898 and 1899 (four days), totalisator £13,801, stakes £1330. Tho competition in the" trotting world make it necessary for the club by offering liberal stakes and providing a first-class track, ! to get the be3t bred horses to compete at its meetings, and to attract the public by carrying out improvements which had been under consideration. The balance sheet was adopted. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr C. S. Howell; vice-presi-dent, Mr D. O'Brien; honorary treasurer, Mr J. Carl ; committee — Messrs F. Beverley, J L. Carl, H. J. Derrett, J. Franks, J. B. Hill, F. Holmes, A. J. Holmes, R. J. Mason, F. Mulholland, and A. L. Myers; stewards— the committee and Messrs J. Creswell, B. L. Lane, and A. Loughrey; delegates to the Trotting Association : Messi-3 J. Carl and F. Mulholland. The president was appointed to represent the ! club at the Trotting Conference in Wellington.