WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2501, 19 February 1902, Page 47

WELLINGTON NOTES.

Bt Oklookik.

February 15.

The Porirua-tramed two-year-old Ehbank (iledallian— Gavotte) was taken to the Taraaaki meeting for the Post Entry Scurry Race on the spcond day, but failed to get a place. Some of the bookmakers weie anxiou3 about the result. , , , A member of the Wellington Racing Club has handed me a copy of the official race-card in use at the Newmarket Second October meeting. The Cesarewiteh Stake 3 was run at this meeting, and was witnessed by our Wellington sportsman. The official race-card is a very poor production, and some difficulty would be experienced in giving it away at race meetings in this colony. The Wairarapa horseman C. Cress journeyed to the Wairoa meeting and won the principal event, the County Stakes, on the TorpedoJavelin filly Destroyer. Tupara, who scored in the Fourth Hack Handicap at Taranaki, is a four-year-old brother to Battleaxe. He was ridden by C. Jenkins at 7JO.

Battleaxe has won the Taranaki Cup two years in succession. Some of the performances of the son of Hotchkis3 are not many removes from first-class. He had 7.10 when he won thr; Taranaki Cup last year, and this time scored with 9.3— the heaviest weight that has yet been carried to victory in the race. In the Century Stakes Battleaxe carried 8.12 and ran a mile and a-half in 2min 41 3-ssec. This season he scored in the Metropolitan Stakes at Riccarton, which I consider is one of the hardest races in the colony to win. Ho carried 8.13, and van the 12 furlongs in 2min 39sec.

A meeting of stewards of the Wellington Racing Xttub was held yesterday, when the appeal & Wi Cerlett, of Carterton, against the decision of the Lower Valley Jockey Club stewards in dismissing the protest lodged by Mr Corlett, owner of Master Jack, who finished third in a Hurdle Race nt the club's meeting, on the ground ttut P. Tuno, of Masterfon, owner of Smithy, winner of the race, had an unregistered interest in Strene, who finished second, was considered. After carefully reviewing the evidence, the metropolitan club dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the Lower Valley Jockey Club. D. Hannon, who won on Tirea at Foxton, pulled off a double the first day of the Wairca meeting. He rode Kiwa (whose seven supporters in ike. Hack Hurdles received £12 13s eacbJu.

and won the big Hurdle anyhow on Tirea, who had one solitary opponent to beat, and returned £1 3s. A patent lead big, which the wet weather on the second day ot the Foxton meeting prevented me fiom inspecting, invented by Mr Hannon, was used by him at both meetings.

Mr R. J. Pardy got big fields and gocd finishes, including one dead-heat, ior the Jaack events at the Tsranaki meeting.

Dan Morrigan, who took home Seahorse and brought out San Francisco, informs me that he lett the son of Nelson in the best of health in J. Hicksy's charge. Morrigau is confident from the preparation ne gave bcahorse for the Century Stakes, and the tact that he is a gco:l doer, and was landed in the old country m good health, that he will strike form. The voyage Home was a good one, and on several occasions when the weather was favourable, the horse was exercised on the deck of the steamer. A sufficient quantity of cocoanut matting was taken for the purpose. Mr Gollan and his trainer were well pleased vrith the.r new purchase, and it is hoped that the chestnut will get back to his spi-mz three-year-old form and win many important races for the plucky Anglocolonial sportsman, who has done more to advertise this colony as a thoroughbred-producing coi-ntry than anybody I can name. Impati, who ran well in the hack events oa the first day of ths Taranaki meeting, is a six-year-old mare by Castor — Brown Alice. She has a two-year-old filly by Lebel, named Etu. T. O'Brien, the well-known horseman, has taken service with 3Xr W. Rathbone, of Waipawa, and will stser the baarers of the "hlus jacket, black sleeves," in future engagements. The Wairarapa horseman, Sid Jackson, rods Military to victory in the Autumn Handicap at Taranaki. The victory of Mr O'Brien's colours was received with cheers. The son of Light Artillery— Alethe had not won a race since he somewhat unexpectedly put xlown Screw Gun in the Eighth Challenge Stakes as a twc-year-6'.d. Mr Dugald Thomson, owner of Evening Wonder, who sold out the Criterion Hotel at New Plymouth to Mr D. O'Brien, has taken the Albert Hotel, Wellington. Whawhai, who has bsen shaping well over short courses in hack company in the Taranaki district, is by Soult from Mr Walters' s good old slave Leorina.

Ris3ington— the place where the Bracelet horses come from — held its annual race meeting on Saturday last. It was there. that The Plug, Gondolier, and other successful performers qualified for more important meetings. Some people well known in the racing world take an interest in the gathering. At the recent meeting Mr H. A. Russell acted- as honorary secretary, and Mr T. H. Lowry filed the judge's box. The principal event, the Rlssington Cup Handicap, one mile and a-half. wes won by Andromeda (St. Andrew— Aronoel), one of Captain Russell's breeding. The winner is owned by the gentleman who races under the assumed name of Mr C. Stanley, who was in the saddle. Andromeda was beaten in the previous race, the Patoka. Handicap, one mile, by Ballistite. by Quilt — Basilisk, by Torpedo— Bonny Blink (dam of Punawai). Mr R. C. Golbel rode Ballistite. who won by a short nose. In this race Foil fell and snapped one of her forelegs, and had Lo be destroyed. Magilicuddy (the Leontini gelding who competed at the larst Carterton meeting) took part an the Woodthorpe Handicap, (one mile and three-ouarters>. but' was easily be*tfn by Jack's the Lad fby B«dt worth), ridden fey Mr P. Neagle. Mr'C. Gordon's Garnet (oWne/) defeatSkLAwapuki hi the Hurdles,. M"ss Gward- (bycPoTeruTiner-^Beautv^ prilled- off ■ thi Hurry. Scurry, and Kiwa (Quiltr-^Young TTira) accounted for- the" Cotisoltttiorr Handicaps Ballistite iB a first and Kiwa-. a- second foal. Muscovite is still running out »t the Hutt, aud appears to be enjoyme'the spell. He is un.likely to take part in the Christchurch and' Dunedin autumn ovents in which he was encaged. The useful Stepniak gelding may make his reappearance in Welter events at the winter meetings, when the tracks are not likely to be so solid as at this time of the season.

At the monthly meeting of the Hawke's Bay Metropolitan Committee, thp Waipawa County Racinsr Club reported that T. Connop, jockfy, had met with an accident during their meeting, and for warding an account for express fare to Waipukurau Hospital. It was resolved that £1 be paid. It was also resolved to write to the Waipawa Club as to tho state Connop was in when allowed to ride.

THE "MISS-HANLON" CASE*

Papers have been lodged in the office of the Supreme Court, Wellington, in a case of alleged libel which may involve some novel pointe. The plaintiff is George W. Smart, of the City of Wellington, settler, and the defendant is the Christchurch Press Company, Limited. The point raised is whether a newspaper has the right 'to publish continuously a record of disqualifications imposed on individuals by a racing club. The plaintiff, by his solicitor, complains that the defendant company published the foilowiug false and malicious libel: — "Disqualifications — G. W. Smart and the mare Miss Hanlon for five years for foul practices by the Wellington T.C." The plaintiff "points out that the newspaper claims the right, and threatens to x>ublish the aforesaid de'amatory statement unless restrained by order of the Supreme Court, and he alleges that he has suffered injury in his credit and reputation, wherefore he' claims — (1) Judgment for the sum of £501 ; (2) ar> order or injunction of the court to restrain the defendant company from continuing to publish the said defamatory libel ; (3) and such further and other relief to which the court may deem him to be entitled.

The defence filed by the defendant company admits publication of the notice complained of, and claims that the company had, and has, the right of such publication. It avers that the publication was without malice, and that the publication was made by the consent of the plaintiff given to the Wellington Trotting Club when he nominated his horse to race at that club's meeting in accordance with conditions advertised by the club for the conduct of tho meeting. It is further set out that at a special meeting c I the stewards of the Wellington Trotting Club, on the 9th May, 1900. it was resolved that the mare Miss Hanlon, and the nominator. Mr G. W. Smart, be disqualified for a term of five years for foul practices. It is also mentioned that the rules of the New Zealand Trotting Association require all endorsed disqualifications to bo inserted in the official calendar,, and it is urged that the Preß=i being the official calendar of the said association, its publication of the said disqualification was justified and justifiable. The solicitors for the plaintiff are Messrs Skerrett and" Wyhe, and those for the defence Messrs Bell, Gully, and Myers.