CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fhitz.

The weather in the early part of last week was jus* what we have been wanting fctf, come months past. Rain set in on Monday, and continued, with intermissions, till Thursday. The tracks at Riccarton got a gooxj soaking, and everywhere the beneficial effects of the downpour can be seen in the fresh? appearance of the fields. The result of the Jackson Stakes at Wan* fanui on Saturday came as a big surprise ere, a© Glenculloch was generally regarded as a pretty good thing for the race. That Gravitation should have beaten him is Hot, after all, such a matter for comment, ai this naif-brother to Elevation has been vertf highly spoken of. When, however, we flow Irish Rifle also finishing in front of Glen* culloch the only conclusion to be arrive* at is that the Clanranald colt failed to nut up to his best form. We are in for a busy tune in the racing world during this week. To commence witty there is the Akaroa County Racing Olub'J meeting, which will be held at Little River on Tuesday, and, following that, we will have the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting on Thursday and Saturday. Next week there will also be plenty of attractions. The Oxford Jockey Club's meeting i« set down for Wednesday, and -an tha following day the fixtures of the Methven Trotting Club and the Waimate Racing Clutt will claim attention. The Waimate Rasing Club has received' excellent nominations for its meeting nexj week. Canterbury stables have contribute* a goodly proportion to the list*, and I quit* expeot to ccc a large number of horses m>ns thia quarter journey down for the meeting^ Like most of the clubs in Canterbury ana Otago, the Waimate Racing dub is enjoying a prosperous time at present. ' The Canterbury Jockey Club is likely be short of stewards and commrtteemen to carry on the business during the next few months. - Messrs G. Gould. A. Boyle, and P. Campbell have either left 01 axe on th* point of leaving for England. The two finst* named are onbi going foa brief trips, but

J£r Campbell may be absent for an indefinite period. The management of our metropolitan olub is further weakened at present by the fact that Mr G. Palmer is confined it© bed in a private hospital, where he was lecently operated on for appendicitis. He is, X. am pleased to learn, making good progress, and in the course of a few weeks he should fee about again as usual. The news that Mr Thomas Marr bad died last Tuesday, at the age of 65 years, came as a great surprise to most people. During the latter part of last month Mr Marr visited (Dunedin, being present at the meetings of *he Dunedin Jockey Club and the Ta-huna 3?ark Trotting Club.' Soon after his return Iteme he complained of not feeling well, and 'medical assistance was called in. An examination showed that the patient was in anything but sound health, but it was not (thought that his condition waa quite so eeriouß as it proved to be, and his sudden demise must have come as a great shock to his relatives. In hia younger days Mr ■M'ai>i was associated with several ventures on the West Coast, where h* first became identified with the kite Mr Henry Mace. Later on they came to Ohristchurch, where they started in business as cordial manufacturers, Mr Marr relinquishing his connection only a few years ago. It was through ibis close association with trotting that the deceased was most widely known. He was a prominent member of the old Canterbury Trotting Club, and subsequently took an active part in the management of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and" the iNew Brighton Trotting Club, being treasurer of the former and president of the latter at the time of his death. A few years ago lie was elected to a seat on the New ZeaJand Trotting Association, of whioh • body •he "was treasurer when he died. The funeral .took place on Fridlay, and' was very largely attended, among those present being many leading men in the trotting world, ac well as a big representation of trainers. The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association, which was called for last Wednesday, lapsed for want of a quorum. The trotting horse Worthington has changed hands, and now is an inmate of J. Tatker's stable. Two more well-known trotters have also been sold recently. Austrey has gone to Taranaki, and Susie Hue to Auckland. - The monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held on Tuesday. The programmes of the North Canterbury Jockey Olub and the Orari Sports Club were passed. A gentleman rider's certificate was granted to C. P. Nash; trainers' •lioenses to G. E. Mathews and J. Moynnam ; jockey*' licenses to M. H. Barnes, W. H. •Emmerson, and S. Perry: and an apprentice .jockey's license to G. Mussen. The following transfers were approved:— L. C. Hazlett ,to J. R. McDonald, eh c by St. Ambrose— Seaahell; T. H. Lowry to G. P. Donnelly, oh gby Gold Reef— la; T. Sheonaai to C. Machell, All Guns; W. Walters to T. H. Lowry - b c by Multiform— SouM Girl; G. <M.- Currie to J. J, Craig, b 1 by Seaton , Delaval— St. Evelyn. ! ' The annual meeting of the Waimate Hunt Club was held on Wednesday. Mr Rapsey presided, and there was a fair attendance. The balance sheet showed a credit of .£lB 16s , lOd from last year. Mar B. D. Whitney was re-elected master and Mr P. "Wain deputymasteT. On Mr P. Studholme's motion it ■was resolved that the master for the day appoint the field mastear. Dr Hayee was appointed hon. surgeon, and the following coitnnittee was elected : —Messrs Rapsey, Bowker, Archer, Miller, Sealey, Glendinmngr, R. Rattray, Parkinson, Twomey, E. C. Studiholme, Connolly, and Sinclair. Votes of thanks were passed to those farmers who allowed hunting on their properties. The annual meeting of the South Canterbury Hunt was held in Timaru oft Saitiwday, when a satisfactory report on the past years hu*ting was presented by the hon. seotetaTy (Dz C. E. Thomas), while the hon. treasurer KMr C. H. Greaeon) was able to show a .balance sheet with a credit of £70. Mention was made of, and. thanks recorded to, the Canterbury Jockey Club for their gentitrouiy in presenting the South Canterbury Hunt with a sum of £50. Mar A. S. Elworthy was re-elected master (for the thirteenth year in succession), and he agreed to hunt the hounds | in the Timaru and Geraldine districts during the comicj? season for £800. The opening aaeet was fixed for Thursday, April 2.