The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1894.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 96, 8 January 1894, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1894.

The Pahiatua Jockey Club is now fairly entitled to the heartiest coni gratulations of its friends. Through misrepresentation and hostility, in- ! difference and open enmity, the Club, i mainly kept together by a dozen en- | tbusiastic and genuine sportsmen, has I won its way into success, and can for I the first time in its experience take a stand of independence. From the time when, in June, 1891, the first I meeting was held to consider the ! matter of holding a race meeting in this town up to the day of the meeting the members of the Club have been made the subject of ridicule and tin* Club has been held up as an instance of misapplied energy and hopeless effort. “ The poisoned shafts of falsehood and derision” have time and again been hurled at the heads of the official-, and no chance of a shot at their expense has been allowed to pass. The monetary help they received was scant and grudgingly given; the only encouragement they received, a bint that it might be possible to hold picnic race's hut that they would never be allowed to take a stand as a duly recognised jockey club. When the Metropolitan Club refused to extend recognition or authority the death blow of the Club was almost given : and in most ease the struggle would then have been given up as entirely hopeless. I hit it was not so with the officials of the Pahiatua Jockey Club. They acquainted themselves with SOllie Ol the ifcihuun whieli lici.il uuiicvl the Metropolitan Club to decide against them and then set to work to remedy the defects. From a pertect labyrinth of logs and stumps they liberally hewed a course and improved it to a pitch that gained for them the highest encomiums of those who \isitedilon Friday last. Difficulties innumerable and apparently in -

I surmountable faced the officials at i every turn, but with indomitable i courage they persevered and ultimately obtained the recognition of the Wellington Metropolitan Club. From that time their path has been comparatively easy and now at last their efforts have been crowned with complete success. Apart altogether from the question of the morality or otherwise of the turf and the advisableness of increasing the number of Jockey Clubs already in existence the officials of the Pahiatua Club will now have none but the best wishes for the continuance of the success which characterised the first meeting. Perseverance and courage, even when exerted in a doubtful cause, seldom fail to receive ultimate recognition and in the case of the Pahiatua Jockey Club these qualities have been displayed in a marked degree. We therefore congratulate the officials and members and venture to express a hope that Friday's meeting was hut the turning of the tide which will in future How strongly in the direction of increased success.