SPORTING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7999, 18 October 1887, Page 2

SPORTING.

SCRATCHINGS FOR MELBOURNE RACES. [PER REUTEB'S COPy.RKJHT TELEGRAMS.! Melbourne, October 18. — Moorebank haß been scratched for the Melbourne Cup.

Mr. Tribe, the secretary of the Hospital Entertainment Committee, ia in receipt of a communication from Wellington to the effect that the Minister of Public Woiks his granted free carriage ot hih 'i^ s ot J the railway, and that the evening train to Hawera will bo delayed on the opening day, as asked for, namely, from 4 to G o'clock.

A rather i-nportnnt matter for witnesses ia the fact that, according to the Resident

Magistrates Act, subpoenaed witnesses can only claim expenses. This point cropped up in a case m the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesdaj 1 , when tho Resident Magistrate held that witnesses would have to be subpoenaed before they could lay claim to expenses.

, A special meeting of the Fire Brigade vJAH hold on Monday night at the stationhouse, lo enquire as to who rang tho fire bell without cause ou the morning of the i2th inst. The Borough Council had requested the Brigade to look into the matter. After eoiue discussion it was decided that Captain Ba>ley should reply to the Council to ii;e effect that no definite information could ho obtained on the Hiibject. The Brigade algo acknowledged the receipt of £5 as a donation from the Mayor, for services, presumably, ai the Waiwukaiho fire. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Buyly thunking him for the money.

One of tbe European claimants to Mokau lands came up at the Native Lands Court, at Wuitura on Monday, before Judge Wilson, in the form of &n application for petition. Mr. Standiah, with Mr. Hughes, appeared for cluimant. Tho Judge said it was found that the case could not proceed, as there was reaßon to Relieve that the native who made the application had died since making. The case Was accordingly adjourned.

" He put a different construction on it." At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, during the hoarin? of a case in which the plaintiff sued for wages, the defendant, in questioning the claimant in the box, said : " Did I not offer to lend yon a horse to ride round to get a house and work up orders ?" Plaintiff : " No. You said you'd lend tho horse, as I posnibly might work up a donation." In tho same case the defendant in the course of giving evidence stated: "Yes; and on his asking 1 lent him 5s once, and when he came home he was the worse for drink." Plaintiff, who was sitting behind tho witness-box, interjected in a very crusty way, " Eh; thank you." It is stated on the authority of >i country settler of probity that the Ngatimaru block —which is now all ready for selection, and which would have been in the market by this time had not the Government held it back until tho Wnilara Rivjr should bo bridged — is attracting some outsido attention, tho groat draw being that about half the block is cleared land, and the standing ' bush on the other half being very light. The clearings which were made by the Maoris, whose stronshold it was at one time, are covered in grass, a big consideratinn to intending 6ettlers. A few days->back a ptrson representing himself ' as acting on behalf of soveral persons in Aucklaid, paid a visit to Ngatimaru, in order to spot the lay of the laud. He was not, however, impressed with it, doubtless on account of it being so difficult of access, and he stated that his report to those on whose behalf he was acting would not be favourable. A sum will be placed on the estimates this session for a certainty for the construction of the much desired bridge.