Australian " Blow."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7295, 15 October 1891, Page 2

Australian " Blow."

The Australians have earned for the Colonies a reputation for " blow " which is perhapa pretty well deserved. But while our friends across the Ta9man Sea are always prepared to maintain their own claims to distinction — claims which are often very well founded— they are not particularly generouß in the applause they accord to the merits of other people. The average Australian is, if we may judge from the newspapers of his country, fully assured of his own superiority, and can see nothing of much account in the productions of other nations. He has, according to his own way of thinking, the best horses, the best racecourses, tho best owners, tho best jockeys, the best fighters, the best cricketers, the biggest bettora and the largest swindles in the world. Part of this distinction we are ready to grant, but we have just enough vanity to make us wish that the Australian, when he sets out on a parade of his own possessions, would remember snd admit that New Zealand has contributed something to his wealth. Hiß memory is evidently a short one, and he has, it seems, forgotten that Carbine was bred in New Zealand, and that Lurline, Sir Modred, Martini-Henry, Nordenfeldt, Lochiel and many later winners first saw the light in this country. We mention the matter because several Sydney and Melbourne writers have lately referred rather lightly to the horses of New Zealand, and implied that animals which may be quite good enough for the classic races in Maoriland would have no show in similar events at Eandwick and Flemington. In the face of recent events this piece of vanity is deliciously absurd.