WANGANUI RACES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 268, 14 November 1861, Page 3

WANGANUI RACES

_We have to congratulate the inhabi-' tamtsv.pf! • Wanganui on one of the most successful meetings ever held on their course. Notwiths tan ding the quantity of rain,that fell.inthe beginning of the week the course was'not nearly so heavya's' might have been,, expfected ; the strong gale of Wednesday having done nnich 'to- ' wards drying the. ground. . A high wind" also prevailed through6ut“Thursday,-eays- - ing some inconvenience to jockeys "tend' spectators, which was however cbuiftey-' balanced by its drying qualities.: c; -y We Have 'jfche' authority of many old’ members; of.the X-ew,;Zealands':'spoi’tifig‘ community 'for .saying, that 1 never has this meeting beep surpassed forcontested races,‘game riding,, good feeling,': and we are .sorry to add, wprse ! arraiigCi' ments. Iffiislast feature of the meeting : may% some,..extent be accounted, for :by the indisposition of two of the most oner- • getic of the Stewards, who in former years have done so much to the firm establishment jof.the'. Wanganuhmeeting j biit--still, this is insufficient to excuse the remahideri. both'of stewards and committee, for.tbfc absence of a ring, posts, and good hurdles. FIRST On Thursday, the high wind prevailing probably prevented many from venturing on to ; the -grouiid ; indeed we hgye seyer, seen'so small an attendance. . :

The •horses' entered for tbe Produce, five in number, all. appeared at tlie post ;• Don Jon s£d Gipsy King being ;tKe favourites, although the othersTr-Fisherhihn, Bbbin Hood and Kitty—had their admirers. ~ Keyer were two • favourites greater contrasts.'' Gipsy King—a son of our i( pld friend Gipsyi—stands, we should thixik,' over 16 hands, a large brown horse, powerful, but scarcely* possessed‘of . the points

of.a.rqicer ; Don Jon, on the .other hand, Is a low long horse, very powerful behind, standing about 15 hands, and showing strongly the Riddlesworth, blood; v, It is hardly .necessary to particularize the' others, as the race was actually reduced to . a match between these two. A good start was effected, all passing the Judge’s box well up ; but on reaching, the heavy all -but . the favourites' fell behind. ■ These made steady running to the straight when a very pretty race ensued ; the Don beating the King by a neck. The others ;not placed.. .. In the second heat, Gipsy King’s; jockey made play, closely waited on by Heywood on Don Jon ; but the jpace wastoo good for the big horse, who •gradually fell behind, and notwithstanding the efforts, and-scientific guidance of -his- rider was-beaten by -about a'length and a half ; the other horses saving their ’ distance. ;

1. Produce Plate of J 250, (or more if subscribed) added to a Sweep stakes of £5 ss. each, PP., open to all horses foaled in the colony; anti that have never run ; for 'pribliC riforiey previqus to the.ensuing racing. /ieasoirij|3 yrs.’ tild, Bst. 71b., 4yrs. 9st. 71h., 5 yrs. lOst./ 6 yrs. * and aged 1 Ost. 41h. -dl'eals,- mile arid-a-lialf; second ■ horse to ?i ryceiyri i '£’io out of the' stakes. No person: apowe'd/to enter.a horse without lie'is- ; a subs scriber ot at least one guinea to this Plate. Mr. Alex. Cameron’s b. h. Don Jon, 5 yrs. / •• Heywood 1 1 Capt. Blewitt’s br. b. Gipsy King, 4 yrs. ;. ; • ft. N. Biggs, Esq. 22 /Mr. E. Lewis’s b. g. Fisherman, 5 yrs. J. Day 3 4 Lieut. Lewis’s c. m. Kitty, aged, Walker 5 • 3 ; Mr. Mussen’s b. g. Bobin Hood, 4 yrs. J. Hare 4 5

2- Scurry Stakes of £2O , added to a sweepstakes of oiie guinea each, p.p. Heats, one mile arid a-tialf. ’ Catch weights.

-Dr. Gibson’s c. g: War Eagle, 6 yrs. Walker 5 0 1 1 Mr. Foreman’s c. g. Whynot-, aged Z J. Day 1 0; 22 Mr. D. Cameron’s bl. g. Mazeppa, aged ' ' • Heywood 2 3 ; Tam O’ Shanter arid Blinkbonny also started. This was one of the best races ever run on the course. Sibyl being withdrawn, five Came to' the post ; they all got well away at a rattlirig pace, War Eagle being the favourite. Rut in this heat he sadly disappointed his friends, who were unable' to account for the extraordinary way in which he seemed to shut up, except on the score of temper. Whynot came in first, Mazeppa a - good second. In the second heat the Doctor’s horse seemed,to think better of it, made a good start, raced all the way round with Whynot, a dead' heat being the result. This was the event of the meeting; the horses and, jockeys were both rather baked by the for it was indeed a hard one ; every nerve and muscle was brought into play, and every effort used on the part of ithe riders,,'who both landed--their horses on the j>orit: in a most; masterly manner. We were? sorry to ’diear so much discu§ : !;Bion<oii judge’s decision, and beg to whatever is said after his fiat lias gone fortli can do nothing /toward^'changing the event, and can only lead to 4 baJ : feeling. In the third and fourth heats Whynot made a gallant effort, bilt the “ good drop ” in the Eagle’s blood began to tell, who was declared winner after one of the hardest and pluc r kiest races we ever witnessed. 3 ' Ladies’ Puree,oi £2O added to a sweepstakes of 42 2s’, each, open to' all horses/ 3 yrs. old,Tost. 41b., 4 yrs. 11st. 41b., 5 yrs. Tlst. 101 b., 6 yrs. and aged, 12st.Heats, 2 miles, second horse to save his strikes. r '

•Major Trafford’e b. m. Sibyl, aged v Walker 1 1 Mr. D. .Cameron’s bl. g. Mazeppa, aged 2 0 Lieut.. Lewis’s b. rri. Blinkbonny 3 0

Sibyl won tlie first heat' easily,' arid in the second walked over the course. .

4: Stock-horse Race of i-15, added to a sweepstakes of JLT each, for Stockhorses bona fide the property of Stock owners in the districts of Wanganui and Rarigitikei,. that have been regularly ridden after stock for at leastl2 months before the date/.qf entrance, and that are not 'entered for ariyrace of thepresent meeting. Weight same as for Wanganui Stakes, post entrance, single.evfriL tiyo miles. r Mr. Harrisont’a Graham 1 , Mr. -MoGill’? Littlejohn • ; 2 Mr. Hill’s 'j' ; 3 , Mr. D. Cameron’s Busty 4 SECOND DAY On Friday the weather was all that : could be desired, and the ; attendance was corisiderably-_greater than on the previous day- - -Some time was lost in the strengthening arid Heightening the hurdles, which, 'after all" were by no means' of the best. Four horses "answered the, saddling bell Tor the ; hurdle face ;' the' following was ■tlie feshlti"" ' ' /

1. Hurdle Race of J 2,20 mhled to a sweepstakes of £2 2s. each, p. p. 3 -9st., 4 yrs. lOst, 5 yrs. 10st: 71H, 6 years and' : aged‘ lOst. lOlhs. Heats 2 mpes, river; sii' hiirdles 4ft. high. . Second horse to save his'stakes. The/vvinner of the Produce.rutadfes’Purse to carry 41b. extra.

-Dr. CHbscm’s .0. .g. Eagle,' 6 years J. Day 1 2 1 Mr, U Cameron’s Mazeppa. aged ' Heywood 2 12 Mr. Fraser’s h.-g. : Captain, aged, Hill 3 4 Lienfe " Lewis’s b. in. Blinkbonny. 1, Mr. G. Ross; 2, Walker 4 3 ; ‘ Mr. Hill Med the way over the first hurdle, followed by Mazeppa and Blinkborniy, all taking it kindly ; Day on War Eagle took it more gingerly, as the horse seemed by no means sure of what .he.-was going, to do j he was, howeyer, put at if boldly, and got over somewhat clumsily at the second hurdle Captain refused for the first time, but all the others went straight at and cleared it. • Tlie race now became really exciting, the pace was excellent, and all took their hurdles almost at ‘ the’' same; moment 1 the second tir e round 'the pace increased, all rating to the last jump. Mazeppa was passed by War Eagle actually on the leap,, both Day and Heywood - putting thmr r horses at it in

tlie ; pluckiest mannei*' l'. T.he chesnut made one 'of the' finest leaps vfe ever sadyj not losing.-ail inch/q|£hQUgh we are frigiit.en.ed make./a guess'/at the' amount; Of ground cleared. VVftar Eagh-i! having tlie heels of Mazeppa came in a winner by a few yards. 2nd heat.—A change. Avas heat in Blinks /bonny's Walker .being-, put up, a& Jhad ridden-14 .lbsi.av.er. .weight in. the first ,heat. • This was nearly aspretty' a' race "as' the first] hot a single horse refused, an,d;' all hands rode' boldly to -win ; • 'Day*, -..however,-, believingtoo.; much in his horse's poAyers,. .Awaited too long and made his play too late, and hr the heavy ground. A fine race, howcveiy ensued, War Eagle making splendid running, passing all but Mazeppa, who won by ajneck/ Srd heat/—This heat wascKaracterized by the same, good fencing and riding as the fonrier two ; the cliesnut, however, evidently, had the advantage altthrough, and came ih the winner by four lengths. We spoke to seevral old Now. Zealand i}x>rtsmen, -who vail agreed that they never 'slw such r a hurdle race, in the colony, and seldom at; home. They praised highly the ; determined and- skilful, riding of tlie various jockeys,.and seepied. ;to thifrkHhak probably- the name-of Day. •‘•would be soon' - , lonial turf as on that of the old country.

2. Jl'angarati Stakes of .£3O , added to a sweepstakes' of i.‘3 3s. each, open to all horses. 3 yrs. old 95t.,, 4 yrs. old 10st/ 5 yrs. lOst. 71b., G yrs. old ami aged 10st. lOlb. /dinners and thoroughbred horses to. Carry 4fb. extra. Heats two miles, second horse to save bis stakes. . . / ■> . v

Major Trafford’s t>. m. Sibyl, aged * Walker 1 1 Mr. A. Cameron’s b. h. Don Jon, 5 years Hey wood .2- 0Capt. ’Blewitt’s br. h. Gipsy King, 4 years ,/ R.. N. Biggs,Esq. 3 ! 0

Three only appeared atthe post out of five entrances. No doubt Avas felt as to. the l'esult for the first place ; the only l interest excited Avas as to which would be placed '§'^c6'fidr v '. , ‘iSyKil‘ took-' ‘the lead and kept it; Don:- Jon.-; beating /Gipsy: King by tAvo lengths. 2nd heat.-f-Sibyi; Avalked over. A doubt seemed to exist iu the minds pfi a few as to. Don Jon’s fight tt>" money,'but'we beg the doubters to consider, that if it is imperatiA'e for a horse to go two heats for' first stakes, it is-just aS I necessary to do so for the second. *

4. Consolation Stakes of iHO ,entrances Is: each, for till horses that have run and not won a race during this meeting. . Post entrances, weights to be handicapped by the stewards, single, event, once round the course, ahd a distance. Mr. Foremam’s c. g. Wliynot J. Day .1 r Mr., .A, Cameroa’s.c. g. Tanno? Slianter /' ’ "v .• v 1 ■• Walker 2 Mr. McGill’s Littlejohn 3

Wliynot came in an easy winner. A hack'arid pony race concluded the meeting, which, hap. seldom been surpassed, for really good sport, ' and whs favouredAvith Avhat our race meeting seldom enjoys, unexceptionable Aveather. ’ ’ / RANGiyiKEI. ] Road Meeting.—A meeting was held at Mr. Bull’s hotel on Saturday, the 2nd inst., to.decide on the bqsfc.lilies of road to be laid off for the conA’enience of the settlers in the, Upper Rangitikei district, 1 arid to request ..the Superintendent to order the lines so decided on to be surveyed and laid, off.,, The direction of .a short line] in continuation of the, Tutanui road to join the main road from Mr. Rull’Ato Wanganui/ Avas decided on by , the meetings whose opinion -pp’ithev subject Avill of .course be submitted to the surveyor’s ,consideration. No decision Afas arrived at respecting the other lines ■ iibcessary ’ to complete the system of roads to join the roads to tliemouth of the'-Rangitiker river, and. ;.to Wanganui. ■ J * •

The meeting therefore appointed a deputation to wait on the Superintendent, and to request him. to send ■ a surveyor to lay off such lines as seemed most suitable, the requirements of the inhabitants, and the character “of the country being both taken into consideration.

The question, of the laying off’pf the roads is an important one, both as regards the present convenience, and .future interests of the inhabitants. For where roads are laid ofF people plan theirpaddocks accordingly, and put up their fences to skirt the road, so that when it comes to be made they have'only to. make one line of ferice in order to shut it out entirely. Whereas, in lands where a new diwof vdael is "takeii' tlirougli fenced paddocks, the public have to pay for fencing it in on either side; and:the - new division thus made in a property is, likely, to be inconvenient to ! tlie owner of the land.

The lines, of road.chiefly requii*ed to be laid

1....Fr0m the nprthefn boundary of the district,-to enable 'the settlers on the Eangitikei river to get to Mr. Bull’s, and there join the road 'to Scott’s. 2. From the P.orewa stream- to Across line I and join the Bonnie.Glejiapad to Wanganui. , 3. The continuation ' of the. ; Tutinui road to join the main trunk line to Wanganui. ;; ’. .. Kahauraponga Board of "Wardens.— Mr. has;heen elected chairman on "the resignation, pf Mr- H. Mussen, - who diseb&rge'd'*'the duties in'an exceech' ingly..;. manner..,, As stance ofitie liarmony and good will with which •tM^^Bbard;Wbrkk.it' Uftay be thiit y one of , .tlip . settlers .im the ! Bonify Men having demufred^'to^mli'cihg 4 ope sidddf .tlie road passing, through'his •ground, the iheinbpifc the puttheir shoulders to the wheel, and fencedthat partfof tlie' road themselVeli viding timber, -; another .carriage, -and. others labour—thus saving the trouble and -expence . consequent x>n delay; and possibly litigation. Where such a spirit

exists, the difficulties even of the present Road act, bad though it be,-are surmountable' /■.,;/

■?: V ..OTAGO.; Tlie escort: arrived in town yesterdayafternoon r with'l9,7oo ounces of gold from the‘riiariekn. That collected at the Waitahurfa field’has';hot . been brought in, and 3000' ounces in- the' Union Bank were also' left >,.behind; fVe presume the continued increase in'the amount of gold deposited for transmission by the escort will necessitate its.'being. despatched weekly. Tlie news from the diggings is still of the same cha-l-aSler'; all was .peaceable and-quiet, and tlie. Jiggers were doing remarkably well, 'l'liri population; :at-the Wailahuna is vari-. ously. ..estimated ...at,-from 5000 to 7000 people, and Gabriel’s Gully still boasts of a large number of diggers, who are making scccessful finds on the ridges and dry gullies ; buf,;.in .fact, the diggers are spread over, all die country between Tuapeka and . fiokoniaiiirpi. Many -persons are working upon.the blinks of; the Tukomairiro stream .down in thei-llundreds.

, The diggers state that they thought they liad como-too .late,'but now they are of .opinion;, that the. diggings; are only comlast few; .weeks Jibe .extent -and,] richness of tlie fields,have'heeh -/developed in an extraoidiriary manner.. There had been a rush to a new "gully about 5 miles distant from Waitahutia:, good prospects were obtained but there .hasuQtbeen time for the claims io be worked"

Mr. Real has returned from his pros- 1 peering expedition. The rumouFs current as to.some extraordinary success in the disc<ivory of a field exceeding in richness Gabriel's Gulley, are without foundation. Mi*. Read found gold almost in every place he tried/ butthe': nature, of the country presented , difficulties which lie had not appliances to overcome. He reports that in would' require. ‘ much/deeper sinking to reatdkthe'fied. lock tiiah is necessary at the Ttapeka diggings. Mr. Read’s official report will shortly be published.— Witness, Nov. 2.. The'following extract Wonr a letter of a Ballarat miner detailing his Otago experiences shows 'and decision. “ Oa‘Monday;, having had breakfast, our party started prospecting. During the whole of this day our party had no success, though they found the. colour of gold everywheiP. The sinking was from l four‘ to five feet/ The tops of the mountains were covered with snow, but the valleys were clear. No better success on Tuesduy, while diggers were.arriving in hundreds, and as many beginning to'leave Being up the gully to see Gillies, who was' a frieud of Reath, the prospector, I-heard a j cooey, and. looking about me discovered, some live of the - Cosmopolitan"-boys looking out of Hughe’s restaurant.' Ji'e all went in and "paid 4s each for our dinners. They stated that, they had been prospecting without sitifecess/and the little rush to the Waitahutia was no good. We walked up the gully and saw. Kc a nerii € amfirori; a Bal iaara t man, wh o said that, though lie had been one of the first on tlie ground,, lie liad.qnjy made tucker and that be did not believe' the dig'nga were likely to afford any ; one permanent LenefiV My party then determined to return.'’