The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 691, 12 February 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1881.

We have before us the prospectus of Wairarapa Races of 1863. They were then, however, called the Grevtown Races—Greytown in those days being almost the one township of the district. The list of the Stewards consisted of Messrs S. Molos, J. Dodils, \V, R. Hastwell, and W, H, Donald, and of a Maori, lianiera to Ilio O tj Rangi, There were then, as, now, two days' racing, and four events were appointed for each clay. The biggest thing on the programme was the Wairarapa Stakes of £-25. The spirit of racing has not died out during tho 18 years which have elapsed since tho meeting to which we allude, and weave disposed to think that this summer we have had almost too much of it. Wairarapa settlers have attended the Opaki Races, the Waihenga Races, the Featherston Eaces, the Gastlepoint Races, the Hutt • Eaces, and the Tauherenikau Eaces, Is it a matter of surprise that the'attendance at tho last-named meeting, though indisputable the best of the crowd, fell far short of the anticipations of its promoters 1 It is said that the high prico demanded at the gates deters many from coming to this meeting, and we are afraid that the two shillings charged for admittance keeps a very large number of persons away. There is a popular demand for races and of course the public must pay for their amusement. Next year the privileges of our various meetings will probably, fetch a lower price a lower price than they obtained this year, as it is evident that the public will not support half a dozen race meetings every summer, and in

must be cut according to tlio cloth, If there ho one. meeting : mprp than another which deserves support' it. is' the Tauherenikau one, The provision made on this course for-, the: comfort and convenience of visitors ta.incomparably superior to that on any other course in the district, and the Wairarapa Jockey Club is_ the only one which offers-inducements tahorses outside the district to visit us. While wo belie.ve that we have too many race meetings in the district, aud that the number of thenv has been prejudicial to our star meeting-this year, we do not believe that the falling off in the attendance tliisweek'isa sign that the Club is deteriorating, It is an open question whether a reduction of the price charged for admission at the gate, - an alteration of the date' of meeting, and a modification of • the programme in favor of district rather than outside horses might not strengthen the Club. The Committee, however, understands its business pretty well, and if this year it Ims not had all the success it looked for, it was not because it did not desecve it. , The prestiije of the Tanherenikau meeting is pretty certain to bo maintained, This year many improvements, involving a considerable expenditure of money, were obvious, and the Wairarapa has reason to congratulate itself ou the enterprise which its senior Jockey Club has displayed.