SOUTH AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 77, 14 January 1892, Page 6

SOUTH AUCKLAND.

In a previous issue we promised to give our readers a few more particulars about “ South Auckland,” our visit being brought about principally by the attraction of the South Auckland Racing Club’s Summer meeting, that being described up to the point of the train leaving Hamilton East at 6 p.m. on Saturday 19th ult. After seeing all our friends “ off” to town, and wishing them a Merry Christmas, we returned to the course and helped the almost omnipresent secretary (Mr. Carter) in his few remaining duties. That being finished, and the usual compliments of the season having been attended to, we mounted our seats and returned to our “ floors ” in the hotel (I do not say beds, because previous to this we had none). On this occasion our landlady began to think there was nothing lost by civility, it having been very forcibly pointed out to her that she had treated some of the Auckland “ sports ’’ in a very cruel manner. .The same hotel proprietress was equally as kind to the totalizator clerks, whose duties began at 9 a.m. and did not finish till nearly a similar hour in the evening. They were allowed cold “ tack” if they coaxed the cook, while in the morning the breakfast was quite good enough to make one think of his tea, the dinner being omitted. The usual “ innocent fun ’’ was. of course, indulged in to a large extent when “giddy sparks” are out for an airing, and probably the landlady had a little cause for her obvious signs of irritability on several occasions. Here we met an old groom whom we had known in 66, in the Waikato, “ George Maize.” He was then in a similar position, and although considerably aged, he has still some good stories to tell about the Waikato. His memory’ is still excellent, and he recognised his visitors in an instant. Another “old identity” was recognised in Mr. Duncan Mclntyre, who was probably one of the best athletes of his day in the colonies. He held the record for years at tossing the caber and putting the stone, at a time when there were hundreds of British troops stationed in Auckland. Contrary to old Maize he does not appear to have put on any more grey hairs than he had in 71 when we saw him last. His son is the agent of this paper in Hamilton, and we hope his energies are equally as good in our interests as his shave was in his own. I predict that Mr. Mclntyre will yet do well in the sphere he has adopted. Another item of interest attracted me at Hamilton —it was an interview with Mr. Hattrick, one of the principal drapers in Hamilton. After doing some business I soon discovered that he was of a sporting turn of mind, and eventually elicited that he was a breeder. Amongst others he has Nora, the dam of Good Luck, who ran such a good filly at Claudlands last week. The latter we saw in her box and she looked quality everywhere, but too big to race or even criticize. It is reported that the filly has since been bought from Mr. Hattrick; out of the same mare he has Lady Marion, who was only beaten on the post last year by Belmont in the Flying Stakes, and won the Welter in Cambridge carrying izst, some excellent cattle being behind her. In the next box was a beautiful chestnut filly by Mr. Donald McKinnon’s Flintlock, from Nora. She is entered for the Waikato Produce Stakes of 1893, and from present appearance the others must be good if they beat her. Nora, whom we are speaking of, is the dam of Don, who won the Auckland Steeplechase in 1889. He is by Ariel, out of Nora, bv Woolfield’s Mignonette. In the evening I was invited to attend a meeting of the stewards at Gwynne’s Hotel, and their hospitality and speeches were so profuse that I must confine myself to facts. There was champagne ad libitum, and a full attendance of the committee : Mr. Mathias from Raglan, Mr. Sandes (surveyor), Mr. L. Cussen, Mr. Noble from Whatawhata, Mr. Geo. Edgecumbe of the Waikato Times, Dr. Kenny, and a large number of other members present. It was a convivial gathering, but it was made semi-official, and for that reason we quote the following resolutions, which were passed with great compliments from the proposers and acclamation from the auditors: —Patriotic first, as *

usual; then the hon. secretary, with a well deserved bumper, proposed by J no. Knox; Inspector Emerson came next for his share of compliments, and W. Adams testified to the ability of the police on this occasion. A reso • lution was passed, on the motion of Dr. Kenny, that a record be taken of the highly satisfactory manner in which the totalisator business had been conducted by Mr. W. Blomfield. The stewards were delighted with the manner in .which they were worked. Mr. W. Blomfield said he was very pleased he had given such satisfaction, and was highly gratified at the kind remarks passed. He would always do his utmost to deserve the confidence they now appeared to have in him. Mr. Mathias made a neat little speech, congratulating Mr. Carter for the manner in which he had carried out his duties, and Mr. Carter, in returning thanks, said all the credit for their success was not due to him, but was equally deserved by the stewards, who were always ready to give him anv assistance, and if at any time there was any money required they were always ready to put their hands in their pockets to meet it. At the present time, he was happy to say, the South Auckland Club was in a very flourishing condition. The remainder of the evening was spent in conviviality.