OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 94, 12 May 1892, Page 4

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

[By

Wire.]

(from our own correspondent) Wellington, May 10. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day Mr. Skerrett, who appeared for Messrs. Yuille and Nathan in charge against them of illegal betting, asked that judgment might be delivered that day. Mr. Nathan backed up the application, by stating he wished to leave Wellington during the afternoon. Mr. Robinson, R.M., said he would endeavour to complv with the request, and accordingly at 2 p.m. the Court sat for that

purpose. His Worship remarked that after consideration of evidence, the question, it appeared to him, turned upon whether he could take it that defendants were representing themselves as acting as agents, or whether they were betting on their own account. That seemed to be the point upon which the case of Selig and Bird, of the N.Z. Referee, was decided. He had examined the decision given by Mr. Justice Denniston in that case, and he gathered that he had held that the evidence was not sufficient to justify a conviction. In the present case the evidence was in many respects similar to that in the case above referred to, nor did he think it went any further as against the defendant. He felt bound, therefore, by Mr. Justice Denniston’s decision, and should dismiss the case. In doing so he wished it to be understood that he was acting entirely upon what appeared to be authority, and not altogether according to his own view of the case, and if he had not felt bound by the decision of the superior court he might have found differently. If Mr. Justice Denniston’s decision, which he might have misunderstood, did not bind him in the present case, it was a proper matter for appeal. Mr. Gully gave notice of appeal, but stated that he did not wish to continue the embargo upon defendant’s property, of which the police had possession. The decisions in the cases against J. H. Simmonds and R. Paterson will be given on Tuesday next, to which date the hearing of the charge against Martin, Piper, and Pollock has been adjourned. The heavy rain on Saturday last has done so much damage to the newly-made track of the Johnstonville and Hutt County Trotting Club, that after viewing it on Monday the stewards decided it would be impossible to repair it in time for holding their meeting on the 28th inst., and have withdrawn their programme and postponed the meeting sine die. Meanwhile it is probable they will call for tenders for making a cinder track.

The Foxton Racing Club have sustained the protest against Scraps, winner of the Novel Race at their recent Hack meeting, and have paid stakes and totalisator to Survivor, the second horse. It will be remembered that a protest was entered that Scraps was not eligible for the race, on the ground that he had won races other than hack races. Since the meeting, the stewards have communicated with Mr. Armstrong, secretary of the Lower Valley Jockey Club, who has informed them that Scraps won both the L. V. J. C. Handicap and Flying Stakes at the Lower Valley Meeting in 1887. There are only seven investors on Survivor, and the dividend is £lO 15s. The dividend on Scraps would have been only / 3 9s. Mr. J. E. Henry on the 6th inst. declared the weights for the Horowhenua J.C. meeting, to be held at Otaki on Queen’s Birthday. The following are the weights for the Cup of 35 sovs., one mile and a half— Oddfellow 9.0, Sunbeam 8.9, Homai 8.6, Huia 8.2, Shellback 7.13, Benbolt 7.8, Gunner, Traitress and Rahui 7.3, Priscilla and Poinsettia 7.0, Rangitika and Jenny Lind 6. 11, Escalade 6.9, May Queen 6.7. Acceptances are due on Saturday next. Murtagh has Fisk’s Sir Garnet going very well, and he will be a certain starter for the Wanganui Steeplechase if he keeps right. This horse won that race three years ago. The improvements on the Hutt Course are still delayed by the bad weather ; but the new culverts which are to be made for the grass gallop will be taken in hand as soon as fine weather sets in. The Club I hear made over £"700 over their Autumn meeting, so that they will be able to spend a bit in improving the training accommodation, and will probably add a classic race to their next year’s programme. They were very lucky to have two fine days for the meeting, as it rained for a week before, and has rained nearly every day since. Owing to a heavy downpour on Saturday the course was under water in parts on Sunday and Monday. Torpedo was very fit at the Wellington meeting, and I think Tulloch will be his most dangerous opponent in the flat races at Wanganui. The Steeplechase should fall to Couranto if he is a good across country as he is over hurdles. Next to him I prefer Commotion.

Whakawai has joined Applause in Mr. Dallinger’s stud, near Albury.