HAWKES BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 449, 2 March 1899, Page 13

HAWKES BAY.

The Danevirke meeting—Rhino in work —New Forest —The Wwipukurau Jockey Club programme — Meeting of the Napier Park Racing Club—Death of W. C. Edwards. Napieb, February 28. The Danevirke Jockey Club’s late meeting resulted in a £7O» profit. The usual bonuses were given to the hon. secretary and handicapper, and a sum of £5 was given to the Waipawa Hospital. Rhino has sufficiently recovered from his mishap to allow of his putting in an appearance on the track at Napier Park this week.

New Forest has returned from his stud work in the Wanganui district, and Connop has been treating the son of Newminster to track work during the past couple of weeks at Hastings. The Waipukurau Jockey Club has published the programme for its usual annual fixture on Easter Monday. The stakes this year have been increased by £65 over what was given last year, the total to’be disbursed cn April 3 reaching the goodly amount of £4OO With judicious advertising —a matter some of these suburban clubs do not evidently properly understand —the affair ought to prove more than ordinarily successful. A committee meeting of the Napier Park Racing ( lub was held yesterday Present — Messrs J. McVay (chairman), Sweet apple, F. G. Smith, F. Moeller, and J. Bicknell. Several accounts were passed for payment. Arrangiments were made for the better accommodation of the visiting public at the Park. Nine new members were elected. February 28. Quite a gloom was thrown over Hastings yesterday morning when it became known that. Mr W. C. Edwards, Cap'ain Russell’s private trainer, had succumbed to the ravages of typhoid at about 10 o’cl-ck that morning. On bis return from the latr Waiioa meeting, where he had been officiating as starter, he complained to me of feeling out of sorts, hut he reckoned that he had caught a touch of la grippe. This idea, however, proved wrong, as after he had been at Flaxmere, hie home quarters, for a week it was found out that typhoid fever was his complaint. Up to last Sunday week his condition was such that it was expected he would pull round, but from that out matters took a serious turn, and he finally succumbed yesterday morning. He was born in Victoria, and went to Dunedin early in the “ seventies.” It was there that I first knew him, beloved and respected by all for his upright, manly, and straightforward ways. His loss will be greatly felt in this district, in which he has been resident for near’y twenty five years. He had been associated with Captain Russell for the last sixteen years in the education of the bearers of the “ buff and black” uniform. Escopeda, Tigr.dia, Huerfana, L-onora, Katinka, Krina, Noyade, Katie Ferguson, Alionora, Cceur de Dion, and Tigress were some of the horses that he brought out from Flaxmere. In his early days he was a brilliant and courageous rider over hurdles and country, and of late years bad been a keen participator of the pastime afforded by the Hawke’s Bay Hounds. As a friend, and I can write with some knowledge on that heading, as our friendship had existed for so many years he was all that was loyal, true, and good, and I have to deplore the loss of such a sterling comrade. He was only 46 years of age at the time of his decease, and, sad to say, his daughter, an only child, is at present prostrated with the same di-ease as carried off her father. She is now an orphan, her mother having passed away about six years ago. The funeral took place to-day, his remains being laid beside his late wife in the Havelock Cemetery. The funeral cortege was nearly a mile in length, and nearly every turfite in the district attended to pay the last mark of respect to his memory. The Rev. Hobbs, who officiated at the grave-side, extolled the many virtues and attributes possessed by the deceased trainer, and in the course of his remarks Baid that, from his own observations the profession to which he (Edwards) was attached wis in Hastings carried on in a straightforward manner, and decidedly helped to purify the sport. When sickness overtook Edwards Cceur de Lion and Tigress were removed to Gooseman’s charge, where they are now being p-epared for their engagements this week. Crown Prince, the roan-coated son of Seaton Delaval and Princess Royal, the property of Mr George Richardson, was brought in from Crissoge to Mr Donnelly’s place, where he has been having a spell, and was placed under Jones’ care at Greenmeadows, where the other members of Mr Richardson’s team are receiving their education. During his retirement Crown Prince has filled out and furnished considerably. Mr Kaimheta. the owner of Jadoo and Co., made an offer for Pokomoko after he had won the Welter at Palmerston North last week, but the connections of the gelding did not consider the offer, although it was a substantial one. Coryd n, the aristocratic looking son of Strepbon and Young Dinah, is a much-improved [horse during the past ten months, and, should looks point to success, he should not be long in attaining that desirable portion.