PENINSULA JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 382, 19 March 1880, Page 2

PENINSULA JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail

Sir, —Let mo ask your permission to call attention to what appears to me to be a most absurd decision given by the Stewards at the late race meeting. After the Hack Hace had been run, in which I rode Mr Grant's mare Loch Ness, and came in first, a protest waa entered by Mr 0. Bradley, whose horse ran second, on the ground that some horse had been ridden on the wrong bide of a post. No evidence was

offered to show that the mare I was riding went the wrong side of a post. If the charge had been substantiated against me, of course, the second horse was entitled to the race. If, on the other hand, it was not „ substantiated, it is equally clear that the protest should have been dismissed. Either of these decisions would have been intelligible, and I should never have coinplained in case of its being against me, • even if I thought it had been mistaken. But, Sir, what decision do your readers imagine these sapient judges came to ? It was shown that some horse ran the wrong side of a post. It was not proved which it was, so to make matters agreeable all round, they decided that the first and second horses should run the race over again ! The owner of the first horse very properly declined to start again, and therefore the second horse walked over and _ claimed the stakes. I am afraid, Sir, that as long as racing stewards give such meaningless and unreasonable decisions as the above, there will be a growing disinclination among re- • spectable men to encourage the sport by entering their horses. I am, Yours &c, J. H. WALLACE. Head of the Bay, March 13th, 1880. To the Editor of the Aharoa Mail. Silt, —Having heard much from time to time, re the fare and treatment experienced by inmates of the Akaroa Hos- ~* pital, not calculated to reassure those unfortunate enough to be forced to seek attendance within its walls. I must confess that it was with some degree of trepidation, I became an inmate about two months since, but I am pleased to state that I have since had good reason to doubt whether those statements were not merely the productions of discontented grumbling spirits. Aβ far as I am concerned I can unhesitatingly cay, that during the five weeks I was an inmate, I met with the utmost kindness and attention from the • attendants, and desire now publicly to express my entire satisfaction with the treatment I received. By pnblishing this in your columns you M will oblige, Yours, &c, EDWARD HUNT.