CROMWELL HACK SPRING MEETING

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 92, 15 August 1871, Page 5

CROMWELL HACK SPRING MEETING

STABLE NOTES, BY "PEEPING BOB.'' The Spring Meeting, which is to be held on September sth, bids fair to be a good one, quite Up to the average of country meetings. The Stewards have been well selected, and all that is required to secure a good day's sport is the liberal support of the public, and an active Secretary. The published programme contains five, races—a Etandioip Hurdle Kace, Maiden Plate, Hurry Scurry, Handicap Race, and Hack Race. Fully £SO will be divided in stakes. The racecourse is in good order. Lot me now say a few words about the horses which are likely to put in an appearance. The races are all post entry. [ am not hi very good form for a " tip," and the air of the stali in which I nightly coil is very dopresdng. Moreover, my pockets arc in a disgusting state of collapse,—l am thirsty, needing my morning " lotion " as badly as ever a beaten hack required a bucket of water or a bran mash. It is with a sigh and a shrug that I look roind on this dismal stable, and remember the glories of Maribyrnoug, and other crack nurseries of racing stock in Victoria and other colonies where the Pigskin, the Whip, and the Birmingham* are duly appreciated. ».<h. for a glorious day at Flemingtoii! For the Handicap I fancy Ned Ryan's dark bay Brunette : with a l'.ght weight and a decent jockey she ought to pull it oft, as she is in fine form. Pvip, purchased but the other day by Mr Snutham, is in training under Mr Gowan's cue at Kawarau station : Jack the Fifer gives him his gallops, but Rip deserves a better attendant. Mr Robinson's Backbiter will probably come up | to the sera tell, but I fear the handicappers will put to.i much weight on him ; he will) however, ! win some money, I'll bet, — " I'll lay my money on the bob-tailed nag, Yon lay yours on the bay !" Mr Colclough'a Fenian is a likely-looking quadruued, and has already won something on the Frankton course ; he seems to want propelling power. 1 cannot say much about Excelsior,— but T hope to see him on the sth of next month iat the Round Hill. A large mob of celts and | fillies will probably be entered for the Maiden I Plate. The more the merrier. 1 am very sorry to have to report that the I well-known horse Master King has taken ill. He ' is under the care of that experienced card "Hick | the Trainer," at Smitham's Livery Stables; this I knowing " vet." may bring the animal round, I but lam afraid hot in time for the '.'.aces. The ] A uHralanlan of July 15th thus speaks of the celebrated sire of our Tom King, which was sold ! a few weeks ago for 4011 guineas, (a good price.) j and has since gone to Melbourne :--" Mr Hunter arrived on Saturday in the llaugitoto from Dnni elin, New Zealand, bringing with him the entiri thoroughbred horse Tom King, lie had rather •a stormy passage up, and on Friday evening i last the horse was noii-ly washed out of hu box, 'but owing to Ids line temper, lie took it qui*" coolly, and was landed without a sera 1 ch. On 1 Monday, nearly all the horsey moo in Melbourne I visited Kirk's' Bazaar to see this son of King | Tom, whose progeny have of late been makou; themselves so famous in Knglaud ; and as 1 ssas led up and down the tan walk, with his iino 1 springy action, he had to stand an amount of I scrutiny as searching as it was dillcrentlv solved. : Tom King is a horse that will stand a good ileal of , looking at. Although having a good colour ho ■ is rather plain i:i appearance -a dark r.hesnu'., ! with no white but a narrow blaze down his face. '! Iln stands nearly Hi hands, hot looks much

, I less;, having deep but rather straight .-houhhr.-,, I round in the ribs, very ran? snbir nver the ba-sb, ;I with longthy, well-Hlled good arnvi . i and thighs with groat bone, short in the ?anii»i>:-. <!aiid fetlocks, giving one t!ie idea of :«■ n- ( I 51 weight-carrier and a very powerful ani •."-'.. '•• 1 ||lou'kh a most useful aiurnal to bvre ! f:vni i:-r anbstaiv.c an'l hano. [n New Zo'dnnd hj? hi t 'hut few chances of allowing the worth nf Im " I stout, blond, hi* breeding being undeniable, as i be is got by King Tom, nut nf Dfiopnia by 1 Defence, \x. d. Catherine, by Soothsayer.'' 1 I slronglv ndviso the Stewards to advcrlnn i; our 1! icea in the Uuhedin and the nev.-.-.paT»f.rs. FubbY.itv and r-plvited coiiipet-.li n ■'' arc Ibe life and soul of sport. Von v ill hear frmn me iigain next week. l, : fi'.i:riN(.i n,)ii,

OCCASIONAL NOTES FROM THE METROPOLIS.

DUNEDIN, August 10. Rapidly following on the heels of the .lean Sands, whioh arrived a short time since from Hong Kong with 300 Chinese, the ship Golden Sea entered the Otago Heads with another batch of 400 on Saturday last. Among their number are univei sally admitted to be some of the most unprepossessing " China Mugs" that have so far graced our Province with their presence. Verily, the Darwinian theory will rapidly gain ground in Otago if many more such importations arrive. Yesterday was quite a holiday in Dun«din, the Government offices, shops, and other places of business being closed in honour of the hundredth anniversaiy of the birth of Sir Walter Scott. Great preparations had been made for the fitting celebration of the day. The principal event in the evening was the dinner and ball at Murray's Private Hotel, Rattray street. Nearly 100 gentlemen sat down to dinner, all our notabilities being present to do honour to Scotland's great poet and novelist. Mr E. B. Cargill occupied the chair. Among those who delivered addresses were the Chairman, Mr George Brodie, the Hon. Major Richardson, M.L.C., Mr ■Justice Chapman, Mr James Macassey, Professor Sale, and Mr John Bathgate M.H.R. and M.P.C., who proposed the toast of the evening, "The immortal memory of Sir Walter Scott," in a long and able speech. The dinner was excellent, and the utmost harmony prevailed throughout the evening. About SO couples were present at the ball, which was a great success. In the Masonic Hall, the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society held one of their popular entertainments in honour of the occasion, concluding with a ball. Some good songs, duets, and instrumental music, varied with addresses and recitations, made up a very excellent evening's amusement, and all present heartily enjoyed themselves It seems extremely likely that a fresh election for Mayor will have to take place, •owing to a doubt as to the legality of the late election. It appears that the City Council Chambers, which was appointed as the polling place for High Ward, are not within the boundaries of the Ward, and as the Act provides that a polling-booth for the reception of votes must be appointed within each Ward, objections have been made to Mr Fish retaining his position, as it might lead to complication and trouble •hereafter. A Supreme Court action, instituted for the purpose of ousting Mr Fish from office, will decide the matter. Mr Henry Driver, M.H.R. for the Waikari district, has resigned his seat,

owing to pecuniary embarrassments. In his address he intimates his intention of again contesting the election, and solicits the support of the electors, a course of procedure which has given rise to very general surprise. To say the least of it, it displays a want of delicacy and an amount of assurance which one would scarcely have given even Mr Driver the credit of possessing. Yesterday the township of Melrose, a pretty spot adjoining the residence of Mr Strode, and with frontages to the Town Belt and the Waikari road, was submitted to auction by Messrs M'Laudress, Hepburn and Co. The township is about twenty minutes' walk from the centre of the city, and commands a fine view of the ocean and harbour. It is situated in a delightfully picturesque portion of our suburbs, and, as was expected, the sections brought High prices, some of them realising as much as £75. Not bad, considering that the land was originally bought at 10s per acre ! Influenza, colds, and affections of the throat have been very prevalent in Dunedin during the last month. The weather has been very changeable—bitter cold winds, with sleet and rain, one day; and on the following morning the thermometer, perhaps standing at 70°, with a close, oppressive atmosphere. This probably is a sufficient explanation of the epidemic. Arcanum.