LETTER FROM DR. M'ARTHUR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 867, 13 July 1910, Page 8

LETTER FROM DR. M'ARTHUR.

THE DERBY AND OTHER HOME .scenes: :. Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., ! writing from London, under date Juno 2,:'tb. a friend in .Wellington, gives an interesting account of his doings in the : Old Land. Describing the English Derby; - he states that there! was an immense of all sorts, and conditions-of men and women present.:. Tjiere". wero. dukes and donkey , cotiiite.SseS r and costermorig'ers, baronets. ; ahd : ' babies, conveyances- of all kinds, horses arid motors, motor landaus, and wheelbarrows, fouriinhands and perambulators; As was the case' with all ..English crowds the greatest goo'd:humour,'prevailed, and rich - and -poor rubbed along, neither shunning the other...,',, '"l„. What. stTUck_ him-. most., was the lack of.suitable appointmehts'.' ; The public paid £1 for; a so-called-seat on the grandstand with the. heavens for a covering. Ho; did riot know what'■'was •■ paid for ■the boxes and stallswhichwerecoveredin and protected. Those-'who .paid knew, and prices were very high. There were on'o or two small private'lawns for members' and friends; but ■ tie public law'u "was only a grass paddock. 'To get into the' saddling-paddock,"' which was about 300 yards.from the stand, one had to pay 10s. extra;. There were no saddle-cloths to, the horses', and various other, conveniences common to New Zealand, racecourses were conspicuous by. their absence'.'' Tliere werehundreds of booths,, .and ■ all ;sorts; of..' entertainments, sueh-as.-Punch and-Judj-j threecard tricks; Aunt Sallies, etc., etc, were in vogne. Everyone was out for enjoyment. . - ■ ■ '

The racing was very' good, Jargo fields, good starts,' and"in. most cases the favourites won, or were'very well up. Tho race for the Derby, won by Lcmbe'rg, was done in record time, and it was- a great sight,_ seen under the niost- favourable, auspices, v DrJ M'Arthur also speaks very favourably of tho fields, lanes,'and parks of England, which, ho says, must be seen to bo appreciated. New Zealand's best were only diamonds m the 'rough, compared with/the polished articles. The quaint old villages with their rustic inn and club at once demanded one's attention and admiration. Cleanliness reigned everywhere.