SOUTH ISLAND REPRESENTATIVES AT AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 184, 11 January 1875, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND REPRESENTATIVES AT AUCKLAND.

From the New Zealand Herald of Jan sth we extract the following description:— "As usual, on the last clay of a meeting, the layers of odds were frantic in their endeavors to book a bet. One gentleman from the South, clad in a superb "Paget suit," from which, by the way, in the hurry of toilet, he had omitted to remove Mr Coombes' trade-mark, made his voice resound on the lawn with "Two to one bar one," to which another of the fraternity replied (reading from the ticket), "Our own make. This style £1 145." In alluding to this incident, it is pleasing to note that our local industries are supported by our brethren from the South; but this is digressing." From the same paper we also cull the following l instructive story :—"An amusing example of the biter bit is reported to have occurred at the Ellerslie Races on Saturday. Abetting clique, whose "little games" we have <*u more than one occasion referred to in warning tones, laid heavily against a wellknown racing crack winning a handicap, and to make themselves safe made a present of fifty pounds and an I O U for a similar amount to the horse's trainer, with a promise of ten pounds to the jockey, accompanied by a hint that it was not desirable for the said horse to win. The cash was accepted and the equivalent committed to the winds as worthless, while the jockey received positive instructions from his employer to ride to win. He did so, and won, and was not a loser by acting

honestly towards his master, but the gentry who had made their books in anticipation that the bait had taken, were particularly crestfallen over the event. It will perhaps be a lesson for them to act with more honesty, and certainly more judgment in future, and not run away with the|idea that they can carry all before them when visiting Auckland. The contretemps on Saturday night, if report isj correct, occasioned much noisy language when the sporting community met. We have reason to believe that at least some of the stewards of the Jockey Club are acquainted with this attempted " welching " business, If so, in the interests of the public, and to sustain the reputation of the sport in this province, it is their duty to expose it. Let them follow the example of the Dunedin Club in the recent* case of Mabel, and they will have no cause to regret their action. The public have also a right to know from the stewards the reasons why Islesman was not scratched at an earlier hour than he was for the Hurdle Race, &c, if it be true, as has been asserted without contradiction, that it was known at least twentyfour hours previously that he could not run, the public being "milked " by a ring in the meantime. Such matters should not be passed over. They should either be confirmed or refuted. We shall be glad to be assured that we are wrong in either one or both of the instances cited. '