SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1598, 3 April 1879, Page 3

SPORTING.

KOWAI PASS EACES. [By Telegbaph.] [fbom ode special eepoetkb.] Halve un, April 2. The Kowai Pass meeting came off to-day after an interval of several years. The weather was beautiful, and the attendance very fair. The arrangements were susceptible of improvement, though it is only fair to say the various officials worked hard to make things go off well. The course, which, with a little trouble and expense, could be made a very good one, was in fair going order, and the racing was good. The Hurdle race was won easily by Te Whetu, though had not Robin Hood come to grief, he would have proved very formidable at the finish. The Maiden Plate was won by Orange Peel, but a protest against him on the ground of having previously won public money, was sustained, an! the stakes awarded to Robin Hood. Te Whetu was saddled again for the Ladies’ Purse, which he won after a close finish with Huntingdon, who ran rather unkindly. The Lad upset a supposed moral in Kensington in the Publicans’ Par.-e, and Numa won the Springfield Plate pretty easily from his four opponents. A Hack race, won by Magic, and a Consolation, which came off after 1 left the course, brought a good day’s sport to a conclusion. Handicap Hukdle Race of 40 aovs, two miles, over eight flights of hurdles, Mr W. F. Neilson’s ch g Te Whetu, by Traducer, aged, 12st ... ... (D. O'Brien) 1 Mr Markey’s ch g The Lad, 4 yrs, 9st (Crook) 2 Mr J. H. Lnnn’s b g Robin Hood, G yrs, Bst (Clifford) 0 Eversley was scratched. Betting, 2 to lon Te Whetu. The lad was first away, leading over the first hurdle, followed by Te Whetu and Robin Hood in the order named. At the second hurdle the Lad refused, and To Whetu went to the front, and led Kobin Hood by five or six 'engths to the last turn, when Clifford made an effort. The two came together to tbo last hurdle, which R 'bin Hood struck hard, throwing' lifford. Te Whetu then cantered in an easy winner, tha Lad a bad second. Time, 4min Msec.

Maiden Plate of 20 sovs ; weight for age. miles. Mr J. H. Lunn’s b g Robin Hood, aged, 9nt 41b ... ... ... ...(Clifford) 1 Mr B. Askew’s ch m Little Maid, 5 yra, 9st 21b (Beer) 2 Mr L. Markey’s blk g Moonlight, 6 yrs, 95t41b... ... ... ... , (Crook) 3 Mr J. McCausland’s b g Orange Peel, 5 yrs, 9st 41b _ (Bell) 0 Robin Hood was quickest on his legs, but was pulled back almost immediately to the rear, Orange Peel taking up the running in front of Little Maid and Moonlight. They ran thus

past the stand, and at the turn Moonlight was out of it. The other three then closed and raced together to the back of the course, when Little Maid had shot her bolt, and Orange Peel led Robin Hood to the distance, when the latter tiring right away. Orange Peel came on and won easily, Little Maid a bad third. Time, 3min. 3 \ secs. Ladies’ Purse of 20 sovs.; one mile. Mr W. F. Neilson’s ch g To Whetu, by Traduccr, aged, 12st (O’Brien) 1 Mr H. Vallance’s b c Huntingdon, 3 yrs, 9st 71b (Clifford) 2 Mr J. McCausland’s b g Orange Peel, 5 yrs, 9st 71b (Bell) 3 Mr H. Cassidy’s b g Kensington, aged, 9st 51b (Hockey) 0 After one false start, Mr Cordy got the four nicely away, Te Whetu feing the first to show in front, followed by Orange Peel and Huntingdon, Kensington whipping in. They ran thus to the back of the course, where Orange Peel took up the running, and Kensington fe 1 back. Orange Peel held a slight lead from To Whetu, coming into the straight, where both horses were being ridden. The superior condition of the chestnut, however, told in the run in, and the steeplechaser won a capital race by a short half length from Huntingdon, who came with a rush in the last fifty yards. Orange Peel a close third. Time 1 min. 54 secs. Publicans’ Purse Cup, presented by Crown Brewery, with 5 sova added; district horses only. One mile and a half. Mr L. Markey’s ch g The Lad (by Messenger, 4 yrs, 9st (Crook) 1 Mr H. Cassidy’sb g Kensington, aged, 9st 4lb (Hockey) 2 Mr G. Rutherford’s blk g Magic, 4 yrs, 9st (Clifford) 3 The Lad got rather the worst of the start, but soon went to the front, with Kensington in close attendance. The two ran together for a mile, when M«gic went up, hut, dying away almost immediately, the issue was left to the other two. At the last turn The Lad drew away, and won comfortably by three lengths. Time —3min. 12aec. Springfield Plate Handicap of CO sovs; two miles. Mr W. F. Neilson’s hr g Numa, by Master Kowo, aged, 7st 81b (Derrett) 1 Mr J. H. Lunn’s b g Milo, 4 yrs, Bst 41b (Clifford) 2 Mr H. Vallanco’s b c Huntingdon, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (Haines) 3 Mr H. Cassidy’s fa g Elfin King, 9st (Hockey) 0 Mr J. McCausland’s b g Orange Peel, 5 yrs, 9st (McConkey) 0 Betting—2 to 1 on Numa. Milo was first away, followed by Huntingdon and Numa, but after a few strides the favourite went to the front, waited on for a while by Huntingdon and Orange Peel, Elfin King bringing up the rear. Passing the stand, Numa, full of running, led by four lengths, and half-a-mile from home had all his opponents quite safe and coming round the last turn several lengths in front of his field, won easily from Milo and Huntingdon, who finished second and third respectively, and who were not uselessly persevered with. Time—3min. 45sec. The Hack Race was won by Magic, beating four others easily. The Consolation'was won by Milo, with Bst 121 b, beating Little Maid and Elfin King. This was the best race of the day. NORTH CANTERBURY RACES. [By Telegraph.] Rangiora, April 1. The following nominations wore received last Tuesday:— OPEN HURDLES. Mr S. Lemon’s 1 emon Juice Mr J. Fisher’s Mickey Free Mr T. McKay’s Laddie Mr L. Markey’s Moonlight Mr T. Sheenan’s Shark Mr S. Lemon’s Miss Drizzles Mr P. Butler’s chesnut colt. DISTRICT HURDLES. Mr McKay’s Laddie Mr Cone’s Manuka Mr Moody’s Satan Mr J. Hughes’ No Name Mr A. McQuillan’s Te Kooti Mr S. Palmer’s Kate. Mr Miller Larkin’s Rifleman NORTH CANTERBURY CUP. Mr R. Mason’s Vampire Mr S. Lemon’s Lemon Juice Mr R. Mason’s Lara Mr B. Vallance’s Huntingdon Mr G. Robinson’s Tarewa Mr H. Goodman’s Chancellor Mr R. Ray’s Titauia Mr P. Butler’s Laertes. publicans’ purse. Mr R. Mason’s Lara Mr R. Mason’s Vampire Mr H. Vallance’s Huntingdon Mr L. Markey’a The Lad Mr G. Robinson’s Tarewa Mr H. Goodman’s Chancellor Mr R. Ray’s Titania Mr P. Butler’s Laertes Mr J. Hughes’ No Name. The committee met and decided to enlarge the saddling paddock, and to sell the privileges next Tuesday. The secretary was instructed to request the Mayor to proclaim a half holiday. THE JACKSON’S BAY INQUIRY. [By Telegraph.] [from our own correspondent.] Hokitika, April 2. The Stella returned yesterday from Jackson’s Bay. The commissioners visited the Haast, Okura, Turnbull, Waiatoto, and Arawatn rivers, and all the sections taken up by emigrants, and satisfied themselves of tho resources of the district by personal inspection. The inquiry at Jackson’s Bay is said to have been of a most exhaustive character, and lasted about ten days. The commissioners sit again here to-morrow, and propose closing the inquiry about Saturday, when they will complete the evidence and make their report. Many of the settlers now at the Bay intend to remain. Some Italians, Poles, and Germans left the settlement in tho Stella. Tho bad seasons experienced for the last two years at Jackson’s Bay have militated against the success of the settlement, and account for much of the discontent of tho emigrants.

THE WAX MATE DIFFICULTY. [Press Special Wire.] Opunaki, April 2. The tangi over Tu Hota at Omahangi is over. It was partly a political as well as a mortuary gathering. Mr Mackay’s proposals and suggest om were received and commented on. While this teiegram is being written the situation is unchanged. Mr Mackay is still at Parihaka, and no news from him as been received. Meanwhile the people here go on with their ordinary avocations, as if no Waimate difficulty existed. The Maoris come to Bartlett’s and drink and chaff as of yore. The carters and travellers go along the beach, and no excitement is manifested among the few and scattered residents, save as to when the detachment of the A. C. will arrive and where they will bo located. Having lived for years under the edge of the Maori tomahawks, they are thinking whether the reinforcement is not a farce and mistake, and pretty generally agree that they would have been just as safe without the A. C. Every Maori I meet deprecates the idea of war as strongly as the whites. Their only dread seems to be such a contingency. Then the large and prosperous special settlement at Parihaka they know would be endangered at least, and their extensive cultivations certainly destroyed. They also fear further confiscation, and are really anxious that the difficulty should be met as they say it ought, and overcome by diplomacy, not by force, if the white man would only be honest. The Maori side of the question is this—Sir D. M'Lean promised them reserves on the plains and a monetary compensation, according to acreage, for what he sequestrated and sold. These promises they maintain have been ignored or overlooked. Th y regard all Governments as continuous, not as individuals, and think that the honor and promises of the past should not be broken or set aside by the pro-ent Government. They say that Id 000 acres of the finest land on the plains have been surveyed and laid out without the reservation of a single aero for themselves. They point to the advertisement of its sale as the deliberate sanction of the Government to the ignoring of Sir D. McLean’s promises, and robbing them absolutely of their inheritance. They have Fnropeans and Native witnesses who can testify to the truth of their statements, and us to what Sir D. McLean really did promise. Hence they are pouri (dark), protesting, and stubborn, several saying, “ We mav as well be dead as have no land on which to live.”

'I he white people in the district, or the hulk of them, maintain that cutting up the cream of the plains without any reserves being made, promised, or talked over, and tfc advertising of them for sale, arose from the fact that 25 per cent, of the products of the sale go to the Taranaki Harbor Board. This, they state, is the reason why all that coidd bo got has been sought to bo obtained ere the Assembly could interfere

to prevent such an act of local spoliation. They also assert that Messrs Brown and Williams have either ignorantly or mi chievonsly deceived the Government and Native Minister as to *he state of the Maori mind, and also have treated the dispossessed Natives with ignorant contempt, and in so doing have imperilled the peace of the colony.

There is another aspect of this question to which I have not hitherto re erred. It is this. According to Maori custom and habit of t- ought they consider our conquest of their lands was not co : : p f te. They say, “ You took the land, but failed to keep it. You allowed us to return and settle on it. Hence we now contest your occupancy.” 8 p.m.

I have just received the following from Parihaka, dated 2 p.m., April 2nd “1 e tvhiti and all the Natives have received us very well. We arc having a quiet discussion of the question. So far no conclusion has been arrived at. We go on with the kororo after dinner. Shall remain here to night, and probably tomorrow. (Signed) James Mackay.”