SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1835, 9 January 1880, Page 3

SPORTING.

WAIKATO RACES. [By Telbgbaph.] Frssr DAY.tTHUBSDAY, January 8. The Waikato Turf Club’s first day’s races came off to-day. A large number of Natives were present. The totaliaator was on the ground. Great disappointment was felt that Lone Hand, Lara, and Pinfire did not go up. Handicap Hubdi.es, of 40 sovs, with a sweep of 2 sovs each added ; second horse 5 sots from stakes.- Two miles. Eight hurdles 3ft. Gin, Mr Rutherford’s Sportsman, lOst 11b ... 1 Mr Mclvor’s Grey Momus, list 41b 2 Mr Patterson’s Gladstone, 10st 31b ... ... 3 Lone Hand and Loch Lomond were scratched. Wilson took Sportsman along at a fast gallop for the first round, taking the hurdles in advance of the field. At the stand Grey Momus was level with Sportsman, Gladstone outpaced. A neck-and-neck race brought them to the last hurdle in company. Grey Momus was favorite, but when clear of the hurdle, Wilson brought Sportsman along with a rush at the finish, winning by a good length. Maiden Plate, 30 sovs.; one and a half miles; weight for age ; for [three-year-olds and upwards that never won a stake exceed-

ing 10 sovs. Mr Walters’ Piscatorious, 7st 111 b 1 Mr Garland’s Emu (late Osman Pasha), 9st 2 Mr Long’s Traduoer Colt, 7st 111 b 3 Molly Darling, Chance and Qlenfem also ran. Mr Walmsley’s Milkman was scratched. Betting—3 to lon Piscatorious. He came first with an admirable stride, not having been called on during the race. Time—2 min. 22 sec.

Tdef Club Handicap, 100 sovs with a sweep of 5 sovs added; second horse 10 sovs, third horse 5 sovs, out of stakes. Mr Walters’ Libeller, 6st 61b 1 Mr Laing’s Harold, Sat 131 b 2 Mr Ivor’s Locb Lomond, 6st 131 b 3

Lady Elizabeth, Xantippe, Lady Q-ertrude, Barney, and Clover also ran. Waikato Stakes of 25 savs. One and a quarter miles. Welter weight for age. 5 aova of stakes for second horse. Mr Walters’ Billingsgate, lOst 31b 1 Mr Williamson’s Orakiu, 12st 11b 2

Mr Getting's Tni. list 61b ... ... ... 3 No betting. Billingsgate won in a common canter.

Flyino Stakes of 20 sovs. Three-quarters of a mile. Weight for age. Mr Walters’ Billingsgate, 7st I3lb ... ... 1 Mr Laing’s Harold, 9st 21b ... ... ... 2 Mr Hunt’s Gleefern, 9st ... ... ... 3 No betting. Billingsgate won hard held by three lengths. A Maori race concluded the day’s sport.

KAIAPOI NATIVE SCHOOL. The seventh anniversary festival of this school was celebrated on New Year’s Day, and was decidedly the most successful, both in the attendance of European visitors and in point of attractions yet held. The proceedings commenced with a children's service in the pretty little Maori church, which was conducted by the Kev. J. W. Stack, assisted by the Rev. D. O. Hampton and G. P. Mutn. This concluded, the children went to the schoolroom, which was tastefully decorated with Christmas, New Year’s, and other emblems, and evergreens. Owing to the threatening weather in the morning the proceedings were somewhat delayed, and therefore the examination of the school children was deferred, but before dismissing them to the sports and food they sang and recited several item's named in the programme in a manner to call forth well merited praise from the large audience. An inspection of the children’s bouquets for two prizes caused some difficulty to the ladies appointed as judges, but eventually they were awarded to, Martha Rickus, 1; Nellie Reeves, 2. The horticultural show was then opened for inspection. This was held in a large marquee, facing the school, and for a first attempt was pronounced most successful, the exhibits of vegetables, especially potatoes, being very good. There were also on exhibition some fancy flax mats and baskets, made by Native women, which found ready sale, and several specimens of greenstone which were exhibited, were pronounced the finest seen in New Zealand. The show of fruit and flowers was small, but a sample of each of these shown by Mr Stapleforth, of Rangiora, were really very fine.

During the afternoon the young folks of both races enjoyed themselves in an adjoining paddock, with sports of various kinds for prizes. At four o’clock, the Rev. J. W. Stack assembled the Natives in the show tent, and addressed them in their language upon the success that had attended their attempt at a Horticultural Show, after which he distributed the prizes to the successful competitors, and, thanks to the kindness of European friends, there was still enough remaining to give the unsuccessful ones some memento of the first show.

The distribution oyer, the Hon. H. B. Greason, in addressing the Natives, through an interpreter, said he was pleased to have been present at their show that day, and although there were some defects (which on a future occasion could be remedied), still he considered it was a most successful one, and they deserved encouragement in the development of gatherings of this nature. In former years the Maori and the pakeha fought against each other, but he hoped that the future might witness only such fighting between the two races as to which could produce the beet vegetables, flowers and fruit, and he trusted in this respect that the Maori would boat the Pakeha. With regard to their children attending school, the hon. gentleman said he was pleased to see that some of them could exhibit work equal to the white children, and the women were deserving of praise for the beautiful work in flax exhibited by them that day. Mr Greason was listened to with attention, and sat down amidst great applause. The Rev. G. P. Mutu spoke in eulogistic terms of the trouble and pains Mr H. J. Reeves, the master of the school, had taken in getting up the show, and said its success mainly depended upon his exertions. In the evening a vocal and instrumental concert was given in the schoolroom. Owing to the weather in the morning several friends from Christchurch did not put in an appearance, but Mr Merton, of Rangiora, who had promised his assistance some weeks ago, was equal to the emergency, haying brought several ladies and gentlemen with him, who, with Mr Fraser, of Waikuku, gave one of the most enjoyable entertainments ever held at the Pah. At its conclusion the Rev. G. P. Mutu proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Merton and his friends, as also to those gentlemen who had so kindly helped by money and goods to make the festival a success. A display of fireworks brought the seventh anniversary festival to a close.

SMITTEN WITH THE CIRCUS FEVER,

Last evening after the peiftrsnance was over at toe circus’ a young man called on Cbiarini and said he' wanted to ses him pn private business. The old veteran took him into his office and received him with his usual politeness. “ I came up all the wayfrotn Carson to see the show, and I’d like to jbin,” said the young man.

“ Oh, I see,” said the circxsman : : “ yon are a well-informed, healthy-lookiag young fellow, and I'd like to encourage such as yon.” The youth’s face brightened. “You don’t chew, smoke, sv drink, I hope 1 ” “ Oh, no ; honor bright—except- soda and beer. ” “ You must leave off these hat? habits. They weaken the muscles and paralyse the nerves. You can soon drop drinking, but your salary will not be large until you have overcome these tendencies. A little lemonade —sirens lemonade—is all the performers drink. Call at eleven to-morrow morning and’l will see what I can do. You musn’t expect over 50 dollars a week, though, at first. We never pay high salaries until we know just what a man can do.” • The delighted Carsonite went away, and this morning was on hand.

Chiarini took him to a tent where three immense Bengal tigers were caged. Handing him a currycomb and a pair of shears, he remarked—

“ Your duties will be comparatively light at first. You will go into the cage and curry the tigers down every morning, and about once a week cut their claws ; keep ’em down pretty short, so that when they attack the tiger-tamer, Mr Wilson, they won’t lacerate him much. Sometimes, but not more than once a- month, you may have occasion to file theii teeth. You just throw the animal on his back, ond hold his head between your knees. If he acts rough, belt him in the nose a few times. Keep belting him until he quiets down.” “ Haven’t you got a vacaney in the ait department?” asked the young man from Carson.

“ Is art your line? ” inquired Chiarini. “Yes,” drawled the young man. “In the circuses I’ve always run with I used to paint the stripes on the zebras. I killed so many tigers keepin’ 'em straight that the boss wouldn’t let me handle ’em. He said I used ’em too rough.” Chiarini swears that the terror from Carson shall have the first vacancy.—“ Virginia Chronicle.”