LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 39, 27 March 1862, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Rkgisteation. —We would remind those who intend to prefer claims to be placed on the list of voters for the ensuing year, that Monday next is the last day on which they can be received by the Registration Officer.

Scouting. —A challenge having been issued by Mr. Chapman, the owner of Scharayl, offering to run him against Charles O’Malley, for £SO a side, for one mile and a half, the challenge was accepted by Mr. Riddell, and two cheques for £SO each were placed in the hands of Mr. J. Rhodes, judge and stakeholder, and the match made for the 21st at the Green Meadows. The grey was made the favorite, it being supposed it was not the other’s distance, but both parties were sanguine, and did the utmost to bring their horses to the post fit. On the morning of the race it transpired that the colt was not all right, and had been olf his feed for two days. A select few proceeded early on the day ot meeting to the Green Meadows, and the preliminaries having been adjusted, a good start took place, the bay having the inner, and the grey the further, side. Past the stand the grey led at a good pace, the other horse being already beaten, labouring in his gallop, and requiring the whip to keep him at it. A short distance further on, the grey swerved across the course, and in front of the bay. On recovering himself, without going oil the course, he continued and increased his lead and won as he liked. On coming back to the stand, Mr. Me.Donell claimed the race on the ground that the grey had crossed Ids horse, and Messrs. Ormond and P. Russell, the. umpires, investigated the complaint and were satisfied that it was established ; but it was then urged, ou behalf of Schamyl, that the complaint was made at the wrong time and place, the jockeys going to Mr. Chapman’s bouse to weigh ; when, after considering the matter, the umpires decided in favor of the bay, and awarded Mr. Riddell the race and stakes. But the difficulty was not to be easily arranged. Mr. Riddell, on returning to port in the evening, applied to the stakeholder for the stakes, and was told to come again in the morning. which he did, not, however, before his cheque had been presented at the bank and dishonored. Upon that fact becoming known, Mr. Chapman claimed the stakes, under one of the Newmarket rules, which provides for the payment of the whole sum by even the winner if he shall not make good his stake. (This rule applies only to the stakes, and not to bets, which follow the event. The stakeholder not seeing clearly how to act, declined to part with the stakes, and intended to abide by the decision of a judge or jury, which was at first threatened. We learn, however, that at last an arrangement has been effected, and a case stated for the opinion of the Sydney Jockey Club, whose award is to be conclusive between the parties. In consequence of the dispute, and the weighing taking place off the course, the meeting terminated with the above event, and all parties returned to town, regretting the untoward accident which produced the dispute.—Tho confidence of the owner of Schamyl in the speed of his horse remaining unimpaired, a second match .was made between him and the Maori horse Te Whatu for similar stakes at the same distance, which came off on Monday last, on the same course, in the presence of a large assemblage of spectators, amongst whom there were several ladies. In consequence of tho sudden and heavy rain, the time of starting was delayed, but about one o’clock, the horses went down to the half mile post, and at the word both got well off, the black, however, at once showing fairly in front, a position which he maintained with apparent ease to the end. He was not pushed throughout the race, though, after passing the mile, the grey made an effort and appeared to be coming np : he, however, never sensibly diminished the other’s lead, and Te Whatu won by several lengths. The grey was the favorite at starting, but owing to his known bolting propensities, beyond the stakes there was but little risked on him. A sudden furore then appeared to seize the assembled horsemen, and several scratch, hack, and other impromptu races were knocked up with .considerable spirit and energy, to which old father Munn contributed materially by the introduction of a barrel of ale, which he dispensed to both races from his trap. The noon fortunately turned out fine, and tho day’s sport was highly successful, and appeared to afford pleasure to all the spectators.