News OF the Day.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 354, 1 March 1866, Page 2

News OF the Day.

KAPIEE RACES.—Maech 1 & 2,1866. These is something particularly cheery to the sporting fraternity of this province to come off today and to-morrow. The old race-course at Greenmeadows is, as usual, like a brick bat-un-less, indeed, the few drops of rain that fell on Tuesday has made any impression upon its adamantine surface ; —so that the poor old screws will hare to-look out. If it will not be too late, 1 will endeavour to give your readers home idea — necessarily faint—of the horses entered for the cufiei’caS races. ITirsl of all is, of- course, thcr-

Produce Stakes.—As ‘Paddy ’is tho first Horse on the card, I will begin with him. How, lam of opinion that, in this race, the Irishman will be found wanting in speed. They say he is a sticker, bat he won’t do for me. Hext comes ‘Ranter,’ — a nice-looking horse, and a fast one if he likes ; blit one of the greatest curs that ever was foaled. He is sure to shut up or bolt. * Chotornian ’ is nest on the list. This is one of the nicest Bishop’s colts 1 have seen yet,—being a thick, short-legged, useful horse. lam sorry he has not had more time, especially as he is in for miles, which is one ot the most severe races. He ought to have been in training a month sooner, when I have no doubt he would have figured in the front. ‘ Waiti,’ a Maori nag, won’t do for me. ‘Rowdy,’ own brother to poor ‘Highlow,’ is the next on the card. They say he looks well, and is a horse that can go tho distance. I expect to see him “foremost in tlie race.” Little ‘ Governor ’ won’t do for one mile and-a-half. He has been over-trained, and is too small ts carry 9st 61b. His trainer, John Scott, deserves some recompenco for the trouble ho has taken with'him. ‘Comet’ shows next on print. He is out of the question. Then comes ‘ Haney,’ a slow mare, but in excellent condition. The worthy old skipper (who trained hei‘) will be very near the mark this time, and, barring accidents, 1 fully expect to see her carry off second honors. ‘Proselyte’ is too great a weed, although the best bred horse in the race. He looks as though he had been half-starved in his more youthful days. Host comes the Auckland mare ‘Borealis,’ a very nice, thick beast, with plenty of power. She ought to do the trick, having been sent all the way from Auckland to show tho Hapier horses how to gallop. But I don’t think she will win. Having gone through the Produce, I may place the three horses which I think most likely:— Rowdy -1; Nancy -2; Borealis - 3. Victuallers’ Purse.— For this race there are only three entries, of whom ‘Euclid’ is first on the card. He looks well and is in good condition, although one of his understandings seem to be rather fishy. Still he is sure to go well. ‘ Rangitoto’ is not so good a horse as some folk imagine. He is too slow. ‘ Koheroa,’ the “ dangerous Aucklander,” comes next. I don’t like him—not having sufficient power. They say he is good for a long distance. Anyhow time will show. My own opinion is that ‘ Euclid ’ will win in a canter. Euclid -1; Koheroa -2. Hurdle Race. —There are four entries for tins race. * Postboy ’ gallops splendidly, and jumps as well. ‘ Pirimoana ’ is too young for this race. ‘ Hau-hau’ is a very fair horse, and jumps well; but his condition will tell against him. ‘ Chrysalis’ would win this race in a common canter if he was only fit to go. The horse is, and has been for some time, out of sorts. Still, it all depends upon the pace. I expect, at the finish, to see— Postboy -1; Chrysalis -2; Hau-hau - 3. Scurry Stakes.— l do not think it at all necessary to go through tho list of entries for this race. The result will greatly depend upon the Produce Stakes. Hawke’s Bay Stakes. —lf‘Euclid’ does not break down in the Victuallers’ Purse, he will win this race with the greatest ease. Silver Cup. —l expect to see ‘Governor’ first, ‘Haney ’ a good second, and ‘ Chotornian ’ a better third, —with the rest distanced. Forced Handicap. —lt is out of my power to give you any information regarding this race. Consolation Handicap. — This race is very consoling to those parties whose horses have bolted or been nowhere in a race, —especially to those that don’t happen to win it. Hoping you will excuse this hasty sketch of the Hapier cracks, and that you and your numerous readers and subscribers may thoroughly enjoy yourselves at the forthcoming annual race meeting,—l beg to subscribe myself, Ahueiei.

Waieoa.—A correspondent informs us that a “ meeting took place at Te Uhi on Wednesday, the 21st inst., on the occasion of 41 of the Hauhau party coming in and givingupthoirarms. Their leaders are Rewiti, younger brother of Huruhuru, and Waata Taiaroa. The affair was interesting, inasmuch as something is likely to come of it more than appears on the surface. I will write you concerning the trials of the men who bolted after taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen, and also of the man or men implicated in supplying ammunition to the Hau-haus. The mail starts too early for me to furnish you with the information I desire, but to-morrow, if opportunity serves, you shall hear from me. The great feed given on this occasion was supplied by Ngatikurupakiaka at their own expense.—Other matters are dull enough.” Yietual Disfranchisement of the Waieoa Electors.—We direct the attention of our readers at the Wairoa to the fact, alluded to by a correspondent in another column, of thoir ’coin"no polling place for their district nearer than Moliaka; which will doubtless subject the electors to great inconvenience, in leaving home to record their votes. Nevertheless we trust that they will not permit the evil (now unavoidable) to disfranchise them; but remember the importance of the occasion, and record their votes either at Mohaka or Napier, —hoping that this important district will for the future have its polling place, to which it is undoubtedly entitled. Hxs Excellence's Yisit.—The brief visit of his Excellency Sir George Grey to Napier has imparted something like life to our usually matter-of-fact town. On Tuesday, all the population of the surrounding districts seemed to be gathered into Napier, and a goodly portion of whom consisted of the darker race, llis Excellency held an undress levee, and thus afforded an opportunity, but seldom falling to the lot of Napier folk, of being presented to the representative of lioyultv, —an opportunity that was embraced by a goodiv number. We believe Sir George leaves in the ‘Eclipse’ this day, for Auckland, should he not bo induced to stay aud grace the racc-course with his presence., .

White-road Robbery.— Stephen M‘Clone a private in the 12th Eegt., who was mentioned’ in oar last as having been arrested on suspicion of stealing from the ‘Albion’ Hotel some ehdit watches, the propetty of one Duncan M'Callum, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, at the ‘.Resident Magistrate’s Court, on Tussday last. The prisoner bore a very bad character in the regiment. The Maori Prisoners.— lt is with a feeling of satisfaction that wo find, from the Wellington papers that the puzzling problem, “ What is to be done with the Maori prisoners,” is at length solved, and in a rational way too. They are to be sent to the Chatham Islands,—a step we have before advocated. Stealing a Saddle. —The native mentioned in our last as having stolen a saddle, the property of M essrs J. A. Turner and Co., was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday last. Nelson Election.— By our Nelson files we learn that Mr E. W. Stafford and Mr O. Curtis have been returned to represent the City of Nelson in the next General Assembly—defeating Mr Ruckie, editor of the ‘Nelson Colonist.’