IRISH SWEEPSTAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1931, Page 3

IRISH SWEEPSTAKE

DUBLIN'S GREAT DAY, EXCELLENCE OF ORGANISATION. DUBLIN, March 24. • rtiis is the hub of the universe today.” was the remark passed at he Mansion House this morning, where a large crowd of privileged persons, including 100 press representatives were assembled in the Round Chamber to watch the draw for the Hospitals Sweepstake on the Grand National. Preliminary proceedings began at 9 a.m., when, to the srains of a radio gramophone, nurses from all the great Irish hospitals- -the gallant General O’Duffy had chosen them himself—poured their sacks stuffed with tickets coupons into the portholes of th great electric driven drum which was. to mix them once again after the preliminary mixing by hand which took place yeserelay in the presence of the press. The upper part of the walls of the round room are gay with coats of arms, while the platform on which the counterfoil drums rested was draped in green and yellow, and bathed in limelith, the •drum being surmounted by the Irish harp in gold. Spewhes-were made by Lord honors court, chairman of the Hospitals Trust. Committee, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, in which we,were told of the. uses to which money allotted to the hospitals after the November Handicap Sweep were put—reroofing 'cMiita's, providing decent accommodation for nurses and staffs installing lifts from wards to operating tneatres, or, in other cases. X-ray apparaxns or sunshine homes for tubercular children. Lord Powerscourt, in a happy phrase, said they had "swept up all the loose stuff they could find” hut a misunderstanding had arisen among benefactors to the effect that the hospitals no longer needed the support of voluntary contributors This was a grave error, for unless tho sweeps wont on at their present rate

''or many years, the Hospital Trust Committee could do little more than fight and arrest decay and pay off arrears of debt.

General O’Duffy presided over the actual draw in the following manner: —Five nurses were stationed, seated one in front of each porthole of the counterfoil drum, while another nurse sat in front of the small crystal drum holding the names of the 85 horses and The Field —the latter representing any horses, omitted by error from the list 'A horses, drawn and 'ranking as a nou-starter if no error were discovered At a signal from the General both tne huge counter foil drum, looking like a great boiler,, and the small crystal drum began to revolve. The General then called out, ‘‘Port No. 1,” and while the nurse stationed in front of the porthole so numbered drew out a counterfoil slip the oliiei nurse drew the roll with horse’s name from the rvstal drum. The General then punch ed each piece of paper with his private mark, pinned them together, and handed them to the official secretaries, who recorded the name of the winner, name of horse, and name of number of winner. These facts were then announced by Mr-. Sheen an, one of the chief organisers, and were also flashed on screens on either side of the hall. As there were four rows of five portholes each side of the drum, it was ony every twenty-first ticket which was drawn from the same porthoe and as the nurses officiated in relays they can seldom have drawn more than once or twice from the same porthole. When all the horses and The Field had been drawn the same method was employee/ for the consolation cash prices, but owing to the large number of these five were drawn at once, one from each porthole in the row which was called by the General It was announced that the total subscriptions amounted to £1,755.963; the pri«e fund to £1.181,815; first prize, £3-54,544; second prize, ,C1?/,272; third prize £118,181; and 83 other horses £l2Bl each, while the 360 cash prizes were worth £llßl each and £6OOO was given to each seller of winning tickets. The hospitals’ actual share was £438,990 .The total expenses, including promoters’ amounted to only 8 per cent instead of the 30 per cent maximum allowed by the Free State Act of. Parliament. A special word must he said for the wonderful smoothness and efficiency with which everything was conducted, ana the very complete hospitality shown to all members of the Press who attended the draw. As someone said, "They kept it up to t-tie very end.”

The draw, in itself, was intensely dramatic. At first every one was tense with excitement, but as the day wore on the nurses seemed to become quite • accustomed to handing out slips of pape;r which were for some lucky people the keys of El Dorado. Mr N. S. Hunt, of Wellington, was, of course the only New Zealander to win, and his consolation prize was greeted with applause, as were all winnings from distant parts of the world. Mrs Morris. ol Tientsin, who drew Sir Lindsay,

More iustinct guides both bird and beast, When in the wilds they wander free; Unerring sense direct the least— The monkey knows his own home tree.

Mere instinct also aids mankind To ease the ailments all endure — I’rlief for colds mere babes, may find Xn \\ r ocsis' Great Peppermint Cure.

Mr Clayton C. Woods, of Buffalo, U.S.A.. vho drew Gregahieh, and “Stanlev” the little Chinese boy, who

drew Delaine, in South Africa, were nil bailed with delight, as were the two naval officers of the Revenge and

~mp:re, who were among the lucky. Appropriate noms dc plume, spelt a? “Lucky at Last/' and “Thank You” were much appreciated. while the gentleman who signed himself, “Rat-

„. i etc,” was lmieli appreciated. The greatest enthusiasm was, of course, reserved for Irish and partlcuniTy Dublin winners, although Belfast had a vecoferous’band of supporters in one e< . ner. Mrs Cissy Whelan, who drew Ruddyman, was the only Dubliner to draw a horse.

Dublin was at its gayest on the day of the draw, and large crowds gathered both outside the Mansion House and in St. Stephen’s Green to hear the results, but so well was order kept

that it was perfectly easy to move about even in these- congested , areas... There -seemed to be a very friendiv atmosphere even towards England and the large proportion of English and Scottish winners was accepted without rancour, because “so much of the money came from Britain.”