THE ALDERS HOT PROTEST.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8171, 1 May 1895, Page 1

THE ALDERS HOT PROTEST.

"Admiral" in cho Dunodin Star says : Tho luck of Mr J M'Kovren is said by tho •• turfoy " men to bo proverbial, and tho final result of tho protracted deliberations of tho North Otago stewards would seem to emphasise that belief—particularly as regarda tho totalisator money going wi h tho stakes. When tho disqualification was dotcrmined on an order was issued to ray out on tho Arbiter, but on Aldorshot a owner lodging notice of appeal to tho metropolitan body the order was withdrawn and tho investors' money impounded— a most unheard-of proceeding. As a correspondent pointed out on Saturday, an appeal to tho metropolitan body ought not to have been accopted under Rulo 131, which says : " A>l protests and objections shall bo determined by tho stowards, whoso decision shall bo final. Such decision, however, be subject to appeal to tho Committee of the Jockey Club, so far as relates to points involving interpretation of those rules, but not as relates to questions of fact, and tho decision of bucli committoo shall bo absolutely final and shall not bo questioned in any court." Had tho club's secrotary refused to accept tho appeal, as tho iulo directed him, tho muddle which followed would no' have occurred. As to tho rehearing, I agroo that tlio stewards came to i proper undine; on tho evidence then placed beforo them, bnc two issues have to bo raised : Why was not Mr Hobbs asked whother ho wished to call any witnesses when tho mattoc was re-opened, and aro tho stowards nob expected to take notice of what they soo while a raco is being run 1 It is absurd to pat these gentlemen on tho back and say that, having acted hastily, thoy took tho earliest opportunity of righting a wrong when tho true facts aro that, in placo of coming to a hurried conclusion thoy deferred a decision till tho following day. and then exhausted all tho evidence that Aldorshob'a owner was proparod with before carrying tho disqualification resolux tion. I began this subject by saying that Mr M'Kowon is notoriously lucky — getting Dexterina disqualified on tho most trivial protest is a caso in point, and others can bo cited if needs bo. At least ono of tho votes given in favor of rescind* ing tho disqualification ought not to havo boon exorcised, bub as tho gentleman in question will probably bo prepared to r jcogniso that ho actt d thoughtlessly, if not imprudently, I refrain from commenting on tho matter. Whoro tho stewards acted in an altogathor uujostitiablo manner was in dealing wi h tho matter ty parte on reconsideration. Surely common courtesy ought to havo suggested to|thcm tho propriety of asking Mr Hobb* to attend or to enquire whether ho wished to call ovidenco in support of his protest. It is alleged that Mr M'Kowen was not only asked to attend, bub <o come fortified with evidenoa as to Aldershot's allogod roguishness» while the othor sido wore altogether ignored. Strange justice surely ! Mr Burbury and Mr Gardiner aro to bo commended for their firmness throughout tho enquiry — their action contrasting very strongly with tho want of backbone shown by some of their brother officers. It is a pity that tho club aro to bo deprived of tho services of ihoso two stowaids, but thoy would bo wanting in solf-respcct to continue to servo with the present committee, and ono is nob surprised to learn that both gentlemen hava signified their intontion of nob seeking re-olcction at tho annual meeting. A writer in tho Dunedin Star signing himself "Justico ". writes : Sin, — Evory disinterested person who saw the race can only havo ono opinion about this matter, but this is nob tho question now. After tho protest had been sustained, and Aldorshob disqualified by the stowards, an order was given to pay out on At biter, and this would certainly have been done, but M'Kowen appealed to theme'ropolitan club. In dofianco of rulo 131 this appeal was accopted — cKarly an illegal aotion. Question : Havo not tho backers of Arbitor good grounds for an action tigainst tho club ?

Aii oftcer bet another a largo sum of money that lie could not empty a qu*rb bottle of champagne at ono draught. Ho asked for hilf an houi to think tho matter over, which was gpin cd. Wlien ho re* turned ho t^ok tho champagno, drank it off, anil claimed tho money. Ho was asked why it look him so long to accept tho bet. 'Well, 1 ho siid, *I was nob quite suro tlut I could do it, my dear fellow ; ho I wont homo first and triod the experiment. 1 An illustration of "sturdy indep?n« denco" occurred a' tho Christuhu eh railwiy station the other day; Englibh visitor (to i'trst porter): " Will you get mo my luggago, p'o-iho." First porter (pointing to second porter along tho platform): "That aentlamn along there will got it for you." Tho visitor walked towatd tho gentleman in ques ion, and as ho went ho heard first " gentleman " call out to sec nd " gon'lcmau ": "Hi ! Bill ! Thit man wants his lugt^ng-."