INTERESTING HORSE TRIAL AT KAKANUI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 819, 27 November 1878, Page 2

INTERESTING HORSE TRIAL AT KAKANUI.

[from a oobrespoxdent. J A very interesting trial of hoi-scs took place at Kakanui at 10 o'clock to-day, in consequence of a wager having been made by Messrs. Calder and Campbell with Mr. Balfour, for LlO aside. Three horses entered the competition, namely, Mr. Balfour's Lion (by President), James Calder's Bob (by Marquis), and Campbell's Chum (imported). The trial was—One ton weight, in a waggon with the four wheels blocked. If this proved too severe a test of strength, a wheel was to be released at a time, until the test was sufficiently reduced so as to enable the waggon to be moved. Bob drew the lot sft, Chum 3ft, and Balfour's Lion failed to move it. Bob and Chum therefore won LlO each for their owners. Bob will be remembered as being Fleming and Hedley's great jn-ize three-year-old at the show in IS7O, and was bought from that firm by Mr. Calder at the highest price ever given for a gelding in the district—namely, L 10.5. Messrs. Oillcspie and Wylie acted as judges. Afterwards a scratch match occurred between Mr. "Wylie and Mr. Alex. Thomson, the former backing his horse Duke against the latter's Lion at two to one. Duke was the first to take his trial, and shifted the weight 2ft. 9in. Lion was then hooked on, and, handled in a masterly manner by Mr. George Aikenhead, who succeeded in causing him to draw the weight Sift. The judges on this occasion were Messrs. Gillespie and T. Y. Duncan. When our correspondent left, everybody seemed in high glee. Each hugged his own animal, but, buttoning xip his pockets, seemed disinclined to engage in further speculation. [BY TLLEORArII, FROM ANOTHER COPvIIESPONDENT.] Kakaxot, November 27. The pulling match between draught horses came off to-day, the test being a waggon with wheels spragged. Mr. Calder's Bob pulled the waggon 43 inches ; Mr. Campbell's Chum, 21 ; and Balfour's Lion, 7 inches. Afterwards a well-known sporting man offered to take LIOO to LSO that Mr. Balfour's Lion could beat anything on the ground. The oiler was accepted by Mr. Wylie, and at the trial Lion pulled the waggon 31 yards easily. The weight of the waggon was 39 cwt. Mr. George Aikenhead drove Lion in the successful trial. The trials of strength created considerable interest, and were witnessed by a large number of people.