SPORTING.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 28 January 1920, Page 2

SPORTING.

Wc cannot congratulate Mr Keith on his want of strictness: to offenders at the starting post of some of the Foston races (says, the "Feildicg Star"). This was particularly the case where small fields were concerned. In the President'.-; Handicap, Imaribboa wa-. allowed to dance about and kick at the other contestant- to her heart '- content, while Moutoa Ivanr>va seriously injured Tirana by a vieioux kick oa the shoulder. The starrer is given wide cowers in catre-; of this sort, and it ii not fair to the owner of a horse that ha sboald be compelled to submit to such unfair exaction*. In the three seven-furlong events at Foston the time- was csactiy the same —Amberia/2 winning two and Gold Problem one in 1.31.

The public "go blind" on the tote semeiimes. At Foxton, on Thursday, Machree could only get second in a seven-furlong race, won in 1.31 with 7.11 up. Later, with 3.3, the public invested £1303 on his chances in another seven-fujiong «»;e in which Axnberiae fS.6). which had won a r«ice of the fame distance carrying 8.10 the day previous in 1-31. was a competitor. Of courso Amberine won.—"Feiiding Star.''

COMMITTEE MEETINC. | A meeting ef the members of || Mount Hector Track Committee M held at the Town Board office |I evening. Present: Messrs W. Temp- . (chairman), A. B H Knox, W. F. Ki|| , ling, W. Jepson, G. M. Lethbridge. \*» H. Ayre. Frank Penn. and H. Niccb| (hon. secretary). The secretary read correspondences connection with the party recently |§ ported as lost on the Tararuas, and 1 ported as to action he had taken iu M matter. jf The secretary also reperted that jl liad arranged for parties in eonucctis party who was report*! missiug.\His actions were endoised.l| F. W. Ve>?t'4: ; t~ v fWellington) wrosn in reply to a commimicats£ u from t|| committee, that he was to hell that a suspension bridge Wer ta, Tauherenikau river was in eon3 cm P !l ;f tion. What he considered, howevt jil l more importance, was a hut in vicinity ->£ Mount Hector aadi W 4! Peak.—Received-. Lett its v\ere also received frjun wl lingtou and' Urcytown to 1 conference of delegates hel.J. -.Ct wjl lington. s The secretary read lußutes of tl conference (already reported). xl conference had reconpinended that lift £otin Government jgrilnt be expended I under:— £IOO,- on track from Otall Forks to^ Mount Hector, £!si) hut bw tween MoNunt Field and Mount Hectol £4O cable and bosun chair or suspension bridge over the Tauherenikau rivet £ls marking track with posts an pointers, £so track from Mount Ilectu: ; - to end of the Beehives, £65 extensiot of Mount Alpha hut, and £IOO hut a Table Top. It had also been a-grcei that tin- Otaki Committee undertake the various works on the Otaki side as far as Mount Hector, and the Greytown Committee the work on the other j side of Mount Hector.

Thi> secretory stated that beyond the minutes of the meeting he had received ti'i communication, and did not know what arrangement, if any, ha,l been made with Mr Salt, whom the Tnrarua Club was to communicate with re the mountain truck work.

Mr Knox pointed out Hint Mr ilognn was doing, and had done, a deal of

| mountain track work, and suggested ! that as he had horses, implements', etc., ; and was prepared to do the'work, he ; he engaged. Mr Ilogao, in converse- ( tion with the speaker, had been mot* ; enthusiastic over the work and had ' agreed to "do it at cost price. j It was Mated that the Minister of i Public Works had not been waited on, j as far as the committee knew, relative | to the grant. I Mr Peon advocated that the work ! should be done as expeditiously os possible. Other members agreed, and the j secretary wa« instructed to writo to Mr Hogan and Mr Maxtor; relative to the matter, ami to secure from the former an estimate of the cost of necessary work. If satisfactory it was .j,.. cided to have Mr Hogan to do the work, Mime to lie done tinder the supervision of Mc-rs Knox. Lethbridge, Kutsling and Jepson. The site for .-■. hut on Tabic Top was alc.O left to the above members of the committee. It wa« decided that any member of the committee absenting hiwsvlt" from three eucccs.tivo meetings without reasonable excuse be struck off the conij mittce. ft was pointed out that encr- ; getic members were needed. A suggestion that the name "Mount I Hector Track Committee" be altered to "Tnrarua Track Committee," wo* held in abeyance. Messrs Harold Jepson and Harold , Coekrell wore added to the committee. It km suggested that notices, ba j erected in the various huts, asking ' tourist., to Kayo maJterH clean and tidy, and to replenish load, etc, whea possible. . ~ The secretary was instructed to write to Messrs Voaselcr and Mutton CTararua Tramping Club and Grc-ytown Commutes respectively) on the matter, and endeavour to make the nece.*«,ar7 arraaycmenH-. It wan stated that '.ome parties had been mo?X thoughtful while at the huts, but that, unfortunately, others had been the reveres. On the motion of Mr Penn, .seconded by Mr Ayr*, it was decided to j»arne the hut at th£ watc-rhole '.'To Moe (The Dream) —a name suggested by Mr Kno*. Mr TompMtt (chairman) said it vra-> with feelings of regret that he tendered hi-- resignation, bat as be was shortly leaving to take up residence In Wellington the jjtc-p m» imperative. H* wished, however, to rtiH remain a member, and his only regret was that he was not 25 years younger eo that he Cvuj 1 make trip* across. He had beon on rnany leading peak* m Zetland, but ixt he wag sow 73 years or age his climbing day« ««« over.

Members expressed regret at losing Mr Tcurpsitt, and the resignation wa* received with regret.

DEPTJTATION TO MJKZSTBK. At a meet'mg of the Tararua Tramping Club, held at Wellington on Monday night, it was decided J*. Witt on the Minister. and endeavour to secure hie approval of the proposed expenditure of the Government grant of £SOO for the Tararua track, m decided up-oa by the recent eoofcresc- of delegates from the varies* eommittee*. Mr Field, M.P., informed as thi* morning that be had arranged for a deputation to wait on the Minister thi* re ths aauer.