NAPIER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 149, 19 March 1874, Page 2

NAPIER.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] March 16 The chief incidents of the week have been the races, and the Governor’s visit to Napier, while the doings at the encampment at Greenmeadows have been a standing dish of interest. The races were on Thursday and Friday, and a very capital meeting it was. The hot favorite amongst betting men was Kakapo, Mr. Redwood’s horse, that had run very well at the Wellington races though he only succeeded there in winning the Consolation Stakes. Nevertheless he was a stranger, which goes a long way, and it was known his breeding and training were exceptional, which go a great deal further. Major Pitt’s Marquis I think came next in general estimation, more on account of his previous performances at Waipukurau, where the quality of the horses he ran against was not taken sufficiently into account. Anyhow, those who backed Marquis lost their money; he was beaten in every heat, or did it appear that he stood a chance. He was sadly overweighted, however, in the first race he took part in, but even with Bst. lllbs., for the Town Plate, he only took second place against a cock-tail carrying three pounds more. On both days the races were well attended but scarcely I think so well as at the last meet three years ago. The representative marksmen did not, with few exceptions, show at all on the course. On the second day, the Governor and his Aid-de-camp drove out with the Superintendent, and arrived on the ground in time to see a race or two. The portion of the Grand Stand, devoted to subscribers of a certain amount, was decorated with curtains, and made comfortable, and when up there His Excel-

lency appeared ttrmke much interest in the proceedings. Throughout the Race Meeting the utmost respectability prevailed, too much so indeed to hare £ leased those wno looked for other sport the legitimate one which was supposed to be the attraction. As was anticipated, the Governor’s arrival and landing did not cause any stir, nor was there any attempt made to give him what might be called a reception. Volunteer orders were issued for a parade to furnish a guard of honor, but no one answered the call; the races had drawn everyone from town; the shops were all shut up, and the place looked, and was, deserted. The steamer Mongol, which brought His Excellency from Wellington, arrived about half-past 1 o’clock in the afternoon, and the Superintendent and the Collector of Customs put off to meet her in a harbor boat; in half an hour or so they returned, and by that time there might have been ten grown persons and fifteen children on the wharf, and about twenty seamen, carters, and Maori girls on the breastwork. As the boat came alongside, the liveried lacquey drew the whole of the attention of the juvenile crowd, who showed their discrimination by yelling “ that’s ’im.” Three melancholy cheers were given as the Governor landed, and then the whole party, which includes Lady Fergusson, Captain and Mrs. Fergusson, the Rev. Mr. Hare, (Private Secretary,) Captain and Mrs. Le Patourel, drove off to Mr. Kinross’ house that had been given up to their use. On Saturday, morning the Governor held an undress levee, and Lady Fergusson an “at home,” which were both well attended. In the afternoon His Excellency drove out to the camp, in.- the pouring rain, and at night, the Vice-regal party patronised the Gourlay entertainment of “ Mrs. M'Gregor’s Levee,” at which there were very few persons present. The Governor left town this morning for Tauranga via Taupo. The firing for the Colonial Prizes began on Saturday, the weather being far from favorable; the Cavalry and Infantry judging distances matches were all that were got through that day owing to the rain.