Pakirikiri Race Meeting1.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1050, 18 March 1882, Page 2

Pakirikiri Race Meeting 1 .

Prc.idenl A. McDonald, K.q. Viec-PreMfilcnt : —J. W. JouNsON, Kwq. Judge : —W. F. Crawford, Esq. STEWARDS Me»srs C. Evans, T. E. R. Bloomfield, J. Clark, J. R. Seott, M. Finniii-aue, O. Gallagher, P. Malone, aud E. Dererr. Handicappers :—R. Austin, Esq., P. Brein* gan, Esq. Clerk of the Course -.—A. Pritchard, Esq. Old Sol shed his brilliancy upon the inauguriitive meeting of the Bakirikiri Jockey Club, and if his favor may he taken as au inducement for the club to wrestle themselves into prominence we trust they will do so successfully. The programme as arranged, met with the approval of the public, the prizes being liberal, and the events so worked that each contest added to the interest of the general public. St. Patrick may or may not have been a patron of racing, but so far as the Colonies are concerned the anniversary of his natal day is, as a rule, celebrated by a gathering to witness “ England's National sport." Although the weather was propitious the attendance was limited, and very little interest was taken in the events. The totalisator on the ground received small support. The first event, which was the Hurdle Race, gave Brimmer the opportunity of ridirg Roebuck to the post aud returning to the weighing stand. This walk over damped tho ardour of several would-be-investors at the totalisator, and not a few of them grumbled loudly. The Maiden Plate called to the post five competitors; but VVaiwera won comfortably, beating a gallant little grey, called Pony, with a lot to spare. The eveut of the day was of course to have been the Handicap but the field being reduced to t.vo- Roebuck and

Lueks All —a good deal of the interest was lost. The race may be easily described. The horses raced together, and Lueks All first caught the judge'll eye when passing the post forthefinal time. A protest was, however, entered, and after hearing the evidence it was allowed—-it. being stated that the little roan had gone inside I one of the posts at the buck of tho j course. The other events do not eall I for special mention, with the exception of the Station race, which, after a severe struggle, resulted in Waiwera defeating Sylvia. I—IIA.XDfc'AP IfI’RDLK RACE, of 20 sovs.; two miles, over 8 flights of hunll.-s, 3ft. tiin. i top Weight-, list. M. 11. Smith’s Roebuck (Brimmer) ... 1 This event as before stated resulted I in Brimmer sporting his colors to tho ] starting post and then riding quietly I buck. I 2—HACK HURDLE RACIC, of 7 sots, 1 mile ; for alt horses tlmt have not I been t raiuei I fivm let November, 1881, ; to 24th February, 1882. j N’iri Ruru's Tubuia (Redmond) ... .... 1 I I*. Malone's Slim Jiui (Hausen) <2 I The starter sent the pair well away, j but young Otto made a mistake at t ho I first hurdle. Redman lost no time, ' and sent tlvo big grey along, but the ■ horse funked at the seeoiidline of sticks I and had the rider of Slim Jim not given , in, he could have recovered headway i sufficient tu have placed his horse oh ■ level terms with the other. j 3—MAIDEN PLATE, of lOsovs.; mils and half | weight for age ; for all horses that liars not won publie money and the bona tide property of owners residing in the Arai (district at least 3 tuontlis previous to the I7lh of March 1882. Waiwens (Redman) I Poav (Kanvui 3 Pirate Kiug, Young Orlando, and Pastime also started. Pirate King made play at first and it (teemed like a ; gift to him ; but the other* stuck to iv i i aud he retired when about three-quar-j ters of a mile from bottle. Pony ran i i a grand race, and there was an uniter- ’ i sal expression of opinion that, notI withstanding bis obesity, with another mile to go he would have WOU it.

♦—PAKIRIKIRI HANDICAP of 20sovs. 2 miles ; top weight, lust.; o;ien to •11 comers. Nf. H. Mmith’n Roebuck (AUacns) ... 1 W. Bailer'a i.iick’n All (Maliur) ... (J Lucks All was the favorite, and led for the greater portion of the distance. It was, however, asserted that when pushed by Roebuck he went inside a post, and this was borne out by tho testimony of witnesses. Although Luck's All first secured the judge's vision, the stakes were awarded to Roebuck. S—STATION RACK, tor »I 1 hottes owtwd on flic Arai and Wharaekia Stations | diatunce, 1 mile ; KJrt. Up. Ist Prize, Saddle (presented by Mr E. Defer/), with half entrire luhlrd. the other half fihtrieß to go to second horse j sweep 6tssiiLtlie post to go to the third IknMf. E. Bousfleld's Waiwcra ~ ... ... 1 M. FiiiueiMie’s SHvhi ... ... ... 3 Won by about a length, after ah exciting race. G —H ACK HACK, of *’» sovs. ; 1 mile > for ull horiw that have nut beoii trained froi« Ist Nortuibcr, IsSl, to February 2 Kb, ISS2. Bonvffeld’s VVaiwem ... 1 Nirf Ruru’s Tuhuia ... ... ... 3 This wn* u capital race, but tho second horse could get on level terms with his competitor. Tuhuia was the favorite at the totalis.afor. 7 - FORCED HANDICAP, of 8 sori, j 11 miles; winners coinpuliury, ktaert optiomrl. Bailey’s Luck's All ... ... ... | E. Bounffeid’f Waiwrra... ... 3 Luck's all led the whole of the road, •nd the others never could reach him. The meeting, if not Altogether ruceessful, was very enjoyable. A little more preparation would have greatly improved the courae, but, taking ono thing in connection with another, tho meeting was a very merry one.

A subterranean gnflery runniny nil round his put. palace in .Mt. I'ettfrsbnrg, patrolled by •entinrta day and night, and capable of being fluuded st a moment's notice, will certainly nmke it more dittluult for the ( •übjeett •to get at him than it. is at present. But dig as deep a* he will, he can never be sure that the Nihilists will nut dig dueper. 'l’he Gore corfWpondent of the Otago Timet writes : —“ f hear numerous complaints in reference to the rabbit plague from over thn Waihaka River. Whole fields of capital wheat are being rut down and rendered scarcely worth harvesting, nod this on farms where there was scarcely a rabbit tu be seen at thw close of last winter.'*

Mr .Allan Taylor, hut just completed ths cementing of a concrete tank in the gaol yard to which we would dirouf public attention. Water storage is • serious question for all Gisbornites, and we doubt not. that there are many who, after seeing the tank referred to, would like to adopt the idea, and iavest iu a similar one, smaller or larger, according tv their necessities. The tank in the gaol yan! has a receiving capacity nf GOUO gallons, is sunk in the earth, and lined with brick and concrete, thus affording a water supply calculated to satisfy the needs of all the inhabitants of the Government Buildings without stint.

An esteemed correspondent writes to thr Netr Zealand Timet f—The precocity of tho colonial boy is so well known that I wa< not surprised when, h few weeks ago, I observed a lot of youngsters, ranging from elovcn to about fifteen years of age, leaning against a fence and apparently chewing tobacco as if tligl were the chief end anil aim of their eiistencC. Now, although tobacco taken in this form ia “ wittire and drink ” to the sailor, 1 scarcely thought it could be acceptable tqthe youthful palate, and was prompted by curiortty to a*k tin* boyg how they had acquired a h»Mc for the narcotic weed. “Taint terbakker,” contemptuously replied one of the lutls, “it'a wattle seeds, and wo want to get plenty of room in the pit of the theayter.” 1 was puzzled for a moment, but afterwards remembered that the scads of one or two species of wattle, wheu crushed between the teeth or otherwise, give off a most offensive odour, compared Mill) which the smell of garlic is aa nothing. It is almost- needless to say thkfc in a crowded place of entertainment a boy who has been masticating wattle seeds g uM« ally g is & tolerably wid» bcills.

THE DEVIL AMONG THE CHURCHES. M E clip the following letter from the Auckland Eeeniiiy Star :— Sir, —An alarming report was eir culated iu Pandemonium to the eSect that things were not progressing so favorably iu Auckland as 1 could wish. It was said that church debts were being paid off, new churches erected, great revivals being held, the number of professing Christians inereasing to an extraordinary, and to tne, disgusting extent, and most ominous of all, that Sunday collections were swelling visibly, 1 had been so busy endeavoring to create a Euro)>ean war, trying to introduce my friend Bradlaugh into the House of Commons (and not succeeding;, inciting the Irish to outrage and assassination, etc, so that bevohd exerting myself to keep the Bible out of your schools, and directing Jibe movements of your politicians—whom 1 thank warmly for the Zeal they invariably display on my behalf —1 had left your city to the tender mercies of my subordinates. 1 regret to say the trust was to some extent, but not very largely, betrayed. I determined,

therefore, on a general visit of inspection. I have up to the present time visited three churches, aud what 1 saw and heard there caused my caudal appendage to oscillate with delight. I first called at one of the prettiest churches in your city. It was on a Sunday morning, and the first thing 1 noticed was that the regular minister was Hot there. 1 ascertained that he Was preaching to a "call from the laird.” from a distant congregation. 1 smiled when I discovered that tho Lord hud in this call offered him tIUO t year more than he is now getting. As I passed down the aisle, I heard vus of the most devout members (an old friend of mine) whisper to his Neighbor that the minister, after preaching to one call, was going further on to preach to another. " Well,' raid the person addressed, “ I never thought the Lord would call a man to two places at once hundreds of miles apart.” 1 looked round the church ; the ladies were mentally criticising each others hats, bonnets, etc.; the men were thinking about Monday's business, and the young men ami women in the choir were at their accustomed amusement of winking, whispering, and smiling at each other. I passed out perfectly satisfied with the ►tale of affairs in this church. Then 1 was called away for a short time to Christchurch. 1 wished, if possibly, to prevent discovery of what was going on under my direction at the Normal School, for although 1 have been denounced as a “ roaring lion,” 1 generally prefer to work quietly. I found that discovery was inevitable, and I see now that it has all come out. Returning to Auckland 1 went one Monday evening to another church. The building was crammed, ehielly with girls. Ah’ me, 1 thought, 1 have lieglected this place too long. As 1 i entered I heard the speaker say: — •• Mr S. has said that he would rather j be God's dog than the devil's darling, j bo would I, for however favored you I Inay be by the devil, he will only ! make you do his dirty wqfk in this : world, and in th*e next he will kick your soul about in the bottomless pit.” 1 am accustomed to abuse, so merely smiled ill my benevolent way and said nothing. The meeting went on, and during its progress the minister meandered round the church offering for sale photographs of the evangelist. 1 was delighted. I recollect the time w hen a lot of mv friends (1 have them safe now) were flogged out of the temple at Jerusalem for selling doves. 1 don’t know whether the modern church draws the line between doves aud photographs, but 1 claim all people who make churches houses of tnercliaudije, as my friends. Their •’ anxious enquirers " were invited into the vestry. They were exhorted, if they were ashamed to walk boldly tip, to go round and miter by the back door. Upon my word, Mr Editor, ami yon may believe me, though I am lite “ father of lies," 1 laughed till 1 eried, and rubbed my hands with glee, at the thought of the manly Christians

who would emerge from that back door. My last visit was also on a Monday evening. While passing a little llethel I heard angry voices, and ■walking in, I found the dignitaries of the church reviling each other in a most charming and gentlemanly manlier. *' The parish incumbent ” was alluded to as fat and lazy,” and as “ being not worthy to black the shoes of his predecessor." I jumped on the altar (of course they didn't see me) *nd danced for very joy. It matters Hot to me whether the charges be true or false. Even the patron saint of that church, with all his doubt and scepticism, would acknowledge that it belongs to me. 1 intend to continue iny tour of insjxsction, but 1 have little fear as to the result. Never were my affairs in a more healthy and flourishing condition, and of all mv friends and allies, I esteem the modern Christian Church the dearest and best. — Believe me, dear Mr Editor, yours rterually and infernally. McPHtsrortiELES.

The electric light has been ill successful operation in the Sydney Arcade fur some ; weeks or more. There are fire lamps—one at j the King-strvet. entrance, another at the I George-strert entrance, and the remainder in i ♦he Arcade. The current is generated by a I Brush dynamo-electric machine, driven by an right-horse power Otto silent gas-engine. The ' machine is a six-light one, although it is employed to work five lamps only. As al present forked. each of these lumps is considered •fjus'aient io L.’Ui IpVQ io 1,50 J