SPORTING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2032, 20 December 1907, Page 5

SPORTING.

THE MANAWATU MEETING. The final payment of 6 sovs for Manawatn Cup of 600 sovs, run ou Boxing Day, must be made to the secretary, Mr J. M. Johnston, not latex than 9 o’clock to-night. Gatemen for the meeting must leave their names with the secretary, and be in attendance at his office at 9 o’clock to-night, Mr Phipps, caterer for the fixture, wants all attendants engaged by him to meet him to night to receive their passes. . ' A strong team of eight arrived last night from Prosser’s Porirua stable, consisting of the Stakes candidate the Stepniak—Tortnlla colt, also Swimming Belt, Gauze, Kurawaka, William, Titoko and the two jumpers, Playmate and Ataahau. They are in charge of W. Mond and are quartered at Stevenson’s. J. Cameron also arrived yesterday with Messrs Douglas’s trio, St. Albert, Waipu, and Ikon, and put up at Mr Devine’s Empire Stables, where Mr Bert Gardiner has Orucinella the half-sister to Nouette, the former being by San Francisco — Oharente.

The Stakes favorite, Elevation, in charge of J. Palmer, also put in an appearance, as did Arclight, in charge of Stone, Taura, Te Arai, Kaipetipeti, and Black Reynard (Hickey), and Mr G. P. Donnelly’s pair The Rand and Uenuku (J. Rae.) W. Davies’s team of Ancycle, Pardon, Ballarat, Yosami and another are expected to-day. Davies has secured boxes at the Empire Stables.

Wright, from Woodville, ?«nd A. Hall and Attwood from Feilding, and Toney Messena from Foxton, intend coming and goine back with their respective charges on Saturday. The heavy rain which fell last night will prove very welcome to trainers as the going promised to be very hard for the opening day tomorrow, whereas now all the jar will have been taken out of it, and this fact should considerably increase the extent of the fields on Boxing Day aud|following day.

POLICE TO BE NEUTRAL.

A special meeting of the committee of the Manawatn Club was held last night, Mr R. S. Abraham, president, in the chair, to consider the letter received on hehalf of the bookmakers from Messrs Wilford and Levi, solicitors, Wellington, The committee, after a lengthy discussion, decided merely to “receive” the letter. Mr J. N. Beasley, secretary to the Wellington Bookmakers’ Association, wrote requesting the committee to receive a deputation. It was decided to hear them at 4 p.m. to-day. The following bookmakers’ licenses were approved of being issued subject to their undertaking to agree fco the rules and conditions laid down by the club -.—Arthur Law, A. Champion, Scott and Martindale, J. Helin, W. Cowan, W. V. Whitta, Sol Lewis, Ross and Bradshaw, J. Horsfield, and F. Lovelock. These were the only applications received.

The committee agreed to practically allot nearly three-fourths of the saddling paddock as the space for the bookmakers to ply their calling. A letter was also received from Sergfc. Stagpoole to the effect that it had been suggested to Commissioner Dinnie that the club would endeavor to restrict bookmakers to a certain portion of the course and might call upon the police to assist in doing so. As it was not clear to the Commissioner that any such power existed the police could not assist until the point had been legally decided. Inspector Wilson, in forwarding this instruction, directed Sergt. Stagpoole to inform the secretary of the Racing Club that the club would require to employ persons to eject bookmakers and others. The police, however, would stand by to prevent a breach of the peace, in case the club officials put persons off, and would be prepared to give evidence in Court if required. No action was taken in the matter. The bookmakers of Wellington are forming themselves into an association under the Unclassified Societies Registration Act. ASHHURST-POHANGINA MEETING. Acceptances for all races at the above meeting will close to-night at 9 o’clock.