MR DOWSE'S HANDICAPPING. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 431, 25 December 1889, Page 3

MR DOWSES HANDICAPPING. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Christchurch, Tuesday. The following letter has been senb to the Dunedin Jockey Club by the owners who protest; against the handicapper : — ' Chfistchurch. I4ch December, 1889. The Secretary Duiifdin Jockey Club, Dunedin. Sir, — We are in receipt of your circular of the 7th insfc , as well as of your letter of even date, in which you intimate that, having addressed a circular to the various owners interested, it will not be necessary to trouble us again. We cannot, however, close the correspondence without emphatically repudiating the insinuation contained, in the latter part of your letter, thab our complaints have been affected by our place of re&idence, holding-, a* we do, the opinion, thai fair play to all, irrespective of their abodes, is the only means of carrying on successfully honest racing. ' The question is one of integrity, not of residence. We note your Committee's determination' to decline to accept any dictation or discussion, as to whether their present handicapper has in the past, or is likely in the future, to ffive satisfaction. We certainly have no desire to dictate to your Commibtfe. bub, s eing thab several, if nob all, of them are aware of the grave imputations cast upon one of your club's Officers, it appears a matter of regret that they have determined to Ptifle discussion upon' so serious a point. Ib is generally unde»stood to be of the utmost importance to a racing club that owners »hould have implicit confidence ia the handicapper, and if this necessary confidence becomes shaken, any discussion having for ite object either the removal of unjust suspicions on the part of owners, or the removal of an oHending- official, should be encouraged rather than suppressed. The interests involved in l-acing in New Zealand have now become so large thac owners urge the joint appointment, by all metropolitan clubs, or at; any rate by the metropolitan clubs of «he Middle Island, of a competent haniicapper ; and they contend that this is the only way to enable a paid handicapper to remain independent of local pressure from owners, who, through their position as stewards, have had too much influence over local appointees an abuse which has of late become notorious by its frequency. From (he general tenor of your circular, we gather thab your Committee ore of opinion •hat owners should passively submit to any treatment by the handicapper, however unjust they may deem ib. Whether we, as owners, concur in the doctrine or not, we, at all events, have the undoubted right of declining to run our horses under conditions which we object to— a right which the tone of your reply has impelled us to avail ourselves of by withdrawing our horses from the Cup and Publicans' Handicap. We may add that beside the owner* already indicated in our former letter, we are authorised, to state thab Major George (Auckland), Mr H. Horsford, Mr Hammond, Mr E. Cutts, Mr J. Harris, Mr Ellingham, Mr Hutton, Mr J. Murphy (Blenheim), Mr J. Stewarb, Mr W. Paul(Whanganui), Mr V.'. Russell, and Mr Somerville (Auckland) concur in the action we feel constrained to adopt, and furthermore, they have indicated their intention to join us in abstaining from making any entries for the handicaps at your next meeting, unless due attention be given to our remonstrance. — (Signed, on behalf of the owners of the hor<=es mentioned in our previous letter), Geo. G. Stead, G. H. Clifford."

Dunedix, Tuesday. Shortly before 11 o'clock this morning the Secretary of the D.J.C. was advised by telegram of the scratchirg of the following hoises: — Duxedin Cup.— Mr Ray's Wakatipu, Hon. E. Mitchelson's Leopold, Fabulous,, and Corunna, Mr VI . C. Webbe's Pearswick, Sprinpston, and Enchantress, Mr S. H. C4ollan's Jeb d'Eau, Tirailleur, and Princess Helen, Mr G. H. Clifford's St. Malo, Cynisca, and Alsace, Mr G. G. Stead's Scots Grey and Rose Argflnb, Mr M. Sherwm's Lisbon, and Mr D. Ruthertoni's Chain Shot. Publicans' Handicap.— Mr G. B.'. Clifford's Golden Crest and Alsace, Mr T. Murphy's Yon Tempsky, Hon. E. Mitchelfon's Corunna and Leopold. Mr J. Keans Fusee, Mr S. H. Gjllan's Renata and Jeb d'Eau, Mr C. Webbe's Pearswick and Kuby, Mr Slieenan's Alcinous and Erin-go-Bragh, and Mr D. Rutherford's Chain Shot. The telegrams were, appaiently, all put in together at Christchurch. The scratching of Lisbon was signed by R. Doiritt; bub since then the Secretary of the JD. J.C has received a telegram from the owner, , Matthew Sherwin, statins that he has nob' authorised the scratching of Lisbon tor thd . Cup.

Havk \ Ohristaia^ l>oilt, recall oiieo »iore» To far and near bj* sea and s ore* t The love of Goo. unveiled nuaiu, Peace and goodwill on earth to Mien To »11 the weary hearts thftlT heat In lonely country, ciowcled stieot. Let us tho good old ti.dnscs bear, * Behold the Promise, do not foar l ' Tins liod of 3U»\ c is come at 'asU Ev >n to Iho3e by men onto; a .' Ko tot us round the Christcbud's bed Dry all t 1 c tears our brothers shed, Gather the litt!e'< hildx'eh in, Let love be victor over sin, Let those who c ni supply the need . r , Of other*, and thu hunvrv feea ; • Thus :-h»H we prove the love we say' ,l, l * WQ b wv Uio Lovd o^ ci»vistums Dajv