A NOVEL RACE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3735, 14 December 1880, Page 2

A NOVEL RACE.

A goose Derby was recently run in Simla, according to a correspondent of the Times of India, who writes:—" There were about fourteen or fifteen entries ; each owner, jockey (or driver), and the bird being named something in this style —'Captain Goagh's bluec b Gander, Sutlej.' After the preliminary oanter past the stand—every man with nil goote or gander under his arm—the starter contrived, after some fluttering and quacking on the part of the raoersj^UQrm a very fair line. Each driverwas provided with a couple of long sticks, the birds were placed on the ground, and sifter one or two false attempts the flag fell to a good start. The scene that* followed was most amusing. Each driver - in his anxiety to bring his bird in first forgot for a time that he was driving a goose and not a horse, the result brasg that the unfortunate birds were totted and tumbled about in the mott miscellaneous manner, some bolting to the right, some to the left, and others again turning right round and charging through' the drivers' legs. The driven meanwhile rushed about in the most frantic nrtnnsjp endeavouring with their sticks to lead back the birds to the straight ©oarse. One knowing A. D. C, more patient than the rest, managed to get his goose into a half fly and half run, and following the bird up, placed each of the sticks under a wing, and thus came in fc winner by several break*." „ ■

Wb would call attention to tho advertisement of Messrs Meavs and Co., which will be found in our advertising columns. Messrs Mears' price list defies competition. The Home correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says: The fear is lest Sir Arthur's inexperience of a Colony with Constitutional Government, with his wellknown autocratic proclivities, should bring him into unpleasant relations with the New Zealand Government. I hope better things. A man who is young enough, and has brains enough, should always get credit for undeveloped possibilities which new circumstances may bring out. Moreover, it must be better in the long run for any Colony to hare in such a position a man who has opinions and who is able to express them, rather than the indiarubber personage who in some people's estimation makes a model Governor. Sir Arthur Gordon, by the way, is really a first rate speaker. I once heard him in Exeter Hall, at a missionary anniversary meeting, deliver one of the most telling speeches that it has ever been my privilege to listen to. It was a Methodist May meeting gathering, with some of the best speakers that the church could muster ou the platform, but Sir Arthur's speech carried the day.