TAPANUI AND THE RACES. ( BY OUR RAMBLING REPORTER. )

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 9 January 1869, Page 3

TAPANUI AND THE RACES. ( BY OUR RAMBLING REPORTER. )

Returning at four o'clock on New Year's morning from Waipori where I had been at a Foresters' supper, I at once make preparations for a journey to Tapanui, so while my worthy steed, Aaron, is feeding, through the kind hospitality of an early rising neighbor I enjoy the same luxury. This ended and Aaron saddled, I start for the Tapanui Races. Although the morning is far advanced, not many people are astir, and being heavy with sleep, I almost unconsciously find myself within a very short distance of the Beaumont saddle. A pleasant breeze was blowing and Beaumont Ferry was soon reached. The good folks of the Beaumont, like those of other parts, had been merry making ; many of them had been watching the dying year, and in the absence of the merry peals of bells, had welcomed the birth of the New Year with cheers and merry greetings. After a delay longer than intended I make a fresh Btart. Tha most dreary part of the journey has now to be accomplished — that long long weary winding spur, and that endless plain with itsblinddeceitfulcreeks, where, beyond the track, the ruins of a shepherd's hut, and Schlotel's station far to the right, no sign of human life and mterprise are visible for a long twenty

miles. As I moved steadily over the alain I asked myself this question, When shall green grass, smiling corn, and cheerful homesteads, tak6 the place of sheep and tussicks ? not for many a long day, whispered the' spirit of squatocracy. Tapanui haa*na£iiral beauties which are de- | nied .t^fSayNew Zealand landscapes. fiMfKated at the edge of an extensive 1 is well protected from the bad '"he township is steadily insale of the gave|the in proportion to the pop,^ ; There are y\ j Sfcrean. 0 TapanuLy Urn

For the first race, or MAIDEN PLATE, of 20 «om, open to nil horses that had never won public money ; entrance, £2';" distance, l£ mile; weight, lOst. 61b., there'were three entries. Hutchison's Fire Eater (Hewit) 1 Polbck's Nelly Grey {W. Pollock) 2 Dwyer's Torry Boy . (Peters) 3 Fire Eater went off with the lead and kept it up easily, leaving the two greys which were close together to fight it out for themselves. TAPANUI TOWN PLATE) of 30 »ov&.; open to all horses'; entrance, £3; distance, 2 miles ; weighty list. 71b. Pollock's Lady, Ellen (Wi Pollock) 1 Gilbert's Kufus (Davison) 2 Yaldwyn?s Siniler (owner) 3 ■Williams'* Viscount (owner) 0 Rufus went off with the lead and kept it half way round the course with the Lady close on his heels, steadily collaring him. Smiler and Viscount were distanced. Viscount, J heard, was reserved for the Hurdle race. It was the opinion of the judges on the ground that Rufus lifted too much in his galloping, and thus lost in covering the ground. HURDLE RACE, of 25sovs.; over 8 flights of hurdles 3ft Gin. Open to all horses within a radius of 20 miles of Tapanui which have beeu in the district two months 'jrior to the meeting. Distance, 2 miles. Entrance, £2 10s. TFelter weights, Williams's Viscount (owner 1 Hutohison's Fire Eater (Hewitt 2 Pollock's Clif ton (W. Pollock 3 A good start was made, Viscount leading fir3t ronnd. Clifton bolted but the two others took the hurdles well, Viscount still leading. The rider of Fire Eater evidently holding his horse well in hand till coming to the first hurdle, second round, in taking which the horse tipped the top of it and brought himself and rider to the ground. In an instant Hewitt was up and on hia horse, and was close upon Viscount at the next hurdle, but there Fire Eater baulked, and after being brought round, took it well, and again pushed Viscount who won by two lengths. CONSOLATION STAKES, of- 15 soys., for aU beaten horses. 1 mile heats. Entrance, £1,; weight, list. Yaldwyn's Smiler (Peters)- 1 Gilbert's Rufus (Hewitt) 2 Pollock's Clifton (W. Polloci) 3 Smiler won both heats. HACK RACE, of 10 toys., open to untrained horses within 20 miles, of Tapanvi. 1 mile heats. Catch weights! Entrance, £1. j Perry's Wild Harry (Smith) 1 j TTilliams's Beeswing (Peters) 2 Wild Harry and Beeswing ran second heat, the other were distanced. The above completed the days racing according to the programme, but the stewards having aome surplus cash remaining, got up a Hurry Scurry, in which Honner's Jeannie Deans was first ; Mr Schlotel's Sunbeam second. ; TROTTING RACE, of £5 soys., with 10s. entrance money added. eight entries. Logan's Violet , 1 Scott's Randie 2 Thus ended the Tapanui races which may be considered, for the place, a good meeting, and I have no doubt it will ■ encourage those who have taken an active part in getting up the races this year^ to make them an institution of the district. It is only due to the secretary and stewards' to compliment them on the complete arrangements they hadmade, and the successful manner in which those arrangements were carried out. The Caledonian Sports on the following day were upon the whole equally successful. ' REPORTBD NEW GOLDFIELD Much has been said about a new. goldfield in the district, of Tapanni. I fortunately had a conversation with two of the^ miners who have a claim on it, and h^fl been working at it for a considerableJ^^B they informed me that the grom^^^H good payable sluicing groum^^^^^H water could be brought to b^^^^^^H They had been working^^^^^^^H bringing in a water race^^^^^^^^^^^H had no object in mislej^^^^^^^^^^H the information they ever might come tq^^^^^^^^^^^H have the same worl^^^^^^^^^^^H before any result I fear the dreams^^^^^^^^^^^^H not yet to be f^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H