ALEXANDRA

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 424, 9 January 1875, Page 2

ALEXANDRA

(From our own Correspondent.) January 4th, 1875. Mr. D. Maconochies tender of £129 15* has been accepted for the improvement of the approach, to the Alexandra ferry, and the work will be commenced immediately. On the Ist inst. the amateur coacert in aid of the funds of the Dunstan Hospital took place in the Library Hall, which was crowded on the occasion. Several .of. our local amateura being absent on holiday trips, ! or from other causes were unable to attend ; but their places were well filled and a very pleasant evening was spent. Miss M'Millan, who was in splendisl^oice, elicited warm applause for the manner in which she gave the various songs, especially the song "Driven from home," and the duet " Huntinetowor " sang with Mr. Simpson. Miss Linn sang "Caller Herring" and several other Scotch ballads in a very effective manner. Mr. Simpson, who is a late arrival in the district, was quite at home in either comic, sentimental, or character songs, and will prove a valuable addition to our local talent. Several other gentlemen favoured the .company with songs, &c, in the cours3 of the evening, but want of space precludes me from entering into details. The performance^ the Alexandra minstrels concluded the concert, after which the hall was cleared and dancing was kept up to the strains of the Clyde Brass band until daylight. The races on New Years' Day were a success so far as the attendance was concerned, bufr'some dissapointment was felt at the poor fields that came forward to contest the two handicaps. Kathleen being a long way the best Of the lot, the result was a foregone conclusion which deprived those races of any excitement. The post entry race 3 filled up well and were by far the most interesting races of the meeting. Six horses faced the starter for the Maiden Plate and after- considerable delay caused by the fractiousness of Dungiven Lass the lot got away, Dungiven Lass bolting off the course on the fall of the flag, after a goefd set to between Bismark and Francis the former won by a length. For the Alexandra Handicap three horses came to the post, and Kathleen took the lead and won by several lengths. The District Handicap was virtually a walk over for Kathleen, as old Backbiter, her only opponent, could hardly raise a gallop, and after floundering along for half-a-miie he stumbled and threw his jockey, leaving Kathleen Jto canter in at her leasure. The sum of £6 7s 6d was collected on the course for a Hospital race, but owing to the lateness of the hour the race was" postponed until the next day, when there being some funds in hand a number of post entry races were got up which were well contested. . There was a strong musterof the "talent" onthecourse, but very little betting took place, the popular mode of _ investment being limited to half-a-crown sweeps, numbers of which were drawn on every race. The following are the details of the racing. Maiden Plate, of lOsovs. Weight for age. One mile. Harrington's Bismark, aged. lOat lib - 1 Mooney 's Francis, 4yrs, 9st 41b - - 2 Nieper's Morris Dancer, 4yrs, 9st 41b - 3 Hasley's Artful Joe, syrs, 9it 111 b - - 0 Marshal's Little Charley, 4yrs, 9st 41b - 0 M'Luskey's Dungiven Lass, 4yrs, 9st 41b 0 When the flag fell Bismark and Artful Joe took the lead which, they kept for half the distance, when Artful Joe fell back beaten, Francis then ran up and challenged Bismark and after a good race the latter won by a length, Morris Dancer a bad third, the rest .nowhere. Alexandra Ham>:cap, of 15 soys. One mile and a quarter. Goodman's Kathleen, syrs, Bst 81b - - 1 Cox's Backbiter, aged, 9st 41b - - 2 Harrington's Mignonette, aged, 7st 01b - 3 Dungiven Lass was scratched. Kathleen took the lead and although at one time Backbitter looked rather dangerous he died away when called upon, and Kathleen won in a canter. Hack Selling Race, of 10 aovs. Winner 'to be sold for £12 10s. f mile heats. No weight under 9st. Dorkin's Charley, I 1 Anderson's Jenny, 2 2 Mr. Crossan's Girl of the Period, and Mr Giles' Cadet also ran. Charley won without difficulty. • ■ ' District Handicap, of 20 soys. One mile and a half. Goodman's Kathleen, syrs Bst 21b - - 1 Cos's Backbitter, aged, 9st Oib. - - 2 Kathleen started off with the lead and Backbiter after going about half a-mile was folly , one hundred yards behind her, when .he stumbled and threw the jockey, and Kathleen cantered round by herself. ; Consolation Handicap, of 5 soys. One ' mile. -••? i Mooney's Francis, 4yrs, Bst 41b - - 1 ; Harrington's Mignonette, aged, deb 4lb • - '4 i Cox's Backbiter, aged, Bst 71b - (scratched) , Won easily. • - - The Hospital race was won by Backbiter.