A VISIT TO A TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10229, 22 June 1883, Page 2

A VISIT TO A TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT.

[by a correspondent.]

One afternoon last week I, accompanied by several friends, paid a visit to Mr S. Powell's farm, situatp'l near the Maori College, and about 4-J miles from town. "We were fortunate enough to find the. proprietor at home, <• -id although he was up to bis eyes in win k, or rather up to his middle in water removing some obstructions from one of the drains which carry off the storm water from his paddocks, he. very kindly showed us over the farm, which contains 95 acres of the best grazing land in the Wan ganui district. Tha land at present is all down in English grass, but it is Mr Powell's intention to plough up two of his paddocks for oats this season. He has also commenced forming a training track for his own use nest season, and^ from the nature of the soil, I should think that he will have no difficulty in making one of tho best working courses in the district. The stabling at present on the farm is of a very piimitive description, but by a little labour expended by Mr Powell he has made the ■ boxes very snug and warm for the" winter, and has in the course of construction a new range of boxes, and wheu these are completed he will be able to find quarters for ton or a dozen horses. After overlooking the farm and premises, which I should say could not be beaten in any part of tho colony for a breeding and training establishment, we were shown the horses at present under Sir Powell's charge. Hinemoa, Lcc.nessii, niid Wairun'-rk 1 : ':-c rtijoyi'i:-' a spoil after tliolr labour.; of l,:st year; tho former looks very rou^h, but appears healthy and :;",ni:d; ihft S'jitio remark apolios to Lot piss, who hns jrown n I ],'<' « ; i> "■ T-■ 'v- '„| i.jt ">/,.:... .-,,!-, • ' l.'.v :. ' ; " i . !j.. -. r ' • f 'li'- 1 !rio. . f! 1 t\PS

lostttecobby appearance she had while in training 1 , »nd when she strips in the spring I shall indeed be disappointed if she is not one of our best three-year • olds. Last Chance, the game little daughter of The Painter and Chance, we saw in another piddock. -he has filled out a little, and looks »s fresh as paint, and I fancy she will be all about in our handicaps next season if she is not overburdened with weight. Keoping Last Chance company _wq,s'*'a black Traducer gelding, which "Mr Powell intends to put to the jumping business, and if he takes kindly to ,the game he' ought to be heard of in hurdle races. We were now shown the horses which ocupy the boxes. The firstone that was stripped for our inspection was, the lately purchased 1 stud horse Somnus, ■ and my first impression is that a more suitable horse' for the olass of mareg that we have in this distriot Mr Powell ' could not have found in New Zealand. ' His breeding, size,- ; and conformation are bound to find him admirers among the most fastidious breeders, and, if only given a chance with some of our best mares, I feel confident that he will soon make a name for himself. He is a bright bay with black points, standing nearly 10 hands 3 inches, and. bearing the white blaze down the face so familiar - '.. with Traducer's stock. He has a broad intelligent head set. on to a very musr" ";■ cular neck, witb beautiful- slanting shoulders and well turned barrel, -and loins, quarters, aud gaskins that would do credit to a draught sire ; and taking him all over, I think he is one of the grandest specimens of a thorougbred sire that I have had the pleasure of looking at for a long time. Bayard and Diomedes were both stripped for our inspection, and although they were both looking exceedingly well, we did not waste much gape seed upon them, foe an approaching storm drew our attention to the fact that/ we had neglected to '' bring our overcoats, but Mr Powell immediately' supplied us with that ' necessity, .and after bidding go 1 03 -bye ~ and wishing him eyerj '] sucoeas'iri '".his", venture, jwe. returned to town,'; after.* spending a mo§t',ehjoyable afternoon'," '