THE PROPOSE UNKNOWN UNKNOW CLUB

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 878, 5 February 1878, Page 2

THE PROPOSE UNKNOWN UNKNOW CLUB

Sir,— l notioe a movement is on foot in. Cambridge to induce settlers to fcnn another race club in the Waikato (to be called the Cambridge Jockey Club). I jrave for space to write upon if. That the people of Cambridge have an nnd mbted right to a race club of their own, I am not going to dispute any more than C call m question the right of any other mp)rtant township to lr V3 its own race club, its own fanners' club, its own agriuucural show, or any other association wifch it may choose to establish. What i do call in question is the expediency of sa h- a course. Would it be likely to conduce to the interests of racing to inaugurate a aeries of petty clubs over the u.jtriub ? I apprehend that all experieiced sportsmen, and indeed all men of common sense and liberuLL views, will judorse my opinion when iVaewer that such a state of things would be disastrous oo good sport. Waikato united is capable of great things. Freed from local jealousies, and enabued with a broad and liberal spirit, I venture to say that its agricultural and r icing associations could pat forward a pr > gramme ,-eoond to none in the North Island. But, tir, Waikato vvout bed-r hii»'.ing. We have many worthy young a pirants entering the sporting fleld, who give promise of a great future in racing, but the old sports of the true grit are too few to be separated. Bearing on this, it is, I believe^ u*«fed that the proposed club is no intended in . any w^y to interfere w th the old established: one, that mem>ers will not be asked to withdraw. Everything will be done to promote larmony, and altogether racing will be benefited. I ask will any reflective mind who has watched the proceedings of Waikato institutions be deceived by such ■shallow sophistries as these ? No, sir, if tie club is inargurated it means, that the gauntlet is thrown: down, and. the result ie. war without quarter, and when it ia fought out to the bitter end it will fe& discovered that good men and good sport have disappeared from the soene. It has also been put forward that thoroughbred b -ceding establishments being established in the neighborhood it is desirable to foster and encourage such by introducing 1 sapling stakes, produce stakes, &c. This view I warmly endorse. But can the end not be better attained hy means of one large olub receiving general support from all parts of the Waikato than by the establishment of small looal ones. lam anxious to hear what arguments can be adduced in favor of the sporting schism. Has the Waikato Turf Club behaved badly in any way. Has it been too much localised and- not fair representation eriven in its management to other portions of the district. Has it been guilty of any shady transactions. Has the public lost confidence in it, or are they accused of narrow and, cramped views that they wil! not listen fc>. fresh, ideas conducive to progress. If any feeling* of the kind are entertained they have never attained shape ;at any of orir meetings. It certainly canno.t be urged, that the position of the present course is more inconvenient to Cambridge than the other portions, of the district. Now that the " Narrows f> are about to be spanned by a bridge, it will be placed, practically, as near as Hamilton, and conMdorably nearer than the other townships of the Waikato. I cannot for a moment believe that this proposal emanates from the sportsmen of Cambridge, who hitherto have proved such staunch supporters of our Club, and wJjo Joye sport too weli tQ. 9ftCrjfJcf jtg

ntereets Jto mere local prejudioe or grasping aelfidhnesa. . I . a*k thWnaw to. rally in the ranJcs of those with whom, from year to year, they have shared the diffi* eulties of fettahlnthing an old institution 00 its present satisfactory basis. I also aak the settlers of the neighborhood, who have got suoh large, outside support for their excellently-managed" and useful aasociatkm, the Farmers' Club, not to give countenance to dismembering movements 01 this nature, which threaten the very existence of all useful institutions in this provinoe. In concluding this rather long letter, I ' would Bay : Let there be one racing club, one agricultural asaooia ion, one trysting ground, one farmers' club; in short, let ail our institutions have " Waikato " for their title' and support, and no one can doubt their future greatness and prosperity. With many apologies for trespassing so ruthlessly on your space,— l am, etc., K. W. Hammond.