Correspondence.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1161, 4 December 1879, Page 2

Correspondence.

—j —• . (Our correspondence columns are impartially open to 'all, but we do not in any way identify ourselves with opinions expressed, therein). TO THE EDITOR. Sir,! —I do not think your reporters' criticism upon the Hamilton Infantry Band in your Saturday's issue fair to .them as a body. I must say, however, that while giving them credit for the way in which they acquitted themselves, being aIL raw recruits, never befbre having an instrument in their hand till joining the band, which is only formed four months, I cannot understand who the principal clarionet and cornet .players were that ~ have left the district. Would your correspondent do me the favour by letting those interested know. I have heard that Levy (solo cornet) is playing in New York, and left Hamilton some few years ago ; thf> other solo clarionet is still in the district of Cambridge.—Yours, &c, : Looker On.

■ • TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I see by your Saturday's issue that Mr James Hunt, the owner of Yatapa, feels himself agrieyed at the handicap for the Railway .Plate at Ohaupo, and murmurs about the incompetency or partiality of the handicapper. He may, perhaps, find a few pounds discrepancy between the weights for the Railway Plate and the Auckland Cup, but, sir, I think he is coming it rather too strong when he accnses the handicappers of favouring certain Waikafco parties, and talking of spotting the winner so easily. If that matter was so simple as Mr Hunt seems to think, I wonder he did not take a trip up here and make a few pounds on the quiet, and leave his pet Yatapa in his own stable. I really should have thought it would have been a double source of pleasure to him to have come up and "spotted" the winner and laughed heartily at the particular incompetency and partiality of the handicappers.. I'm sadly afraid, if Mr Hunt was placed in that position himself there would be a still further discrepancy in the handicaps, as instanced by his fear of Ariel, who, greatly favoured as Mr Hunt seems to think him, did not accept, and Artful Joe, who ran a bad fifth. Now, Mr Editor, I think if some of these Auckland " cracks" dare not come and give from two to three stone to such horses as Harold, the winner of the Railway Plate, who, by-the-bye is only a common butchers pony, and has carried, the basket all the winter, and never before statted for a five pound note iu his life, the sooner they put the sidesaddle on and make them ladyies palfrey's the better.

The faet is, Mr Editor, some people who profess to keep race horses, unless they see a sure thing on are not game to risk a race, and it is a great pity such a man as Mr James Hunt is not a Waikato. man, so that he might find his way to get at the blundering bandicappers, seeing the partiality is so very cheap. T. W. Weathekhi,. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—Would you kindly inform me through your columns, where the Waikato Turf Club obtained their " welter I weights for age." I beg to refer you to the fifth race on the programme issued for last Friday's meeting ? where you will see a four-year-old horse runs under a great disadvantage against aged horses I think the figures should have been reand read thus, lOst. lllbs. By answering the above you will oblige many who are very dissatisfied, also yours, &c, B G-ABIiAOTJ. Cambridge, Dec. Ist, 1879. , '—<* . TO THE EDITOR, Sir,—-I beg respectfully to inform you that the race for the Cavalry Cup li miles, run on Friday last, was won bj Orakau, Emu second; but, according to the conditions advertised, the owners were supposed to be the bona fide property of the owners belonging to the Cavalry Corps, and I havo been given to understand, upon good authority, that Orakau is not the bona fitfe property of Mr Wilkinson. Therefore Orakau is not the winner of the said race, and I consider it la doing a great injustice to the other members oi the corps to allow such matters to pass unnoticed. By kindlv inserting the above you will oblige •A. Trooper Cambridge, 24th Nov., 1879.