RAGLAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1510, 9 March 1882, Page 2

RAGLAN.

The race meeting to be held here on the 17th inst. promises to be a success. It will be the first conducted under the auspices of the Raglan Jockey Club; and, provided the exertions made by that body meet with due reward, the consummation of them will be such as I anticipate. The programme has been issued, by which 1 find that there are eight events ; and the prizes to be contested for being of fair value, I shall expect to see some good running. The nominations have closed for two of the events, the remainder being post entries. As I predicted, the stewards are having new hurdles made, and I hope to see them an improvement on former efforts'.' Provided the weather is favorable on S. Patrick's Day, I shall expect to see a large attendance at tha races, and anticipate seeing several Waikato people on the course at the same time. Some dissatisfaction has been expressed here in reference to the action of the club in closing the nominations so soon after the programmes were issued. However, if wrong has been done, no doubt experience •will teach the parties concerned to prevent such a mistake being made on a future occasion. At the invitation of Mr W. Duncan, a meeting of the residents in the Raglan and Ruapuke districts was held in the Ruapuke schoolroom on the 4th inst., to consider what steps might be taken to present Mr Ellis with a suitable testimonial, on the occasion of his severing his connection with these districts. The chairman (Mr Duncan), in opening the meeting, proceeded to explain the object for which it had been convened, and in doing so spoke at some length on the manner in which Mr Ellis had secured the esteem of the settlers here diving his residence amongst them. He laid particular stress upon the liberality which had been displayed by Mr Ellis when called upon to contribute to any charitable or praiseworthy object. Considering that it has been made the custom in i Raglan to recognise the good which may have been done by any person who had rebided for some time amongst them, when he finally made up his mind to leave them, he thought it would only be becoming of them at tins time to follow out the same principle in reference to Mr Ellis. In an unostentatious manner, he had probably done as much for the welfare of the district as anyone amongst them. To make the testimonial as general a one as possible, he would suggest that the amount of subscription to be given by each person should be limited, and believed that by pursuing this course more would contribute than otherwise. Ultimately, on the motion of Messrs W, Thompson and Burns, it was resolved, "That subscription lists be opened, with the object of collecting money wherewith to purchase some article to be presented to Mr Ellis, on the occasion of his leaving this district." Another meeting of the subscribers will be held in three weeks to decide upon further action.— [Own Correspondent.]