A DREAM OF THE MELBOURNE CUP. (by "Blue Gown.")

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2079, 3 November 1885, Page 2

A DREAM OF THE MELBOURNE CUP. (by "Blue Gown. ")

Tp is just twenty four yeai* ago since De Mestrewon the first Melbourne Cup with Aichei, who was steeied to \ictmy by Cutts, and who again landed him \ictor m (lio sitne race the follow ing yen. Year by yeir this race h.<s grown in populaiity, until it has now become "theiaco" of tin 1 Southern Heuinplieie. The Cup is a household woid thioughoiit the colonies, and evoiy little town and hamlet takes an interest in it. Tim ye.ir more than usual interest is centred in the lace, especially by New Hollander*, and moio so by Aucklandcrh. who have pinned their faith to the son of Musket, and well may they be pnuidof him. His \ictoiy on Saturday in tlio Derby justly entitles him to it, and I feel sure that however much the Stud Company deplme the loss- of the grand old hoisc, they must have been again overjo\ed when the wire flashed " Nordcnfeldt hist." As a mlc I'm not given to dreaming, nnd why the Melbourne Cup should ha\o di«turbed my ]>eaco of mind, I can only jicount foi by the f.ict tint I had been in con\eisation with a few fi lends the previous evening at Barton's Commercial talking o\er the great c\ent? Well, I thought that I was once more in Molbourne, and on the e\c of the race. Bouikc-street wob illuininated by a thousand and one lights ; den.se crowds of people weio surging to and fio in front of T.itt> 1 -all's, and on the flags in front stood the leviathan bookmaker, Joe Thompson, layimr the odds, surrounded by the " smallei fry," 01 tho"C nhmc betting transactions do not exceed hundieds ; the thcatie, opeia house, and music halls weie ciowded with \isitors from the adjacent cities and upcountiy towns, whilst the wawvorks had its share ot patron*. As 1 cast my eyes tovvaids Parliament House, I thought there was no end to the mi a ing masses, who kept the street alive by then Inlanty, in facteveiyone I chance to meet seems bent on enjoyment. As the night udsanced the ciowds giadually di-persed, and when the post office clock tolled foith the hour of eleven the street began to wear its wonted appeal ance, only left ns it were for policemen and cabbie". Not «o, howevei, inside of Tatteisail's—the fe\er was still on; tlio bookniakeisweie busily engaged in comparing note, whilst theii friends wero commenting on the chances of "theii fancy" for the great two mile event. The bais weie doing a rattling trade, and every now and then one would heai ejaculated by some well known \oice, " Eighteen'-* the main,'' followed by " that's a tie," and then a. ringing cheer went round the room, and so thingcontinued far into the "wee ulna'" hoins bcfoie the house was cleat ed. As sleep was impossible, I was about eaily on "Cvp 1 ' morning, fully determined to catch the first train from Spencer-stiect in order if pus sible to heai the bell ling foi the first race. After an early bieakfast I .strolled leisinely to the station, aiming m plenty of tune to «cc\nc a seat m the hi&t special out for T'lcmington, which reached its destination shoitly before one. I thought that I was caily, but theie were already thousands on the course. The gland stand was gridunlly filling, whilst all along the flat, the hill, and the river banks ciowds had aheady taken up prominent positions so as to ijet a glimpse of the lacing. Punctually the bell rang foi the hist e\ L-nt, which bi ought out a field often. After the usu.il prehminaiv canter, the lot weie despatched to a good st.v t. A slashing race ensued, the winner turning up in a lank outsider, evidently to the .satisfaction of the " nietalhcians. 1 ' So e\ent after event was disposed of until the Cup was reached, for which 33 had ac cepted. By this time there could not ha\o been Ic' than a hundred thousand prencnt. The grand stand was crammed to excess, whilst the lawn was filled with the "youth and beauty,"' some of whom weie attiied in magnificent costumes specially selected foi the occasion, and which had been ordeied months ago fiom mhiig of the lhst ]\uiMan Ikuk-ch. 01), w hat a sight ! I shall never foi get it. To think that it was possible a race that only occupied three and a-half minutes could diaw togethei such an assembly. It's half-past three. Piesently the bell lings for the great event, and immediately all eyes seemed tinned in the diiection of the : saddling paddock, while the baud is dis coursing sweet music underneath an Australian sky. As the lion. J. White* colouis emeiged fiom the paddock on to the com -.c a theoi went foith, and as the son of that fti and old horse Musket pa»H>d the stand lie met with quite an ovation - especially fiom the New Zealanders, who have reason to be pioud of him. One aftei another the hor u es ate saddled in quick succession, and as eacli one takes his picliuunaiy they como in foi a fait shaie of 1 pationage. The excitement now became intense, and e\ery available spot was filled. The bookmakers are eageily calling out the odds, and one would fancy that they only had a few inoi e minutes to h\e so anxious are they to " screw the last dollai" from the public. The time, however, is up, and the houcs are at the post. Piesently the well-known foim of (Jcorgo entcis the course, and he wend-, his way towaids his clients. They are a restless lot, and all s'cem anxious for the fray. Tlio hubbub has somewhat ceased and all is quiet, waiting to hear the all-absoibing cry "They'ie off !" Ficsently a shout inns through the crowd as if by electricity. " They'ie off !" ''No !" " False .start," and so on until the fl.ig dioppod to an excellent s-tarh Before one could realise the fact that they had been Hcnt on their journey they msh past the stand in a cluster, and away round the the course. No material .iltnrnlion takes place in the running until they round the bpnd, and then the cry goes forth "Trenton leads,' "No Plausible, has it," but befoie another quaitei of a mile has been co\eied, the held has tailed olf into Indian file, and just as they entei the home tin n, the fa\ouiite giadu.illy creeps upas if by magic " It's all o\ei," is tlio eiy of a thousand voice<, "Noidoufeldt has it all the way,' and every stude he gams giound until he bin e down the held and won the Melbourne Cup of 1SS"». .lust aftei this I w.isawakened byhi-aiingtinj little footsteps outside my bedioom dooi and a suoot little voice asking me to li t him in. It was only then that I Mali-ed the fact tint I bad hjen die.iniing of the dip and that 1 was still at hoiii'> in Hamilton.

I li'is Jmkins, Ii iko, w.irns Ircsp i^'crs. on Ins lan 1. llk W.np 1 County C< wm il mvitr tend. r> for t!ic offices of cl< rk, treasure, rate collotlor, & ', Yea !It ii certainly true. Ask any of your frienils who have purrhnsrd there. Garliik and Cranvvull have numerous unasked for .mti very favourable commendations from country Mistomrrs <n their <-\r< Hi nt parking o( I''urnitur<-, Crockery, and Gins*, &c. 1 .lilies any ?cntlonun .iboiit to furnish should remember th.it Ciarhck and Cr.invvcH's is tiik Cheap Furnishing Warehouse of Aurkl.ind. Furnituri 1 to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Hnr Cloths and nil House Necessaries. If new house is nearly (unshod, or, you are Koirttf to get married, visit Garlick and Cranwcl), Queen-street and Lornc-»treet, Auckland. Intendingpurrhsserscan have a catalogue Itn frco.