Our Carnival Racecourse.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2099, 19 December 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Our Carnival Racecourse.

by oßOsvr.vou i>t\bTi:n.

- — ♦♦♦ (Concluded.)

Well, as I have said the hill, as it no t w •tarrds, is the best site on the Around. Standing upon its 6lope, the eye catches every foot of the course. And as I observe this, I discover that a new training ground, ono mile round, has been recpnlly made within the oircle of the course. Jonathan, the worthy ranger, tells me that it is tho soundwt training ground on the whole three hundred and tweuty acres, and that it is built on niue incheH of ironstone rock and nine more of lonm, fl&nd, »nd tan, in the mo<jt approved fashion. Yonder, as he points out— away to tho left, are the sand tmclr.one and ahalf miles', theonemile tan, and the one mile cinders. lam told with a certain pride, that the rotting and harrowing, and such like work in connection with these tracks, involve an anmual lubour covering a distance of 7000 miles. In sn tuner the tracks are regularly watered every day. W,e descend from the Hill and enter the passage which lends to tho grand-etand and tho lawn. Here, shortly, wjII bo built a covered way, through which the raltof snooty will pa^R, unseen and uncritiei«ed by thoba»er olay. Not tb.it this is the eppecial object of the improvement, which indeed ia projected for the purpopo of still further increasing the resources and area of the Hill. Jonathan, big in tho iirido of bia oflice, produces big keys with that aw of rcjponsimlity wlfich might attach to an old timf butler, as ho leada the way to an inspection of the glories ol the cellar. And now wo perceive the full development of a schemo, w,hich has been mada in the interests of that other claes of the public, tho members of which, so to say, travel with first class tickets in the trainß of amafiemont at race timps. This ia the swell's repicn, and proper recognition of ita superior requirement i 3 evident on all sides. ritire mix daws ! Let na enter, timidly and nervously, yet with that eager curiosity with which innocent bachelorhood regards everything conneoted with the Indies and their surroundings. This io ono of tho retiring rooms. Nay, by the mass 1 But I must laugh. The most prominent furniture in this gorgeous apartment consists of mirrors ! Mirrors large, mirrors email ; mirrors which reflect tho face and bust only, and large cheval glaasea, which givo forth to the rnrjnißitiva fair the reflex of the whole of the glories of her form and costume. Hw, no question, the dainty maids nud matrons who bloom on the lawn during Cup week, and whose Ray and b-ilharit attire rival Mr. Mooro's mantling blussnmaof many colored hues— here, I say, within these rooms (for there are two, each 110 feat loug) might bo aeon and heard much by tbejphiiOßopher (were he invisible) -which would improve bio knowkdga of the feminine nature. Whin pleasure, gratified vanity, innocent triumph, mortifnd pride, delight, and diasatief iction, have these mirrors in turn reflected, and shall again rufleot 1 How many a woman's heart has beaten high, or lowered its pulse 3, aa these honc?tte!l take, set on all aide, have given back n tifiti'ful am.wer to wi?tful or et^cr feminine inquiry I I wonder whether Mr. Mooro chuckles as he looks around^t this room. For myself, I own I bunt out laughing. But not alone, miiror3 for the ladies. Everything the oharmers need is provided. Here and there are hung "houeewives/Tilled witb r.eedlea, silks, cotton, pins, and the thourand and ono contrivances with which women " fix " themselves. If an awkward cavalier tread npon a lady's train and rip ita " gathers," all she has to do i* to repair to one of the^e dainty apartments, where ehe wiH find appliance for remedying the evil, and recovering her oomplacency r by noting the facial (fftct of bal temper in a lookingglass. And if, haply, the f>un imy have burnt, with hia amorous glaccos, hii' fair cheeks or delicate noao, hero nhali ehe find cold cream, or violet powder, or toilette vinegar, or som<3 suoh dehcita preparation to Klieveharwoet visage : while she may a^sua^e her annoyance and relieve her feeling" by the application of ths smelling snlla provided by excellent Mr. Moore. By Georgo I I think that, all things considered, that gentleman ehouM ba tho best lauded man in Victoria, among the ladies at any rate, during Carnival week. Flowera are, of ctruroo, distributed in every part of these apittments, for their greater adornment. Cut flowers are alno provided ; bo that a lady needing aomo delicato blossom to still further enhance her oharras, may find ie to her hand. Ciucsof floweis for this purpose aro brought from such district? as prorfuco them earlier than hereabouts. Even Sydney contributes its contingent of blossoms —among which tho Warratah is over prominent. All this h gallant work ; but it ia no less policy. Whilo it gives pleasure to the fair, it no less brings grist to tbo mill. A cunning gentleman is Mr. Byron Moore. It seems a coarse matter, but really I think I nru as much interested in tho next apartment into which I am introduced. We have looked upon the purely rosthitic and poetio features cf a race meeting ; let us now inspect the more natural attractions. Here, tny friend, is where King Appetite is assutged. Observe that this ia the luncheon room, and consider what a ppcctuclo it muet present daring race wi-ek. It ia silent and empty enough now, though oio might fancy ghosts of departed levellats flit about unseen, yet hungry; but in the course of a couple of months ita lofty space fhsll echo to the pop 3 of champagne corkf, tho crunch of teeth, the bustle, and hunter, and, truth to cay, vulgar hubbub and confusion of such assemblies. Flowers agnin will bo seen in profusion. Why not ? Does not ono enjiy su.oh matters the better, for dainty and refining surroundings. If it be pleasant to (ho eya to gazo upou a boned turkey or a raised pio, is .not it tho more so to l'-'t ii rest awhile upon the sweotne*"3 and freshness of bloom and blossom ? Who docs not appreciate tho effect of the dainty furniture of a dinner tablo ? Who then shall not applaud tho conjunction of such influcncoi as are afforded by the presence of sweet flowers. Nay, tho taste ia classio,&ndha3the authority of the ba&t traditions. The Governor's apartments are all that they should bo. Pleasant ba be a Governor I should say — at racetimea anyway. At other tirno.l, when pestered by dull " otatesmeti " and vulgar pretension, the post may realise the axiom that "All that glitters Unofc gold." It muit indceJ bo hard work fiometirues, playing Governor, and sooth to say mutt involve an extra employment of that auave hypocrisy with which social illusions aro supported. But here, away from the disabilities of his oflice, he and his lndy wife and brave youngsters and gallant suite, must have a bifh old time of it. I peep into the pantry whenca the good things «re served. Yes — there are times when I would be a Governor. For truly we treat our Governors' better in the matter of feeding than fell to tho lot of the honest rulei of B-irataria, who yofc nothing 'o cat you will lempmber, but argument and promises. Thh h the Press room. Those {stain load to the compartment whenca tho recording angelri take note and notico of the rac3*. Every conv&nience is pnovidcd for these worthy people. In that diviaion at the end »ro placed the telegrapliia opanvton. Wli*!, ft jump all thin, from the time when the lirnt oourse in Australia was founded by tho fine ijentlemen ol Ilia Maj^aty'u 101 st lo^iment of foot. The saddling paddook, or where the gentlemen of the ring do congregate to do their business or do somebody else's, in, aa all tho world known, under the Hill, to tha west of the stand. Ilore too a variety of improvements have been made, all tending to the

facilitation of the great Carnival of tha year. Yonder the judge's stand, whorein tho arbiter oi every content pkcc3 bimfelf By my faith ' I uffo'i think that many a criminal bis hcird with leas emotion, the fiat of a jurfrc of lav\, than have thonsands who have muiko J that oi a ju<J<yj of a race. Tho new stand overlaps the old one, and H built up on »n area of land scooped out of the nil l . The crush and crowding, which of lato year* marred tho ploacuro cf so many, i j now avoided. Tho ru6li will bo for the new stand, and the raco to the ewifteat. The ladies, whose robca are a hitler consideration than a horaa race, may therefore movo more leisurely with their escort i, and take their places in tho oM stand. Tho fo^peifht which led the committee to adopt itjs plan goes to show again their sensibility to tht 1 claima oi publio con-venieacG. But let us R*-'t ou, aoro«9 tha Inwn, and or. pvit the ivied walla and jarigei's cottage. I observe that carpenters and painters arc hard at work,nnd Iparn that they are the emploje of the dab. Afl work, whether oi ctaf t, cr farm, or garden, ia done bj men engaged on tho estate. Tho work-rooms of carpenters, blacksmiths, painter*, point to tno circumstance that there is enough to keep business brick the year round. Tho farm work in ex teneivo, consisting in harrowing, carting, mowing, and EUoh like operations. Hay u grown for the workingborees, of which thereatfe eleven— suoh animate as are rarely Been, nave jd a brewer's lorry, or a hone shov. Fat and luaty, thry seem to havo a good time of it, with a splendid stable in which to pass their hours of easa and munch their sweet hay. By the way in which Jonathan poecs himself ap we regard some of these brave creature, I gather that he lakes rare pride and satisfaction in them. On pleasant lines, truly, is cast the lot oi honest JoDntban. JIo has been an3ociated with tho courpe for more than twenty years, and may bo onid to be part and parcel of the institution. Here ia his cottage standing ou a gentle elope, and embo3somecf in flowers and shrubberies. From tho verandah I watch rhe coaching of tho youngsters on the tracki. There are some twenty of them, each, doubtleap, as much a subject of anxiety and hope and fear to his trainer, a3 bipeds, on their entrance into life oonoern tbeir mothers and father?. Indeed, there ia not a littlo which is alike, and runa parallel to— the course of a child's life and that of a colt or filly. Each train? for tho pwzc3 of h/o, in some form or another, and a similar piotnrc ia presented in either case of the rarity of bucccjj and the constancy of failure. A few eotno to the front, and a tew remain there — like old Commotion—stoutly contending against all new earners. But what becomes of tha ruck, whether human or equine ? Do they not pa 33 mto the oblivion of forgatfnlneas ? Are they not meiged into the common lot, and tabor out their livea in humble shadow ? I often think that a Cup winner ia like the belle of a London eeapon, or a society beauty, who rarely shines in tho firmament of fashionable caprice or whim, move than once. And yet sco how eager fho women are to thiue even for tb» biuf spsco I Perhaps the motive may be the speculation, ftud tho value of notoriety m&y be turned to as happy account in the case of tho woman as in the case of the hcrso. But what >8 ail this ? I note that Jonathan ia eyeing me furtively, as I stand in hia veiandah thus reflecting ; and I doubt not that hi 3 thinks the excellent whiskey to which we have been treated in hia house has proved too much fofcmy woalc brains. But I tell him I was thinking that had I fhe ohoice I would rather live in hia cottage than in Government rlouee, in which, indeed, is sober truth. At which his faca relaxes, and though he answers nothing, ho looks the honest gratification my poor compliment haa inspired. Jonathan's garden ia a very glory of b]"--somo. Particularly/am I attraotodj by tne native heath?, which are cultivated here. It is a popular delusion among amateur fjardenflr3, that tha heith will not bc.ir translation to aitifiiial treatment. " That" says our cieerono, " is amply hecauso they know nothing about th>j raatfei' I—an1 — an explanation I faaey, of tho majority cf popular ddnsicm. ■ Attached to ths cot Me* is r, Ftncll greenhouse, where pot plants are placed in plenty. S )metimes, you Pee, in thia eccentric climate, the clerk of the weather plwfs sad pranks towards the end of October. Tha wind and rain combine to mar the completeness of the floral decorations of lawn aud avenue. In that caae, tho remedy i 3 ad hand. The pot plants ara buried in the earth, and the eye iasatisfiad. Thftrc is snrel? flomaSi.tng of enthusiasm in tbesc fond precautions on the part of Mr. Moore, to complete tho glory of the place, at Carnival time. Of thg fcpnerioa, the Ivkd walls, tho " hardening house," in wlrch p'anta aie prepared for planting out ; of the he<'g(.>3 of ga/aoia and mas3e3 of pittosporuru, of the plantations tight and left, and tho whole further details of tbia moat pleasant spectacle, I npeak no more. Lat me hops that there will bo few of my readers who will not judege for themselves in too first; week of November, and that of the thousands upon thoummdd who then crowd the Hill and Lawn and Stand and Ii it, thero will be as few insensible to the eircirostunce that in converting the public poitson of i'lemington racecourse into a specicu of a great gardes, much has beon done to fc» wnd the interests of the popular sport aud elevate ita cbaraotar by its associations. Wa may be sure of this, that the less horserscing is uiade purely a business for the gambler, and the more its brave influences are associated with beauty and refinement and honest wholesome enjoyment, the more certa ; uly will iia popularity expand and grow. Yonder, on tho new track are a dozen bsauties taking their gallops. As cur trap ascends the gentle slope of the new members' road I watch them, and marvel not at the strong hold tho sport they confer upon us should have upon society. Nor do I wonder either that people who delight in o.jch sports should have been, aad should still be da3lingui3hed above all others, for their sturdy independence and robust manliness of charaoter.