LORD BURFORD'S RIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3210, 21 January 1893, Page 2

LORD BURFORD'S RIDE.

TO TIIK UDITOIt. Sill,-A great fuss is being made over tho ride of Lord Burford from Napier to Auckland, but for what reason I am at a loss to understand. Perhaps it is because Lords are so scarce in this country that when one comes along wo must make the most of him. The ride itself is nothing wonderful, and the performance ot a young man, wellknown tn many of your readors, is, I consider, much above Lord Burford's in the way of a feat, as the Earl's ride is caJled, The ride was along a portion of the road travelled by Lord Burford, viz., from Napier to Cambridge, and Mr A. J. Storey son of Mr C. J, Storey, Rangiaoliia, win the ridor. It .is some time ago—nearly four years—since the journey referred to, and the roads were not in such good con« dition as now, The tacts are briefly these: —Mr Storey, riding nearly 11 stone, left Napier at 4.30 a,m, on Saturday morning, riding ono pony and leading another. These horses had, tho day previous, been offered for sale in Napier and failed to reach the iwer»o, £5, so it will be seen they were not the best to be procured. Riding ono aud leading the other alternatively, Mr Storey arrived at Taupo at 10.30 p.m., having stayed labours at Tarawera making the actual riding time l(i!f hours. Loaving Taupo at 5.30 on Sunday morning with the same two horses, Cambridge was reached at !l o'clock that night, H hours being put in at Atiainnri, the actual time in the saddle being 14 hours, or hours from Napier to Cambridge—on twi) horses, both coining all the way. Neither horse was knocked up, and both were sold shortly after at higher prices than offered in Napier. Now, I think this is a lump ahead of the Hurl's feat ('/). Although the latter rode the distance iu soveral hours less time, he had 12 horses the longest stage done by one horses being 28 miles, viz,, from Taupo to Atiaimiri On paper the tune occupied by tho Earl seems short for the distance, but wliou we consider the many relays of horses that he had (the best to be got along the road), it must be admitted that it has not come up to Mr Storey's rido, and Waikato has every reason to be proud of her son,— Yours etc.,

Waikato, Tamahere, January 20th, 1893,