The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-22 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

WAIFS AND STRAYS.

The short interval which occurred " between the
Irosts" was employed at Wolverhampton in holding the
twice postponed meeting. The discouraging circum-
stances which paralysed the efforts of the promoters of
he gathering would have caused persons less eager in
he pursuit of sport to have abandoned the undertaking
altogether. The determination of the race party at
Wolverhampton, however, is not easily altered ; they
made up their minds to run the appointed events off on
the first " open day," and run them they did. The
meeting was perhaps more successful than was antici-
pated, albeit the sport was not sufficiently interesting
to rouse the few shivering spectators that assisted at it
even into momentary activity. The " incidents" re-
epiire neither description nor comment ; the fields were
eumerically insignificant, and the result of the principal
races were in accordance with the anticipated remarks
published in he Sun.
The shocking death of Mr. Ceok, better known on the
turf by the name of "Pell," and the disclosures made on
the coroner's inquest, have created a deep and painful
sensation among all classes and conditions of sporting
M.D. This one subject only engrosses conversation. The
deceased gentleman was much respected, and the feelings
of all who knew him are much excited by his horrid
death. His connection with the turf was ♦ery unfortn-
nate until the close of the past Reason. He owned severs 1
race•horsee, but his best animal was Pole Star, who was
•backed heavily by her late owner for the Cambridgeshire
Stakes. For that event she was defeated. In the week
preceding that race she had also been beaten at Warwick,
and on these two occasions poor Cook lost about 5001.
Pole Star, however, subsequently won a small handicap
at Newmarket, a race at Worcester, and two races at
Shrewsbury, her owner informing me, if my memory
serves me aright, that by her successes he won
nearly 3,0001., which was a portion, but scarcely
half of the money which he had lost in the early
pert of the year. All persons who saw poor
Cook on the last day of Shrewsbury races remarked how
ill he looked, and the attack which he bad in the night
was then well known, and was a ruling topic of conver-
sation.

Palmer was the owner of " Goldfinder," that won the
Chester Cup in 1353. His principal runners this year
were a filly called Staffordshire Nan, and The Chicken.
His horses were trained at Hedeesford, with those be-
longing to the late Mr. Cook, with whom he was be-
lieved to be a confederate in racing matters.
Clerks of courses are bestirring theme elves to prepare
for the reception of nominations for the stakes adver-
tised to close on the Ist of January. From the reports
which I have received I am induced to believe that there
will be no diminution in the numerical strength of the
entries for the principal stakes. Much discussion has
been provoked on the subject of handicapping, and an
organised crusade is seemingly about to be made against
the light weights. Even the " Early Village Cock.'
that ancient and facetious bird, has again mounted his
perch for the purpose of crowing down light handicaps.
The reaction which has set in will doubtless have a
salutary tendency, for certain handicappers would shortly
have to look to Lilliput for a realisation of their theories.
This subject is too important to be lightly dismissed. I
shall therefore, on a niore fitting opportunity, express
my views respecting it at let,gth.
Dec. 22. A FRESH MAN.

O Ning to the proposed suspension of a dividend, there
was a 'lament's attendance at the meeting of the Lon.
don Chartered Bank of Australia held yesterday, great
anxiety being evinced-to ascertain the cause of the large
losses incurred. Dr. Duncan Dunbar, the chairman,
presided, and the first business was the reading of the
report. When the fact was intimated that the total of
bad and doubtful debts for the half-year is 35,4501.,
which will absorb not only the profits, stated at 16,250/ ,
and the contingent and reserve funds, but also leave a
balance of 7,7431. at the debit of profit and loss to be
provided from the operations of the current half-year,
there was great disappointment, and impatience was dies
played for explanations.. The chairman, in moving the
adoption of the report, entered into the unfortunate
results of the management in the colony, Of the
total of 35,4001. regarded as irrecoverably lost, the
largest item is 23,0001, and in connection with this
the particulars are as follows :—When the bank was
first established in Victoria much difficulty was expe•
rienced in obtaining remittances, and, bills not being
always available, customers could not be accommoe
dated. Fearing a lose of connexion, arrangements
were made cith a firm for the purchase of gold at
the diggings, which was drawn against as occasion ree
quired, In the course of time the arrival of the escorts
became delayed, and, instead of waiting for the receipt
of the gold dust, a lvanoes were made to an amount far
beyoad the limit originelly named. Subsequently Messrs.
Jamieson and :vloor e, the house in question, became in.
volved in other liabilities, and one of their agents at the
gold fields having committed suicide, the account was
brought to a stand. Security was then taken for the
amount ; but, according to the law, it was not held long
enough previously to bankruptcy, and their manager
was compelled to forego the mortgages for the benefit of
ti e general creditors. Another loss of 2,2001. has arisen
fr,nn a forgery in Sydney, and the remaining 10,0001.
his be, n occasioned by the ordinary operations of dig.
counting', &c. This latter amount, considering the pres-
sure experienced in Australia, is not regarded as exces-
sive upon the employment of a capital of 550,0001.
Under these circumstances, it was stated, the directors
relieve it to be the most prudent course to suspend the
dividend temporarily instead of adopting any ether
expedient. With respect to the future it is antioi
pated that satisfactory results will be attained, bu
further advicee are awaited with anxiety. An im-
pression was mentioned to have gained ground that the
bank will require additional capital to carry out further
operations, but, so far from this being the case, it is pro-
posed, with the sanction of the shareholders, to apply to
the Treasury to extend the period for the payment of
cane upon the new shares. After the statement of the
chairman, which was favourably received, a long discus.
pion ensued as to the parties who were chiefly responsible
for the mismanagement, and it appeared to be the opinion
of the great majority that the conduct of the local board
and Mr. Falconer deserved reprehension. The recall of
the latter, who was engaged from his extensive colonial
experience, and the appointmeut of a successor will, it is
hoped, place the business of the establishment on a
sounder footing, and enable the directors to resume divi-
dends at an earlier period. It was pointed out that the
sujden revulsions in Australian commerce have before
placed similar institutions in peril, but that, with few ex
ceptions, they have eventually recovered their position
Attempts having been unsucce *Sully made to pass con
demnatory amendments, the report was almost unani-
mously carried, ani thaproceedinge were concluded with
v tee of thanks to the London directors for their straight,
forward explanations.

LONDON OTIARTIMED BANE OF
A USTRA LIA.