THE LATE MR. WILLIAM WALTERS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1187, 2 October 1882, Page 2

THE LATE MR. WILLIAM WALTERS.

9 (Now Zealand Herald.) The well-known face and figure of Mr William Walters will no more be seen in our midst. Ho has taken the final leap, and weighed in. Thus another of the pillars of the New Zealand turf has been removed. Mr Walters was one of the oldest racing men in the colony, having entered the arena upwards of 20 years ago. The first horse he owned was Member of the Bay, but having a liking for the sport, lie did not run a one horse stable long, and shortly after Orlando and The Count came into his hands. The former proved himself a most profitable bargain, and won many races. Mr. Walters afterwards purchased Dainty Ariel from ' ieut St. Hill when that gentleman was ordered home, and some of the lxst races of the game old son of Riddelsworth were run in the colours of the Papakura sportsman. In 1867 Mr. Walters paid a visit to Australia, and the sale of Mr. Fishei's yearling, purchased Yatterina and Fanny Fisher. W T ith these and other purchases he laid the foundation of the splendid stud which is now to be found at Papakura. Probably no man iit this colony did more to foster the spot of horse racing 1 than the late Mr. Walters. His horses were regular attendants at all the principal meetings in the colony, and probably no colours will be more missed than the rose and white strips. As a sportsman, Mr. Walters' ill-luck was proverbial, and it was a frequent remark, when his horses got beaten in the big events, that he should never have gone into horse racing, for he was evidently not born under a lucky planet. Yet, what a wonderful good loser he was ! When perhaps thousands of pounds would be in the balance, never did he betray the slighest excitement, and his coolness under- many trying circumstances was remarkable. Probably the greatest blow he ever received was in the last Dunedin Cup, when his horse, Libeller, ran second to Lady Emma, but even on that occasion he was himself, and in the most quiec manner remarked to a gentleman standing near him, as the horses flashed past the post, " Well, isn't that hard luck, to get beaten by a 100 to 5 chance " Never did things look so bright for the Papakura stable as at the present time, and I am led to believe that at the ty»e of his death Mr Walters was looking forward, with certainty for the fulfilment of that good luck which had so long been denied him. Mr Walters was rather reserved in manner, but his courteous and gentlemanly demeanour won him many friends, and seldom has a man left the turf with fewer e"«mies. Hy his death a gap is made in Njw Zealand racing

circles that will not easily be filled, and 1 think I am correct in saying that his loss will be very severely felt, not only in Auckland, but throughout the colony. His death comes with a shock to all who knew him, as he appeared to be a man of robust health.