FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ GALA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1376, 10 November 1884, Page 3

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ GALA.

w Toe weather was anything but propitious for outdoor gatherings of any kind 4 ’ to-day, but notwithstanding a goodly number of townspeople assembled in the paddock kindly lent by Mr M:Lean for the Friendly Societies’sports. Toe procession, which started from the Oddfellows’ Hall about eleven o’clock, consisted of the Druids", Oddfellows, and Templar Lodges, in full regalia. Mr Alfred Harrison acted as marshall, and . c-.j.-rhas' to be congratulated on the - ■ ~;.*nannw in- which he carried' out his duties. The numbers represented in all 160 members of the local lodges named, ' Excelsior Brass Band headed the proces- . ' aion, and played a number of selections on the ground during the day. Messrs Randall, Davison and Davis each had confectionery and fruit stalls erected, but * did: not do a very brisk business owing.to the boisterous state of the k weather. The -Roselle Bros gave a treat K. by. the way of trapeze performances, which H - were loudly applauded. : The Committee W .worked hard to make (everything as suc- * cessful as could be, and deserve recognition. The selection of the grpund was, ■however, a mistake, as the pools of water, and its out-of-the-way position marr d considerably against the attendance. The Secretary, Mr O. Ward, was moat indefatigable, and the various events went off with commendable promptitude. The '; following are the results of the racer, run upto3 p.m. :-r w, „ Race, 200yds—W. Bay- ~" “Iws, 1; McFarlane, 2 Druids—J. Smith, 1; J. 6. Taylor, 2 Templars—J. G- Smith, 1; Haynes, 2 Glrlr Race (under 16), 100yds—M. Poole, 1; —Nolan, 2. Boys’ Race (under 16), 160yds—J. Ivess, 1 ; —JoneSj 2. An entertainment and dance in conneo- j tion with the above takes place in the 1 Oddfellows’ Hall this evening. 1