SOUTH RAKAIA ANNUAL SPORTS AND RACES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1726, 28 December 1887, Page 2

SOUTH RAKAIA ANNUAL SPORTS AND RACES.

Tbo annual sports and races were he'd on Boxing Day on the PubUo Dopaain. The grounds have considerably Improved In appoarance alnce last year, the treoa being no if well established and affording some htt'e aholter. Round the lagoon, Id the centre of the n serve, willows ,have been planted and aro dotog well. Tho ooarso has beon re formed and was m (alt order, though somewhat duaty. The whole of the Domain was not available this year, the Board hiving let some thirty acres for a crop of oats which ore looking reooa kibly well. Tho weather was very unpleasant ; a howling nor- wester which was blowing the whole day causing muoh inconvenience. la spite of this there was a large attendance whbh may be onsiderei Tory satisfactory. The ladies of the district tamed up m full foroe In fall holiday attire. There was a fair master of visitor* from Ohriotohurch, Aabbarton and the surrounding townships. A large number of friends from Ashburtoa promised to pay as a visit bat ware nnablo to do bo through the action of the Bailway authorities m knocking off the eleven o'o'ook train, and running an excursion train to Ohristoharch, but refasiug up to the last moment to book passengers to Rakaia. This is railway insuagemont to some purpose. Surely it would have paid the Government hotter to have booked to EUkftia thao to have driven people away. The Burnham Industrial School Brass bind, m charge of Mr F. Graye, was on the ground, and greatly added to lh.j day's pleasure, The boys played well and although the wind somewhat interfered with the effect, they fally deserved the praise they reoaived. Mr Miilor of the South Rakaia Hotel, had charge of tho publican's booth, and Mr Shellook, with several fair assistants, satisfied the cravings, of the hungry at the refreshment ■tall. There were several Ramos and other amusements of the usual natn.ro on the gronodf and the officials worked hard to make the meeting a success. A want of punctuality m starting the horao races greatly Interfered with getting through i he athletic events on the programme aod it ii to be hopod that anothor year the Btawards will insist on a start being made at the, advertised hour, leaving tho strAgglers to make the best of their own falling* The crowd vras • most orderly one, not a man the worse for l'quo> being seep on the ground. The only occasion on which the police had to interfere, was m a case of a mau who would insist, m spite of warning, m playing an illegal game; for this ho was arrested and the next morning had to pay ior hie fun by doing 43 hours. In the evening there was a ball held m the Town Hill, at

whioh there was a crowded house, and all seemed to eDJiy therasslvos till daylight to musio provided by Mr Oartls. Tho following are the rosults of tho various events :— HORSE'RaOES. Hurdle Rage, of 10 soys ; over six flights of hurdleo, 3ft 6in high, and two brush jumps ; second horse 2 so vs. Two miles. Mr H. Flarrlson's b g Marralon, 12st 71b (G. Harrison) 1 Mr J. Wilson's gr g Cicero. 12 it 71b (T. Warn) 2 Mr Patterson's gr g Nor 1 - Wester, 12at 71b (Ohattetlen) 3 Nap, Tupto and M»b also ran. The race was a well contested one throughout, about a length between first ani aecond, and the third close up. The win was a popular oho. Sadolr Trot, (handicap behind soratoh) of 10 soys ; second 2 aovs. Three miles Mr G. Herron'a blk g Pilot, 100 yds (J. Storry) 1 Mr Russell's b g Spark, scratch (W. Dixoc) 2 Mr Shellook'd b m Judy, 50/ds (Bay Smith) 3 Polly, Topsy, The Digger, Maggie, Kite, Whipper-in and KUo also ran. It was quite evident from the start that Pilot had the best of it and oould win as he liked. A protest was entered against Spark taking ssoond prizs on the gronna that over the distance had been run, and that when the proper distance vntp finished Polly had second place. The. protest will be considered on Thursday evening next. Ladies' Pursk, of 10 soys; second hone, 2 sovi. J^mlle. Mrs Alexander's oh g Doubtful, 12st 71b (Kearney) 1 Mrs Osborae's br m Zealot, 12st (Osborne) 2 Mrs Harrison's b g Matmion, l«t 7>b (A. J, Reid) 3 Miss Lafng'a b m Ngali, also ran. A splendid moo throughout between j Doubtful and Zaalot, only a short neck separating them at the finish, with Marmlon close up. Handicap Harness Taox (distance behind ■oratoh), of 7 aava ; second horse to save his stake. Two miles. Mr Herron's blk g Pilot, 50 yds (J. Storry) 1 Mr Beattle's m m Jessie, icratoh

(Owner) 2 Mr Hood's br m Polly, 125 yds I (Owner) 3 Only three oompeted, and it was vary clear from the start that Pilot could win as he liked. Father's Plate, of 10 soys ; ono and a half miles. Second horse 2 soys. Mr Osborne's brn m Zealot, 12at (O finer) 1 Mr Alexander's oh g Doubtful. J2«t 71b (Kearney) 2 Mr Harrison's b r Mwmlon, 12st 71b (G. Harrison) 3 Angelica, Ngala and May, also ran. Ngalo made the running at a very smart pace but had to give w*y when half the distance was run, Doubtful and Zealot taking her plaoe and making a oloie fiaieh. Hurrt f cubrt ; a sweepstake of 10* each horse, with 1 soy added, Onoe round the oourse (60 chains). Oitoh weight*. Mr Mount's b ra Audrey, (Price) 1 Pltohford, The Orphan, N an o y, Loyalty, Molly Bawn, Kith'een, Brlerleaf, Nap, Miss Kflo and Whipper-in also ran. Offing to the bojaterous weather it was Impossible to get oil the tilting at the ring ocn:est.