INTRODUCTORY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 464, 4 January 1881, Page 2

INTRODUCTORY.

The first day of the now year was made pleasant to a largo number of the residents in Akaroa and the neighborhood by the efforts of a number of gentlemen in providing a capital programme of sports and games. The site chosen for the various items of the long list of eighteen events was the open

space between the beach .'and Jolfjestreet, locally knpwn as the " Doctor's " paddock, which was placed at the disposal of the Sports Committee by Dr Watkins.

Early on Saturday morning the various members of the committee were at work laying off a course and staking the enclosure with ropes, so as to prevent the spectators encroaching on the space reserved for the competitors in the sports. The racing course was indicated by twenty-three pink flags, and. over each was one of the following letters : — I A A T I W I N S V S B V A A R R V ARO TB, a series of letters which seemed strangely cabalistic and puzzling. It rcas intimated, however, that a sentence could be formed by their being put in a certain sequence, and Mr 11. Noonan ''who was the inventor or designer of the enigma, as the case may be) announced that "he would present the successful guesser with as many pieces of paper as would suffice to decorate his or her dining room. Many were the efforts made during the day to spell out the problem, and from the number of gentlemen who were seen about the ground with pencil and paper in hand one would have imagined that the whole reporting staff of all the New Zealand dailies had resolved to spend their holiday in Akaroa. It was reserved, however, for MrH.D, Watkins to discover the correct solution to be—" Barry's Bay Railway Station." During'the day the event which excited the greatest amount of interest was the mile race, which was won.in fair time by Fiewitt, closely followed by W. Watkins, who seemed full of running at the finish, and bad lie spurted a little earlier the result might have been different.

The ground was anything but good foi going, and was evidently a hard road to travel. All this will no doubt be improved upon next year, when the committee (which we now regard as an established institution) will' have more time to make the preliminary airangernents. The distances covered in jumping and putting the stone, etc., were very good, but before next year we hope to see the local athletes going in for'practice before appearing in the arena. While referring to this matter we would also like to see the committee make a rnle that competitors should appear in proper athletic costume only. The hungry and thirsty had ample opportunities on the ground of having all their wants supplied ; and genial Host Rodrigucs, of the Madeira Hotel, ministered to the wants of those who preferred something more potent than the cup that cheers, but not inebriates. Prom the flag-pole of his marquee floated the well known Blue Peter, but he seemed to be in no hurry to go. The weather—that all-important factor in out-door sports— was all that could be desired, bright sunshine with a keen, bracing S.W"breeze. Much of the success of the organising and efficient carrying out of the day's sports is due to His Worship the Mayor and the Rev 11. Stocker. These gentlemen were übiquitous during the day. Messrs Kissel, Billens, Meecb. and R. Noonan were conspicuous by the active parts they took inmakingthe programme go off rapidly and smoothly, and without what spectators hnte most—" long waits." The fife and drum band, under the leadership of Mr W. Parsons, aided in enlivening the proceedings by playing a number of tunes during the day. We must not forget to mention the services of Mr F. Arming in keeping the course clear of little boys and stray dogs. The dogs especially seemed to in awe of him, and evidently believed that he had something to do with the new Registration of Dogs Act, which came into force that day, and were ashamed to face him without their bran new collars. To the little boys he was quite as polite as is his wont at holiday time. The necessary funds were collected by subscription lists, and we are glad to be able to say that they are sufficient for all purposes.

At the conclusion of the sports, which lasted till nearly 6 o'clock, the race of the Committee men took place and was won by Mr Thos. Grange, Jim., the Hon Secretary ; Mr Mooch ran a good second until about ten yards from home, when he came to utter grief. Mr Garwood, the Mayor, in presenting Mr Grange, the winner with a piece of plate manufactured by a well known Staffordshire maker and of a very chaste willow pattern, took occasion to remark that the sports of the day had been carried out without a single hitch, and he hoped that this was only a beginning of many others to follow on future New Years' Days, much of the success of the meeting had been the result of the happy management of the Rev. Mr Stocker and he concluded by asking those present to give three cheers for. that gentleman Three cheers were heartily given and Mr Stocker suitably replied. We subjoin a list of the various events.