QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AT HEAD OF THE BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 508, 27 May 1881, Page 2

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AT HEAD OF THE BAY.

Judging from Mie attendance of pleasure seekers in holiday costume at the Head of the Bay on Tuesday last, the residents of this part of the Peninsula are second to none in loyalty. A committee consisting of Messrs Brooks, J. Wallace, Shadbolt, and A. Wallace, with Mr B. Barker as secretary, had arranged a varied programme of sports, and the weather—that indispensable adjunct to all outdoor amusements—was everything that could be dosired, suggesting very appropriate]}' what is now popularly known as " Queen's weather" in the Old Country; and we heard an old Canadian remark that it reminded him of that delicious period of tho year in the Dominion called the Indian Summer. This being the last holiday of the season before winter sets in, people seemed determined to make the most of it, and the outing was a most enjoyable one. The general appearance of the crowd of holiday-makers was one of contentment and health, without any of those signs of depression that we are told so much of hy our political friends when they—which they are constantly doing—address us on the financial outlook of the Colony and the necessity for increased taxation and decreased salaries. The appearance of tho country, besides its high reputation for natural beauty, must be pleasant to the pastoral eye, being well stocked with sheep and cattle and in verdure clad. During the progress of the sports, along the edge of the crowd prominent members of the local Road Board we're jto be seen canvassing their constituents on the muchvexed ranger question, and our representative learned more in five minutes in connection with the damage done to roads by wandering cattle, and how desirable it was that they should be kept in paddocks— which, by tlie way, he always thought wa3 the aim and object of paddocks—than ho could have learned reading the Mail's correspondence in twelve months. A distinguished member of the County Council also treated our representative to a dissertation on the merits and demerits of the new Fencing Bill that, ho says, is coining before the first session of Parliament in which the question of sheep versus cattle fences were clearly set out; so it will be seen that lie had what is called a good time of it. Host Brooks, who combines quite a variety of professions in his single person, had his hands quite full in attending to the wants of his numerous clients, which we can testify he did promptly and successfully. Mr Shadbolt dispensed a liberal hospitality during the day to his numerous friends, of which they were not slow to avail themselves. We were rather sorry to hear from Mr Shadbolt that ho intends pulling down his present house and erecting a new one in its place of larger dimensions and more modern in its arrangements. Tlie old place is hallowed by many hospitable memories to visitors and travellers on the Peninsula. The majesty cf the law was represented in the persons , of Sergeant Willis and Constable Smart, whose duties were of the most ornamental '

nature. To Mr J. Wallace we are obliged for leading us to a clear conclusion as to the results of the various events, which took place as below. It was just dark when the last event was over, tho committee being tied to waiting for tbe tide, the racecourse at the Head of the Bay, as all our readers know, being required for purposes of Neptune's own twice every twonty-four hours. The first item ot the sports was a 200 yards Race, which produced eight entries, aud was won in excellent time by 11. Goodwin, and Alfred Shadbolt second. For the Men's Hop, Step, and Jump there were five entries. Rob:. Birdling first, J. Wakefield second, D. McKay third. The High Jump also produced a field or five, of whom Robt. Birdling was first and J. Hammond second. The Boys' Race was gamely contested, and was won hy Wm. Grotty, R. Pettigrew being a good second. In tho Boys' Hop, Step, and Jump, Sam. Currie, jun., svas first and Willie Shadbolt second. The horse racing part of the sports was officered by the following gentlemen :— Mr Wm; Wright, judge ; Mr Sam. Johnson, starter; and Mr Jonathan Shadbolt, clerk of course. The first event was a Hack Race of 5 soys, for horses that have never won public money. This produced a field of five, which passed the judge in the following order:—Mr Crotty's Nelly, 1 ; Mr Harris's Romping Boy, 2 ; Mr O'Gorman's Caroline, 3; and iVliss Shad bolt's Caroline, 4. The race was fairly contested, all doing their best to win. The next item was the Head of tho Bay Cup, a handicap of 10 soys, which produced a field of three, viz., Mr Shadbolt's Blue Ribbon and Sundown and Mr B. Barker's Dick. The first heat was a capital race, and Dick was the first to put in an appearance before the judge, but unfortunately in the early part of the race he had gone on the wrong side of one of the posts, and was consequently out of it. In this heat Blue Ribbon was second. In tho second heat, which was a farce, Blue Rib bon cantered over. This was followed by a Hack Race for saddle and bridle, value £4 10s, for horses that have never won public money, when the following horses faced the starter :— Mr W. Penlington's Jack, D. Drury's Jem, Mr J. Nash's Polly, Mr J. Condon's dies ter, Mr W. Pollen's Billy, Mr Condon's Butterfly, Mr Harris's Romping Boy, and Miss Shadbolt's Caroline. The race was well contested, and was won by Romping Bey, with Chester second. The day's proceedings concludod with a Hurry Scurry for a whip and spurs givon by Mr T. McNaught, saddler, Amberlcy, for which the following started :—Mr J. Thomas's Kate, Mr S. Lee's Darkie, Mr Condon's Butterfly, Mr J. Hammond's Butterfly, Condon's Chester, and Shadholt's Sunrise. The race was well contested and was won hy Lee's Darkie, with Shadbolt's Sunrise second. So that the sports should not be wanting in any of the accessories of a race meeting, an objection was taken to young Brooks, the rider of Darkie, for having knockod over one of the poles that marked off tho course with his foot. The disputo was ultimately settled in Darkies favor, and then as Pepys quaintly says " so to bed."