THE GALA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 21 October 1927, Page 5

THE GALA.

QUEEN CARNIVAL CONTEST. RECORD ENTRIES. A great variety of healthy entertainment and an opportunity of seeing friends from all parts of the County is afforded by tho gala sports to be held in the Domain on Monday. The members of the gala executive, assisted by an enthusiastic band of citizens, aim at introducing some novelty each year in order that the public interest may be maintained and increased. The conduct of a Queen Carnival this year in connexion with the gala is an added interest and one which has attracted support from a much wider field than !is usuallv the case. The Queens are: | Hospital Queen (Miss Ngairo | Rainey). j Sports Queen (Miss Aline Mc-Clurg).- | Country Queen (Miss Elsie .Brown). Each section of flic community is working ardently to place its Queen at the top of the. poll before the voting closes on the day of the gala. The crowning ceremony will be staged on the Domain during the evening and should be a grand finale to a pleasant outing. The organiser (Mr W. H. Amos), the | secretary (Mr G. V. Furby), and the committees have left nothing undone to i ensure the success of the undertaking. Attractive Sports Programme. Apart from all other phases of the gala, the lengthy sports programme- to be decided is sufficient to attract a large crowd, and the Domain oval Will be the scene of a number of gruelling and exciting contests. For prizes and trophies the committee has allocated £loo, and the programme, consisting of cash and amateur running and cycling events, should ensure large fields and keen competition. The principal events, the Gala 100 yards handicap and Gala wheel race of two miles each carry four cash prizes ranging from £l7 to ;Cl. Tho response in entries is most gratifying and the best runners and cyclists; in the province will be seen in action.' Such men as D. McLennan, R. S. Thompson, and C. K. Yeatman will face the starter. On the amateur side aro G. L. Nicoll, K. It. Johnston, C. L, Allen, and C. L. Ridgen, all possessing uoocl reputations in the athletic field. Cyclists of tho calibre of J. Henderson, j. Hoar man, and G. Bright will be competing, and the one mile invitation scratch race, with pacemakers, will be an event worth witnessing. In all, the programme contains 50 events in addition to the Highland dancing. The entries, which total 322 for? the running and cycling events, constitute a record. The lion, secretary (Mr E. R. Easterbrook) and the committeee have all arrangements Well in hand for Monday.

A total of £2O has been devoted in prize-money for Highland dancing;which Will' comprise 12 and, as in previous years, it is anticipated that the officials will be called upon to cope with large entries. This section, for which post entries will be received, is being carried out under the rules of the New Zealand Pipers' and Dancers' Association. The section is being controlled by Mr J. Donn, and Miss Fraser, of-Timaru, will be the judge. Entertainments. The public will ..be well catered for on the lighter side, as an energetic Side-shows Committee, under the capable direction of Mr Alex. Prentice, baa secured several shows" of outstanding merit, notably the Gala Coons, a. nigger band, supported by a darkie orchestra. Tho troupe will be, in charge of Mr A. 11. Todd, whose organising ability is widely known.* A mystery tent will provide conjuring and sleight-of-hand tricks, some of which liavo not been seen before in New Zealand. A novel collection of war relics, featuring some characters well-known by Bairnsfather's admirers, will bo one of tho sights of the gala. Fn addition, there will be a fairy fishing well, skittle alley, coconut shy, dart boards, fishing pool, and merry-go-round. The bugle band of tho 4th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Begiment, will arrive from Cliristchnrch to-morrow and attend a Church parade on Sunday. On Monday the band will participate in the procession and lie in attendance at the gala. The Ashburton Band, under Lieut. H. T. J. Osborne, will add considerably to the dav's entertainment with a programme of bright music. '

Heading the Procession. A distinctive feature of the gala this year, and one which should create a festive spirit at the outset, is tho procession, the magnitude and variety of which is expected to exceed that of any previous year. The excellent prizes in cash and gifts should be sufficient to attract a large number of entries. Tho support promised Mr Harold Smallbone, the chairman of the committee, who so ably conducted this part of the programme in previous years, and who is making an earnest eudeavmir to Supersede all previous efforts this year, is most encouraging. There are twelve different classes for which prizes will he awarded, including tradesmen's exhibits, decorated cars, bicycles, and push-carts. An endeavour is being made to get 2-50 children froni the various schools to participate in the decorated bicycle section, and as a memento of the occasion, the Procession Committee will make a gift to each child under the age of twelve years in the procession. Bicycles, valued at eight guineas each, have been given by Messrs Smallboiic Bros. (Ashburton'l and Hope, Gibbons and Sons (Christchurch) for the children's decorated bicycle section. More interest than hitherto has been created by

the inclusion of advertising displavs by business firms, and much support will be forthcoming from this quarter. Headed by about 60 members of tho First New Zealand Mounted Rifles, under Captain A. J. Nicoll, the procession will be of unusual magnitude, and will include the Ashburton Band, County Pipe Band, and Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade. Commencing from tho traffic bridge, the route will be up East street to Walnut avenue and inta the Domain football ground, where the exhibits will be lined up for review. A halt will be made for about five minutes in the vicinity of tho railway station, for the purpose of giving everyone an opportunity to see the whole parade and to give the JSouth-bound express time to clear the Walnut avenue crossing. An effort will be mad© to convey the children on lorries from the stopping point for tho remainder of the journey. Special arrangements have been made for a parade of the decorated children's bicycles and push-carts around the oval. An elfort is being made for a procession to be conducted from the bridge during the evening, and this will include a torchlight display and an illuminated warship. The possibilities of a fireworks' display are also being investigated. The keenness of the competition and the number and variety of the exhibits promise to make the procession the best and most spectacular ever witnessed in Ashburton.

Handicaps Declared. The following handicaps have been declared:— " CASH CYCLING. Mile and a half Handicap—-First heat: J. Henderson scr, C. Bright 15yds, J. Bearman 20yds, J. W. Jordan 75yds, 11. N. Brookland 90y<Js, J. F Burborough 130 yds, A. J. Archer 140 yds, J. W. Parsons 150 yds. Second heat: P. Flanagan 75yds, 11. F. Mills 75yds, F. Poole 85yds, R. Jamiesou 115 yds, A. 11. Struther 130 yds, D. Underwood 140 yds, A. Hobbs 160 yds. A. Hall 160 yds, I. Green 170 yds. Third heat: J. McGirr 30yds, F. Ward 35yds, W J. Holland 75yds, H. O'Connor 80yds, L. H. Arnst 100 yds, N. F. Archer 120 yds, G. J. Tutty 170 yds, J. O'Shea 175 yds. Fourth heat: K. H. Goodman 25yds, W. R. Willinott 35yds, W. A. Muir 45yds, J. Ryan 110 yds, C. L. Burnand 110 yds, G. Batchelor lUOyds, R. Bettridge 170 yds, E. W. Hubbard 175 yds. Two Mile Gala Wheel Race—First heat: F. Poole 115 yds, J. Ryan 120 yds, C. L. Burnand 150 yds, A. J. Archer 160 yds, R. F. Eastwood 170vds, I. Green 200 yds, A. Hobbs 200 yds, R. Bettridge 210 yds. Second heat: F. C. Ward 40yds, W. A. Muir 55yds, F. Flanagan 90yds, J. W. Jordan 100 yds, J. F. Burborough 17oyds, J. W. Parsons 185 yds, J. O'Shea 200 yds. Third heat: J. Henderson scr, J. Bearman 30yds,- N. 11. Goodman 40yds, H. F. Mills 90yda, W. J. Holland 90yds, H. O'Connor 100 yds, A. J. Archer 180 yds, D. Underwood 190 yds, G. Batchelor 190 yds. Fourth heat: C. Bright 20ydS, W. R. Willmott 35yds, J. McGirr 35yds, R. N. Brookland 130 yds, R. Jamieson 150 yds, A. H. Struthers 100 yds, A. Hall 200 yds, G. J. Tutty 210 yds. Half-Mile Handicap—First heat: J. McGirr 15yds, W. A. Muir 25yds, F. Poole 40yds, A. H. Struthers (30yds, D. Underwood 65yds, A. Hall 70yds. Second heat: N. H Goodman 15yds, F. Ward 25yds, 11. N. Brookland 55yds, R s F. Eastwood 60yds, A. J. Archer 65yds. J. O'Shea 75yds, G. J. Tutty 75yds. Third heat: J. Henderson scr, C. Bright 10yds, F. Flanagan 40yds, W. J. Hoi-' land 45yds, C. L. Burnand 60yds, J. W. Parsons 70yds, G. Batchelor 75yds. Fourth heat: L. H. Arnst 50yds, J. W. Jordan 50yds, N. F. Archer 60yds; J. F. Burborough 65yds, H. McCarthy 70yds, A. Hobbs 75yds, E. W. Hubbard 80yds. Fifth heat: J. Bearman 10yds, W. R. Willmott 20yds, 11. F. Mills 40yds, J. Ryan 75yds, R. Jamieson 76yds, •I. Green 75yds, E. Bettridgo 75yds. Invitation Scratch Eace —J. Henderson, J. Bearman, N. A. Goodman, W. R, Willmott, F. O Ward, C. Bright, J. McGirr, W. A. Muir. Emergencies: W. J. Holland, 11. F. Mills, H. O'Connor, F. Flanagan.

Cask Running. • 100 Yards—First heat: D. McLennan scr, G. K. Yeatman 7yds, C. M. Walden 9yds, N. C. Davies 6syds, M. O'Connor Byds, B. Fagan 11yds, Second heat: E. S. Thomson liyds, R. J>. Cameron H. Gibb 9,lyds, H.V. Spicer 11yds, E. Cartwright 6tvds, F. Cain 9yds, M. J. O'Loughlan lljyds. Third heat: V. Beaumont 3yds, A. D. Cameron Byds, T. W. Digby 10} yds, E. Haines 11yds, If. Goodman 7yds, D. K. Clarke 9y*ds, M. McTeague lljyds. 220 Yards—First heat: N. C. Davies 3yds, E. D. Cameron 7yds, C. Garven 9yds, H. Gibb 10yds, H. Goodman Hi yds, T. W. Digby 14yds, M. McTeague '] 6yds, A. Bennison 17yds. Second heat: V. Beaumont Iyd, G. Booth 6yds, W. McPhail 9yds, M. O'Connor 91yds, H. A. Malian lliyds, F. W. Largo 13£ yds, J. Smither 15} yds, H. V. Juicer lGJyds Tliird heat: R. S. Thomson scr, E. Cartwright 4Jyds, C. K. Yeatman 7iyds, E. C. Cameron 9syds, D. K. Clarke 10$ yds, C. M. Walden 124 yds, E. Fagan 15yds. 440 Yards—Y. Beaumont scr, C. K. Yeatman 2yds, 11. -S. Thomson 3yds, G. Booth sydSj H. Gibb 6yds, N. C. Davies 7yds, E. Cartwright Byds, C. Garven 12yds, W. Adams 13yds, H. A. Mahau 15yds, T. A. Shalders 17yds, J. F. CassiE. 18yds, S. A. Knight 20yds, F. W. Large 20yds, H. Goodman 22ydS, G. N. Cartwright 24yds, T. W. Digby 25yds, S. W. Payne 26yds, A. Duncan 27yds, B. King 28yds. L. Mooro 28yds, A. Bennison 30yds, K. Patterson 30yds. 880 Yards—C. K. Yeatman scr, G. Booth syds, W. Adams 17vds, H. A. Mahan 28yds, T. A Shalders 30yds, S. A. Knight 32yds, J. F. Cassin 35yds, F. \V. Large 37yds, T. W. Digby 42yds, S. W. Payne 45yds, A. Duncan 48yds, J. Smither 50yds, L. Mooro 52yds, B. King 52yds, A.Storrier 53yds, G. E. Taylor 55yds, A. Bennison 55yds.

Amatenr Running. 200 Yards—First heat: K. B. Johnstone scr, A. B. Hayman 4yds, B. Cordery syds, J. A. Gasson 74yds, G. L. Nieoll Byds, N. Cartwright 9yds. Second heat: C. L. Eidgen 3yds, P. S. David 4yds, W. M. Ewart 7vds, W. J. Brown Byds. T. May Byds, C. Pilbrow 84yds. Third heat: C. L. Allen Iyd, R. Simmers syds, P. MeKenzie s*yds, J. K. Dickson 74yds, H. W. Crozier Svds, E. JV Webster 9. Fourth heat: A." B. Clark 2yds, J. Eobilliard 3yds, M. Blackmore syds, A. S. Biilcliffe 6yds, G. Field 7yds, S. McElhinney Byds. 220 Yards—First heat: C. L. Eidgen 4yds, J. Eobilliard 6yds, G. L. Nieoll 10yds, H. W. Crozier 12yds, M. O. Taylor 14yds, J. K. Dickson 14yds, J. Wilson loyds. Second heat: C. L. Allen, 2}yds-, E. Cordery 7yds, P. S. David 9vds, W. M. Ewart 13yds, G. Field 14yds, G. Austin 14yds. Third heat: A. B. Clarke 4 yds, A. L. Tideman 7yds, E. Simmers 9yds, A. S. Biilcliffe 12yds, W. J. Brown 14yds, S. McElhinney, 15yds. Fourth heat: K. B. Johnstone scr, M. Blackmore 9yds, A. B. Hayman 10yds, P. P. McKenzie 12yds, J. A. Gasson, T. May 14yds, C. Pilbrow, N. Cartwright 16yds. 440 Yards —K. E. Johnstone scr, C. L. Eidgen 6yds, A. L, Tideman, J. Eobilliard, G. L. Nieoll 10yds; G. Field, B. Simmers, S. McClymont 12yds; A. B. Hayman, G. Austin 16yds; W. M. Ewart 17qds, A. S. Biilcliffe, J. A. Gasson 18yds, W. J. Brown, J. K. Dickson, P. F. Simpson 20yds; H. W. Crozier, J. Wood, M. O. Taylor 22yds, J. Wilson, N. Cartwright, P. Donn 25yds, C. Pilbrow 26yds, J. Quinn 28vds. 880 Yards—G.- L. Nicolf scr, A. L. Tideman 10yds, G. Field, G. Austin 27yds; P. P. Simpson, H. W. Crozier 30yds; J. Woods 35yds; E. J. Webster, S. Gudscll 40yds; P. Donn, K. N, Cartwright, C. Campbell 55, J; Pawson, A. Baitrent, C. Pilbrow 60, J. Quinn 65yds, C. Galbraith 75yds.

TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS. In order to cater for patrons of the gala, the . usual train which leaves Christchurch for Ashburton at 7.30 a.m. will riot leave until 7.50 a.m. It will stop at Addington (7.56 a.m.), Hornby (8.8 a.m.), Rollestou (8.32 a.m.), Dunsalidlel (8.58 a.m.), Rakaia (9.20 a.m.), Chertsey (9.30 a.m.), arriving in Ashburton at 9.53 a.m. The usual 3.55 p.m. train for Christchurch will leave • Ashburton at 5.15 p.m., stopping at Chertsey (5.40 p.m.), Rakaia (5.54 p.m.), Diinsandel (6.24 p.m.), ltolleston (7.5 p.m.), and arriving in Christchurch at 7.44 p.m. Any passenger on this train for the Lyttelton-Wellington ferry steamer will be transferred to the In-vercargill-Lyttelton express train where it passes the Ashburton-Christchurch train. Passengers must give early sjdvice to the guard that they intend to join the ferry train. The 4.31 p~.nl. train for Timaru will leave Ashburton at 5.12 p.m., arriving in Timaru tit 7.19 p.m. The Usual 4.25 p.m. train for Spriugburn will leave Ashburton at 5 p.m . and arrive at Springbum at 6.65 p.m. Fares—Tickets at special excursion rates will be issued to Ashburton from Christchurch, Timaru, Springbunl, and intermediate stations on direct route by trains arriving in Ashburton up to 10.30 a.m. on October 24th. These tickets will be available for return up to October 26th (except that they will not be available by the InvercnrgillLytteltOh express on October 24th). Passengers may also travel by the special Oamaru race train, which arrives at Ashburton at 11.10 p.m., on return portions of excursion tickets issued to Ashburton for the 7.50 a.m. Chrislt-cliufch-Aslrb-urtoh train.