FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 14

FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

INTERESTING NELSON CELEBRATION.

Xelson put a lot of go into its first inuiiversnry. It was celebrated by a function which included mi A. iiiul P. show, regatta, horse-race, ploughing match, and a vegetable exhibition. It rained all day, but vain or no rain tho pioneers determined to celebrate tho occasion. J leaped wheelbarrows, full baskets, loaded shoulders, swaying and bending beneath their burdens of manyshaded green, the fresher fur the rain, a great portion of the population might have Ijoeu seen making their various ways towards Ihe place appointed for the exhibition, and at many windows heads might have been seen peering upwards ami wondering if it was going to clear up. Tho show was held in an open space in tho central part, of tho town, and the vegetable and seeds exhibit, which was placed on view in the rooms of the Eitey ary and Scientific Institution, taxed (/a space of that sedate chambei to its '.itmost. It was contended that the show of cabbages was eiiual to what might have bum expected from an industrious community settled twenty years. Tho'featurcs of the celebration were the regatta, the ploughing match, and the exhibition. There were other sights, but the rain gave them no great chance. A notable event during tho (lay was Iho arrival of a bullock-dray, with ten bullocks conveying a number of the "ciuality" to the regatta.

v Tho Ploughing Match. The ploughing match was contested by bullock teams, in which there were five entries, ■• namely—Messrs. Kerr, Duppa, Wallis,' Tytlcr, and Captain England. Kerr's plough, held by liis son, James Kerr, and driven by John Kerr, started first. Mr. Duppa's plough was held by W. Hanger, and tho bullocks driven by ■11. Roil; Tytler's by E. Whitby and S. Evei; Wallis's by 'J\ Avery and 15. Crisp, and Captain England's by Stratford and J. Arnold. Mr. Kerr was awarded first, and Jlr. Wallis second, prize. John Kerr was complimented' upon the dexterity, with which he; managed his team" and whip. Tho winner covered an eighth of an aero in 83 minutes, eight minutes slower than Wallis, but bo did better work. Racing and Shooting. Owing to the rain, further celebrations were postponed till next day, when there irero Maori canoo races ana also a race meeting. The horses entered for the hurdle race wore: Cannonball, Captain Wakefield's Sly Boots (Mr. Thompson), Hairtrigger (Mr. Duppa), and Lottery (Mr. Ruttcr). The course was a rough one, round a section of the town and finishing past Trafalgar Square. Hairtrigger won both Ijeats. . ' A rifle match was also held, the prize being won by Dr. Monro, Mr. Lucas second, and A pekoe, a Native, third. Proceedings terminated with a pig hunt, a wheelbarrow race, sack jumping, jingling match, and were very much enjoyed. A dance, was held on the cricket enclosure, but waltzing was very difficult owing to the unevenncss of (lie ground niid the darkness.

Show Prize-List. The show was moslly of an agricultural and vegetable character. Following is the prize-list:—Wheat. 11 r. Andrews; barky, Mr. Andrews; oats, Mr. liclibercl; vetch seed, Mr. \V. L. Shepherd; green peas, C. Elliott; beans, Jlr. Tower; French beans. Jlr. Cautlcv; cauliflower, Mr. \V. 1,. Shepherd; cabbage, Jlr. W. Cullen; pea seeds, Jlr. Wither; bean seeds, .Mr. I. Sweet; turnips, Mr. .1. Smith; carrots, Mr. Vv. Cullen; parr-nips, Mr. Staples; nosegay. Mr. Trov.er 1, Mr. A. M'Donald 2; potatoes, Mr. Durant; Dorwcnts, Mr. J. Saxton; lettuce, Mr. C'antle.v; pot herbs, Mr. E. Sweet; onions, Mr. Lyfnrd; assortment of cabbages, Mr. Jfagarry; radishes, Mr. James; puninkins, Mr. A. M'Donald; vegetable marrow, Mr. Davison; cucumber, Jlr. Davison; melon, Jfr. Trower; general specimen, Jlr. Eves. Additional prists were also awarded to Messrs. M'Oee, Cullen, M'Donald, Eve?, James, Jlagliarry, Hill, Shepherd, Lyford, Carter, Taylor, aud Captain Wakefield. Amongst other exhibits were: Tobacco, English flax, clover and trefoil, dahlias, rhubarb, mangel wurzels, be-:'-, and celery. Those who read of this interesting celebratinn cannot say that the fathers and grandfathers of tho present generation did not give the place a good send-off in tho way of anniversaries.