CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2459, 3 January 1871, Page 2

CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

The Caledonian Gathering was the centre of attraction yesterday. From about eleven o’clock in the morning until about four o’ dock in the afternoon there was a continual outpour from the city in that direction. Nearly all day the dust blew in clouds, making it a matter of extreme dillieulty for pedestrians to walk to the grounds ; yet the majority did so to their personal discomfort, and the damage of their apparel. “ ’l'is an ill v,iml that docs nobody good,” said the owner of the car in which our reporter took refuge ; and well he and his class might say so, for they made a rare harvest yesterday. On reaching the ground about two o’clock, we found that a fair start had been made with the games—two events being carried on simultaneously. The crowd, which was then inconveniently large ia parts of the enclosure, became denser and denser, until by five o’clock there must have been over 5,000 persons present. Looking round the ring, and more particularly at the Grand Stand, where nearly every head represented half-a-crown, there were no indications of the “hard times ” about which we hear so much complaint. Tire booth-keepers, indeed, can tell to the contrary, for if ever they -were hardworked, they were yesterday, in supplying the wants of their customers. The proprietors of the merry-go-round, and other sports for the young, we>e equally favored ; in fact for all parties interested the gathering was a decided success. The following are the results of the first day’s games : The 200 yards foot race in hosts fur a first prize of L2 and a second of LI was a very exciting contest between Fairley and Pentecost, a Canterbury pedestrian. The latter is

a very good runner at short distances. He won the final heat, Fairley talking second prize. Grand Highland Heel: Brown first, L2 ; Ross second, LI.

A host of youngsters competed for prizes of LI and 10s respectively in a spin of 200 yards. The race, a well contested one, was won by a lad named Bennett, Mitchell being second.

There were some live competitors for the running long jump, the first prize being L2, the second LI, but the contest really laid between three, d. Murdoch, Allan M‘Donald, and Langully. The first named cleared with ease I7ft din, t iking the first prize, M‘Donald taking the second with 17ft 3.1 0z, Tangully however was close upon his heels, his best jump being 17ft Sin. For the 400 yards race there were four competitors. Pollock started with the lead, followed closely by Shell, and they did not ; Iter these positions until nearly half of the second round had been run. when the latter put on a fine spurt, headed his opponent and came in a winner by about half a yard, taking the first prize of L 3. Time, disecs. Loss secured the first prize of L 3 for the Highland Fling, and Brown the second of LI. The wrestling brought out eight competitors, and some good sport was the result. George Robinson, a prize take: at every gathering, carried off the first prize of L 6, and stranger, the second, of L 3. There were fewer entries for the Champion Mile Race this year than on the last occasion. The race, usually a well-con-tested one, was regarded by the knowing ones as an easy victory for Fairley so soon as . the men stripped. Murdoch was the only competitor who was at all likely to be dangerous, and there were many who thought that he could not keep Fairley’s pace nor last tire distance. The opinion proved well founded. There wore eight competitors. Fairley started with the lead, which he maintained, hardly increasing his pace during the race. He came in a winner by about GO yards, taking the first prize of LG ; Murdoch being second, takes the other prize of L 3. Pentecost gave in at an early part of the race. Time, 4.50 sees. There were only two competitors for the Sailor’s Hornpipe—J. Haig and Ross Both danced very well. Haig took the first prize of L 3, but the judges were so well pleased with Ross’s dancing that they agreed to recommend him for a second prize. For the running high leap there were throe entries—G. Murdoch, J. Murdoch, and D. M‘Master ; but practically there were but two competitors- -J. Murdoch snd D. M ‘Master. The latter failed at oft. 3iu., which was cleared by Murdoch, who therefore took the first prize of L 3. The walking ma'ch was as usual the event of the day. , Pra.tically there were but three, competitors—Macgrogor, Eadie, and a person whose name wc could not discover. About the latter’s wa’kiug there was some grumbling, but, to our thinking, without cause, for the man walked fairly, although his style was far from pretty. Between him and Eadic there was a struggle for second place, which carried a sum of L2 with it, ending in favor of Eadie. Macgregor had it all his own way from the first. He takes the first p-ize of L 5. The distance walked was three miles, and it was accomplished in 27 min. 10 secs. Game thirteenth on the list—fifty stones, each placed a yard apart, to be brought in one by one, and dropped into a basket at the starting point—was a novelty, and caused much amusement. I). Auld accomplished the feat first; Pentecost getting his quantity of stones put into the basket before Wain had finished, took the second prize of LI. The first prize was L 3. For the Seautreus, J. G. Reid took the first prize of L 3, and D. Mackenzie the second of LI. There were five competitors for throwing the light hammer. Nicol won the first prize of L 3, with a throw of 95 feet, and G. Chalmers the second of LI, with a throw of 93 feet G inches. The Hurdle Race of GGO yards, for a first prize of L 4, was won by Fairley ; and the Boys’ Sack Race, with which (he first day’s games concluded, by M. Aarons.