ODDFELLOWS' FETE, WOOLSTON.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 177, 2 January 1875, Page 2

ODDFELLOWS' FETE, WOOLSTON.

The opening of the new hall of the Loyal Perseverance Lodge, Woolston, was commemorated yesterday by a fete, consisting of sports, a soiree, and ball. As a preface, it may be mentioned that the order was started in that district in July, 1872, by P.P.G.M. Parry, with l(i members, and row numbers on its books nearly seventy, and so successful has the lodge been since its formation in Woolston, that the members have been enabled to build a splendid hall, in Gothic style, 56ft long (including two ante-rooms) by 25ft, the studs 14ft, and heightof ceiling22ft, having ■\\>o a large refreshment room at the back, 25f x 10ft. The contract price was £458, 111 the sub-contracts have been performed by members of the order, under the contractor, Mr G. W. D. Morris, and so pleased are the building committee with the faithful manner in which the contract has been carried out, that at the soiree held in the afternoon they passed a very high eulogium on Mr Morris, not only for his work, but for completing it before the contract time, thus enabling them to take possession on New Year's Day. The 'and on which the hall is built has a frontage of 33 feet to Ferry road, by 110 feet deep, and was sold to the lodge by Brother J. Coles, P.G., on very easy terms, kindly illowing the payment to extend over a jeriod of five years. It may here be mentioned that the first formal meeting of the lodge will be held in the new hall on Wednesday next, when the district officers will hold an installation;

The sports came off in a grass paddock belonging to Mr Coles, nearly, opposite the hal'. A circular course had been roped off, and a width of the grass mowed all round the circle, making the running ground pleasant and elastic. Oppenheim's brass band played selections during the day, good but few and very far between. Mr I'oole, confectioner, had a refreshment tent on the ground, and had had a large audience of little ones, who were in the majority until the afternoon, when the muster of adults reached nearly 200. The drizzling rain which set in before the sports were completed settled into a steady downpour, practically placed a damper on the finish, and as coaches did not leave Woolston '-at short intervals," those desirous of reaching town early had to do so on foot, arriving very much in the condition of drowned rats. Appended is a list of the sports, some of which were very well contested, the Christchurch men mustering strongly in the "open" races. No time is given for the different events, as none reliable was taken, and to note the different opinions in this respect of spectators would merely tend to mislead. Committee—Messrs McKinnon, Nicholls, Liddell, Offwood, Staples, Coles, Lowry, Aylward, Beaumont, Butcher, Hall, Richardson. 100 Yards race, open to all comers; prize, £l. M. Gibbons 1 A. O. Brunsden 2 W. Davidson 3 G. Nankivell and J. McMasters .'also started. Gibbons jumped away with the lead, closely followed by Brunsden and Nankivell' When about forty yards from home Gibbons came away and won by about two yards. Brunsden some distance ahead of Davidson. 200 Yards race, open to all comers; prize, £l. A. O. Brunsden 1 M. Gibbons 2 J. F. Gough 3 Davidson. Butcher, Jackson, Sullivan, and Chambers, also ran. After several false starts the lot got away on pretty even terms, and kept together until about sixty yards from the post, when Brunsden spurted and landed about two yards in front of Gibbons, Gough being close behind. One Mile race, confined to members of Friendly Societies, to be run iu regalia ; prize, £1 10s. C. Bowley 1 G. Nankivell 2 Ashby 3 Richard and Butcher also started. Richards led round the first lap, when Butcher came up and led until the third lap, when he fell out, Ashby then ran up for half a lap, and was then challenged by Nankivell, who took the lead. Richards shortly afterwards cried " a go," and Nankivell putting on steam, increased the distance between himself and Ashby. About 150 yards from home Bowley, who had been running a waiting race with great judgment, spurted up, passed Ashby and collared Nankivell, and after a close and well contested race passed the post a winner about one and a half yards. 440 Yards race, open to allcomers ; prize, £1 10s. J. F. Gough 1 M. Gibbons 2 W. Pentecost 3 Brunsden and Lea also ran. Gough got away with the start, Lea coming up, when about half way and leading, followed by Pentecost, who passed him, and led first lap, Gibbons, who had been running close, came up with Pentecost, and Gough, who had been creeping close up, challenged these two when about sixty yards from home, and from there it was spurt and spurt between the three, Gough with most pace cleverely winning by about a yard ; Gibbons divided from Pentecost by about the same distance. Standing Long Jump, open to all comers; prize, 10s. J. Beswick I—Bft 6in. C. Lea 2—Bft Sin. J. Sullivan also jumped. One-mile race, open to all comers ; Ist prize, £3; 2nd, 10s. Hewitt 1 H. Black 2 McFarlane and Lea also ran. A very good start was effected, Black leading the first lap, with Hewitt in close atteudauce, evidently fearing the former and afraid to let him get away too far, McFarlane running very much at his ease. At the fourth lap Lea cried "Peccavi," and Hewitt came up to and passed Black, who had been running well and strong. As this was the last lap home, Hewitt and Black began to put it on, the former, however, increasing his lead, and, notwithstanding Black's plucky spurts when nearing the post, he could not reach his antagonist, who won by about six yards. 440 Yards, Boys' race (for boys under fifteeb) ; prize, 10s T, McNicholl 1 A. Keath 2 Hawker, J. Nankivell, and Courtenay also ran. McNicholl got away with the lead, and kept it all through, winning easily. One Mile Walking race, open to all comers; first prize, £1 10s; second, 10s C. Bowley... ... ... ... 1 A. Richards 2 J. F. Gough 3 Ashby and Lea also started, the latter, though passing the post first, being very properly disqualified by the committee. After the start Lea took the lead, and increased his walk into a palpable jog-trot, which he religiously kept up to the finish, not having walked twenty yards fairly from the start. Bowley is really a splendid goer, has the true " ped" style, and is as fair a walker as ever trod a turf, firmly planting his heel at each step. Some of his spurts were worth going the distance to see; and before half way home in his last lap he overlapped Richards and Gough, who all through had walked most fairly, Lea all the time trotting on, wondering in his look what the people meant by their remarks, and keeping up the pace, trotted in first ahead of Bowley. As a matter of form Bowley entered a protest against Lea, which was allowed, and he was very justly disqualified. The walk in between Richards and Gough for second place was very exciting, Richards winning by about a shoulder. 220 Yards Three-legged race (heats) ; prize, 15s. Seven entries. Brundsden and Richards ... 1 Day and Nankivell 2 McFarlane and Gibbons ... 1 Pentecost and Gough ... ... 2 FINAL HEAT. Pentecost and Gough 1 Brunsden and Richards 2,

This race caused some amusement, each heat being well and closely con* r „ed. 250 Yards race, confined to Members of the Order, to be run in regalia ; prize, £l. G. Butcher 1 C. Bowley 2 A. Richards also started. The drizzle which had been coming down gently now turned into a nice steady rain, and in the midst of this the competitors started, Butcher going a good bat the whole distance, and winning by ten yards. 120 Yards Boys race (under 13) for priz3S presented by Mr J. Ollivier; Ist, 5s ; 2nd, 3s ; 3rd, 2s. H. Woodard 1 Nankivell 2 A. Wood 3 About twenty boys started. All pulling and tugging to get into the van, the winners taking advantage of a clear road, and wisely keeping it. 100 Yards Boys race (under 11) for money presented by Mr Attwood ; Ist, 5s ; 2nd, 3s ; 3rd, 2s. T. Dixon 1 A. Weber 2 F. Hayley ... 3 About a dozen little fellows started with the above result. 100 Yards Sack race ; prize, 10s. W.Pentecost 1 R. Nankivell 2 Woodham, Hurse, and Brunsden also jumped. The rain and slippery turf as it increased the difficulty of jumping increased the fun correspondingly, and when Brunsden was making his two or three last jumps from the post he measured his length, allowing Pentecost and Nankivell to pass him. Prize of 10s, presented by P.P.G.M. Bro. Barry, confined to members of the order; distance, 584 yards. G. Nankivell 1 G. Bugg 2 B. Ashby also ran. Nankivell ran a waiting race, and slid in a winner, as the rain had for some time being coming down in torrents, and the turf was like glass. Each of the competitors deserved a medal, for the determination they showed in running the race to a finish. This finished the sports, and the company adjourned to the hall for the soiree, the tables being laid out with good taste by Mr Poole, the caterer. The chair was taken by Mr John Ollivier, who had been asked to preside at the opening of the hall, and after refreshments had been partaken of, the chairman congratulated the lodge on the posses uon of such a fine building. After speeches had been given by the officers of the lodge and others, the tables were cleared away for the ball to be held at 9 o'clock, which would no doubt have successfully wound up the day's programme, but for the downpour of rain which continued throughout the evening.