ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1516, 26 December 1878, Page 2

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

ANNUAL PETE. This annual fete, one of the most eagerlylooked for amongst the carnivals connected with the festive season that marks the close of the old year and ushers in the new, was as successful as heretofore. The morning was cloudy but fine. The brethren of the various Foresters' Courts, reinforced by the members of the several Lodges of Oddfellows, who had been invited to join in the festivities, assembled at the Foresters' Hall, from whence they marched to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show Grounds, tho scene of the annual sports. They were accompanied by an excellent band, whose exhilirating strains contributed materially to the general enjoyment. A large concourse of people,bent upon enjoying the passing hour, were assembled on the grounds before the sports were fairly commenced, the latter numbering twenty-three events. In addition to the usual programme of athletics and pedestrian feats, there was a great variety of outside amusements, amongst them being the unicycle circus, the joys of which scarcely repay tho rotatory ordeal to bo gone through. A Christy Minstrel entertainment was also a novelty that attracted a large number of visitors. The old English Maypole dance afforded attraction to many young persons of both sexes, while the time-honored legendary drama of Punch and Judy and their chequered matrimonial career, was an endless source of amusement to all. Merry go-rounds, riile galleries, lucky bags and lotteries contributed to lighten the spirits as well as the pockets of the visitors, and made glad the hearts of the speculative proprietors. Last, though by no means least, tho übiquitous Aunt Sally was present, and was, as usual, ruthlessly submitted to the customary argument of tho cudgel. Under the able supervision of Messrs S. Andrews and John Ollivier, the former acting as handicapper and starter, and the latter as judge, the various events of the programme succeeded each other with very little delay. The entries were numerous, and the performances of the competitors quite up to the average of these gatherings. Altogether this year's sports were completely successful, the profits to the Order being; as satisfactory as the enjoyment to the public. The following is a list of the events disposed of up to tho time of going to press : Boys' race, 150 yards, under 14 years of age. Ist prize, £1 ; 2nd, 7s Gd ; entrance, Is. Eleven entries. Sergoant ... ... 1 Gladden 2 Hopkins ... ... ... ... 3 Serjeant aesumed the lead, and kept it to the finish. Three-lea'gpd ra:e, open to boys under 15. Ist prize, .£1; 2nd. 10s; entrance. Is. Competitors to find their own strays, bix entriesGarland ) i C. Cusack > A Atkinson "£ n Hopkins ) Norton } g Hutchinson ) One couple gave in at the commencement, the three winning couples keeping together for about half the distance. Garland »nd Cusack coming in easy winners by about eight yards. 410 yards flit race opon to all cornere. Ist prize, value £1 2s; 2nd, 20s; entrance, 2s GJ. 'llir.e entries. J. Nicholas ... '. * J. M. Mortond ? Brown .., ... hi in mi 3

This race was gamely run, Nicholas leading off followed by Morland, Brown some distance in the rear. Morland gradually got up to Nicholas, and the two ran together three parts of the distance, but as they approached the winning post Nicholas put on a spurt and won by about four yards. Brown an indifferent third.

Vaulting, opento all comers. Ist prize, £1 10s; 2nd, 10s ; entrance, Is. Five entries. Treleaven, Bft. 2in 1 Eldridge, Bft .2 A start was made at Gft., rising two inches eaoh time. Anderson went out at 6ft., Tomlinson at 6ft. sin., and Dobbs at Gft. Sin. Eldridge accomplished Bft. and went out, Treleaven being the winner at Bft. 2in. Drill competition, open to companies of boys attending any public school, in companies of 24. Ist prize, Mss ; 2nd, £2 2s ; entrance free. Three companies to compete, or no first prize will be given. Colombo Road School, prize of .£2 23 | Awarded This event took up a considerable time, and did not appear to excite much interest. Only one company competed, which was from the Colombo Road School, and a prize of £2 2s was awarded, aB the conditions precluded the first prize being given unless three companies competed. 250 yards handicap flat race, open to P.C.R.'a only, handicap for age. lstprizo, a P.C.R.'s certificate, handsomely framed, presented by P.D.C.E. Bro. Willcox. Three entries. Samuels 1 Neville 2

Ayers 3 A good start was made, the race being between Samuels and Neville from the jump. Samuels soon had it all his own way, and won by a few yards, Neville second, and Ayers bringing up the rear at his ease. 100 yards race, open to all comers. Ist prize, £1 10s; 2nd, 10s Cd; entrance, Is. Six entries. Nicholas 1 Henderson 2 A good start was made, and at half the distance Nicholas and Henderson were together, the former gradually drew ahead, and •won by about three yards, Henderson a good second. One mile handicap flat race, open to Foresters only, to be run in regalia, private clothes. Ist prize, cup value £2 2s. presented by Bro. H. Thomson ; 2nd, 10s 6d; entrance, 2s Gd. Three entries. Mcßeth (scratch) 1 Fawcett (42yds. start) 2 A. Anderson (scratch) 3 At the second lap Fawcett was leading by about 30 yards, Mcßeth second, Anderson a long way behind. Mcßeth improved his position in the third lap, and passing the post the third time, exchanged places with Fawcett, who was about six yards behind. Eventually Mcßeth came in an easy winner 100 yards in advance of Fawcett, Anderson nowhere. Single ladies' race, 100 yards, open to all single ladies over 16. Ist prize, a very handsome workhox; 2nd, a gold locket. Seven entries. Jessie Dutton 1 Emily Bryan .. 2 Teresa Wheeler _ 3 Thiß contest excited a great deal of interest, opinions being freely expressed on tho merits of the fair competitors. They started in a cluster and maintained their reepettive positions till near the finish, when Jessie Dutton asserted her supremacy and won, closely followed by Emily Bryan and Teresa Wheeler. Archery match, open to all somers. Ist prize, Bro. W. H. Wynn Williams' cup, value £3 3s; 2nd trophy value £1 lis O'd; 3rd, 10s 6d ; entrance, 2s Gd. Four entries. Worthy (20 points) 1 Brown (6 points) 2 Williams (2 points) ... _ 3 There were four entries, and from the first it was obvious that Mr Worthy would be the winner, the low scoring being attributable to the wind, which was blowing far too freely for anything like certainty in aiming. 300 yards flat race, open to members of Fire Brigades only, to be run in full uniform excepting helmet. Ist prize, £2; 2nd, 20s; 3rd 10s; entrance, Is. Five entries. A. Anderson (Dreadnought) ... 1 B. A. Green (Dreadnought) ... 2 D. H. Brown (Pioneer) 3 This was a very good race, Anderson leading the way and keeping the foremost position until the end, eventually coming in between fifteen and twenty yards in advanco of the others. E. A. Green second, and Brown third. ADDITIONAL NEWS BY CABLE.

The following items of cable news, which appear in the Australian papers, are either additional to or fuller than the messages supplied to the New Zealand Press: — London, December 10.

In the course of hiß speech in the House of Lords last night yiscount Cranbrook (Mr Gathome Hardy), the Secretary of State for India, declared that England's influence must be paramount at Oabul. The House of Lords agreed to Yiscount Cranbrook's motion that the expenses of the Afghan war should be made chargeable to the Indian Exchequer, on division, by 215 TO tea against 65. Lord Beaconsfield, during his speech, declared that England was now on friendly terms with Eussia, whose recent explanations with regard to her late mission to Cabul were of a satisfactory nature. Constantinople, December 11. The Porte has sent a note to its representatives abroad announcing that a change of Ministry has been made in order to arrange by decisive measures the present internal difficulties and the pending questions of foreign policy, and to fulfil the obligations of the Treaty of Berlin. London, December 11. Consols have further risen to Five per cent. New Zealand 10-40 loan,£9B; eix per cent. Tasmanian, £lls ; four per cont. Queensland, £9l. Other colonial securities unchanged. December 12. Sir Stafford Northcote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said that it had been ascertained that the Russian envoy, but not the mission, had been withdrawn from Cabul, and that England will not acquiesce in Russian interference in Afghanistan affairs in that or any other form. A Frenchman has been charged at the Bow street police court with sending letters threatening to Bhoot the Queen. December 13. After a debate extending ever four nights, the House of Commons has negatived motion of Mr Whitbread, censuring policy of the Government in the Afghan question. During the debate this evening Mr Gladstone made a speech vehemently attacking and condemning the policy that had been adopted towards the Ameer, and the conduct of the Government generally. He was followed by Lord Hartington, the leader of the Opposition, who strongly censured the action of Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India, and demanded that he should be recalled. 'Sir Stnfford Northcoto, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, replied on behalf of the Government, and in the speech he made he deprecated weakening the influence of Lord Lytton under actual circumstances. Finally tho House divided with the following result: — For the Government 228 Against 127 Majority against the motion ... 101 December 11. The Board of Trade r.turnsof export from the United Kingdom during the past munth show an increase as compared with tho corresponding period laat year. The force under General F. S. Roberts has continued advancing since last advices, and has now reached the Shutnr Girdun (Gardan) or Camel's Neck Puss 13,000 ft. above the sea. T! e Ameer's troops at Cabul show a disinclination to fight. Ail the notables and officials at Jellalabad have tendered their submission to the British. The Ehojuk Paßs has been found to be tm« OOflkrpiid by tbieHefidy.

At the periodical auctions to-day, 2000 Australian hides were offered, and went off with a good demand. December 16.

The House of Commons voted an address of sympathy and condolence with Her Majesty the Queen on hor lato bereavement.