EXHIBITION SPORTS COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2471, 8 March 1882, Page 3

EXHIBITION SPORTS COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the above committee was hold Tuesday night at the Council Chamber. Present —His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs Ayers, Louisson, Hebden, P. C. Kesteven, Hay, fcl. C. Farr, teahy, Back. Thomson, Neil Black, Pearell, J. D. Kesteven, Milton, Wilding, A. C. Wilson, Malet, Crooks, Pratt, Walton, Poster. The Mayor said the sub committees which had been appointed were in working order, and reports would probably be received from them. Of course the most important committee was the one appointed to collect funds. Until it was known what progress had been made in that respect it would be impossible to say to what extent they would be able to go. Professor Bickerton bad reported that the lecture committee hoped to be successful in providing amusement and instruction. The sports and other committees had also been making satisfactory progress. A letter had been received, asking if the committees would provide a sum of £75 for the purpose of holding a Papanui Steeplechase meeting. He would suggest that another sub-committee should be appointed to arrange for balls and other similar entertainments. Thesnb-committee appointed toarrange for the organisation of athletic sports, &c., reported as follows:—(1) That it is desirable to forma programme consisting of the following sports, viz,,O.J.C. Race Meeting, Interprovincial Football Tournament, Athletic Sports, Bicycle Races, Hunt Club Steeplechases, Coursing, Regatta, and Pigeon Shooting match. (2) That application be made to the general committee to guarantee the snm of £2OO for the purpose of providing priz-s for the athletic sports gathering proposed to be held dnring the Exhibition. (3) That this committee suggests to the general committee the necessity of communicating with the Government, requesting that arrangfmenta bo made to run excursion trains to various interesting parts of Canterbury daring the Exhibition, Mr Thomson reported on behalf of the collection committee, that he and Mr Pratt had been collecting, but had only succeeded in obtaining £176. They had not bean fortunate in finding the people at home. They had written to the hotel keepers and drapers, pointing ont that they would be largely beuefittad by the Exhibition, and asking them to collect subscriptions amongst themselves. The Mayor suggested that instead of money losing given the prises should be in the form of Exhibition trophies. Mr A. C. Mil-om pointed ont that if this were done the sports would not be so attractive to professionals, who preferred the gold to trophies. Mr Louisson suggested that the question should be postponed until they knew what funds they would have. He also suggested that the programmes might be issued with the amount of prizes blank, to be filled up when the final distribution of the funds took place. . Mr Wilson said it would be necessary to give guarantees, so as to provide for the contingency of bad weather for instance, or small attendance. Mr Wilding said it would be "desirable to at once advertise the running events with the list cf prizes. Men had to train for at least six weeks, and they should know as soon at possible the amount of the prizes offered. The Mayor said he would put the clauses of the report of the committee seriatim. Nothing farther had been heard from the chairman of the C.J.C, with regard to a race meeting, and it would be better to leave that Pern ont for the present. Clause I—Mr Back said it was proposed by the committee that a trophy of £25 should be given for the football match. Mr Milton said the idea of the snb-committe* was to hand over the arrangements to the Canterbury Rugby Union, who it was thought would be able to make the match a success without requiring much money from the committee.

It waa agreed that an Tnterprovincial football tournament, an athletic sports meeting, bicycle races, and a pigeon shooting match should form part of the programme. A report was read from the regatta subcommittee giving a programme of proposed events. The report was received.

Mr Walton reported that he bad collected £43 in his office, but that people outside bad not as yet evinced a very liberal disposition. With regard to music, he understood some glee clubs had intimated their intention of coming to Christchurch, and some assistance would have to be given to them. The promoters of the Exhibition were very anxious to encourage this kind cf entertainment.

Mr Back suggested that it Messrs Joubert and Twopeny were so anxious in the matter, perhaps they would be willing to give a substantial subscription. Mr Walton said he had seen their names down for £bo, and ha knew that they were inclined to act very liberally. As soon as Mr Ollivier was able to assist in collecting, he anticipated that the efforts in this direction would be attended with greater success. Mr Neil Black, in regard to the regatta programme, suggested that the committee should communicate with the local clubs with a view to modifying the programme. Mr Searell thought .£3OO was not too much for this purpose, considering that most of the other erents would be self-supporting, and that it was anticipated that .£IOOO would be collected. Mr Thomson said his estimate as to the probable amount that would be collected bad since been much modified. He hopel the regatta and the other different amusements would take place as near the Exhibition building as possible, so as not to attract people away from town. Mr Wilding pointed out that a large interprovincial regatta, held at Heathoote, would bring competitors from other parts of New Zealand, who would, of course, visit the Exhibition. The Mayor suggested that the matter should stand over until they were better informed as to their financial position. C'r. Louisson moved —“ That the consideration of the report of the regatta committee be postponed until next meeting.” Mr Neil Black seconded the motion. Mr Hay urged that some decision with regard to the regatta should be come to at once, as if it was intended to have a regatta which would attract competition from other parts, sufficient time would have to be allowed for training. The Mayor thought there would be ample timo, oven if the matter were postponed for a week. Motion agreed to. On the motion of the Mayor the following gentlemen were appointed a ball and entertainment committee —Messrs B. J. S. Harman, W. Montgomery, Coster, E. Bichardson, A. O. Wilson, J. Ollivier, L. Harper, Aoland, Palmer, . Chrystall, Malet. Wynn Williams, U. Thomson, J. Holmes J. T. Peacock, B. Walton, El. C. J. Stevens, and Dr. Prina. Mr Malet to be convener. The consideration of the second clause of the report of the sports committee was postponed until next meeting. Mr A C. Wilson proposed that a list should be drawn up of the moneys applied for, and that a sub-committee be appointed to allocate the funds when obtained ; the committee to consist of Messrs A. Thomson, Lonisson, Hebden, Wilding, and the mover, and to report to the general committee. The motion was seconded by Mr Thomson and carried. Clause 3 of the sports committee’s report was agreed to. Mr Leahy reported that at a meeting of the Friendly Societies, it was decided to hold a monster procession on the day of the opening of the Exhibition. He moved—“ That the trades and societies, exclusive of the Friendly Societies, should be Ireqne ted to appoint representatives to work wi.h the committee of the Friendly Societies :* arranging the order of procession. Mr liebden thought it would be advisable for the committee first to formally affirm the desirability of having a general procession on the opening day of the Exhibi'ion, and that all trades and societies should be invited to take pirt in it. He moved a motion to that effect. Mr Searell seconded, and the resolution was carried The resolution of Mr Leahy was then put and carried. On the motion of Mr Leahy, Messrs McLellan and Strange were appointed members of the general committee with a view to their assisting in getting up a rifle shooting competition. On the motion of the Mayor, Mr Bobday was appointed a member of the collection committee. Mr Thomson regretted that there was not a larger attendance of members of the committee. The Mayor agreed with Mr Thomson, and hoped that the members who had been appointed would all exert themselves to make the undertaking they wore engaged in a complete success. The meeting then adjourned until next Tuesday, at the same hour.