NORTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2480, 18 March 1882, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

President—Mr A. McDonald ; vice-presidents —Messrs J. Felton, Myles Campbell and John Cameron ; hon. secretary—Mr L O. Williams; hon. treasurer—Mr Geo. Kemp ; piper, Mr J. McKay. The annual gathering of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society was held in Mr MoMoran’s paddock, near Amberley, in close proximity to the town of Amberley. The weather for the sports was everything that could be desired, and this, with the fact that his Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon was expected to be present, caused the attendance to be the largest which has ever been seen here. It was evident from the bonnets and sprigs of heather worn that the Scotch had the majority. No less than between two and three thousand were on the ground. The trains brought in a considerable number from the city. The running courses were well laid off. The dancing, pipe playing, vaulting, and wrestling were held in a valley in the paddock, which allowed the persons on the banks an opportunity to see all the sports. There wore throe pipers present, as well as the Bangiora brass band, to enliven the proceedings, and the greatest interest was manifested in the bagpipe ploying and dancing throughout the day. All the events were well contested. The arrangements of the committee were very well made, and the officers of the day, particularly the president and Mr Kemp, who acted as secretary, deserve praise for their conduct in carrying out the'day’s sports. The booth on the ground was in charge of the landlord of the Crown Hotel, Amberley. There were the usual run of outside sports. His Excellency arrived by the 2.20 train, and was met at the railway station by Mr A, McDonald, who gave him a hearty welcome, and the Governor and party were driven by Mr H. McLean round the township, which blossomed gay with bunting, and thence to the sports ground, where he was met by three pipers, and the band subsequently struck up the National Anthem, the public cheering most enthusiastically. The following address was then read : “ May it please your Excellency,— “ We, on behalf of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society, desire to welcome your Excellency on the occasion of your visit to Amberley. “ The gathering to-day, which your Excellency is pleased to honor with your presence, will doubtless appear primitive compared with those of other places with which your Excellency is familiar. Ours is but a young society, originated by a few residents in the northern portion of Canterbury, whose early associations have led them to establish a society, whose objects are to foster a friendly feeling amongst Scotchmen, their descendants, and their fellow-colonists, to assist cases of distress, and by annual competition to create a friendly rivalry in national sports. To-day’s gathering may remind your Excellency of your own early associations, and be evidence of the patriotic spirit of your countrymen in this dependency of the British Crown. “ Allow us to express to your Excellency as representative of her Majesty Queen Victoria, our gratitude at her Majesty’s recent escape from assassination, and that she may long live to reign over her dependency of New Zealand is the heartfelt desire of the members of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society. “ Signed on behalf of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society, “ Ami. McDonald, President. “ L. O. Williams, Hon. Sec. "Amberley, 17th March, 1882.” —[Loud cheers.] His Excellency, in reply, said—Mr McDonald and gentlemen—l am obliged to you all for your address and greeting, and have to express to you all the pleasure I have in coming among you this day. I am glad to see you as colonists, no matter of what race or nationality, prosperous and happy. Nothing could be better than that the national feelings from other countries on the part of the colonists of New Zealand had been allowed to crow up into a common good feeling [Cheers.] Not only am I glad to see the colony and its people prosperous and happy, but also those who had come from my own country. [Loud cheers.] I thank you for your address and your expressions towards Her Majesty upon her recent escape from danger. | Loud cheers and three times three J His Excellency and suite then witnessed from the tent erected for their convenience the Highland fling, the dance competition, tug of war, and other sports during the afternoon. The sum of £42 was taken at the gates. The following are the events. All the items on the card were not quite over before the train left. Walking Handicap, one mile. J. Wilson (scratch) £3, 1; O. J. Laurence (100 yards), £2, 2. Six started for this event, inoiuding O. H. Pierce, 100 yards, J. Forbes, J. Woodward, and J. Dwan each at 120 yards. Dwan and Laurence did most of the performance in front, bat were neither of them entitled to credit for fair walking. The former came in first, bat was disqualified by the judges. Wilson came away in the last thirty yards, and won easily, Laurence next, and Pierce at third place. Bagpipe music. W. A. Urquhart’s silver medal and £2, Murdoch (elder) 1 ; D, McQueen, £2, 2 ; A. McKie highly commended. There was a deal of interest taken in this contest, the judges of which were Messrs Jas. Campbell, Geo. Mackay and Struan Robertson. The pipers had to first play a pibroch " Donald Dhu,” then “ Miss Drummond of Stirling ’’ and “ Gillie Orupaoh.” The performance of Elder was very good, and McQueen, of the 79th Regiment, and he, were nearly equal. McKie, for a beginner, deserved the high compliments paid to his music by the judges. Handicap race, 100yds. C. Hulston, £2, 1 ; A. J. Kenny, £1,2. Twenty entries. Thirteen started, and the race was run in heats, the first of which was won by W. B. Church, seven yards; O. Hulston second. In the second heat A. J. Kenny was first, J. Butler second. In the final heat Hulston had it all his own way, and won easily; Kenny half a yard behind, Church third. Wrestling—Cumberland stjle ; four entries. W. S. Fagan, £2, 1 ; W. Mathesen, £l, 2. J. Brown and W. Fagan were the first in grips, but the former, in trying to upset Fagan, gave him a chance to put in an inside click, and Brown fell. J. B. Wright and Mathesen, who came in the second pair, showed some fair science, till the latter brought him to the knee. In the final falls, Fagan fell in the first round and Mathesen in the second. There was a determined contest in the final round, till Mathesen, who lifted Fagan, failed to put in either the knee or toe, and Fagan doing so, brought Mathesen to the ground amid a round of applause. Mr Wm. Sooone acted as judge. Fagan hails from Auckland, Mathesen from Dunedin. Highland Reel, in costume. J. Murray, £3, 1; J. W. Mcßae, £l, 2. There were four competitors, namely, J. B. McGregor and D. McQueen, in addition to the above. The performance of Murray was very perfect in stepping and the grace and ease of his movements. Handicap Race, 200 yards. C. Hnlston (scratch), £2, 1 ; W. B. Church (15yds), £l, 2. Seventeen entered ; eleven competed. The first and second men had the best of it all the way, though the handicap was a very good one. J. Butler (10yds) came in third. Putting the Stone, 201 b. D. Nemo, 34ft l£in, Mason, Struthers’ cup and £1,1; H. Bailey, 33ft 10in, £l, 2. Nine competed. JMcGregor threw 33ft Bin ; J. Fleming, 32ft 9in ; Mathorson, 31ft llin. Handicap Race, 200 yards; boys under sixteen. Rees Griffiths, 12ydg, £l, 1 ; 0. Scrimshaw, scratch, 10s, 2, Seven competed. Highland Fling, in costume. J. Murray, £3 3s, given by B. Wilkin and Co, 1; JMcGregor, £l, 2. Four competed. Handicap Race, 440yds; members of the society. F. Green, scratch, silver oup value £3 3s, given by Mr McLean, 1 ; M. Lister, scratch, timepiece value £l, given by Walker Smith and Co., 2. Four competed, but the winner, who had the race in hand from the start, won with esse. Vaulting with the Pole. J. McGregor, £2, clearing B£t llin, 1 - W. Feathery, £l, dealing Bft 94in, 2. Six competed. Dance Competition, boys under sixteen, in costume. Donald Mcßae, silver oup given by Q. L. Beath and Co., 1, His performance was very good. Throwing Hammer of 161bs. W. Matheson, 92ft 4in, £2,1; J, Bailey, 73ft Bin, £l, 2. There were seven competitors, Hurdle Race Handicap,* 440yds, O. Hulston, 6yds, £3,1; J, B. Vincent, syds, £ll9i, 2 ; J. Butler, 12yds, 3. Nine competed. Tug of War ; prize £2. In this event two sides tried conclusions, but the rope broke twice, and the contest was given up. Handicap Race, one mile. M. MoOormiok, 50yds, £4, 1 ; W. Hancock, 40yds, 2; PAdams, 80yds, 3 ; T. B. Vincent, 10yds, 4. This race resulted in a dispute. A protest was lodged against McCormick and Hancock

for going outeido a flag. Adams, it i* said, wan following them when an outsider brought him book, and he was protested against. Highland Costume, for boys. Alexander McLennan Wright, 4 years, £l, 1i Q< Wornall, 5 years, 10», 2. Four competitors. Sword Dance, in costume. J. Mcßae, silver medal given by Mr P. Elder and £2,1; J. Murray, jun., £l, 2. Sailor’s Hornpipe, J. Murray, £3, 1 j J. Gibson, £l, 2. Four competitors. Men's Race, 200 yards (over 40 years ) B. Truman, silver cup given by Mr T, MoNaught, 1; R. MoAdam, £l, 2 ; 8. Lawrence, 3. Five competed. Tossing the Caber, Q. Matbeson, 15ft, £2 2s given by R. Wilkin and Co., 1 ; O. Forbes, £l, 2. Two others also competed. The caber was a piece of blue gum fit for two posts.

Irish Jig, in costume. J. Murray, John O’Callaghan, £l, 2. Three competed.