FIRST DAY.

Jubilee : Te Tiupiri, Volume 1, Issue 7, 15 February 1898, Page 3

FIRST DAY.

The above sports were opened on Thursday last, the attendance of spectators being estimated at 3000 or 3500. The two day's receipts amounted to £450 which speaks volumes for the management committee. A more picturesque sight has seldom been seen as was presented to us on that memorable day ; the hill partly surrounding the beautiful course being well packed with spectators, and, if well clothed, healthy and happy looking people goes to prove success both as sporting inhabitants and as to success attending our town and surrounding districts, well, all we can say is, it was written On every face. It struck the writer how different the aspect of the present day to his early recollections of the same spot, when instead of harmony and rejoicing as the present day shows, it is to be remembered by the inhabitants of the early sixties, when poor Tommy Atkins was compelled to accomplish the monotonous task of serving his term of punishment with knapsack and shot drill. It was really a treat to place one's eyes on such splendidly made men as the n-ajority cf the n n.j.ttiu is. Rtal gctd foim ,wa

shown and the utmost good feeling prevailed. The committee of management are to be congratulated on the punctuality and good order displayed. The only feature of an unpleasant nature to in any way tend to mar the sports was the unfortunate accident which befel Castles of Wellington, who came down, breaking his collarbone; medical assistance was speedily at hand resulting in the patient being remo\ed to the Hospital. Thompson's spill in the 10 mile bike race was ;i great disappointment, ns it was fully expected another score for Whanganui would be registered, and, judging by his form and consistent generalship his chances were good. The Garrison Band enlivened the proceedings in their usual masterly style.