STARBOROUGH NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1900, Page 4

STARBOROUGH NOTES.

(Fbom Our Correspondent.)

Seddon was favoured with glorious weather for its Sports on Boxing Day, and by 2 p.m. there were at least 300 persons on the ground. The Committee had made complete arrangements, so everything went off without a hitch. The entries were numerous, and, considering the handicapping was hurriedly done on the ground, the results were satisfactory. Ihe Needle and Thread Race, for which 10 entered, was won by Mrs Dalziel ; and the Four-Part Race was very amusing For the Old Men's Race there were only three entrirc, and the winner turned up m theScvV tury. ELowe^er, the handicappers baa their reveiige, for they plao d tbe old man scratch m the Committee Race, on the same mark as young judge Blick, and he could get no nearer than a bad last, the judge being the winner. The Tug-of-War was very exciting, and it was only alter a long struggle that the Hibernian Band team succeeded m bea'intr the 8- ddon team. The horse racing vr s very good indeed, the events being well Contested, The children were not forgotten, and besides races they were set the tank of " plucking 'he goose."

The concert m the evening, under the management of Mr R. Hay, was a real treat. The items were numerous, and so well rendered that encores were the order of the day. Mr R. Hay fairly brought down the house with his comic songs, particularly "The Hen Convention," which he sang m character, being admirably got up as a Langshan rooster. The concert was followed by a dance, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the hundred persons taking part m it.

I must not omit to mention a great factor m the success of the day, namely, the presence of the Hibernian Band, the members of which with their usual generosity gave their services free. Altogether Beddon is to be congratulated on the success of its first attempt, and with the experience gained next year's sports should be very good indeed. The settlement of accounts on Saturday night showed a surplus (it would not be " Seddon " if that were not the case, although the almighty Dollar of the Committee had something to do with it), out of which the Secretary and Mr B» Hay were voted small bonuses for their

services,

The Sports Committee wish me t > convey its thaoks to all the country people who so liberally subscribed to the sports fund and to the following residents of Blenheim: — Messrs Levin & Co., W. Sowman, W. B. Olouston ft Co., By f hell & Co., H. V. Browne, W, Oarr, Dodson & Co., and S. J. Furnesß. Below are the horse racing events :— Hurdle Race.— F. Sharp's Grey Don 1, W. Smith's Ada 2. Murmaid and Prince also started.

Maiden Raoe.— H. Smith's Murmaid 1, W. Fraeer's Day Dawn 2. Herekiki and Blackbird also started.

Beddon Oup.— W. Fraser's Day Dawn 1, H. Smith's Murmaid 2. Sweet Marie also started.

Saddle Trot.— W. Boyce's Agnes, 50seos, 1 ; 0. O'Leary's Tanp's Mistake, 60secs 2. 12 others started.

Trotting it Harness. — A. Green's Tom Thumb, ecr , 1 ; 0. O'Leary's Tapp's Mistake, SOsecs, 2. Slider also started.

Awatere Settlers' Race.— Robert's Dolly 1, O. Herd's Youth 2. Three others also started.

The Awatere Settlers' Association will meet on the 13th inst., when, I understand, the question of remov ing the Awatert Road Board's office and officers to' their proper place — the Awatere — will be fully discussed.

The crops are now being harvested and are turning out much better than was anticipated a few weeks ago.