Home Athletics.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 41, 19 January 1885, Page 2

Home Athletics.

-. — . ■~ *j 1 y , [ (New Zealaud Times.) I ; The following . extract frpm, a private fetter, kindly liahdedtb us by OrHutchjnßon, will be read with interest, as showling the prominent position which athletoccupy m the Old Country.. --The (writer i»Mf\ W- irohoj-ary Secretary *o £he*Teinperance Festival : — ■" Three years ago we organised spoj-ts on pur own TAWi Moor hej-^[N!ewcastle-on-Tyne], and you will be pleased to learn ;that 1200 xouqg,. men contested forUha prizes off dried. /jfThe^ sports are diVided'J into the following sections: — Military, S' pen to the.Amvy, Navy,. i volun ! teer fores, and f police j'opferi ipdf ts, (^pen to all mateurs; children's games, open r to inember^dl 'Bands • of • ■ Hope| Siihifay Schools, &c. ; bicycle, football, encket, Good Tteihplarsij deal and.dmnbj C.E.F, / SQoiefcy,;&c.^ §0. The: . contestants go into trail) ing. for weeks : previous tor^he, : f estiVal,' and tbjs^jgives the young men, soinetlu^ to do and think about', '^'he,, thl >^e^cn > B:>'^rogra.inni&!i''Beh3'y6|i.^i8 :> '^rogra.inni& ! i''Beh3'y6|i.^i^ < same mail will 1 give 1 ydu an idea of the magnitude of our festival, the niirnberof people attending -being estimated at 150,000: , to each; day. ;■: Wfeiare attempting^ an<|. indeed doing, for athletic Youb^. England what,l|as not be- . lore* been 1 tried, tond great success lias Attended tho eflort."~CJould younotorr gaoißb abmethiiig similarto tlris"in Wpli- ' ingi6n ? You will ; see that the tradesmen .Here contribute most of tho prize's,' and v ppßs.ibly the tradesmen with you -would do the same. ISufficient money^is, subsoribed for working expenses, and Our BubßoL'ibers think it vyjellppent for sucji ' :an ! ' object / Dyr " bjfl,' ! 'However, adds n^'to upwards ;of £800, You' will alad srie that no intoxicating liq^br is allowed on the Moor,, nnd that the spbPts" are held under strict temperance princi- ■ pies, We do not debar non-abstainers, however, from 1 eu(;erJMg.th ( e games. We believe that iytoxicauts ai'e positively ibjurioujj'to-the; isy'atein^ md personaviiidulging Hi them will certainly be left iv tbeiraisa, ' Haiilani thegrerftboatt-rower, ■ who has so recently bad his colors lowered by a colonial { Weston^the'-great-ppdestrinu, andmiany other athletes declare that intoxicants do not help, but rather retard them in-thefstruggia. I am glad to fiu.d that you advocate the gymnasium, for I believe 'that this should 'be annexed to every public institution i.jand school. We v ha*e [recently 'purchaV- 1 ed a hew' building 1 ior Young Men's Christian Association promises, m which a'large'gymnasium and baths are beirigf fitted. In connection with the Young -Mien's. Christjan' •• Asspgiatiou ihere,!w& -hive f footbajj,,p^|o.ket, bipycle,.,wal.kiing', and'swimirfi'ng clubs, educational .qlaas4s, readiug-ioom'^aiid _". library " lA &c ' t &C, ' coinbinitig the {yfiyflicafwith the mental.