THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 16, 28 December 1878, Page 2

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Christina* passed off without anything of special comment to nuric the day, sure tfj* sei'vicai m the various ohqrohcs, and a» th«. weather wsu glorious, bright anticipations were entortauied of its continuing on Boxing Day. Theso hopea were hilly re» nlisedas the. mofiiia^ dawned, with a sky deaf and uneloudiid* while Old Sal sent forth his roy« iti a winner that seemed mi earnest of his intentions far asserting hi* power later on m the day. As. the. lyua, neared for the arrival of the. Fcotf on, train, the plat fora* at Pa^i^erston became crowdedeither- with those who wore tluuiselre*! about to patronise the Feildinfc Sports, op. were drawn by a spirit of curiosity to watch. •tbers~ take their departure. When> Mi». train hoTO m sight it was seen that it. wa* N packed from the engine to the brake ran,' \ four long carrlnges being-npt oaty oraiumotj, - bnt'erery inch of available, standing roont on' the platforms having been untilised*.* Asa largo number of the Pttlintrstouiunsi - had decided to throw, m their lot wit-It. Feildirg, no doujbfc drawn thjt her by lh« very excellent programme prepamlv »nd!Lh«t consequent prospect of superior sport to that .to be found^ at home, another long carriage, had^to bo. puf 9%. and punc.. tual to its time avra/ it started with i»t\ living freight of pleasure-seekers. Th«y FeilJing Sports ysere±«klin.a. paddock -oloir bythe railway line, and af.thj» drurt\ right up to the gat-e, visitors once, oa board, had no further thought or trouble about reaching their destination. The case with; Palm.en.ton, ho\jrerer, was slightly '-iiiSvnaty : for as the sports were to be held oh th«*nev* r racecourse, about two miles from towii—- ' those Who were npt fortunate to posieii. traps ojt their otßi^ set tlitfinsri^et w to t»u*.^ . ing arrnpgeinents for conyejtahc« thither. At a meeting of the Sports Coinmittea whicli^ hud been held on Christinas fire, it had decided that Tohil-le* pi vim? for hjr« betifßg^f tjhe to,TEn. and, the. grouixc^ shoul/i_ n^at^ t b#. t^pjfor one. shill^vg, lialf that aiHount^bißm^ charged for children, and m order t-o meat, the. iieces^i ties ofthpeaig.^ not only put on the cab, but hatl«>' four lione light waggon m use, which took tk. most respectable load on euoh occasion. Th»^ npw cutting fro tn the Eilzherbcrt road tot, the reierre w^fatlijej^hptvrj for cat'tU, bu| cpnsidei'iug Uiat.it- has b«e»i.bu); a l^ttje orer. . a, month since the work was t\ikcn in^haiiU," and? the. difficult ie«, which, had ' to ba etiv countered, m. the. sjiapp of b«d_ weather, it reflects the highest credit upon the. coirs! tractors. In addition to tlie. nuuiorovi t,rapß of all-kinds and- •pecijneus;wh|chw«r« pressed- into serriee, a large number of t{.«.. • visitors to th« ground, found, their wajog^ horse-^aclf, wjiile not » s Fovr A m,or^ . entil/ suited, patronised that sibwlj but conrenjmuf v animal, " shank's ma re.' ' A large number., of those present had seen the. reserre for tb» firs.t time, and one and all were unanimou*. m. their laudations of itif .grand' natuxali.. beaut ifs and admirable, adaptitude . for recreation grouiidj' It is situated m a must* picturesque : spot-, surrounded vrit-h ■ bu«!v, haring* lerel flat of abort one wile, backed^T bjra natural t erraco wliich thereby : f brrns »'* kind of amphitheatre to the lorel ruuuin^ grouDiibene^th. Its qu_alifieat ions weri. tjij-. tlieme. of general admiration, and opinhiui; were freielj expreuedbj those; experiencdtt; m such matters that it possesses naturaladrantages suiSuient to make it tli* b<»sj^. racecourse m the Xorth Island, and a p«rfe<-L paradiso for pick-nickers. Owing to t-h«. indefatigable energy of Mr .H.i^u|, w^p^jiili: been on the ground fr,om/SVe m the niofnr ing, on thjOArriialpof tlie couj«\itteo •T6ry»_ thii^g was found arranged m air exwloai mariner. Uhe hurdles were placed up^i somo new soft ground inatlwspciiallyfpv . the purpose, While nil the ground for ,-tl.i"*.. fli^ race^ w^i-j*. marked out on,a fresh grtva,. turf,' _.ifi.front'^^of '-the booths. It Was of *iv s oral shape, exactly quarter of a mile urouuil,and although m sosue places it 'was iratiieit. lum py, st ijl under the eircuiust*ne«» it was X far, wetter thau could liaro been e^pcc^lThe priiiHpnl labors of > this daj fill upo-.i % MetiiM. JSaiig, Cox, %ii,ii ,>^irb^r>orii wha *«♦ . ted ;ts itartersj andildosrs. Hnjn»; Coleuian ,^ and* jOnhgiin as judges, and it is satisfactor/r tobeableto ulalo that out of tlio twenty 1 events upon the programme, not" oi^.siwgl*. award made. caused, the. slightest > discussl**,, or dissatisf action. We uiu*tnot omit to given, a large uyeJ of praise to Mr Dimond, r tat ..'"' the Tery efficient manner, .hi Wliich^ h*i car. ieel out the. oneron* d^tie* of Cleft tff:the i Course, vrnich,'whon ";th"e labors entaiLjl;. by the o.y erdepin^ of-- the Til! iug at t he Rij^". are ! akeiv intV opneid^rat ipu, wert.b; 11^ ■raeuqa i a sinecure. Although when the flr«t_ event was run off, tliere were -nioit^ many person* present, m the day progressed th«^ nuiubers increased, and at one : time ther»^ were considerably Offlrvne thousand ppopl#. on the ground; a stajeuient wiiibb. i» boriia^. but by the : fapfc iijf I oter jfeft were't»|tß^a^ th». gates. * :•■;■.' ■'■■: ■ '. - _■'- v*/-; ; ■■>. \ :'■ ' ■■.'■ 1. Boysi; Eace v lW,yard«,« for hoy un-_ ;.^, .der. 4 feetY inches-— entrance, l*; w first prize, £1 ; second prize, sa.' !.- ..- John Pojpper ... ..v 1 ' .' " : .- : ;- : ;It ; Davvick :: ... ' • ■ ; ..i" : :^sHr.z " John Bush also rail, but from tie ■tartPepper Lad it all, liis own way. : ' 2. TJirowi^g the Cripketwßjafe^so-. trance! 2a > priaei £2. EVGSiarle*....^ ...■' .1 , Gr. E^wardg, T. Connor^ , and P. War«,_ burton also contested, but^dw^r^Hra^ tho only one who caine i iieai'.ClUiritis^the latter winning with 95| yards, j^k 3. Men's Race, 100 yards, handicap^" entrance, 6s rfirit priae, . £5:. second prla*i *I. ' -■■■ ; " ■■ y ."^Baxy-:-/ -'..l:' - : -,:.:■ ■■ ..,: I -'■■■ ■- B;L:Hiram^ .;. ... * Davy, and Gopeland; were. plificd 4 »^. scratch, while. Edwards, Pirauii kndV rPiercj had threw -jzvds, and GraveSi ? St yaidi! It was a- aplendid^race for^nit ; plape between and ; Plrani, but, at tlie tape theldruier bj about tvro^. inches^ Time, If «eoi>Hd>.; - r 4. Two-mile Walking Kace-rentrance^ !'■■;■■ ..--&■;•■ firs^ priae, &l ; second .prise, • - ' JB2. r ' '■ "' ' '■'■■"' ■'■.'■■' ■■■" ■-* ""■ ■ A.Pieroy... ...• ... 1^ ■ John Jouci ...... 2 9. Kitchen ... :;:-..; 3^ Iliere were only lour competitori; J). X Kitchen a^d Hovre b^ing .placed at scratch, Piercy recewn^ 60; jard« and. J t Qnes; iOft yards. Th> M& ft th« haudicap , was proyed by the re»uU, aar i Piercy came m a ■ winner.! hand* dowa by almost double his $tart, , 1 having givesn m after the firafrbund. gamely Wtru^gled oa to th« end* and; the judges, m appreciaJ ion of his pluck, made a third prize and awarded him £1.- The foUowing.is thft, [ respective time :— Piercjr, niin. 4S> V . ! I sec. ; Jone^ 21 miv. 9 See.jaßd^KiK oheni 21 min.^34 se.-: i;;^r 5. Threo-legged l^ce, &Qor#*--i. a? trance. 2s ; fivst p;ifeeei ';£& ; ,«»^. [ " ; cbad pme,lpß. ; , ■ , ; "Vpatson arid XfeaEorgßS .> v t Lary and Braith wait© ' . ... a . 6. £urdk^ce,^yards^li}Kdl«i. ' scratch; ■entra.ncej S» ; nrg^irud A v J63; second piize, £1. ■i - t'dpelahd ;.., ;.....; -=*-;^ 'Pne other coiii^ti'^B were; Turiter^ Lie v> Cook> vf!AnnorV and s ßr«iitUwjit« <,

% butafter hearing evident oil both sides; the judges dismissed rt/ 7. Running Long Junip^-eatrance, 2s; . first prize, £2 ; second prize, £1 . Pirani * ... ••• ••• £ Kitchen ... ••• •• / „ The prize was tat en with 17 tcet o incneT, ffirdlreirTWnn^rne^-wtli- 17---feet 4. Turner, Wat^n, and Lang also contested. / ' _ _ _;. _ 8. IMW Trop>y. One-Mile Race, handicap/entrance, ss. \ Sheerin/ ■•• ••• „•••. I ..;■•-. Pirani />. ... .... ••■ %his perfect gift to the winner, tphp^receivea a handicap .which gave • {Hf trophy into his hands, Only seven ifrrthe twenty entered accepted, handicapped m the folto^ order :—Braith- / w*ite, 100 yard*; Mason, 150 yards; Swift, 170 yards •, Lacy, 170 yards ; 3?irani, 175 yards ; Sheerin, 250 yards ; »nd( Graves, 250 yrads. Judging from ih'6 proof given, Sheerin would have .-Men a tough customer even at scratch. ll; justice, to the handicappers /it inuist bit mentioned; that when making the handicaps they, wore under the impression that it was Sheerin's brother, Trejl known m the district^ who had been nominated.' Although the position of first wasOUt.pE ddubt from- the beginnihg, the race; for second place proved the toughest of the day, and the manner m which Pirarii finished up was irroHhy'pi the prize, poming up the itraight fos the fasirpund he wqs fiftlj, f^ut putting on a grand spurt he cut His 3 ; #£j: ttrpiiigh the men, and collaring one fc^ifjtet another until when within' about J& yards w 9l. the tape 'he overhauled : tooTfrsccqiidl ' victory cost- him, ab'on se.en, for the moment W^fe^ld-tfeotape he fe^l heavily and lnsen^ibjelii^iia ground, remaining un^ ?6nsciojis for.^considerable time. With characteristic pluck, however, that did pot debar him from putting m an appearance m the other events for which be. ha 4 entered We are pleased to hear thas it i£ contemplated to present him with some memento, m recognition of his game struggle. 0. Running High Jump— entrance, 25.; prize, £2 ' Turner.' * '.., ... .■• I *, Collins 2 JJrandon,' Lang, and Cook also contested, but *iit 4 feet 11, inches it was leff between Turner and. Collins. The •. • former, how.ev.ef, went an inch higher, and Collins not clearing & feet had to rest satisfied with second place. 10. All-Pours* Steeplechase, 100, yards —entrance, Is; first| £1,; •econd prize." lOs. £? d &- "" X <, ,-Piercy «■ |1. Hop, Step, and Jump— entrance, 2s; prize, £2. ■ Copeland 1 Pirani and Turner both competed, but^ neither could touch 39 feet 5, at whioh^ theorize was taken. Turner, however, - was only & couple of inches behind. 12, Quarter-.M:Up Hurdle Baco, ten hurdles'— entrance, 6s ; first prize, £5 ; second prize, £1 10s. Copeland ..., 1 J, -Davey ••• 2» This was a tight struggle between Cope- " Wdand Da,vey, but at the last hurdle the former, shot' ahead and landed a dinner. 15, Vaulting with the Pole— entranqe, . "• 2a ; prize, £2. - "*• Kitchen - ..- I The winner had provided- himself wrf;h arfiTst-class pole of, his own, with which he cleared ff. feet* 3 inches. Edwards reached tw,o inches, less than that and tken gave m, but )i aving borrowed Kitchen's pole, cleared the same height the same hikht as the winner. ■ 14. Sack Kace, 100 yards— entrance, 1* ; " - first prize, £Jt; second prize, 10a Connor ... 1 Lang 2 '3Jf. Boys' Eace, 250 yards, for boys*4 feet 10 inches and under—entrance, Is ;. first griae, £1 IOs ; second prize, 10s^ Pepper 1> Dawick. ... 2 Hanlon, Montagup, Oeder, and Walter H*yns also- started, but m this, as m tie first race. Pepper had it all his own way. 16. Quarter-Mile Flat Race, handicap - —entrance, ss ; first prize, £5 ; second prize, £1Copeland... ..* ... 1' Braithwaite. ... ... 2« Copeland anii Lacy received 40 yard* ;, .Pirani' and Turner, 50 yards; and and Sheerin, 60. yards. |7. Girls' Race, 100 yard*— first prize, £1 ; second prize, ss. Sarah Montague 1 Charlotte Tricklebank ... 2 18. Tilting at the Ring— entrance* 5s ; s .. first prize, £5 ; second prize, £1 g^ 10? < ¥ Hartley, 1; Moffatt and Porrin tiod for 1 ; but it being dark before finishing they agreed to divide. 19. Quoits — entrance, 3s ; first prize; £3 seeondiprije, £2 O.Key ".:-.. ' '.;. fc " ... % J. Haggie 3 80. ConsoTalion Race, open, to all who have run but have not won during the day — entrance, ss ; first prize, £5; second- prize, £1.; I|hird prize, lOs. ' ' " Turner ..', 1 IJrajthwaite. . ... ... %