CALEDONIAN GAMES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 2, 3 January 1870, Page 2

CALEDONIAN GAMES.

New Year's Day was kept as a general holiday, and at an early hour numbers of persona were to be Been flocking towards the ceutre of attraction, the Botanical Gardens, whicli were gaily decorated with flags, an arch of evergreens having been erected over the principal entrance, bearing a scroll with the Scotch Thistle and motto Nemo me impune lacesset. Shortly after ten, the proceedings commenced with a somewhat tame attempt at dancing the Highland Fliug, tho musical accompaniment being played on the violin, which was a matter of some surprise to many, as a piper was in atteudauce. The programme not being strictly adhered to, the next performance was on the horizontal bar, aud this was without exception, the best contested and most interesting of all the sports. The tilting in the ring was a dechled novelty in Nelson, and attracted a large crowd, but in our opinion it lasted rather too long, aud became somewhat tiresome, as was shown by the gradual dropping off of the. spectators. We regret to state that at the conclusion of this game a serious accident was caused by the careless riding of two young men, who started off round the small course, at a gallop, and their horaes taking fright bolted into the crowd, knocking down a young woman of the name of M'Kenzie, aud breaking her leg below the knee. A stretcher was at ouce procured and the unfortunate sufferer conveyed to the hospital, where, we are glad to learn that she is now progressing favorably. This accident threw a gloom over the proceedings which up to that time had passed off without the slightest accident. On the whole, the Committee, who are deserving of the greatest credit for the energy they showed throughout the day, may be congratulated on the success which attended their first attempt to introduce these sports into Nelsou, there is one suggestion, however, we would wish to offer, namely, that on a future occasion, some kind of Grand Stand should be erected, where the ladies and children could sit aud view the games; a small charge for entrauce would cover all the necessary expenses. ' The piper was not quite what we should have wished, or perhaps we should rather say that it was his instrument which was at fault, its size and power being very limited; the Nelson band, however, which played at intervals throughout the day, enlivened the proceedings greatly, and there were few on the ground who did not thoroughly enjoy themselves. Of course the sports were not confined to those which appeared on the programme, but danciug, kiss- in-tbe-ring, and other such fascinating recreations formed a large part of the day's amusements, and we are sure we are expressiug the wishes of the Nelson public in saying that we hope these New Year's Day Sports, will become an established institution. We give below the programme together with the names of the successful competitors :— Dancing : Highland Elmg — Entry 55.; lst prize £i ; 2nd Prize, £1. For this, Chittenden was the sole candidate, and fo him was the first prize awarded accordingly. Broadsword Exercise — Entry, 55. ; lst prize, £'2 ; 2nd prize, £1. Augarde, 1; Dickens, 2; Barnes, 3. Gillie Callum, or Sword Dance— Entry, 55.; Ist prize, £2 IOs.; 2nd prize, £1. Donaldson, 1; Simpson, 2. Gymnastics : Feats on the Horizontal Bar — Entry, 2s. 6d.; lst prize, £2 10s.; 2nd prize, £1. Chisholm, L; Street, 2. Two others competed. The acrobatic performances on the horizontal bar, which were under the superintendence of Mr Brind, were something astonishing, some of the competitors having apparently left all their bones at home for the day. The next time a Circus in want of acrobats, visits Neison, we shall be able to give the highest testimonials to some of the gentleman we saw on the ground on Saturday. Dancing : Hornpipe— Entry, 55.; lst prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £1. Scott, 1; Chittenden, 2. Vaulting with Pole— Entry, 2s. 6d.; Ist prize, £1 ; 2nd prize 10s. James Hill. 7ft Bin. 1, J. W. Taylor, 2. Three others entered. Putting the Stone, 22lbs.— Entry, 2s. 6d.; lst prize, £l IOs.; 2nd prize, 15s. W. J. Taylor, 28ft 2in, 1; J Robertson, 27ft Sin, 2. Ten others competed. Do, do, 9lbß. (for Boys under 15 years)— Entry, 6d.; lst prize, 10s.; 2nd prize, ss. S. Nellis,2sft lin,l; A. Scott, 2. Six others competed. Tossing the Caber— Entry, -2a. tid.; lst prize, £1 10s,; 2nd prize, 15s.

Lines, 1 ; McMurray, 2. Two others entered. Velocipede Bace : Heats, twice round CourseEntry, 55. ; lst prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £1. T. Wimsett, 1, 2, 2; H. Wimsett, 2, 1, 1$ W.M'Gee, 3,3,0. A protest was entered by M'Gee, on the grounds of a cross, but we have not yet heard the decision of the judges. " Flat Race : ODCe round Course— Entry, Is.; Ist pri7e, £1 ; 2nd prize, 10s. J. Hill, 1; Lines, 2. Eleven competitors. Flat Eace (for Boys, under 16 years)— Entry, 6d, lst prize. 10s.; 2nd prize, ss.' Neliis, 1 ; Adams, 2. Three-legged Bace for Boys— Entry, 6d.; lst prize, los.j 2nd prize, ss. Tregea and Leaper, 1 ; Adams and Dement, 2. Four pairs started. Tiltinsr in. the Ring— Entry, 7s. 6d.; lst prize, £5 ; 2nd prize, £2. Field, 1 ; Lines, 2. For this there were twenty-two competitors;, none of whom appeared to Ye au fait at their work at first, the rings remaining untouched for several rounds. Gradually, however, an improvement became visible, and the contest ended by Field taking five out of the six rings. Quoits — Entry, 55.; Sweepstakes, with £2 added. Six Entries. W. Hale, 1; Sadd, 2.