WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY FETE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 51, 24 January 1843, Page 2

WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY FETE.

The third, anniversary festival to commemorate the establishment of this Colony was held yesterday, the 22d happening on Sun,day. We are only able to give a brief account of the amusements of the day in our present publication. In the Sailing Match seven boats started, and had to beat against a strong north-wester

round the Indemnity moored off K’ai Warn*.'and back to Te Aro. Near the conclusion of the sailing match, one of the competing boats upset; fortunately no lives were lost. The boat called Happy Jack' .built by Mr. Geo. Allen, of this place, came, in first, and Mr. Houghton’s City of London; ’.second, which was the favorite before starting; , and the Fidele third, which had an accident that threw her behind or she might have been the winning boat. The Rowing Match was likewise won by Mr. Geo. Allen’s boat in good style. The Horse Races excited a great deal of interest, and, to speak the truth, we have seldom seen any better contested (we do not refer to the horses). There were three heats. First Hkat. Maieppa, first by half a neck .......... Guyton. Temperance, second Wade. Black Billy, third.. Virtue. Old Beau, fourth Watt. Calmuc Tartar, distanced Skipworth. Second Heat. Temperance, first by a length Wade. M&zepp, second Guyton. Old Beau, third ■. Watt. Black Billy, fourth Virtue. Third Heat. Temperance, first by a length and half.. .. Wade. Mazeppa, second Guyton. Black Billy, third Virtue. Old Beau, fourth Watt. In addition to the above, there were one or two hack races got up. The Rifle Match, at 50 yards, was won by Mr. Moore ; 100 yards by Mr. Suistead; 150 yards by Mr. Crawford, who struck the bull’seye. The rural sports, we believe, went off satisfactorily, but we do hope the sport of catching a pig with a soaped tail will in future be omitted, as we understand the poor animal was literally torn limb from limb. There was a canoe race with the natives which excited very great interest. There was also a trial of skill amongst a nnmber of them as to the quantity of flax which could be dressd in a given time, hut we are unable to give the name of the successful competitor, as the award was not made when we went to press. The amusements of the day were closed with a native war dance. The weather was very favourable and a large concourse of people were assembled, and the greatest unanimity prevailed throughout the day.