Athletics.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 76, 14 December 1901, Page 19

Athletics.

Sports meetings on New Year's Day m Wellington hare been of late years conspicuous by their absence. This holiday season, however, the Druids are holding their annual gala and fete on that day, and have prepared a liberal and interesting programme Nominations for the principal events close on Friday next, the 20th instant, at 9 p.m., at Mr. Abel's tobacconist shop, Mannered-street, and, despite many counter attractions on New Year's Day, should be numerous. In the scheduled list of events appear a Sheffield Handicap, with prizes of £10, £5, and £2, Half-mile, of £6, £3, and £1 , Mile, £8, £3, £1 , Quarter, £6, £3. £1 The bicycle races are all open, and a competitor does not need to have a license to ride, or to be a member of a cycling club, to compete, and to give its members 1 an opportunity to be among the competitors the League of New Zealand Wheelmen has granted its riders a permit to take part. Altogether the- gathering should attract numerous entries, and I opine Mr. Bmnie will have a busy tame receiving them next Friday night L McLachlan, the crack runner, arrived in New Zealand on Saturday week. He won altogether five races on the "other side," beating the crack McManus in a challenge race. He has given Smith, the Queensland runner, a good offer to run him in New Zealand It is more than likely tlhat McLachlan will be competing at the championship meeting at Oamaru on New Year's Day. Fred Somers is a likely competitor at Oamaru at the championship meeting, and if a walk is placed on the programme Peter McC-^ll is a sure starter. The New Zealan Association of Caledonian Societies hi made Wellington its headquarters, and at a meeting on Tuesday night it appointed an executive council of seven Wellington reei-

dents to hold office till its next annual meeting, such council to hold regular meetings, and exercise the' control neces%air\ over ca&h running.