Sporting.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 227, 15 January 1876, Page 22

Sporting.

The proceeds of the Caledonian Sports will enable the society to pay off their debt of £7O, and then have a balance in hand.

The Kaiwarra Eifle Yolunteers competed on Thursday for choice of district representatives. The four highest scores were as follows :—Captain Thompson, 81 ; J. Turner, 76 ; Menzies, 75 ; and Aplin, 74. Mr. Hoskins, once lieutenant in a Thames volunteer corps, and the winner of the champion belt the year before last, has not been able to qualify this year, as he is now in Taranaki, where volunteers have become, like the moas, extinct.

At the conclusion of drill on Tuesday, the desirableness of the Wellington Yolunteer Artillery challenging other Artillery corps at carbine shooting, was mooted. The project was taken up con amove, and it was decided to ■challenge every battery in the colony from Auckland to Southland, and approximate dates were fixed for the matches. Each company will, of course, fire upon its own ground. Signs of preparation for the forthcoming regatta are not wanting. Crews on trial, and •crews definitely selected are now beginning to show up, and towards the end of the week quite a fleet of boats will be seen flitting to and fro in the rosy morn and dewy eve. At a meeting of the committee it was resolved to again hold the regatta at Petone, should the weather prove favorable, and Captain Halliday was appointed starter, with Mr. Buchanan as judge. The arrangements for the various sailing races were left to Commander Hewitt, R.N., Captains Hill, Halliday, and Mundle, Mr. J. Stewart, and Mr. Buchanan. The question arose as to whether it would be proper to obtain from the Government, if possible, free passes on the railway line for the use of "boating men from the other provinces, and .after some little discussion it was resolved to make application to the Minister for Public Works for such passes. The rifle match arranged some time since between the Treasury and Audit Departments will come off this afternoon at the Polhill range. Firing will commence at 2 p.m. The following gentlemen will comprise the teams :—Treasury —Messrs. Batkin, McCredie, Smith, Eyton, Meacham, Boughton, Taylor and Davies. Audit —Messrs. Anderson, O'Connor, Halse, Webb, Buck, Roskruge, Palliser, and Churton. There is also a cricket match pending, but owing to the absence of the Colonial Treasurer (the Hon Major Atkinson), who has expressed his intention of handling the willow in the contest, it has been deferred. It will, however, take place at an early date, and will prove to be not the least interesting of the contests between these two departments.

The following entries for events in the forthcoming regatta were made on Wednesday : Pour-oared Outrigger Bace.—Kaiapoi, Thames, Otago, Star Club (Wellington), Wellington Bowing Club. Whaleboat Bace.—Nelson (two crews), Wellington Bowing Club, Star Rowing Club, Wellington (two crews). Fouroared Inrigged Race. —Star Club (Wellington), Wellington Rowing Club, Queen's Club (Wellington), Thames, Otago. Pair-oared Outrigger Race. —Kaiapoi, Star Club (Wellington), Wellington Rowing Club. Pair-oared Inrio-ged Race.—Wellington Bowing Club, Star° Club (Wellington), Westland. Sculling Race. —Woods (Wellington), Turnbull (Wellington), Lennox (Wellington), Ferry (Wanganui), Hearn (Holdtika), Pascoe (Wellington). Yacht Race. —Annie Ogle (Lyttelton), Minniehaha (Nelson), Red Jacket, Xariffa, Esk, and Flirt (Wellington). The Wellington yacht Xariffa, in company with the Annie Ogle, left the moorings at Lyttelton at 1.20 p.m. on Monday under doublereef ed mainsail, single-reefed staysail, and storm jib. The wind falling light whilst beating out of harbor, shook out all reefs and shifted the jib off Godley Head. Cleared the Heads at 5.15 p.m., with the wind from the south-east. Lost sight of the Annie Ogle that night, and spoke her again off the Xaikouras at 6.15 on the 11th. Shortly after, a squall struck her from the southward, when she lost sight of her companion. She then shortened sail to stormtrysail and jib. Towards midnight the wind fell light ; still a heavy sea running. All reefs were then shaken out, and all sail set, and at 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday sighted Cape Campbell light. At 4 a.m. made all possible sail, and steered for Wellington

Heads, which was made at 1.30 p.m. on Wedne»day, arriving in harbor about 4.30. She was received with cheers by those waiting to witness her arrival. The < Xariffa will compete in the forthcoming regatta. The Annie Ogle put in an appearance at an early hour on Thursday morning. She will also compete at the regatta to be held on the 22nd instant.

THE ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS. The second meeting under the auspices of the Athletic Club took place on Saturday afternoon on the Basin Reserve. There were upwards of 1000 people on the ground. The weather was beautifully fine, the course in capital condition, and all arrangements had been made to make the sports a thorough success. Mr. Fisher acted as starter, and although he resorted to the old-fashioned custom of starting with a handkerchief, instead of with a pistol, got the men away on very even terms. Messrs. Mace and Buchanan also gave their valuable assistance. The proceedings were enlivened by the City Rifle Band. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Normanby arrived on the ground at three o'clock, and it was noticeable that there was an entire absence of anything like rowdyism. The closeness of the finishes was the subject of general comment, and this was due to the excellent judgment of the handicappers, who seem to have got the measure of every competitor's ability to a nicety. The 100 yards, 220 yards, and quarter-mile races were splendid finishes. The judges could scarcely separate the first and second. The following are the results of various events :—•

Maiden Plate, 220 Yards.—First heat, Churton, 1 ; Norman, 2. Norman led to the last turn, when Churton put on a spurt and won easily. Time, 28sec. Second heat, Foley, 1; A. Campbell, 2. Foley led all the way. Time, 28isec. Final heat, Foley, 1 ; Churton, 2. Foley got the best start, and won easily. Time, 27£sec. Hop, Step, and Jump.—Avery, 1,38 ft. 9in.; Luke, 2,38 ft. 2in. 220 Yakds Handicap.—First heat, A. Bishop, Byds., 1; Donovan, scratch, 2. Second heat, Park, syds., 1 ; Asher, 10yds., 2. Third heat, C. Webb, syds., 1 ; Nixon, 10yds., 2. Final heat, C. Webb, syds., 1 ; Park, syds., 2; Donovan, scratch, 3. Donovan had the worst of the start, but he and Webb soon made their way to the front, and were close up with Park at the last corner, when Webb put on a splendid spurt and won a good race by one yard and a-half. Time, 26sec. Throwing Heavy Hammer.—Farley, 61ft. 4in., 1 ; Ford, 58ft., 2. 440 Yards Handicap. Churton, 12yds, Ist. Bidmead, 10yds., Hickson, 16yds., Parrington, Byds., and Donovan, scratch, also ran, the two latter running a dead heat, for second place. Donovan got all the best of the start, Churton cutting out the running at great pace, and although Parrington and Donovan struggled gamely to reach him he managed to land his well-known colors first by two yards, amidst great applause. Time, 58sec. Running High Leap. Thompson and Avery tied for Ist prize at sft. Handicap Hurdle Race, 120 Yards.— First heat, Major, Byds., Ist; A. Campbell, 4yds., 2nd. Time, 18sec. Second heat, Bishop, scratch, Ist; Baker, 10yds., 2nd. Time, 17isec. Final heat, G. Bishop, scratch, Ist; Baker, 10yds., 2nd. Tixne, There was a good start. Bishop got even with Baker at last jump and won easily. Major and A. Campbell also ran. Time, 16^sec. One Mile Handicap.—J. Moran, scratch, Ist; F. Harrison, 25yds., 2nd.; Parrington, 15yds., 3rd. Eleven started, and Bennett cut out the running, closely followed by Parrington, but Moran soon began to forge ahead, and at half a mile was up with the leaders; and in another round he assumed his old position (the lead), Parrington in'hot pursuit, and F. Harrison, who had been running very gamely, close up. It was evident that they could not overtake Moran, who seemed in his usual form again. In the last round Harrison passed Parrington after a severe struggle, and took second place. Time, smin. 2sec, which is faster than the running of New Year's day.

100 Yards Handicap.—First heat, Donovan and Black walked over. Second heat, G. Bishop, scratch, Ist; Major, 3yds., 2nd. Bishop just won on the tape by a foot. 3rd heat, A. Bishop, syds., and C. Webb, 3yds., breasted the tape together. . Final heat, G. Bishop, scratch, Ist; A. Bishop, syds., 2nd; C. Webb, 3yds., 3rd. Black, Major, and Donovan also started. This was a very close race, all getting away together. Bishop and Donovan soon began to get through the field, and A Bishop led until ten yards from the tape, when his brother passed him, and won a splendid race by a foot, Webb close up, third. No time taken. Bicycle Race, One Mile. —G. South, 1; Williams, 220yds., 2nd; McLean also started. This was a very tame affair, as South had all the race to himself. McLean's bicycle seems to be too he avy for racing. 100 Yards Consolation Handicap.— Major, 2yds., Ist; Donovan, scratch, 2nd; Boyd, 3rd. Bidmead, 3yds.; A. Campbell, 2yds.; Dixon, 4yds.; Bennington, 4yds.; and Baker, 4yds., also started. This was thought to be Donovan's race, but he seemed to get away badly and could only take second place.

This being the last event, the band played " God Save the Queen," and all made the best of their way home, thoroughly satisfied apparently with the afternoon's sport.