ANNIVERSARY FETE

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 68, 24 January 1846, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY FETE

On. Thursday the sixth anniversary of this settlement, was duly celebrated with the accustomed sports and festivities. The weather during the earlier part of the week had been wet and unfavourable, and at, one time it was feared would occasion a postponement of the amusements. The wind was high and the morning had a moist unpromising appearance; but as the day advanced the weather cleared up, and towards the afternoon it became quite clear and settled. " The day's amusements commenced with * rowing match between the following boats : — Capt. Casper's George Capt. Eyton's Wave Mr. G. Young's Tricolor. This match was gallantly contested by Capt« Eyton's boat mahnedby whalers belonging to the shore parties, and Capt. Casper's boat manned by a picked crew from the French whaler George now in harbour ; the French boat was successful beating- their opponents by 45 seconds ; this victory was the occasion of another' match which came off on the following day. The sailing match was ' postponed to the dayjfpUQwing.^. Hurdle Race — Gentlemen Riders. Mr. Hunter's Temperance, Donald €01. Wakefieid's Old Beau, Ped<?er Mr. Loxley's MorntegStnr; W*tt The horses took the first fence very well, but the leap over the water which was wide and deep, was more than they could accomplish ; they contrived however to scramble, through the brook ; Old Beau and Morning Star refused the other leaps and Temperance walked over the course. • : • In the hack race seven horses started, and Dandy came in winner, easily beating his op--nents. After the hack race, a race was got up between maori riders. This was one of the most interesting races of the day, and created a good deal of excitement, particularly among the natives, \yho attended in great numbers, and appeared to enter with considerable zest into the spirit of the amusements. Tommy Rauparaha rode his own horse with great spirit, and won easily, to the delight of his countrymen. The mule race also was, a very interesting one. Four started, but the contest lay chiefly between Mr. Bethune's Buenavista, which was the swiftest, but rather obstinate and inclined to iave its own way— and Mr. Moore's Betty, which kept steadily to its work and won easily. On the second day there was a race between the. French, and' English crews, the French crew pplling the English boat, having'given their own in -exchange^ to- the English crew*, the match was for £50 to; £25 in favour of the- English. This was s trial of strength between the men, and it is but fur to add was won easily by the French crew, who com--pletely distanced their opponents. ' A sailing match then came . oft .between, .the following boats j-~ - r * , ' i ■ . , . ■ ' Capt. Sharp* Fidelt Mr. J. ForsterV . Hippy Jack Mr. W. Johnston's -^City of London My. A. Hewett's Polly Thereafter was very favourable, and the match was easily w^nT by the Fviele.^ Mr. Forster's Happy Jack -was second, but at a considerable interval,- the other' boats' were completely beaten. ' There was also a race between Mr. Hickson's seven-oared boat Flying Fish, and Mr. Bell's Mmma, which was won by Mr. Bell's boat. The races for the Beaten Stakes came off but poorly. The Hack Stakes were won by Atana, (the maori name for Satan) a horse belonging to a native ; in the second heat Satan walked oyer the course. Several private matches added to the day's amusements,

•ad c^'me off witH, various gucceas— «nd the Rural Sports concluded the daya diversions.' In these, the principal amusement .appeared to be the struggle for the geese, which, were dead and suspended to a pole with , soaped necks; for these there was several candidates. : I Balls and other diversions took place on the evenings of both days, and every one appeared, to enjoy their, holidays. The attendance on the ground, though numerous, was not so great as we have witnessed on previous occasions, and we believe that, the sports terminated without' the occurrence of any accident.