SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 7

SPORTS.

Though left entirely to chance and uncertainty, Wellington is never altogether without a properly organised athletic meeting on Easter Monday, which, of course, was a red-letter day in the month just past. The fact of Wellington being provided with abundant sport of the Icind is perhaps the natural result of being provided with a fine recreation ground—which, by the way, might be made much better. Be this as it may, the newly-formed Athletic Club—which has absorbed into its focus nearly all the youth of the city, and is therefore well and securely established—determined to avail themselves of the Basin Reserve and provide the public with a day's amusement, having at the same time an eye to the main chance, their object being to provide the nucleus of a fund to give the society a fair start. In all respects they were successful. The weather was favorable, and there- were 2500 people on the ground, amongst whom wore the Marquis and Marchioness of Norraanby. The inaugural meeting gave the club a prestige which, it is to be hoped in the interests of legitimate athletics, it will maintain. There was a complete abandonment of all the tomfoolery which has somehow or other become associated with “old English sports” in the colony, such as “rolls and treacle,” “ climbing the greasy pole,” “ blindfold wheelbarrow races,” and so on. The programme was framed on the basis of some of the athletic clubs of England, and comprised foot-racing, walking matches, hurdle-races, and jumping. The events were notable for the fast time attained, except in the walking matches, and the closeness of the contests. On the whole, the Athletic Club derived considerable pecuniary benefit, and a large amount of welldeserved praise for the plucky and businesslike manner in which the proceedings were conducted throughout.