NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 521, 2 January 1878, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY.

CALEDONIAN GATHERING. Yesterday v.as a red - letter day for Oainaru. The weather was characteristic of tlie district, and was in evt-vy respee? all that could be desired. The sun shone brilliantly, and there was a gcntlo sen breeze, whose refreshing coolne/sH, esp"eially at the elevated position of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Grounds, where the sports were held, rendered the day a most enjoyable one both to the contestants and beholders. Nor were the people backward in responding to the inviting weather, for they came in crowds from all parts of the district, and from the north and south beyond it. The train,' 3 running throughout the day and the WaitaUi were as full as they could hold, and the result was that there wen on the ground between 0000 and 7000 people—nearly as man 3' as annually attend on similar occasions in Druiedin, and about seven times the number that were present at the Timaru sports yesterday. Notwithstanding the large attendance, the strictest order prevailed—a circumstance mainly due to the perfect arrangements made by the officers of the society. Out good feature in their good management was the sharpness with which the events were brought on, which had the effect of producing an unflagging interest in the proceedings. There was 110 lack of competitors, and their athletic feats were quite equal, if not superior, to those of previous years. We must not omit to mention that the commodious grand stand erected by the society was duly appreciated. more especially by the ladies and children, by whom it was crowded, and who otherwise would have been unable to view the proceedings. Yesterday's Caledonian gathering was the most successful ever held ill On mar u in every respect, and there can be no doubt that its success is due to the indefatigable exertions of the President (a - Highlandinan to the core), the Secretary, and the Commit tee, who seemed to loge sight of nothing that would tend to make yesterday's festival superior to its predecessors. Tlie- Society's Band, under the able leadership of Mr Pheloung, supplied the music, and the: maimer in which it played a number of appi'ppriately-.chosen pieces reflected great credit upon its members and their band- ' master. The Society's ; pipeiy too,. Mr. '.W. a performer par excellence upon the Scottish national instrument-,; droned "the happy hours away," and: infused life into the dancing -that. could not have been imparted, by any other instrument, not excepting t:ie riddle.. To him was due the success of " the Scotcli danciug, Mr. Sutherland also.performed

outside the "Volunteer Hall during the progress of the dinner in the evening, and, of course, delighted all the Caledonians, and not.a few belonging to other nationalities, who seem to be gettincr radier fond of the weird strains. We <bserved on.t'ie ground two jjpofchsy.which were erect'ecl, under the auspices of t!io' Society, in brder to supply the with the necessary refreshment. One' was conducted by Mr. James Davidson, which lirm dispensed eatables and Good, Templar drinkables, and tile other (a,very large one), bore the name of Mr. Ghllesju the proprietor of the neu'ly-opened Criterion Hotel. Tyne-street. Here could be procured liquid refresh men (s of almost every description. These booths were s • largely patronised during the drtj' that their attendants w«.r« kept continually on the move ; but, nt verfcheless, not a single case of inebriation came under our notice. The following is a list of the various -.•vents : Qrornxu. —First prize, 1.3; second, 1.2; third, LI. A. Balglei.-Ii ... ... ... l J. I 'alglt'isii ... ... ... 2 J. Johnston ... ... ... 3 There were fourteen entries for this ovuit, aim afe a 1 engthened and spirited contest, the result was as given above. Tji.'itV.ViXC j'-[K n.KAVY (r|f» swiiianig) —F'i >® ju:izo, i-.'j; beo-ml, iA 10- ; tidrd, iO3. Siey.iu -i M:!;-h ("< i'fi\ -n ) ... ] I'. Ni l'. i <■>':!. 'i'.ii!.) ... '2 i>. tJii- iiK-r-i \l\ii':. ... :! The only other c.nii;.fiitor was \V. Oi-uuoti, v. !i««se i'siv,- was (i7it. Biu. As will be seen from the above, the competition was very close. Hop, Step, axd Joir.—.First prize, 1.2; secouii, i.l ; third, 10s. K. Lofevrer (iOft. 2i«.) ... ... I. Downes Sin.) ... ... 2 J. Fi-aser (88tt. 2in.) ... ... 3 Eight, competitors took part in the event, the result being as above. PrTTiNG Tin; Hj'avy Ball.—i-'iist nri>:e, L 3; Second. LI 100 ; third, lo '. J. !-!iav-- (33ft. SAiii.) ... ... 1 \V. Ji'Kwraeh- r (3!i"t. GAht.) ... 2 P. -M-IA-ugal (30fr. 9Ain.) ... 3 Five competed for the prizes in this event, and the heavy ball was very we':! handied. ■

BAGnrE Mrsxc.—First prize, L 5 ; sec'-nd,' L2 ji'-s ; thi il, 1,1. There being only one entry for this event, 110 prize was awarded. 1' lax Hack (ISO yards).—First-prize, 1.2 30s; Second, LI 10s ; third, A. Dalgleish ... ... ... 1 J. P. GUiios 2 W. Kice ... ...• ... 3. There were n number of entries fur this event, no Tfess than fourteen coming to the post. The race, was run in heats. Tne coinpttitui'.-; in the first beat were P. IJnssell, • Fras-.r, Twiss, ;aii Howie, who were sen- away to a good start. A cin?e race took place. Itnsfni! winning irfiibont two ynrtU, wish Frasor second. In the' second heat It. Cruitc, J. Patterson, A. D.ilg'eish. and T. Shaw competed, Dalutleish winning tolerably easily, Patterson being second. Six fiteed the starter in the third heat, viz., .J. It. Gillies, \V. Graham. A. Hall, W. Rice. J. Dalgleish. and E. Lufevre. A capital race tool; place, Giilies winning by two yards in front of Rice. The final heat produced an exciting contest, the competitors being ILi;sshll, Fraser, .A. Dalgleish, Patterson, GiJlies and Jiice. The race was a warmly contested one, A. Dalgleish winning very cleverly by two yards, Gillies being second abruit theaanir distance from the third, man (Rice). Tnno\vix<» the Light Ham.mkr (no swing ing). prize, 15 1 0.-j ; second, LI 10s; tliird, 15s. P. JT'KerrcicV*r (89ft. Tin.) ... 1 Stephen Sw th (Soft. Sin.) ... '2 W. Ciaxt«ii (Soft. -tin.) ... ... 3 D, Chalmers (84ft. 7-3if-.) also competed. SeaXNTREUH. —First S.& • second, LI : third, Ids. J. Mnrray, jim., was ths only competitor. Rvnmng Htoh Jurat. —j'irss pvijs-->, 15 10.?; second, LI lus; third, 15s. S O S i e i« a1 ' sfh lin - ••• * Lefevrc ... ... ... ... 3

There were oiglit competitor.", and a close and cxoitiug contest took place, more (.specially between I>»trims and Stephen yiuiti:, both or vi'hmn cleared 3:'t. liii., bnf. fail • 1 !•) g.» iiiiv higher. GVelU'll.-lliy thvy d'.:C-'vl;.d Id divide the iirst and soe-md prizes, Lerovre taking r.'ie third with a jump of n?f. Tohsinc tite- Caber. —First prize, L2 10ss : second, LI ]od : third, lita, W. Claxion ... ... ... 1 •J. Sln'.yv ... ... ... ... 2 Chalmers ... .. ... 3 Stephen Smith, M ; Ewen. and A. Hall also compvted. Some difficulty wsis experienced by the competitors in handling the calier, owing to having to toss it against the wind and it's weight. Afier twice shortening the caber and ch anoint; the position several o? the competitors succeeded in tossing it, the prizes being awarded according to the distance thrown, as above. One Mile Handicap 'Valuing Matcii. First prize. L2losj second, LI 10-;; third, 15s. W. Clixton (scratch) ... ... I Clark (20 yards) ... ... ... 2 P, Grey (40 yards) 3 The only other competitor was Bain, who received GO yards start. After going twice round Clark, Grey", and Bain were ■ill in a cluster, Claxton gradually shortening the distance foetwc.i-n 'himself and the others. Almost immediately afterwards he put on a spurt and assumed a considerable lead. From this time the contost was evidently over, for although Clark made several efforts to get on equal terms with Claxton, the latter proved 'himself unapproachable by the others and won easily* Clark was second and Grey third ; Bain, who had labored very hard, having retired completely defeated. HroiTT.AXn Keep (in costume) —First prize, '■ - LS ; second. LI K'.s : third, 15s. •J,.Sfimtoy, jnn. /?. ... t,. 1 Watson ... ... ••• 2 The other competitors were Enssell and Enn'is' (who entered to.make up the,set). So third pris;3 was awarded. 1 Stanking* H : tc4h Leap.—First prise, L2 ; second, Ll : third 10s. . Downer; (4ft. sin.) ........... ... 1 Little } ' r ; + Lefevre'i, * Six competed, the jumping being started »t;'3ft. lOin. The first to fall out was Brett,. who failed to clear 4ft. 2in. Sim

followed at 4ft. 3Ln.. and Howie a.t 4ft. I 4iii. Downes was the only competitor : who succeeded in clearing 4ft. Sin., and i was awarded first prize. Little and Xefevre having "both jumped 4ft. 4in., j and neither of them being able to go any ; 'Higher, decided,dividg the second and ■third prizes/- v Putting the Light Ball (no drawing).—• First jii-jze, L2ios; second, LI 10s; third,: los. D. f'lialmei-s (3Sic. SAin.) ... 1 . J. Sh tw (3711. 9im.) ... 'Kerraohci'"(.)Cffc. Siii.) ... 3 The other competitors were Stephen Smith, A. Hall, ji'JJougali, and Let'evre. 400 Yards Fj.at IJace.—l-'ir.-t prize, L 3 : second, LI ; third, Jos. J. Fia-er ... ... ... ... 1 K. Leievre ... ... ... ~ A. Uaigieisli ... ... ... 3 Six- computed in this event, which was run m heats. The first heat was >von by (jtdies, with Fraser second, the other competitor being jttnssvll. In tho iiexc neat A. Daigleisii was the winner, LcLvvre second, and iiice lust. Tiie struggle iu the tiiiid iißitc was a very good one. liefevrc went oil with tiie lead at toe start, but was sunn eoiiured by Ifaiscr, who to>/k the lead arid 1 n.-tisit;llll tl id to tiia liuisn, winning oy about. four \ ardx, Lefevre being second, and i>algiei»n, wno iijipe.a'ed to navo made uis eliuri rataer inrv, vns n very close t;uru. C'l" ..lißift. v:<i> siyi.K. First j.e ..-.0. J ee'■ • i It.l. i-j-j 2 ij>. i.a.;; ... ... ... ... I i :: Hall .ias tlw only oii.ui* compelilor. L.uie and J ciu r Wv.ro tiio Jirat couple to compete, ti.o tWrntT tUirowilig tiie latter. Wrigut and Halt occupied some time in attempting to throw each other, but Wrigitt seoivd t:ie threw. Lane ana Wngnt tiien iuul a b:;ut togetuev, Laiis obtaining two throws to- Wrights one, and gaming tuo lirss prize, Wright ob- ' raining second, tiie third being a,.'anted to ieUer. ; i>Esr I Joy in' ili.'iiri-v.vu CWrriiE (unei.il' iij years;.—Fast jji hie, 1 ; se'euuu, i.3j ; thiru, id... James Lyons, of jDuimd'i), was the only competitor, ana was awarded the secunu > jyl'iZj. ' iiiCHLAXo Fj,r_;n First prize, L 3; second, Lii; thud, Li. Watson ... ... ... ... 1 J. jjUi-ray, jail. ... ... ... s llusseil also competed, but no third prize was awarded. Ti;e dancing was exceedingly good, especially tiiat or tiio two ' pfize-t;jkers, bot\\ con Wuyin tiie judges iiad-Bome (.aiiieuity in deciding. the i'oj.r. (.vieii). —i-iivt pri/.u, L 3 ; sots:>!!>i, third, LI. r .(allies .MiUtlj Lili.j... ... I 1 i>. i. aiucr.)ii (:-'it.) ... ... 2 This was one of the bust-con. esled j. even is of the ine lour (.viui.-eti'fcoi s ; went to work vviih a will, aii ox luum ] vallitillg SIK-Ccasfiliiy until the ol i V)tt. was reac.,eo, wuui 0. Be'.tJey and i. r ividdeli lull out, miving failed to vault, cite height. Uauieivil was tile lleXt to iaii. ! i)iL. lui. proving too much for iiim, aim . tiiia height iiaviug been cleared by Janies I iStnitli, lie took the iu'sfc prize, Uiwiwoii being second. iJeiiriey and iiivideii divided tiie tiiiivl prize, j V.-vcLTrsc wrrii t.h.k 1-otE {Boys under JO r yv.-ai'.i. —FiiuC p.-i/.0, Ll io.o : second, Li ; j third, ids. .Suliii -ioiiiiston (7it. tin.) ... 1 Wm. jj'raisus (ij'ri-. liia.) ... 2 C. Sieadiaud iiilc.'lom.) ... 3 Yuiliu,!u Jiihustoii and Robert Aimers , also eoliipeted, 'i'iie vvlioie of tiie buj-s v{Ullted capitally; and a lengthy and intei'esiing took place, 'iiio buys Suirte-d at Oft., and all succeeded in clearing the Jieigois until (iu. Oni. wus reacne-1, ' wneii V/lilitun Johustuu and Li. Ainieis railtd, tiie others vauitmg tne m-igiits us

gtYull «wovo. COO i.ir.D.i ii.'.C'S.—Fit-si; prize, L 3 Jits • .si-c ',A(, L2: Shii-uj LI. A- I'aiyldi-Ii ... ... ... 1 .1, i r...-cr ....... ... ... 2 cii 3 Five cwniK-.ocl, and a capital race took plncv, A. jU.tJgi.-wu proving ma win u-.-r l-y llWllt tivj \ iiIMK, tho Uidt:t;iCo IiUuWCViI InV second ;iiid ciiiru' s»eiug about two yards. ;jwo;:u j 'Ayt i;. Fiv.jc prise, J.I; : :s:.c>>!id, Li t>U third, !50. Throe on tries had bean received for this' tvem:—Mr. J. Murray, jun., 'was t-iio only . one t'j put in iiu appearanco. and w-is awarded t.io first pn:-:e owing to is-vohl-.ecee of iiis Boys' Hack. —Strsi pr'Z-3, iOs ; socmd, 5s : third i.i-:xe, Xe lid. Walter .Suiii-ii . ... .. : i. Jamej iirAvie ... ... ... Jtimus Ai'Kt-i'oii.,... ... ... 3 Over fifty boy.-; carno to tho post for this event, which proved to be one of ihe most iuctTesnng of tho day. T'-.ev were sent away in four batches, tho winner in c!ie first heat Wing won 'by M'Kermn, SmHi boiug second. Second iieat: Walt liivt; tlowie, second. I'fan.l heat: Craiir. iirst ; s; eqiid. Fourth heat ; Keid. lirst ; .flank, second. Tue final heat re•suited as given above, Imsn Hvst prize, L 3 ; second, Li JOs: third, 15a J. Murray, jau. ... ... ... I Keab'iig ... ... ... ... 2 Williams ... ... ... ... 'A Seven entered into competition, but so far as some of them were concerned they mi-ht &i well liave remained out of '-the affair, their dancing being anything but the legitimate Irish jig. Murray's danc-' nig was really .excellent, and there conld. be little difficulty in deciding tho winner of the first prize. J£eating's dancing was also vi ry good'. Tilting.—First prize, T.g: second, L2 • third, LI. Seven entered for this event, and a very good contest took place. Three rounds were allowed to each of the competitors. The scores made were as follow T. Little, 9; J. Henderson; 9 ;. W..Orr, 9 ; Lane. 7 ; Arthnr, 4: Hon'dv, 4; Wright, 1. Little, Henderson, and Orr having tied had another round, when Little and Henderson again tied ami divided the first and second prizes, Orr taking the third prizse,' ' • 400 Yards Hekpms- Back —First prize, L 3 ; second, L2; third, LI. Hurdles, 3ft. 6in. R Lefeyre. : ; „. .... ... -... 1" . •T. Frasei- ... - ... . . ... ... 2 Patterson... . ... ... ... 3 T. Shaw and Howie also ran. The competitors' were sent away to a fair start, Howie -taking the lead at the fiist hurdle, and maintaining it for some time, but was eventually -collared by Lefevre, who cut out the running aj; a rattling pace... The

whole of the jumps were taken capitally, not a single fall occurring throughout the contest. "When nearing. home, Fraser went up to the leading man, and a capital race took place, the result being as given abovs. 100 Yards Sack Race.—Fi-sfc prize, LI ](«; second, Ll ; third, 10s. A. Smith ... ... . ... 1 W. Aitken ... ... ... 2 A. "Wilsmi ... ... ... 3 There were seven competitors ill this event, which caused considerable, amusement, falls and collisions being of frequent occurrence. Rcnsiso i.oxo Jump. —First prize, L2; second, !.l : third, 10s. * Powncs (17 ffc Oin.) 1 Lefevre (17ft ~>ii>.) ... ... 2* Fi-aser ( Kjft. 11 in.) ... ... 3 ITina competed. and some capital jumping was tin: result., the contest throughout being a very close. <ete. Consolation Race (200 yards).—First prize. Ll 10s : second, 1.1 ; third, i'.)s. ■*. V. Hook 1 P. Russell .. ... 2 Graham ... ... ... ... C! A. Wilson, It. Howie, and J. Douglas were the other competitors. Hook took the lead from tiie start and won pretty easily. SPECIAL PRIZES. In addition to the above a number of special prizjs were given, and resulted, as foil r.vs I!n«j>ipe Music—Llo. the «iffc of the President (.Mr. N. Fxeming)—W. Sutherlai'.d. f> -Sv t-aneor its I-l inland C> ttf.tt mo—i;2 2-.. jiivon by Mr. LUttiW—J. Murray. jl'.U. Vaulting with Pole (Men)—Ll, given by Mr. T. Pratt —James Smith. Vaulting with Pole (Boys) first and 10s for second, given by Mr. H. Aitken— First, John Johnston; second, Win. Frame. Sword Dance —L2 2s, given by a Member—J. Murray, jun. THE DINNER.

About 85 persons sat down to the dinner, which tonic place at the Volunteer Hall, at eight o'clock in the evening. The company eomtjvised a large number of ludie.% a circumstance which unbuiced iho pleasure of the occasion. Mr. Keil Fleming (President of the Society) occupied the chair, supported on the right by the Hon. Robert Campbell ami his Worship the Mayor, and on the left hy 8. J5. Bhri>iislci,Ksq., I\l. if.ft.,and the viee-cliairs were filled hy me Vice-Presidents (Messrs. Sinclair and Vv . Bee). The dinner occupied jisno s loss time than is usukll v devoted to public dinners, as till were prepared and anxious for the hall, which was to form a iih asant liu;do to the day's festivity, bnt this was rather an advantage• r.h&n otherwise. No outside toasts were introduced, and those that were propped were treated with rnnc'i-to-lie-d-sired c;m>i<'.'js. Messrs. i/\irr and (Jo. were th*.t caterers. and are <u-v:ryij)/ of sneeial >uo;:ti<iu for the excellence and variety of the good fc dugs with whioii the t.-ib!--ii •very l'liidtd, ami the amp!;; atii-ndano.-. The hall was tastefully dec -vatc-M by xl i ;s. which impacted a livery appearance so desirable on s"?h (hv-jsloiis. lit consequence of a pressure of other matter we are unable in this issue to give a report of else speeelus, some of wliich -ware so important as not to admit of eartaibnenl. The ball was p. great success, and the music, played byMe.-svs. Langdown (\i »li<i), Fiieloiiiig (a irjjer), Coss. r (piccolo), Smith (piano), was rcaliy excellent. During i,he progress of the. bid!, the Society's piper, at the rerpiesi: of the President, played a Scotch reel and a strathspey lit the the excellent siyle which is peculiarly ; .is own.