CALEDONIAN GAMES AT GABRIEL'S GULLY, TUAPEKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 47, 9 January 1862, Page 2

CALEDONIAN GAMES AT GABRIEL'S GULLY, TUAPEKA.

C Communicated).

. Only shorty before the commencement of the .present year, a few gentlemen met together and discussed the desirability of celebrating New 'Year's Day with suitable games and sports. ■A working committee was at once appointed, a prograuimc of sports issued, and general arrangemeuts were made for the successful carrying into effect of the intentions of the meeting. A piece of ground most singularly adapted by nature was chosen, fenced ifl, and otherwise "fixed." It rained allnight, bnt towards the morning of the Ist the sky cleared, and the day promised to be fine ; it continued to be so until about 2 p.m, when it commenced raining, and rained with little or r.o intermission for the remainder of the evening. During one portion of the day there could not have been less than 4000 diggers present, and : jl,more orderly concourse of people could not anywhere be found. Major Croker, the Commissioner, ivhi) :kindly consented to be president of the games, was" present during the whole day. The competition was keen, and the competitors more • nin:ie)cms than ever I have seen in Australia. The sports commenced at 11 a.m., and were uninterruptedly carried on till evening. The day's amusements commenced with throwing the heavy hammer, for which there were eight eufries. : Throwing Heavy Hammer, 18 lbs. First Prize, £a ; 2nd do., £3. —James Cameron, Ist prize; 72 feet, 1 inch. Donald Cameron, 2nd ;69 feet, 4 inches. • - Throwing Light .Hammer, 14 lbs. Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd do., £3.—Donald Cameron, 93 feet, 4 inches ; Malcolm M'Phail, 89 feet 4 inches. Heavy Stone, 21 lbs., 12 competitors ; Ist prize, £5 . 2nd do., .£3 lbs.—William Paul, Ist prize. 28 feet 6 inches ; James Cameron, 2nd do., 28 feet 4 inches. - Light Stone, 18 lbs., 13 competitors : Ist prizp, £5-, 2nd do., 3 lbs.—Lachlan M'Phail, Ist. prize, 35 feet 4 inches ; James MAdam, 2nd do., 34 feet 8§ inches. Tossing the Caber, 15 competitors ; Ist and only prize, £6. —Lawrence. This game was very hotly contested between Lawrence and Haig, the latter being the first to overturn the ponderous log of wood, but Lawrence in his turn threw it quite as well as Haig. The contest being now between them, Lawrence took the " stick" and tossed it fairly over. Haig, after throe attempts, being unable to come up to his opponent, left him champion of the Caber. The Judges for the foregoing games were Messrs. M'l£enzie, M'Gregor, and Clark. ; There were also some well contested foot races and leaping, sack races, &c.