HOSPITAL FETE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 6, 8 November 1883, Page 3

HOSPITAL FETE.

A meeting of a number of gentlemen inter* ested in the promotion of sports to be held on St. Andrew’s Day, in aid of the Hospital, took place at the Court House last night. His Worship the Mayor was elected to the chair, and opened the meeting by stating its object, viz., for holding sports on St. Andrew’s Day, in aid of the funds of the Gisborne Hospital. Mr Nolan thought the sports ought to be held, as they were not only held in aid of the funds of the Hospital, but the public now looked forward to it every year. The Chairman moved that the sports be held on St. Andrew’s Day, which was carried.

Mr H. McKay, the Hospital Secretary, said he had brought the programme of last year's sports, and thought better to be guided by it.

Mr Jobson thought that a Committee should be formed to draw up the programme. Mr McKay thought this was a Committee. He thought it would be advisable to have the programme drawn up to-night, so as to give the pedestrians good notice for training. Mr Nolan proposed that His Worship the Mayor act as President of the sports, and Mr 8. Locke, vios-President. Mr Piesse proposed that all the gentlemen present act on the General Committee with power to add to the number, on tha under, standing that all the other officers be elected by this Committee. Mr Jobson seconded this.—Carried.

Gentlemen were next elected by the meeting as representing the different institutions.

The following officers were next elected— Messrs McKay and Creswell, secretaries ; Mr E. K. Brown, treasurer ; Captain Winter, starter; Messrs Crawford and Morgan, judges ; Mr Murchie, referee ; Mr G. Primrose, handicapper.

The next business was the formation of a sub-committee to draw up a programme. The following gentlemen were proposed and elected—Messrs Matthewson. Nolan, F. T. Morgan, Quigley, and the Secretaries. Mr Creswell, would like to see the Hospital give some prizes, say about £65 worth. They could not get all the prizes from the public, as the Hospital had only just bad a windfall.

Mr McKay anticipated great difficulty in getting prizes out of the public. Mr Common was against the Hospital giying prizes.

Mr Murchie moved that the same Committee make arrangements for the sports—seconded and carried. Mr Nolan proposed, seconded hy Mr D. Murchie, that Messrs Adair, Murchie, Croll, Pollen, Brown, and Jobson form a committee for the purpose of obtaining prizes. Decided that the committee report next Saturday week as to the result of their canvassing. Mr Boylan said he could not say what the J Battery Band would do until they had been interviewed.

Dr Pollen thought that the committee should do their best to obtain a challenge cup to be won twice in succession. The Chairman thought the Borough Council, in conjunction with the Mayor, might do

Mr Nolan thought that the conditions under which the races were run last year should be the same this year, as those races were such a success.

It was suggested that Mr Morgan be written to asking him to get up a children's concert on the evening of the 30th, same as last year. Mr Piesse said he was certain the children would not perform a, they had just past through a severe examination. After a little fuather discussion the meeting adjourned with a vote of thanks to the chair.

The followng events were arranged by the programme committee after the general meeting adjourned;—Maiden Race, 200 yard, ; Boys under 16, 150 yard, ; Hop, Step and Jump; 100 yard, scratch i Running High Jump; Boys under 12, 100 yards ; St Andrew’s Handicap, Ist event, 160 yard,; Vaulting with Pole | St Andrew's Handicap, 2nd event, 250 yards | Obstacle Race, 300 yards ; Volunteer Race, 100 yards scratch ; Walking Match, 1 mile ; St Andrew's Handicap, 3rd event, 440 yards ; Throwing the Hammer : Handicap Hurdle Raes, 250 yds, 10 flights, 3ft 3in ; Putting the Stone ; Mile Handicap; Tug of War ; Rowing Club Boat Race, two heats. TURANGANUI LIBRARY. A Committee meeting of the above took place last night in the new buildings, when the ordinary business was transacted. Mr Featon stated that he was unable to lay the balance sheet before the committee as all the accounts had not come in yet. Mr Sigley read the following letter : Gisborne, October 31, 1883. To J. Sigley, Esq., Vice-President Gisborne Public Library.

Dear Sir,—ln fulfilment of a promise made some three years, I beg to present the Committee as a nucleus for a future museum a collection of shells found by ma within a radius of three miles of Gisborne. I was first induced to gather them by hearing so many accounts of the barrenness of Gisborne beach, so far as conchology was concerned, and a desire to give a public refutation of so disparaging a charge and that it was no more poverty stricken in that respect than in any other department of nature. I was also influenced by the idea that many would like to know how pleasantly to spend an idle hour redounding in mental and physical benefit, a beautiful decoration to a pleasant home, and an easy and instructive study of the ornaments (to use a mild word) which nature has so profusely showered upon us. Also, I should like by example to show my follow residents the value of collections, hoping that others may contribute, so that in time a really valuable museum of New Zealand and other country products be formed. Likewise if people, instead of .throwing aside as useless, as is too often the case, many things which would' especially in a new country like this, become valuable, or even now though common to them, be very uncommon to others, and in time be altogether lost, would hand them to the care of such an institution a« yours, would aid in building the records of the country, and benefiting mankind.

The collection I offer is by no means complete, many specimens are poor, even broken, and waterworn, but I can only give such as I found, trusting at some future time to Improve it either by substituting better specimens than those at present shown, or by adding—what I confidently anticipate being able to do—other specie. I may say that I have found the beaches on both sides of tha river very fair collecting grounds indeed, and that is borne out by the fact that I have already got 100 species, and trust to be able ere long to add a good many more, at round by Walnut I have already visited once, and other varieties are being daily oast on the beach ] but when it is remembered that out of about 600 marine shells found in New Zealand one sixth at least are found on our beach wo must look upon it as being anything but barren, I need scarcely say I shall be only too pleased to afford any information in my power to any enquirer.—l am, &c, G. Johnstone, Mr ISigley informed the meeting that Mr D. Johnston of Nelson had kindly forwarded a collection of mineral products of Nelson district, which he had presented to the Library museum through the agency of Mr D. Johnston, jun., of this town. The collection will prove a most interesting addition. There were nine applicants for the position of Librarian, the successful one being Mr Hamblett at a salary of LI perjweek.