PRINCE OF WALES BIRTHDAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2387, 10 November 1880, Page 2

PRINCE OF WALES BIRTHDAY.

C.Y.C. SPOKTS, TEMUKA. Athletic sports under the auspices of the Canterbury Yomanry Cavalary.were held at Temuka, yesterday, in one of Mr Hay hursts paddocks. The Stewards were—Dr Hayes, Messrs McKay, T. Smith, Nicholson, Lewis, Essery, and Hayhurst,; Judge —Mr John Hayhurst ; Handicapper —Mr Boyd Thomson ; Judges, for Post Practice —Captain Jackson and Sergeant Lewis ; for Sword Exercise, Captain Jackson and Sergeant Scott. Starter—Mr John Paterson. 100 Yards Handicap (open)—First Prize, 50s ; second, 20s. E. S. Smith (4yds) ... 1 R- Guy (3yds) 2 Eight others started. High Jump (open) — First prize, 30s , second, 15s ; entrance, 2s. N. Austin (sft-.in) ... 1 S. Fraser (Ift llHn) ... 2 Four others competed. 120 Yards Hurdle Back —Over 10 flights of 3ft 6iu hurdles. First prize, 70s ; second, 30s, J. Hayhurst 1 W. Wallace 2 Four others started. Murphy fell at the fourth, and Austin at the fifth hurdle.

Heads and Posts (C.Y.C.) Sergeant Scott (16 points), Isttroph}' E. Waddell (10 points), 2nd trophy. Six others competed. Putting- the Weight (161bs) —First prize, 10s ; second, 20s. 11. Frame ... 1 Hapi (a native) 3 Fire others competed. The winning throw was 31ft. 410 Yak ds Feat Pack —First prize, 60s second, 255. E. S. Smith... ... ... 1 J. Hay hurst ... ... 2 There were three other competitors. Time—uSisccs. Penning Long Jump—First prize, 30s; second, 15s. S. Fraser (17t’t lliu) ... 1 J. Tahan (17ft Sin) ... 2 Six others entered. Fraser was declared the winner witli 17ft llin, the second place being awarded to Tahan with 17ft Biu. llai.f-miee Handicap—First prize, 80s ; second, 3os. .1. droves (scratch) ... 1 E. S. Smith (scratch) ... 2 Four others started. Groves came in the winner .by two yards. Poke Jump—First prize, 30s; second, 10s. C. llnshett (Oft O.Un) ... 1 S. Fraser (Bft llin) ... 2 One Mice Walking Race Handicap— First prize, 70s ; second, 30s. G. Rice (scratch) ... ... 1 •J. Mcßratney (40yds) ... 2 Two others competed. Sack Race (100 yards)—First prize, 30s ; second, trophy worth 10s. X. Austin ... ... ... 1 A. Surridgc... ... ... 2 There were live other competitors. Consolation Rack —220 yards. First prize, 20s : second a trophy, worth 10s. ' J. Murphy 1 A. F. Reekie ... ... 2 Four others started. CaV.VLKY SwoliD KXEItCISE, Trooper Cookson ... ... 1 Trooper Waddell 2 There were nine entries for this event. The second man wont correctly through the exorcise, but was considered too slow. THE SEIGE OF TEMUKA. Temuka was the scene yesterday of a lively sham fight in which our citizensoldiers cut a dashing if not a sanguinary figure. The attacking force consisted of the C Battery, X.Z.A., and C Battery Cadets, with their howitzer, the whole being under the command of Captain Hamerslcy. The defending force comprised about half a troop of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, under Sergeant Scott; two three-ponruler guns, threegnns, C. Battery Cadets, under Corporal Allen, and the Temuka Rifles, the whole being under the command of Captain Young.

The boseigcrs left Timaru by train early in the morning, landed at Arowhenua, crossed the Opihi bridge and held the reserve between the railway and main road, pending the arrival of Captain Hamersley with their howitzer. The advanced skirmishers under Lieut. Wardle crossed the bridge in advance of the main body of infantry, commanded by Capt. Jackson, when they were immediately met b}' the outposts of the enemy and a three-pounder gun, and the bugle sounded “ to arras.” The preliminar}' skirmish was short, sharp, and decisive, the defenders, after a gallant and obstinate resistance, beat a retreat, and Capt. Jackson’s men were distributed between the bridge and the banks of the Opihi, where they sought refuge under cover of the willows. In the meantime Lieut. Wardle, hard pressed by the invading legions despatched an envoy supplicating assistance, and thou ensued the great battle of the day, the two forces meeting in active warfare, and fiercely disputing every inch of vantage ground. Although no blood was shed the expenditure of gunpowder was enormous, and the smoke of the rilles grew denser and denser, until the arrival of the howitzer belching forth volleys of lire spread universal dismay among the smaller firearms. The enemy made a terrible onslaught on the big gun, but they had to disperse without their coveted trophy. A series of skirmishing movements, more or less exciting, next took place along the creek and the adjacent fields, and at one time seemed as if every willow and plough furrow concealed a warrior. Fortunately before much destruction was done the gunpowder began to run out, and the atmosphere was allowed to, cool and clarify. The scene of action was changed to the Witohi Flat road. At the bridge the final grand manoeuvre came off, fascines being erected by tiie defenders at the end, and powder burned to conceal the trap. The enemy, however, were saved by a gallant sergeant of cadets, who saw the device, and at the peril of bis uniform removed the obstruction, and allowed the attacking force to cross the bridge. The battle was now virtually in the hands of tho invaders, when Captain Young caused the white llag to be raised ami hostilities ceased. Battalion was formed, and the Ashburton contingent, under Color-Sergeant Dolman, having arrived on the ground took their places with the rest. The force on

parade was approximately as follows : VOLUNTEERS AND CADETS. Officers. Sergts. Rank

Drum- Band- BandsMajor, master, men, C Battery, N.Z.A. .. 1 1 11 Temuka Rifles .. I 1 1C Ashburton .. 1 12 Totals .. 2 3 12 The totals being—combatants, 13(5; bands, 47; making a grand total of 183. An excellent lunch was served in the Volunteer Hall at Temuka. RIFLE MATCH. After lunch a match was fired at the butts between the Timaru and Temuka Volunteers, seven men aside, at 200,300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range, arms to be exchanged at the 300 and 500 yards ranges. The following were the scores > Timaru.

Total for Timaru—294 Total for Temuka—2so Waugh beaded the list for the Timaru Artillery with a score of 62, and Findlay for Temuka with 47. The match was won by Timaru by 44 points. The visitors returned home by the afternoon trains and thus ended one of (be most successful volunteer displays that lias yet been witnessed in this district.

& file. Medical Stall 2 — C.Y. Cavalry .. — 2 18 C Battery, N.Z.A 2 1 23 Do Cadets .! i 2 2(j Tennika Rifles 3 H 2'J Ashburton do — 2 22 Totals .. 8 BANDS. 10 118

200 900 400 000 yds. yds. yds. 9 yds. Thornton .. 12 11 7 Forster .. .. 13 0 8 12 Waugh ., .. 10 10 10 10 Martin 9 11 14 14 King .. 13 11 0 11 Cameron .. .. 17 12 8 14 Partridge .. 11 8 6 7 — — — Totals .. 91 Temuka. 68 04 81 200 900 400 500 Griillths .. yds. yds. yds. yds. .. 10 0 6 ’ 7 Brewer 7 9 14 3 Smith .. 14 0 8 8 Hobbs .. .. 10 10 14 4 Lvvnns .. .. 10 12 4 7 Clench .. 14 0 14 0 Finlay .. 10 9 11 12 — — — _ 80 02 71 41