TEMPERANCE FETE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2519, 18 April 1881, Page 2

TEMPERANCE FETE.

The Good Templar Lodges celebrated the Easter holiday to-day, by an athletic festival held in the old Show Ground. This is the first occasion on. ‘which Timaru has beeu chosen as the scene of a Temperance fete, and from the success which has attended the demonstration, we presume it will not be the last. A variety of things militated against a large attendance, and when these are all considered the number of visitors must bo regarded as satisfactory. Although the day was a general holida}' it was not na., crsally respected, and many were absent at the Christchurch races, the Oamaru review,

’. ‘and picriicing in the country. The weather was somewhat chilly but fine, and the athletes were able to contest the events under favorable conditions for the ground after the recent rains . was elastic without being slippery. As time wore on the ground' presented a lively spectacle enough, and old and young determined to make the most of the holiday. . ..Two commodious marquees erected by Messrs J, B Witt and Co., near the : North end, contained a tempting display of cakes, pies, fruit, and teetotal drinks. The Temuka brasa.band was in atten dance, and ministered to the general enjoyment by performing a number of popular selections during the da} r The band was about half an hour late in putting in an appearance, having we understand, met with a slight mishap cn route in crossing the Temuka river, in getting temporarily bogged. All’s well that ends well, however and they marched through the main streets to the grounds at about half past eleven, playing merrily and apparently none the worse for their misadventure. The arrangements were of a very Satisfactory nature and everything passed off well, the events being for the most part well contested. The following were the results : 440 Yards Handicap. . T. Organ, scr 1 J. MacKenzie, oyds ... 2 R. Croft also ran, scratch, and was not far behind Mackenzie. Sack Race, 150yds. J. Lawry ... 1 J. C. Bruce... ... ... 2 TA. Pelvin, R. McKnight, and W. C. Busch also ran. This was a Very amusing race. Lawry got well away with the lead and kept it to the finish, Bruce showing up well also. McKnight very soon gave in. The usual amount of tumbling and rolling about took place, the falls causing hearty laughter. Vaulting With Pole. 'T. Dowling ... ... 1 P. Basstian... ... ... 2 J 3. M’Swan also competed. Boys Race under 16, 200yds. W. Hibbard, scr ... ... 1 . A. Williams, scr ... ... 2 J. Harrison 3 Three others ran. Hibbard at scratch ran well, and very quickly went up to first place which he kept to the finish, A. Williams a good second. Easter Handicap, 880yds. : J. Lawry, 10yds 1 . T,.Organ, scr 2 Croft and McKenzie also ran. Lawry soon showed in front. McKenzie went out before half the distance was completed, and Croft soon afterwards followed suit, although ho was running well at the finish. Lawry got in a good first, Organ being a good deal pumped. Time—2min. 25secs. Girls’ Race, under 15, 150yds. Bessie Beale ... ... 1 Charlotte Scorringe ... 2 About a dozen ran. Templars’ Handicap, for Templars only. 150yds. W. C. Busch, syds ... 1 J. McLaren, scr ... ... 2 T. Howley, scr 3 Two others ran. This was a very amusing race, the scratch men running creditably. Boys’ Handicap Walking, under 15 (half mile.) G. McGill, 30yds 1 “S. Double, 30yds ... ... 2 F. Cullman,lsyds ... ... 3