THE MAKAREWA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 64, 27 October 1864, Page 2

THE MAKAREWA.

When all the passengers had arrived at the Makarewa River, the scene became ono of tho liveliest description. Such, a crowd of people never before assembled in any one given spot in Southland, and the banks of the darkly flowing Makarewa (Dark-water) furnished an agreeable contrast to the dullness and monotony of life in its capital at the present time. The day was still favorable ; and by degrees picnic parties wero everywhere to be. seen around, while others were bustling about, continually watching the sport 3 provided by the Committee of Management, and whiah furnished so much amusement to all. By and bvo the school children were mustered in circles* on tho banks of the river, and then they wero treated to a feast of buns, cakes, tarts, &c,, &c, dealt out gratuitously by the liberal hands of Mr. Jones, of the Southland Club Hotel." This scene was really a most ..enjoyable one, and the youngsters appeared thoroughly to appreciate the .treat provided: for them. After discussing their buns, &c, ginger-beer and milk were likewisehanded round in plentiful supply, and ample jus-' tice was done to all the good things set beforo them. The Committee of Management were entertained afc another part of the grounds, by Mr; Jones, and hove the. healths of Mr. .Davies and Mr. Jones himself were clvanfc with the greatest enthusiasm.- Everything progressed in tho most satisfactory manner, and the day, though still slightly marred with fitful gusts of whid, kept up wonderfully, to the intense satisfaction of every one. A goodly number of tents and booths were on the ground from Invercargill and elsewhere, and all appeared to .be .driving a roar-, ing trade. Aa the afternoon ...wore on, and the excitement became niora intense,. ,., we observed: sundry parties at convenient distances from the crowd, enjoying a dance on the green banks of the, river, while others again joined with great- spirit in the exhilarating old game of football. It was evident that ono and all that day had gono to the Makarewa , to amuse and enjoy themselves to the utmost,; ; and. no circumstance has been reported to us of any accident or other contretemps occv-vrin^: on the grounds during any part: pf the day., \W© observed, wo might here .mention, that - ; a.. considerable number^of visitors appeared 611 the l eccrtb who "had « come from ilro surrounding districts on horsobaok, while many

had also in like manner, journeyed fromT Inrercargill in vehicles and on'horsebackj/who preferred' to avoid the bustle and excitement of an excursion train. -V. -. v> ." THE SPORTS. , , -- \ The following is an account of the sports, Ni^bichy commenced shortly after one o'clock, and ws» mosfc- spiritedly and successfully carried out. lay- the, stewards appointed for the purpose '.7— 1/ TBAVELMK©. , iAXOITQ- HOBlZqira^;, JtaEß ... ?£O£, JECTIN& OVBB BIYEB. This sport was entere^ into with great'zest by : both competitors and^ spectatdrs,' ; wlitf; crowded the surrounding ground on either -side of -the. river, arid the densely^packed, throng- on-the bridge itself lent additional ammation to the ; scene. The pole*— a freelstrippedjbf it3}ba"rk-f-prbjected : .hqri-r Jzontally over, the? river nearly half. way^wliich atr Uhis ijlacewili.'be.irom-Sp, to; 40 yards from, bank^ jto bank. A banneret "was attached to the end of 'the pole, and the competitor : who walked along and succeeded in suat ching it was entitled to the prize. r - ■' Several irien entered the lists and secured? it ; not one, however; escaping ifrom alright good> plunge into the river. -As— each, man suddenly cl utehed - at tlie banned • and immediately thereafter went headloiig'intoithe : . watery tile f hilarity and cheering- 1 waxed more • and more ; intense, till the surrounding • • forests • rang. . again <:• with- • the echoes of many hundreds of merry voices. ,- The first man who- ■ accomplished . the. . feat jwas Q-: G-ord,' who therefore • claimed . the,' Committee's prize of £2 2s. Several -prizes more of similar amount wei'e* afterwards won,' asfollows ' ?.,- Gr. (iord, (Coinmiftees' Prize, £22 0) 7/;; ./I , Samuel, Morton (£2 2,0) -.:. : .... : 2 John Cameron- (£22"0)" ;:;;." . .:; . .'. 1 ..... :'■■/. ■ '■■ 3 : ./ Considerable, amusement was likewise .caused by this sport. . Several persons stripped" and ; took the : water in .good style, but ,r,the. [duck ,on each occasion, . although' pretty . well up in diving and eluding the ; grasp ,. of:,, its;, : pursuers, was quickly caught. . . . The Committee's prize" of £2 2s. was/wonbyT. M'G-owan. ; ; ,:■ .•.. ■ .;'j M'Growan, (duck) caught: by Henderson : ■ -.■• ■ £2 2s. ...:.. .....:.^.:....::ij:.w. i \. :..:i... l'> 1 Henderson, (duck) caught- by Brown ...•.■•■-,' I £2 25... ....;.....-. 2 I Henderson and Brown thus each' winning £2 2s. 3. — CllMßlira GBEASY FOIiBi ; For a long time this feat baffled all the atempts of the competitors to reach the summit. It was., however, at length accomplished. : Freeman, (Conimitee's prize, £2 25.) 1 - 4. — men's 'httbdlb race. For this, race there, were eight entries, the distance to be run being 400 yards, and over eight flights of hurdles, each three feet high. ..Some capital running, was displayed, but it was evident from the start that Stapleton, a tall, strapping fellow, was too much for the others, as he. came bounding along at a tremendous pace, to the great admiration of the spectators, and coming in to the winning post with a lead of twelve or fifteen yards. Stapleton, (£3 38.)...,.... 1 Simmonds, (£2 25.) 2]/. 5. — SACK BACB. . This was. a well .contested race, and created much merriment. The ground, however, being very uneven, operated much against the speed, as great caution had to be observed to avoid tripping. Simmonds, (£1 Is. od.) • •••• 1 Hanan (£0 10s. 6d.) .... 2 The hurdle race for Hacks did not come off, it being found impossible to get suitable ground and hurdles for the occasion. A great variety of other games and sports were entered into, .and every, one appearea to enjoy himself to the utmost. The stewards of 'the sports were Messrs. John Hare, Win. Livesey, Wm. Moffat, F. Hamilton, W. M'Culloch, W.H. Bray ton, J. R. Carey, H. E. Osborne, T. Conner, A. Sayers, Isaac Broad, and J. Stock. ..;. As the afternoon wore on,, the whistle of the locomotive was sounded for the return trip of the children's train, and" punctual to the appointed hour — half-past three o'clock — the crowd «f youngsters were huddled into the carriages, and, in a ihort time thereafter, safely landed on the platform at Invercargill. A small private train of Mr. Davies' followed shortly afterwards, conveying some personal friends and a few of the mem- ' bers of the committee of management. At halffive o'clock another crowded train left the Makarewa for Invercargill ; but_ before it returned the clouds, which had for a short time worn a threatening ' aspect, with the wind changed from the north-west into a westerly direction, began to pour forth their contents in a continuous and heavy shower of rain. This had a rather discouraging effect on those who remained for the return cf the train, which, however, arrived in good time. Now, however, came the only contretemps which occurred during the whole' of this eventful day. When all the carriages were filled, it was found that the rails had become so slippery with the rain and with the clay which the feet of the multitudes of people passing along them from time to time deposited, that the wheels of the locomotive- could not act' properly, and the result 1 was that the train had to stop short at the commencement of the heavy incline which occurs on this part of the line. The gradient here is 1 in 90, ■ ■• but, notwithstanding this, and the slippery condition .of the rails, we are informed that had there, been a supply of sand at hand— which it is customary On all lilies to : havc in cases of heavy rains — there would have been no occasion for any delay. We are. reminded of several similar cases of delay j inter alia, at the Sunbury Bank ftfc the opening of the Mount Alexander line, in Victoria, where the train was delayed for four hours under precisely .similar circumstances. This line, however, i 3 an iron railroad ; and we dare3ay, many of our readers will recollect many instances of trains being detained in the home country from similar causes. However, all that now can be done is to regret .sincerely the inconvenience caused to hun-, dreds of people who were compelled to remain hind for several hours— andmany of themthe whole night through— in consequence of this unfortunate and totally unforeseen 6ccurehee. : A portion of the train arrived at Invercargill about half-past eleven o'clock at night, while many walked the distance into town,' in preference to "camping but," and the remainder were brought in by train the following morning.-! Mr. Davies, throughout the entire day, kept liis station on the engine, and displayed the utmost solicitude for. the safety and comfort of the excursionists under his charge. Great praise is also due, to Mr. Marchan t, the railway en'gmeej'j for the interest he took, and. the watchful anxiety he uisplayed to prevent accident of any sort. To these; gentlemen, in combination with the persevering attention and self denying spirit exhibited by the committee of management during the entireday and evening, may be fairly, assigned the wonderful ' circumstance that not. the slightest accident to. either life/ or limbyoccnrre'd;. and.; so far, the. opening demonstration is to: be regarded in the light of a complete success. .. , " „ . . ". >..":. : ; = , ,■■;.. ,; ■•,,'. THE -:BALL/ ; ..,;,, './'.., }i .-. ■„ '" : In consequence of the detention of the : Prpviucial Brass Band at • the Makarewa, the ball which w-s5 toihave taken place at; the Theatre Royal, did not come off, notwithstanding 'the Committee did all, they could T under. the r circumstances to keep faith with; 'the public. They have arranged, as we have elsewhere announced,- that it will come off this evening at the same time and place,' and there can, be little doubt but tßis" wind :up " to the public opening of I the Greti wiil be , such as to entirely satisfy those who 'participate in the evening's \enjoymentsy an'd 3 to bo alike, gratifying to "th6se" ; gentleii4_eri ; '"'whb 1 -''havp taken, /from the outset, such , a' deep interest in all the. proceedings. ' ". ' ';;'. ;/; "" : .' '-''; //^''^j . {.

" Didn't you gu&rfantcc, sir, that this horse would not shy before the firo of an cnomy ? " "No more ho wou't. 'Tisn't till after the fire that he, shies." If you want knowledge, read the newspapers — not merely one, but soveral ; when business preBBCB, bo dilligent ; when your wife acolda you, hold your tongue.' - \ ■ - ' >Why should the highest, applo on |a -iareo b© a good one P— Because it's a tijp-tap.

[ An inquest waSfheld iytwterdayy at tyro o'clock:: j p.m., in the Melbourne ::Hotel, Dee-street, before j ! Dr. Deck, ~'coKJner, r; touchmgv&e jbpdy of » Alfred^;!! j Glassoot, whdncame'by,, liis^ death iirliile. employed W;JS 'on the engine ok the Oretil Railway, on Monday " j afternoon last. - ""^V. j The jury being duly sworn, tho following cvi- ! denes tras adduced :— "~ ....— ---„.. j ,£ i. Jonn^avjes, rengme-dmeiy depoaed.-rl iraa driving' the Lady- Barkly/engine afc£tho time .the -,|^ident^appjn&i^.^Wejßrere^going up the line, after^arag"TraSrVd*flie r: engmV'^t"''ffie i 'watern^^ •place on the othi&r^Bidejof^the/V^aiM-virßridg©. -After starting fi'omtliis place, we had" proceeded between 300 and 400 r yards r when» the accident happened. I did" riot see J Giasscbt 'get upo n the jengine afer.watering. _ r l".did 7npt see him again Itiil he was'deadV ' 'We were : riot%bing\ beyond-fivo miles atf hour. ; After a the man cried' "Stop," We. , did not; go ten yards. T Wfc t : si»pped"quicHy to .se^; ' what was' : . wrong;' . ; He ' liad ' been v ' hardly^ ready^ to f''get"''^:dn >>;! the' : - > '^gmef;::''when;'i4t^fstarted. "^e ; ;went . on slowly^' ! and'-r : dp not think there' is any danger ; m Jgettmg up on ;i ak engine going at'that speed.' Deceased liad : • been nearlyCfiteif eek's "einiplbyedon tiie? engine, assisting .-ine!^; I haye-,cautioned him many times on his carelessness, 'Wet iaye had- Jtd reverse the enfrec[uently when he had "been" amongst" the trucks. Ido not -Enow "any tiling "of "the" manner" " ihiWhichthe his^death.- ■.. ; - /^?- v- ' By Foremau.^-He came dbwn iroin 'the tank ~ by aplaiik. >Ther3.is^n6Jdangerrin £hi3;^l "; '■■•'■ By the Coroner. — The body was, found the rails. I did not ' seb whether he 1 had been carried far. He r was,quite "dead.,.; There was no brake on the engine.'^ : " J :li '.•"-}.'• r J : ->- '■'■■ ! John Kingßland,'!.deposed:as;<follows :rr-I am a boptinaker,- rssiding in-Invercargill. I was,present, v when the jiccideiit in question took' place. I hare v seen thctbtfdy,-and- identifiedat.l staying some few minute^ at the tank on the other side of the Waikiyi r ßridge.. f T.he, deceased was at the tank, and 'there > being a' hole '--dn- the bottom, of it (there being no hoseat that time) he had to h.6ld,lus Laiid oyeir it :till;-3;lie strain passed. Ho then came down and caught Jthe train up somo few yardson. . He^camejup and fieatedl liimself in the end of the truck nearest the. engine, with' i kis feet vesting on tlie. buffer. vHei-reinained seated j thus for some 200 or'3o6:yards.^ 'My- atten'eion ! was drawn .to him , from . seeing lum : gradually t sliding down, and at the /moment I thought ha was doing something ; to^ the ; truck. I observed j him suddenly grasp at, something, and.he seemed for a monent to hare got 'a hold, wheii, in a I 'frightened, tone he called-out," stop !,'.', and then | suddenly dropped down. We called to the engineer, and he "- turned off the steam immediately; : Just ? jafc ; : this \; time I felt a jerk just as if we were passing orer something. - ' I afterwards "saw blood on the ; guide-wheel, of ■■> that . truck; ; , I got out of the ,car,riage with others. The body was laying head down the line, being turned "completely over. He lay on the near side of -the ; line., I cannot account for the manner. in r which he fell down. I noticed ! there was a little 1 oil on the -buffer. I made a ' mark where [the r engine Btopped, and found the ' body had been dragged about 25 yards, and also that the cross bars of the guiding wheels had dragged it about 15 paces, f . By a Juryman.-^He was sitting there while we going 250 to 300 yards. He could easily have got into our truck. Thetrain was increasing in speed as we went on. •' ? '- - ■ '-I.:■1 .:■ \ ■Dr. Yoimg deposed.— l am a doctor of medicine, residing . in ; Invereargill. I!saw the ;body of the deceased after the accident. He was. dead when I saw him. The skull Was smashed, front and back. He must have .been killed at once. Thomas Townsend G-lasscot deposed— l am a wharf arid Custom-house agent. ■■ I have seen the body of the deceased. I identify the body as that of my son; His name was Alfred Thomas.- -H^ was in his seventeenth-year."' This was all the evidence adduced. The jury after.retiring for a very short time returned a verdict to the effect that— " The deceased met his death by falling accidentally from a truck beneath the train wMlat in motion."