ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1187, 18 December 1883, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE.

The 16th of Decenber this year falling on a Sunday, the anniversary of the settlement of the province was kept np yesterday. The principal events of the day in the Temuka and Geraldine districts were the demonstrations of the United Sunday School children—that at Temuka including all the schools, and that at Geraldine being the United Presbyterian Sunday Schools, to which however, the children of every demonstration were invited and welcomed. Both were immense successes. In the evening a concert under the auspices of the Brass Band took place in the Temuka Volunteer Hall, and was fairly patronised. In Timaru the Tradesmen’s Races in the daytime, and the Flower Show in the evening, were the chief amusements, and were both extremely well patronised, the latter being crowded. The day was beautifully fine and warm, and just suited for holiday making. THE TEMUKA UNITED SUNDAY SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION. The children taking part in this eagerly looked forward to demonstration gathered at their respective churches about 10 o’clock a.ni, llcie they were briefly addressed as to their behaviour during the day, and shortly afterwards were all marched to the market reserve, where the procession was formed, the children marching four or five abreast. First came the Bevs. T. A. Hamilton, P. Wills, and D. Gordon ; next the Temuka Brass Band ; next the Banner, carried by two Sunday scholars, on which, was to be seen in large letters “Temuka Sunday School Union.”

Following these cama the children—the girls in front, ani the boys following—to the number of about 600, or more, carrying bannerets and looking as though they were thoroughly enjoyingthemselves. A number of the teachers marched heside the children. The band, as the procession ' marched, played inspiriting air?, and the scene was perhaps the gayest ever seen in Temuka. Arrived at the Park the children were seated on the ground and sandwiches tea and cake provided. The arrangements for the catering were all that could be expected, and the teachers in the schools and the office bearers did their utmost to make things pleasant, and deserve every praise. The Committee in charge of the demonstration comprised the Revs. T. A. Hamilton (President), P. Wills (Vice-President), and D. Gordon; Messrs J. Wood (Secretary), P. Sinclair, B. D. O'Halloran, W. G. Rutland, A. Spooner, J. BrowD, R. Metson and Geo. Lynch. In addition to these, Messrs John Lawson, S. Burrows, E. Brown and others worked very hard in carrying ont the sports. The grass in the part of the park used had been mown and the part cleared was just the place for a frolic. Of course a greai; many adults visited the ground to share in the fun and en joy themselves. Friends and children were present from Pleasant Point, Waitohi, Milford, Rangitala, Orari, and, in fact, from all the surrounding districts. In the course of the day races were run by the children, swings were largely patronised, and a great many indulged in Hiat popular and appaiently never-to-be-forgotten game of '' kiss in the ring," " dusty miller, etc,," In each amusement all seemed to enjoy themselves. Between four and five o'clock tea was served. The refreshment tent for the convenience of the adults was well patronised during the day. ' At the conclusion of the pports hearty cheers were given in succession by the children for "The Temuka Brass Band," "The Revs. Hamilton, Gordon and Wills," "Air Wood," "The Ladies," for "All who had helped to provide the good things they had partaken of," for "The Queen,"for "Next year's gathering, etc." The National Anthem was then sung and the proceedings terminatpd, everyone appearing thoroughly satisfied with the day's outing. . The following is a list of the events:— Boys 40 Yards Race—Dudley Morris, 1 ; —Austin, 2. Girls Race (over 10)—Sarah Jamesoa, 1; Annie Roddick, 2. Boys Race Cover 10) Wm. Radford, 1 ; A. Austin, 2. Girls Race (under 10)—Agnes Philips, 1 ; Lottie Popple we 11, 2. Boys Race (under B)—George Collins, 1; Donald Eider, 2. Girls Race (all ages) —L. Philips, 1 ; Emily Wyatt, 2.

Boys Handicap Rice (all ages)—James Hart, 1 ; Duncan Taylor, 2. Girls Race (all ages), Nellie Fenton, 1 ; Georgina Harrop, 2. Girls Race (under 10) —L. Lindsay, 1 ; Mary Gibson, 2. Girls Race (over 10) —Mary Moss, 1; Catherine Lyon, 2. Girls Race (13 years and upwards)— Grace Anderson,!; Annie Neville and Rhooa Burton, 2. Girls Race (from 10 to 12 years) Annie Scott, 1 ; Sarah Roddick, 2.

Boys Walking Race (three times round course) George Brown, 1 ; Wilfred Cooper, 2; Wm. Smith, 3. Girls Walking Race (once round)— Eva Greaves, 1; Mary Ann Norton and Jessie Dyson, 2. Boys Handicap Race (all ages) John Austin, 1; Thomas Radford, 2; Wm. Ackroyd, 3. Band Race (boys)—Wilford Cooper, 1; Charles Fauvel, 2. General Race—David Cant, 1; Earnest Morris, 2 ; Albert Essery, 3. Girls Race Finnetta Guy, 1 ; Elsie Brown, 2 ; Jessie Dyson, 3. High Jump (boys)—Harry Davis, 1; Wm. Brewer, 2. Six competed. TEMUKA BAND CONCERT. The concert held last night under the auspices of the Temuka Brass Band was successful. The attendance was not so large as might be expected, but the memof the band may blame themselves to a certain extent. Had they taken tickets with them to the pic-nic yesterday they might have sold 100 of them. We trust they will adopt this plan on Boxing D ly. A report of the concert will appear in our next.

ANNIVERSARY DAY IN GERALDINE. The anniversary of the Province was duly celebrated in Geraldine. The all absorbing attraction was the annual picnic of the children altending the Sabbat!) schools in Geraldine and. Geraldine Flat in connection with the Presbyterion church. The Geraldine Park, so highly favored by Nature but neglected by man, was the one centre of attraction throughout the day. At 11 a.m. the children assembled in the schoolroom, where, after the Bioging of a hymn ihey were addressed at some length by the Rev. G. Barclay, pastor of j the congregation. At half past eleven a.m. the band assembled at the schoolhouse and, headed "the procession towards the ground in which the events of the day were to take place. Tho procession was marshalled by Mr Hughes, and no lops than 120 children took the places assigned to them, the whole being headed by a youthful scholar bearing a fla™. The Sabbath school teachers also took their places on either side of the procession, the whole keeping good order until reaching the ground in which the events of the day were to take place, tho band playing sevoral lively tunes en route. On arrival on the giound we noticed a booth erected for the purveying of refreshments, presided over by Mesdames Dunlop, Giass and several other ladies of the Presbyterian congregation. Another booth was also on the ground displaying various articles for disposal, the proceeds of which were to be added to the funds of tho Presbyterian church. We may here mention that the catering for the refreshments was loft in th>3 hands of Messrs J. Williams and Son and Mr P. Georgeson, of Geraldine, who gave the greatest satisfaction in llvt faithful manner in which they carried out their instructions. There was a large assemblage of people on the ground, •ind one and all were bent on enjoying themselves.

Several races were impjovised during thu afcernoon for the girls on the ground. Tho weather continued very favorable although several peals of thunder wera

heard reverberating along the Southern Alps at the back of the toweship.

At a late hour Messrs J. Mundell and Co:, held a gift auction on the ground, and also at their auction rooms, resulting in a good round sum being netted for the funds of the Presbyterian Church, a fuller account of which will give in our next issue.

The Sunday School prizss were given prior to the close of the evening, a list of which will albo appear in our next issno. In the evening a grand hall was held in the Oddfellows' Hal!, which was very fairly attended, Messrs Somerville and Levens acted as musicians, and a very enjoyable night was spent.

TIMARTJ TRADESMEN'S RACING CLUB.

The first meeting held under the auspices of the above newly-formed Club passed off yesterday on the racecourse at the Washdyke. The day was extremely fine, the heat being tempered by a cooling breeze, but still the attendance was not very large, there being only between 700 and BC3 people present. The smailness of the attendance was a matter for general surprise, as the races were expected to prove very popular, the entries being limited to district horses only. But it is always the way in Tirnaru. Somehow the people there will not go to races as they do elsewhere. Some of the people are too yrand, some of them are too good, and some of them are too lazy, and so they stay away. The racing, however, was very good, considering there were only district horses in the competition, and on the whole the meeting passed off very successfully. The only items in the programme that require any particular mentiou was the trotting race, in which Mr Collins' mare bolted with a " sulky," Mr Collins and the mare escaped unhurt but the sulky got damaged; and in the hurdle race, Cornelius fell and wos much hurt, but he was able to ride later on in the evening. In the hack selling race a protest was entered against the first horse, Moody, on the ground that he crossed, and it was entertained. The followingis a report of the various events : Handicap Hukdle Race, of 30 sovs. 2 miles ; over 8 hurdles. Mr Armitage's Black Doctor (Mr Jones) 1 Mr Lukey's Fawn (Hobbs) 2 Mr Hedge's Our Pony ... (Owner) 3 Mr Moore's Little Dick and Mr Melton's Myrtle also ran. Farmers' Plate, of 20 sovs. Ik miles. Mr D. Mcintosh's SwindW (Mr C. Bourne) 1 Mr J. Mee's Tellmore ... (Nichols) 2 Mr J. Campbell's Firefly ... (Owner) 3 Mr Matthews' Mermaid and Mr Rickus' Nailor were scratched. Anniversary Plite, of 20 sovs. l^mile?; for all horses that had not won an advertised race of 20 sovs ; weight tor age. Messrs Hobbs' Hinerua ... (Osvner) 1 Mr Rickus' Nailor ... (Endings) 2 MrDrummond'sSpofforth... (Darritt) 3 Mr Palmer's Duchess also ran. Mr Armitage's Black Doctor, Mr Dooley's Encore, Mr Lukey's Fawn and Mr Reid's Laura were scratched. Time—2min. B£secs. Handicap Trotting Match, of 15 sovs. 3 miles ; weight under 10st. Mr Black's Bella, scratch ... (Jacobs) 1 Mr Moore's What Sort, 60secs start (Cornelius) 2 Mr Stock's Flora, 50 sec* start (G'asson) 3 Mr Lukey's Fawn and Mr Collins' Perfect Lady also competed. Tue latter was in harness and bolted. County Handicap, of 50 sovs. l£ miles, second horses to receive 5 sovs, Mr Sherwin's Redcliff ... (Derritt) 1 Mr Mathews'Mermaid ... (Hobbs) 2 Mr Keen's Faust (Rudings) 3 Messrs Hobbs' Hinerua and Mr Bourne's Vinco were scratched. Mr Moore's Orange Lightning also ran. In the Hack Selling Race of 10 rovs Mr Hobbs' Moody came in first, with Mr Nichols' Despatch second, and Mr Simmons' Ivanhoe third. A protest lodged against Moody was upheld by the stewards. In 'he Benevolent Scurry Mr Glasson's Countess was first, Mr Raddon's Mabel second, and Mr Lukey's'Harryho third. Town Plate, of 50 sovs. 1J mile?. Messrs Hobb'a Hinerua ... (Owner) 1 Mr Moore's Orange Lightning (Burgess) 2 Mr Bourne's Vinco (Johnson) 3 Mr Armirage's Black Doctor, Mr Sherwin's Fiedelia, Mr Keen's Faust and Mr Dooley's Milo also ran. Ten other horses were scratched. L'itne—2min Christmas Box Handicap, of 10 sovs; For all beaten horses. Mr Rickus'Nailor ... (Rudings) 1 MrDrummond'sSpofforth. (Derritt.) 2 Mr Bourne's Vinco ... (Johnston) 3 Mr Moore's Orange Lightning and Mr Hedge's Our Pony also ran. This finished the day's sport.