NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4676, 2 January 1884, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Various amusements were indulged in by the holiday seeking public yesterday, including the Tararu Sports; excursions up the Eiver, a cricket match atParawai, and other means of whiling away gay and festive hour?. SPOETS AT TARARU. A. fine day, bright and genial in temperature, induced about 1500 people to visit Tararu yesterday to witness the sports which took place, there. The Gardens proved a great attraction for a number of ladies and children, to say nothing of the cosy nooks and shady bowers which ." drew" the youths and maidens who were bent on speaking sweet nothings to each other; while sterner humanity followed the various events which took place on the Flat and in the Gardens respectively, .

The first contest was in the Maiden Race of 100 yards; first prize, £1 ; entrance, 2s. For this there were four starters, only, one ;of which was a local man, It was won by J. Bullen.

A Boys' Kace was carried off by A. Hanlon, with McGregor second. .

For the Quarter of a Mile Handicap Hurdle Race, seven entered, and after a good race it was won by J. Bullen, who had thirteen yards start, with Monnock, who went from scratch, second.

A race for boys under lg was ran, and A. Cassen, a tali wiry youth, won it, being closely followed by H. Steedman.

Only two entries were rsceived for Walking the Boom, and the prize was awarded to Hastings, Lysman being second. ' '

What promised at the commencement to be a very interesting contest, viz., vaulting with the Pole, did not prove so, owing to the contestants giving up the game one by one, untjl the event was left in the hands of 0. MeLiver, who cleared in his last jump 7ft. ginß. W. Connon was sepond. •

There was more competition in the next item op the programme, the •'Hop, step, and jump, which brought oiit eight contestants, but by degrees they thinned out, until it remained between two, who inch by. inch fought hard for the ground. The event was finally won by McNeish, who covered 40ft. 2ins. >^

.One of thefceßt raopsof the day was the 250 yards flat race, for which there were six entries, one of which' was scratched.

The local man most favorod was Christie, and although he ran well and took second plaa**he was not gocd enough for ; Monuotk, an Aucklander, who won (be race after a close struggle. The mile rico. brought out a field of ten, and excepting a display of a % little discreditable feeling and ill manners on the part of some Auckland runners, was a good race.. Meredith and Ogle received a start of 90 yards each, Hall of 60, Fisher of 50, Thorburn and Richardson of 40 each, while Casson, McNeish, and McNeil started at scratch, As such long distance races generally are, the first part of it was very tame, but towards the end the competitors warmed to their work and a very good finish resulted in : Casson ... ... ... 1 Richardson ... ... ... 2 Ogle ... ... ... ... 3 One of the Auckland men accused another of attempting to tread on his foot with his spiked shoe, and when the race was over attempted to settle, the matter in an unseemly recourse to fisticuffs, but •wiser counsels prevailed, and an apology j settled, the matter. What was undoubtedly the race of the day was the Heavy Weight Race, for which four started. Tararu's 17st 31bs was much fancied for this event, but a lot of money was put on the Bail id, who shewed good .form. The dark horse was looked favorably upon by many, and Te Aroha's entry, which won the race, was

not neglected. After the weighing it was found that Fricker was heaviest, having to carry ]7st 31bs,' Murdoch coming next with 16st libs, Mclnnes being under the weight lib, which he easily carried in his hands, and Quihlan 221bs, which he bore on his shoulders. The nationalities of the contestants were well mixed; the winner bein a son of Erin, the two men who ran a dead heat for second place belonging to Scotia and New Zealand respectively, and the third in place hailing from Old England. A good start was effected, and after a most exciting race, resulted as follows :— P.Quinlan ... ... ... ... 1 W. Murdoch") A A u^t. o J. Mclnnes jde»d heat ... ... 2 W. Fricker ... ... ... ■■:.;' 3 After the race we learnt that had it not been for the facts that the trainer of Tararu's champion had been having too good a time during the holidays, ana his shoer had omitted to send his shoes home, his chance would hare been much better ; also, had the " Bailie " run in his national noncootinuations, instead of allowing himself to be hampered " wi breeks," he would have "kilt" them all. Whether the weight borne on the shoulders of the Hibernian representative was typical ofthe oppression which his countrymen consider Old Ireland bears, it is hard to say, buthe showed he could carry it. The colonial representative did well, and had it not been for the persistency of the " Bailie "• in bringing his speed out, he might might have allowed the winner to place a few more yards between them.

A consolation race wound up a_ rery successful and most enjoyable meeting.