SWITZERS RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 109, 10 March 1870, Page 5

SWITZERS RACES.

There are few places in the province where such a scattered population turn o\it so well as the Switzera people do on any occasion of festivity. The race meeting there is now regarded as the great event of the year. This in a great measure is owing to the energy of several of the inhabitants, who enter into anything having for its object the pleasure or welfare of the place with a warmth and public spirit highly commendable. It is true that in Swdtaers, as in Lawrence, there are two parties — as in the one there is a Ross Place party and a Peel-street party — so in Switze.rs there is a Frenchman's Hill and a Qamie Hill party ; but it is owing to these very parties that something approaching public excitement is occasionally originated, and a healthy emulation brought about. All, however, are united in this one great event of the year, and the result was a most successful race meeting. The crowd which gathered from all quarters on Thursday and Friday fax- surpassed former years, and the spirit with which they entered into the sports was very majked indeed. The weather, although, not very propitious, was not disagreeable, The course, owing to its swampy situation and the heavy rain which had fallen,, was in a very bad state ; although at a very small cost it might be made one of the best courses in Otago, FIRST DAY, Plate, a sweepstake of 1 sow,, wi*h 25 5^ soys. added, «PHIBS Fleet .., I J JTewton's Tonic .' (O v ßrien) 2 $latatjba Handicap, of 2 soys., with 40 soes. added. Barbary's Renown ... ... (Tanner) 1 Goodman's LifctlcNell... ... ...(Tiny) 2 Minebs' Porse, of 1 aov., with 25 soys. added. Mile heats. Newton's Tonic (O'Biien) 1 1 Smith's Lilly Dale ... ... (Sjyith) 1 2 Handicap Trotting Race, of 1 soy., with 15 soys. added. Hill's Creeping Jane, 400 yds ... (Laveriy) 1 Jessie, 300 yds 2 Hewitt's lUttler, scratch ... (Owner) 3 SECOND DAY, Hubdlb Steeplecqase, of 1 soy., with 25 soys. added. Skene's Prince 1 Lilly Dale 2 Switzers Jockey Club Handicap, of 3 soys., with 50 soys. added. Newton's Tonic (Tanner) 1 Goodman's Little Nell (Tiny) 2 Consolation Stakes, of 20 soys., Pollock's Raven ... ... (O'Brien) 1 Hewitt's Duchess (O'Keeffe) 2 Heltek Skelter, of 1 soy., with 10 soys. added. Laverty's Deborah . w ... (Tanner) 1 * THIRD DAY. Ladies' Purse, of 1 soy., with 15 soys. added. White's Rocket 1 Goodman's Patch 2 Handicap Sweepsake, of 1 soy. Goodman's Little Nell 1 Hewitt's Duchess „ . 2 Hack Race, sweepstake of 1 soy. Eight entries, fountain Boy , 1 The Stewards may well be congratulated upon the success of their meeting — the whole arrangements reflected great credit on their good, management, and it rests with the Switzers people themselves whether their annual meeting will not henceforth be one of the foremost in the province. Two foot racea 100 yards each were run between Mr. Allan Macdonald and Mr H. Mooney, when bo#i w,ere won by the -latter. On the evenings of Thursday and Friday the township presented an unusual scene of bustle. The hotels were all crowded ; and dancing was carried on |n the spacious hall of Mr. Hunter's Crown Hotel on both nights with great glee. A free table, with everything to satisfy the cravings of the inner man, was provided by Mr. Hunter.