MOA FLAT RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 12 January 1871, Page 5

MOA FLAT RACES.

(From a Correspondent.)

Boxing day, 1870, will be a memorable day in the annals of Moa Flat, for on it, came off the first, of what it needs no great power of prophesy to foretell, will be a series of most successful races. The movement, which resulted in the capital meeting lam about to dcscribe 5 began among the shearers on Moa Plat Station ; to Mr. Archibald M'Dougal, the credit of the first conception being, I believe, due. Mr. Thompson, and the employers on the Oven Hills (Station, heartily supported the cause ; nor were the mining population backward, so that it was found a sum of between L4O and LSO was at the disposal of the committee. A judicious distribution between horse racing and athletic sports was made of this sum, and the result was not only an attendance on the ground of over 250 spectators — nearly double the number at the sadly mismanaged Teviot races — but also the detention of all the prizes in the district. The day was all that could be desired — warm, yet not sultry ; calm, yet not devoid of refreshing breezes. Mr. M'Carthy's booth of course formed the most prominent feature on the ground, and appeared to do a rattling trade. The other amusements of a race-course were not, however, altogether wanting, for an enterprising individual set up an " Aunt Sally," to the greafc delight and amusement of both young and old. The racing was really excellent, considering that none but untrained horses were permitted to run; and the sports called into exercise all the powers of some really first-class athletes. From first to last, everything went off without a hitch, everyone, from the judge down to the amateur bellman, doing his best to make the meeting a success.