WAIRARAPA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY,

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2184, 2 January 1886, Page 2

WAIRARAPA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY,

ANNUAL SPORTS. : President, William Lowes, Esq. ; VicePialßSiDEfiiT, Gfeorge Heron, Esq. ; Dihectors, Messrs" shos. BmsV, W. B. Buick, Alexander Burnett, John jSanjecqt}, JfQbt. Cameroa, A. W, Cave,: A) A. Elkins, R. J. Fitton, Farquhar Gray, A, W, Hogg, C. .Holmwood, Joseph lorns, John Livingstone, James Macara, Wm. Miller, James Mulr, Donald McKenzie, Murdock McKenzie, Donald McPhee, Joseph Payton, Walter Perry, Alexander Reese, Alexander gi^yart.

The New Year Game iq w}.% a heavy fall of rain that atfgured unfavorably for the success of the annual sports, but was very acceptable to the farmers and graziers. Towards ten o'clock, .in the forenoon the Directors, the members of the Band in their bright scarlet uniforms, and sundry individuals interested in the proceedings, wended their way in &• by no means happy frame of mind to the rendezvous at the Club JJoteJ. Here all stood in doubt as to what was to be done, : i with a cold sou-wester blowing, accom- ; panied by a steady rain and heavy: black; clouds. The Band, soon gave a more 1 cheerful turn to affairs by striking up the Scotch Quadrilles, and the Mairquis of . Waterford "showed his stocking," to the < dehght'of the 'many .that had vga^hered: around at the .sound ot !the imisicl The! directors met and decided upon an adjournment of the sports to a more, con-1 venient season, but after drinking success to thenew* year,: and to each month in the year, things "began to look considerably brighter, and the rain was adjourned

to■flook: intense? All the feyents were * according- <to -programme; SBicycle Race, for '' which no The~ Starter, -Mr, ySlkins,<&ot the runners away without ;&nyunne<;essary delay. TheHandicappersi were Muir, O'Connor, and Elkins, andtheyyisplayedgreatjudgmentinplacingthe?competitors, alhtough there' were strangers competing . who - rather upset their calculations •; but their measure was soon taken after they ha&onoe run; - and their capabilities handicapped^to the' proper guage. The race of'the day, the one mile handicap,, was' run in seven less tima than last year,, and was by a Wellington loan. The wrestling was tame throughoufc„.' Simeoii being the; victor-. Last'year> the;. Maori had his jnatch in Donovan,.wh6: was: expected, to, b\present yesterday, but he had to, take Wellington in a match for much larger'' stakes. .Day was the most scientific wrestler, being a pupil of Tiffin of Auckland, and if he had been evenly matched for weight would, have made €his event more interesting. The judges stuck to their work well during the day, and their decision ■ was not. disputed in any event throughout the day, unless tossing the caber be considered one ; but no protest was entered. The judges were Messrs T. Brown, F. Gray, W. Lowes,, W. Perry, J. Livingstone, W.- B. Buick, 11. Cameron, W. .Miller, R. J. Fitton, and- J. Muir. The Volunteer Band rendered eixcellent music at frequent intervals, and were relieved occasionally by the bagpipes, the sounds emitted being excrutiatingly lovely. Host Toohill and , his Assistants .were kept pleasantly busy during tl}e day, but" his permit only extended until -6 q'clock, which was much too early for him to close, considering the late hour at which the sports began, Mp . supplied an excellent dinner for the public, but his chance for ,making it a financial success was spoilt by the doubtful state of the weather, which, left it uncertain whether the sports would come off. For the Stewards an excellent spread was provided, to which the reporters were cordially invited. Poultiy, sucking pig, ham, tongue, and beef, with a plentiful supply of green peas and potatoes, fpllpwed Jl? swget : s, jellieg. .anil blanq njauge.Uk.j and tj»' for the uncanny. , The. fruit and fancy .goods stalls did "a good trade, and the shooting gallery and automatic race epurse were weft p£srqi}iged. Tlje number of visitors pn the exceeded tvfo . thousand, and tip §eatg reserved fpr ladies were appreciated, The obliging secretary,'Mr W. Sellap, placed his tent at the disposal of the press, and afforded every information, forwhich we tender him our thanks:

The following is a list of the winners ; Maiden Race, 200 yds first -prize second 20s ; 10 entries—Fairbrother 1, Franks 2. Booth came in second,/but a protest was entered against him as a winner of a half-mile race at which waa upheld. This was a capital race, and won easily by fairbrother. Hop-step-and-jump; first prize 30s, second 10s ; 6 entries—Coffey 1, 42ft lin, Waterson 2, 41ft. This event was well contested, and tlje cjistiinee esoeecjed last year's performance by 4ft, when Waterson took~the first* prize; Throwing . heavy hammey.; first- prize 403, second 10s; 4 entries—Jaqkspq 1, 85ft 6ifl, Waterqqn 2, 75f(j ciiti T' lo

Winner of this event took the fipfc prize %sjfcear, when hV was opposed Ira a man nearly as good as( himself. iofoyards Handicapflrst pr® -40s, geeontt -lOa ; Fifteen entries—-Fairbrother (scratch) 1, S&iia?iii.(2.y.c«33B) 2, (2 yards) 2. Time llsecs. There was a very strong£eld for this race, and it was run jn exactly the same time as last year, whgn Hornblow.came in winner with 5 yarcjs atdrp. '*■ • ' ' .~ 1 ' Bagpipe Music; first prize 40s'; ; 2 Entries.—- J. Stewart 1. "Hoggard was the other cpmpetitoiy and Donald Ross was also present; but to compete ; Jiei. hovever ■ kindly played at frequent intervals during the day. '• Hornpipe; first prize 20s ; 2 entries.— Joe (Maori) 1; R. Marshall 2. It was a long time before any competitors came forward for thisevent." Marshall had a. very good step, but was out of practice. They both danced very well, however, to the piping of D. Ross. Tossing the Caber; first prize 403, second prize 10s ; 7 entries, —Glynne (32ft'3in) '1; Kibblewhite (28ft 4in) 2. The Caber was a Triiich' lie'avier one tliaii last year, and it really left it'in the hands of the.strongest. Science was nowhere, many of the lighter competitors failing to turn the caber. Kibblewhite raised an pbjectiQn fo the winner taking first prize alleging the : (listance ' was ' not measured to tjie place struck, but . to where it Tjounced. As it was not ' lqdged the specified time, the qbjection was not entertained. .

" Hurdle Race, 220 yards handicap, over ten hurdles ; first prize 60s, second 10s ; 7 entries—Jt'airbrother (scratch) 1, Joe (Maori) (10 yards) 2, Franks (10 yards) 3. This was a very interesting race and it was a pretty sight to see how the winner nursed himself, taking the last hurdle side by side with the Maori, and winning easily in the straight. Two or three spills going over the hurdles seemed to increase the interest of the spectators in the event.

• Highland Fling ; first prize 20s, second 10s. There were three entries for this event, but only two competed, W. Miller and H. Harrod and the prizes were awarded in the order named.

Three-legged race,, for youths under 15 years ; first prize 10s ;7 entries —Ryan and Yolheirjj 1. This race, as usual, caused much mirth,-the spijta being particularly enjoyed.'' •. The winners ran well together as though they had practiced in double harness previously. ' ■ ■■■■> Walking T Handicap ; 2 miles ; first prize 605,; second 120s; 7 entries—Collier (25yds) 1, Hodge (scratch) 2, Moreshed (scratch) 3. Out of seven competitors only three reached the winning post, the rest falling off one at a time as they sawtheir chances -were hopeless, except one man who wag a lap bejijnd ajid fcjien made a run right apross the Oval to-the' winning post amidst the. cheers and-yells of the spectators;-who-had given him a good deal of harmless chaff- on his chance of "winning when they saw: him " still keeping it up," although so far. behind; He ! perliaps trusted to the chapter of accidents for a place ; he was, however, disappointed.

The next advertised event on the programme, a bicycle race, did not come off, as no competitors turned Up.- '•' Standing Sigh Jump ; first prize 40s, second 10s ; 5 entries—W. Welch (4ft 6in) 1, J. Jackson 2, Waterson 3. This took place whilst some of the other events were going on, and was well contested, the jumping' being slightly abetter than last year, when the events were won by the same two competitors, and- in the

same order, -

>wd. shouted ichi£.l '■until the finish,' quite* an ovation. The" mnregwas jubc unaerTthe'f riMntote., ■' ' f Vaulting with pole, first prize 40b, 'second 10s; Hunia (9 ft 11A inches)'l, ,Sam t >. ally; by ; theMaories.. Jackson was present. but 1 didjnot'. as f Ke-.was': reserving ; hi 3 ■ strengthSor]pther apcL 'Sam-'.tied* last year 9ft< llin^\;There, was v great " advantage in the' poles this from Welliiyjton for \ 4'.<' Scotch Reel," first" prize 20s, second IOs.J There were only three entries for this' event, W. Miller taking first, prize and Harrod second. 'W.Mjnnan fcasthethird competitor, whilst: Donald Ross joined to complete the set, but did.not enter;-. •.-. Running Long Jump, firsts prize 30s, 4 secondlOs; 6entries-4Gofley ! l;Cummings 2, Usher 3;- Jackson; Waterson,and Joe the Maori also competed. The contest i was very keen and took a long time to I decide. ,

~ 880-.. yards Handicap, first' prize. 70s, second 20s; 7 entries—Bain (30yds) 1, Saunders. (15yds) J*, Collier (scratch) 3. Time 2min 12seca.,, The result ■of this race opened the eyes<of the handicappehi, who did not know the capabilities of some of the competitors. f The first and second winners, were strangers from Wellington, and Saunders ■ - was particularly eulogistic in his remarks upon the judgment displayed by the handicappers, but they did nut forget it whun tliuir turn came again for handicapping. It • was apparent Saunders cound have been an easy Winner :■ as it was he was close second. The race was run in three and a iialf minutes—less time than last year's record shows. , Wrestling Match, Cumberland style ; first prize 50s, second 10s ; 4 entriesSimeon 1, Dalgetty 2. This was a gift for Simeon, who far exceeded the others in length of limb and size. The most scientific wrestler, Day, wa§ Evltogeth.er too light a tor hia opponents. !.^entini!.was:the othercompetitor. V Running' High. Jump ; first prize 30s, second 10s ; 5 entries'—Waterson 1. (oft. . 2|in.), W>. Welch 2. The. jumping was very good, being three inches better than last year, Welch was an inch below the winner.

Boys' race, under 12 years ; first prize ,10s, second ss, third 2s 6d'; 20 entries— Rawbone 1, Tinsley 2, Thompson 3. There being no charge for entrance, the competitors were 1 comparatively unlimited. The race was thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators, the majority of whom preferred fun to science. ' One mile 2jC[s ;; 8, eritkes-rßain (syds) 1, Saunders (scratch) 2, Millen (25yds) 3. fime 4min. 54 and one-tifth sees. This wag a pretty race, and a moral for Saun- , ders had he been s.o disposed,. of that, however, he inase the runnjng for keeping just {ihead of Millen all tlio \?ay. When the last lap was half through, Bain forged ahead and came in first, with Saunders a -dose second. 'Millen ran very well indeed, and gave the winners some work! Putting" the Btone ; first: prize 40s, second 19s ; 8 entries. —Glynne (34ft 5 inches) l,i; : W- Welch (33ft . inches) 2, A. McPliee (33ft 6 inches) 3. . Welch was the winner of this event last St v|4 feet, but hte was not auoh good "form this year, Kecould hot? have 'coiie'Up to; "Grtynn^.' v "Sack race, for boys only; first prize 10s, second sb. third 2s : 6d; 20." entries. -H. Welch 1, Gunther2, was a goot} of Bumbling, iind in" cpn sequence nq end of amusement for the-, spectators in this race. Last year'e winner took first prize this year, .Volunteer. Handicap ftfj;22o j members qf Rifle. Oprps Fiye Brigades in the Wairarapa ; first prize 4Qs, second priqe; 10s ; 7 "Thpnipsqn 1, rWiltoni2, Franks 3. These three oame in SO. close together that it was doubtful to those who were not In the immediato vicinity of- the winning who VW| Swt, Thompson w»-middle 0 t » bunch of runners, and it waß doubtful, when he had shook himself clear of them, whethertlie would have time to win, and feljt for Wiltp.n pulling up b.efpre I tp'iiched fte Thqrtipspn o.nly n4v#"b^en' v 6econ9. #«• done in 26 sees.

Consolation Handicap, 220 yds; first prize 40s, second 20a ; 8 entries—Houn. slow 1, Hawkins 2, Peters 3. Time 26 2sths seconds. As was to be expected, tho consolation race proved only so to the prizetakers.' The remainder returned to the dressing room "weary, worn and sad ;" but let .them keep up their spirits and practice well until, Anniversary Day, when they will have the further consola • tion of competing at the Friendly Societies' Sports which will be held at the same place, and it is to be hoped that they will meet with the favorable results thajb their pluck and endurance merit. ' Ail axtra race for boys, once rpund the course, prizes 7s (id, sb, :2sti"4. was '?un, about 30 starting,' the' tesult bemg :—F. r Gray 1, T. Ryan 2, O'Corfhor 3.' Tug of War, first prize 205—12 Maories versus 12 I)irectoi:s of the Society. - The Directors carried the day, to the credit of the Society. The had ttjo best of the start, making a gpiirt aqd gaining a yard;, and a half,, which it took the Directors all their time and weight to get back. The Maories displayed by far the best discipline, and pulled from the start as one man, laying down to the rope and clingina like " grim death." Thehonors were taken by the pakehas, and tho money found its way to Host Toohill, where both sides reaped an equal benefit froni it.

This brought a very enjoyable day to a conclusion.