CHRISTMAS SPORTS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 410, 23 November 1868, Page 2

CHRISTMAS SPORTS.

The Spores Committee have " taken time by the forelock," and, if we may judge by the work already done by them, there is every reason to believe that AVestjort will, during the holidays, be the great centre oi' attraction to the seekers of pleasure ou " flood or field." They are likely to lay be fore the public, not only a programme yet unequalled for the general sports of Boxing Dav, but they will be enabled to initiate the Buller District Maiden llaces on a liberal and attractive scale for the Monday and Tuesday following.

The Committee met on Saturday evening at the National Hotel (Mr O'Conor in the chair), when it was agreed upon to restrict the sports ot Bwxir.g Day to the ordinary land sports, such as wrestling, ruuniug, jumping, tilting, &c, and to hold a race meeting on the following Monday and Tues 'ay. A programme of these sports is expected to be laid before the public during next week. The races, so far as has yet been determined upon, are intended to be restricted to horses only in and from the district of Westland North. It was also decided that the regatta should be held on New Tear's Day. Sub-committees are formed with the view of carrying out the preliminaries in preparing the required programmes, for the approval of the full committee, w r ho are to meet on Tuesday eveniug, to finally decide thereupon. The sub-committee in connection with the land sports are Messrs Reid, Hughes, Milne, and Draghicavich; and the racing subcommittee are Messrs O'Conor, Morey, Freeth, Frahklyn, Eobertson, Simpson, and Carr. The Treasurer reported that he had received in cash subscriptions amounting to £l2l 3s, a list of which is published, and that further promises were given, which were collectable at any time, amounting to £53 17s 6d, making £175 0s 6d. In addition to this, the town not having been thoroughly canvassed, expectations of from £4O to £SO may safely be calculated upon. Adding to these, the sale of the booths and entries, the handsome sum of £4OO was taken by the Committee as the data to go upon, and they decided on setting opposite to the land sports £125, and for the horse-races £175. The balance, whatever it might be, is to be expended on a regatta. It was also decided that, in all, seven booths should be offered by public auction, and that only subscribers to the sports of £2 !2s or over, should be the purchasers. The names of Messrs Freeth, Maguire, Emanuel, Trimble, and Crilmer were added to the Town Committee, and Messrs P. Brennan, B. Macfarlane, Braithwaite, and Doodney, were appointed a SubCommittee on the Caledonian; and Messrs Daly, Q-allagher, Hayes, and Byrne, as a Sub-Committee for Addison's. "With such a satisfactory report at so early a date, we have no fear of a crowded town and excellent amusements during the Christmas holidays, and we hope to be enabled to lay the programme of the sports and races before the public on Wednesday morning. The ground selected for the sports, is that paddock adjoining the ground where the sports were held last season, about midway between the Buller and Orawaite rivers. The sale of the booths will take place on an early day, which will be duly announced.