HAMILTON ANNUAL BOXING-DAY SPORTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2076, 27 October 1885, Page 2

HAMILTON ANNUAL BOXING-DAY SPORTS.

Thr meeting called on Saturday evening last ti> ni.iko arrangements for carrying out the amnnl athletic sports was well attended. Mr T. G. Sandes was called to the chair, and read the notice convening the meeting, and in referring to its object Haid that he had been induced to take an interest in the matter, as lie thought a good day'a sport ceuld be provided if proper ariangements were made, and that a large gathering of holiday makers might be expected if a good programme weie prepared. He also pointed out that the annual Boxing Day spoits had become fjmtc as much an institution for Hamilton as raco mooting to other townships. Tho communication by rail would also help to a veiy great extent in inducing people to attend the spot ts, as under the present time-table all icsideuts in communication by rail above Hamilton would be served by the ordinary trains which would land them in Hamilton between 10 and 11 o'clock a.m. and pick them up again at G o'clock p.m. after the tei ruination of the sports. Mr Sandes s.nd ho also felt bure that if the subject were pioperly represented to the railway management an excursion train from Auckland would bo laid on, as from experience last season in this direction such undei takings | had proved highly successful, financially, tojthe department. There was also another point worthy of consideration. As they all know, several largo railway contracts were m progress in the Thames Valley, and he had no doubt a large influx of visitors from Morrinsville, Waitoa, and To Aroha might bo relied upon if sufficient attractions were offeied in the way of sports. It must, howover, be fully borne in mind that to induce the attendance of peoplo from any distance from Hamilton it would be most essential that a first-cla*i programme should be provided, offering such pii/es as would bung together the best men in the provineo. To do this at least £100 would have to bo forthcoming, bnt the chairman thought that woro the matter taken up as hoaitily as he expected, by tho residents and business people, there would bo little difficulty in getting this amount subscribed. Looking at it m the interests of the district, ho thought it very desirable to bring peoplo together, especially those from the city. It waa a matter of regret that cheap trips into the out-districts woro not more frequently made available to tho dwellers in our large centres of population, as the taste for country life would theieby bo induced in not a few canes, and would bo followed by settlement of the waste lands of tho country Hqvoiml other gentlemen spoke in support of the suggestions put forward by the chairman, and it was resohed that the usual annual Boxing Day sports should be held on Sydney Squat o, and that tho piogwunme should be such as would induce visitors to attend fuun all paits of Waikifco, To Awiha and Auckland, and that at least JfcJIOO should bo paid in pn/cu ; that a committee consisting of the follow, ing guutlomen — Messrs Sandes, O'Neill, Barton, Bindon, Foriest, Edgooumbe, Dey, Bach, and (I. White, bo appointed to cam ass for subscriptions, and to ondea\our to make airangoments for an excursion train from Auckland. Mr (i. Edgocumbe was appointed secretary and troasuier, and it was further resolved that it bo an mstiuction to thecommitteo to make arrangement for a band. A vote of thanks to tho chairmaty brought tho mooting to a clone, '