GALA ODDMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9488, 12 April 1921, Page 4

GALA ODDMENTS.

THURSDAY'S GREAT EVENT VERY ORIGINAL SIDE SHOWS. (By Various Comniitteemen.) Athletics need not be a matter for youth, alone. Middle age has its place, and an honourable one — : midd]e age, that , is, which has not allowed itself to run to •flabbiness and mer« memories of: the past. Barry, when well past, the full vigour of youth, wrested the sculling championship from more youthful muscles; Samuel Turner, when somewhere m the fifties, achieves the first and only solo ascent of Mount Cook; Hobbs, 'a veteran' m years, can still head^the averages m. competition against the younger batsmen; and Jimmie McTigue, at 46, is " picked " as the winner, of the Gala Hurdles. [More power to his thews and sinews I Sporting enthusiasts will note that sports cease between 12.30 and 1.40. That is the time when all whose interests are glued on the sports are expected to visit 1 the side-shows. It isjust as well to remember that the primary object of (fee gala is to, raise money. The sports section, produces no revenue, even prevents the public from exercising its privilege of spend-r ing. The side-shows form the financial backbone of the organisation. Support them, then, even though you must miss a race or two, or a reel, or a tugofrwar to do so. . In brightness,, m sheer fun, m originality, and* in hard value they are worth all you can spend on them. The "Gala Sketcher "—a : 40-page publication— is now on sale. :It is — all m one, and- all for a shilling— a local art gallery, an official souvenir pro-' gramme, an Ashburton "Punch," and 5n to the prominent citizens, who are made "to see theirsels -as ithers see them." You can't follow the gala sportseyents without it. You don't know what oddities we number among our -citizens until you' see it. And you don't heave a sigh of relief at the omission of your caricature until you reach the last page. Housewives will note that among the side-shows on Thursday will s be a' butcher's tent, at which large supplies of lamb, mutton, pork, and small goods will be offered for sale. These goods have been generously donated by freezing buyers, .farmers, and the local butchers. ' Ladies, do your part by buying your week's meat supply ■• sit the Gala. Among the numerous competitors taking part m the piping and dancing events at t -ie Gala sports are the f olI lowing cL.nnipions, viz., Mr John ! Ljrnch, of Seadown, Timaru, champion Irish jigger. He will be accompanied by his little daughter, and m addition to taking part m the various dancing events, they will ~ive an exhibition of ( the Irish), hornpipe. Young. Kilgour, 1 of Timaru, the present holder of the sword dance championship of New Zealand, is competing m all the dances i Altogether, this portion of the Gala J promises, to eclipse anything of the I kind ever witnessed m Ashburton

, The first combined practice of the I schools' drill squads, held last week. J showed that the children -knew? -their drill well. A few irregularities m the time were corrected. At the next practice the whole mass should work well together; The schools doing individual displays are hard at work, and will probably fill m, more than' their allotted 15 minutes. Those people who are still trying t«> solve the H.C.I/, would be well advised to patronise the Hoop-la./ For a very small sum they will have the opportu nity of displaying their skill, and per haps become the possessors of quite 10* worth of useful articles. The prize* selected, which should attract the attention of all and sundry, include musical instruments, crockery, ornaments, metal polishes, boot polish.--shampoo, and various grocery lines suitable for the home. The sporting fraternity can win anything from a tobacco-cutter to a toothpick. The management of the Hoop-la . have unanimously decided to offer a- piece of plate suitably inscribed as a prize for a 50yds Side-shows' Officials' Handicap. - The "striped maj;,quee " on Thursday will house two 'interesting k people from the East, who come to the gala for the purpose "of revealing the future. For the sum of one. shilling Mersia from P.efsia' and Masia from Asia will give ( a guide as to future happenings, or else* . future events m the lives of individuals, according to request. Theref ore' the striped tent should, m these troubled times, aibtracf great attention ' from those who /are ■now wondering " what ,ia" ■going' trt happen next." 7 : , # " tl For the convenience of "wkilitry people who will be coming to tftej^Asllburton "Gala Thursday, afrange> merits have beep made for delaying vfchV! departures of the afternoon .^aintf from Christchurch. " Tire Timaru clow' train will leave at 4.50 p^iin., ChnsV church slow Jrain, 4.50 : p.m., and SpringTmrn train 5 p.m. . V