THE FLOOD RELIEF SPORTS AT HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10626, 3 June 1897, Page 4

THE FLOOD RELIEF SPORTS AT HASTINGS.

(PROM OUB OWN OORBKBPONDBNT.) Judges: Running and Cyollng— Mr T. W. Lewis Racing— Mr P. Msrtln. Tug-of-Wor— Mr A. L. D. Fraser. Handloappets : Banning— Mbsbis F. and R. Willis. Cycling— Messrs E. Reynell (cash airmtenr), A. C. North (umateur), H. Symonda Bnd J, M'Dowell (Novice Handloip). Commltteos : Running— Messis Rldgway, Cashton, Stuart, and M'K&y. Racing — Messrs Hyde, Caulton, Ebbett, and Dennett. Cyollng — Messrs Sytnonds, Beck, Vlokora and Thorn. Tag-of-War— Messrß Talaroa and Charlton.

An unqualified success ! This was tbo general verdlot after one of the best Bports gatherings that hae boon seen nt Hastlngß. The day was perfeob. The oommittee had been apprised that It would be ao, Captain Edwin having very graolously arranged matters In response to an urgent telegram from the secretary, The entries were numerous, and the attendance of all sorbs and conditions of men and women large; the children's "saxpenoea" also were very much la evidence, so that a good attendance, and an amplification of the funds In consequence, will be shown when the offialal reoords are made known. Mr R. D. D. M'Laan, M.H.R., and Mr and Mrs Fitzßoy were present, and the former Intimated to the oommittee that Mr Swan, Mayor of Napier, was unfortunately prevented by pressing business from amending, a matter of general regret.

The following programme was gone throngh with great regard to punctuality, and every event was well contested : — One Mi'e Novice Haodioip (bloyole event).— Koko 1, Catherall 2, F. Symonds 3. Viokers had a nasty spill in this race, cutting bis hand somewhat severely. M'Lean rode a gallant bat losing raoe. Trotting Raoe (In saddle).— There wete sixteen starters for this event, the winner being fottnd in A. M'Donald's Violet, W. Jones's Mollle being behind about 100 yardß for seoond plaoe, and W. Graham's Mies Wallace tbird.

An excellent display of drop kioking was given, and the trophy valued £1 Is, passed to Caldwell, whose effort was a palpable success. The Napier competitors nob having arrivod when No. 5 was called on It was decided to postpone the One Mile Bloycle Handicap, At a later stage of the proceedings the event waß deoided, A. Garnett being winner, S. Eoko second, and A. J Pooook third. Garnett'd racing thronehout the day showed considerable pluck, and waß entirely consistent,

Open Handicap, 100 Yarda (abont 20 entrant?) —First beat : W. C caver 1, H. Symouds 2. <N. Giaham 3 Senond heat: r. Jone* 1, R. Goodman 2 Third heat : W Cieaver 1, T. Junea 2, K. Good' ra mi 3

Odd Mile Bloycle Handicap (cash imatfiurs), J. Cathnrall (150yde) 1, H. Symnndu (lOOydB) 2, E. Newman (110 yds) 3 C Cattanaoh was scratch man, bnt Catberall, who had the limit start, had tbe race in hand from the start.

The event) of lbs day was the Bracelet Handicap, for untrained horses that bad never been started, and such a big field pub In an appearance that tbe race wsb ran la beats. This proved a fortunate event for some of the bookmaker! on the course, who were betting on heats whilst their clients fondly Imagined they were going for winners on the event, First heat : Mian K. Jnokf on's Whakapora 1, Mrs Archlbild'H Dnnlel Deronda 2, A. Bruce's Lady Dpwarb 3, Second heat: Mlus M. Watta'g Matlpo 1, Mro Taylor'B '2, Mlsa SnfchprlnD'i's Vanity Fair , - }.

Tho Amateur Handicap, 220 Yardn, wa?i fdl'lv easily won by J, Hodd,

The Flvo Mllo Ulcyclo Handlonp (nmatoarn) proved an easy win for A. Girnetb (280ydB), A. J. Pooock. tho soratah man, riding a pallant bat forlorn race. Howard wbb third.

The final heat of >he Ladles' Braoelet event resulted in Mr Lawrence Gottle wlnnloe a splendid 'race on Mm Archibald's Daniel Deronda, Miss Jaokson's Whakapora second, Miss Watte'a Matlpo third. There was a lot of money on tbe latter horse bat it was noli as well lidden 18 in tho seoond heat.

An Open Handioap, 220 Yardr, was won by J. Hodd, who seemed to be in excellent form.

One of the most exciting events of the day war a tng of war between a European and a Maori team, bat It was spoilt by the overcrowding of the spectators. The first heat was won by the Enropeans, tbo second by the native^ and as the latter imagined they had won the oontest and refuse.! to try again, the event was given to the Europeans by default. The oommiitee, no doubt, had their hands foil at this particular time, as a bicycle event wat also in progress, bat Ift was oertalnly a great mistake to bave allowed tho tug-ofwar to proceed nntll a proper space bad been oleared, bo that the efforts of the oombatants should have been untrammelled.

G. Cayanaob, soratoh man, won the Tbree-mlle Bioyole Handicap with comparative ease, J. M'Dowell, however, being an excellent second, with L. Bake; olree behind,

The final raolng event, for nnstarted, untralued ponies, was won in splendid style by Mr 0. W, Davis's Queen Qii!, S. Woddell'B Mis«y 2, E. fhorp'a The Filiy 3. Veter&na 1 Half Mile Bloycle Race.— Wilson (Napier) 1, Chariton (Saßtloße)2. Two Men Muuual Event (3 reams).— Symonds and Graham (3!hec) 1, Keith and Anderpon (41-eo) 2, Henry and Catherall 41 1-Sth see 3.

Five Men Manual Event.— Foramon Keith's (earn (36 1 sth see) 1, Foreman Humphrey's team (43isec) 2, Treaaarer Popplewell'e team (52 3 sth eec) 3.

Firemen 1 * Ksee.— Gall 1, KesnaH 2, Brantche 3.

Whtlab tho larger ovootß were in progrtßß, Bundry "Bide shows," to übo the now generally ndopted expression, were also being osrried oat. Theas consisted principally of Fire Brigade events, excellently organised nndsxeonted, children's and athss iftces. These were no doubt oi considerable interest) to those engaged end led also to a large* ftttendanoa at the

meeting and more interest in it, Ot the speola) items for notioe are the klndlv loan by Mr W, Stook of the Stortford Lidee gronnda for the purposea ot the meeting : the hearty reoeptlon of the remarks mad* by Mr A. L, D. Fraßer on presenting Mr Cjtble, on behalf of Miss Archlbna, with the ladled br.<.celnt; tho exoellent stnrflug by Mr A Hyde; tbo good mualoal programrm given by the Hmtiog* Town Bind under tha condnctorsbip of Mr Barrett ; thn exceedingly good work done by the officials, and the kindly Interest taken by the Napier friends who were present. Mr R. D, D. M'Lean, who had returned from Napier after a meeting of tho (hods relief committee, apologised for the absence of Mr Swan. The whole proceedings reflaot the greatest oredlt on the management, and Mr George is to be oongratnlated npon tho result of his indefatigable efforts as secretary to mike the meeting the oucoeaa that It proved.