HAVELOCK SPORTS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2050, 4 January 1887, Page 3

HAVELOCK SPORTS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The advent of the New Year lias just been celebrated here with the usual festivities and happy greetings from both old and young, The weather was beautiful on New Year's morning, and visitors from the I’clorus Valley, Kaituna and the Sound soon crowded into town. About S a.in the excursion steamer from Nelson, with the Bijou Band and about Go excursionists came round the point, after a pleasant passage of seven hours. After lauding, the band played for a few minutes in the street in front of the Masonic Hotel and were rewarded with three hearty cheers when they adjourned for breakfast. At 10 a. in the baud formed in the street and striking up some lively music started for the paddock kindly lent to the Committee by Mr Win. Pickering, followed by about 700 people, and the Sports commenced. Everything went swimmingly, the committee doing their best to keep the fun moving. Each event was fairly contested, but the absence of new blood was very noticeable. My recollections carry me back to a time when each competitor valued the position of being first on its merits for the honor of winning, but I am sorry to say the mercenary spirit now seems to gain tiie ascendancy and -1 What’s the prize ? ” has far more inducunent with those who enter than any other sentiment The 100 yard - hindicap had seven entries and was closely contested J Brown .sell ... .. ... 1 T Nusbit syds .. ... 2 K Hutchison sedi .. ... 3 The-140 yards Handicap Race brought only three competitors and the wiurior wa# never asked to run Jim Brown soh .. ... 1 Tom Nesbit 20yds .. ..2 James Brownlee 25yds ... 3 The Kang iron Race was a very amusing one and the way in which they jumped oil their tails created great merriment C 131 nek bee ... .. .. 1 W Mason .. .. ... 2 The Eleplnnt Race was the great feature of the day and both having been wall groomed came out of thejstable in excellent condition. Although Barnum seemed finer bred, Jumbo had more staying power. They both got away to a good start, and, although betting was 3 to 1 on Barnum, Jumbo managed to pull off the event by a good length. The Maori Womens Race had five competitors who showed real good pace, One old dame cam; suddenly to grief thrown by her two pet dogs' A'l other sports ha 1 their I.ackers but file Tug of War w.is very evenly balanced uml af'er despoiute tenacity had b#eu shown o i both aides Captain Ilippolite claimed 'lie money. "The usual Maori war dmee concluded the progi mum \ About £35 in prize money were distributed. At 8 p.m. the Town Hall nicely decorated was opened for a social dance and in a very short time was crowded to excess. Under the inspiring influence of the splendid music provided by the Band the time fled by with such astonishing rapidity that we had to be reminded by Mr Mills, on behalf of the Committee, that the pleasant evening’s amusement must terminate as it was impossible to extend Saturday evening or put Sunday back, oven for a little whil •. The evening was concluded with three litarty cliesrs for tho visitors and the Nelson Band.