NELSON ANNIVERSARY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue III, 8 February 1845, Page 195

NELSON ANNIVERSARY.

The third anniversary of the formation of thii settlement was celebrated on Monday and Tuesday laßt. An excellent mile course for the races had, by the direction of the stewards, been laid out on the Waimea plain, about four miles from the town, and from the arrangements made a very full attendance was anticipated ; but this was in a great measure prevented by the unfavourable change in the weather on Sunday; the heavy rain that fell daring the night rendering the Waimea impassable, and thus preventing the residents on the western side from participating in the first day's sports, which commenced with the Tradesman's Plate of 10 soys. 1 soy. entrance.

For all horses ; to carry lOst. 71b. ; a winner once before to carry lolb. extra, twice or more, 14lb. 1 mile and half. Mr. Duppa's b h Quilp, aged, 10lb. extra (owner) 1 Mr. Marshall's b c Priam, 3 years, (Mr. Stafford) 2 Mr. Dale's b h Paddy, aged . . (owner) 3 Mr. Dillon's br h Jerry, aged (Mr. Murray) 4 Dr. Monro's br g The Member, aged, p. f.

For some weeks previous to the race, nothing but Paddy would go down with the " knowing ones." "He would win in a canter." "it was all over but shouting," &c. During the last week, howeer, various rumours got afloat that he had broken down, which tended to damp the public confidence in his success ; in fact, it turned out that nothing but the most careful and judicious management enabled him to come to the post at all. On its being declared on Saturday that Quilp (the best known horse in the colony) was certain to run, of which considerable doubt had existed, he immediately took Paddy's place as first favourite. At starting, it was considered that the immense weight for his age carried by Priam (although a promising young horse) quite extinguished his chance. The betting was as follows : 2 and 3 to lon Quilp, 2 to 1 against Paddy, 8 to 1 against Priam. Quilp took the lead at a middling pace to the distance post in the first round, where Priam joined him and forced the running at an increased pace; Jerry third, Paddy taking it quietly in the rear. In this order they ran till within half a mile of home, when Priam got a pull, and Jerry took second place, followed by Paddy. In rounding the last turn the latter passed Jerry and ran up to Quilp, but was shaken off in a few strides. At the distance post Priam ran up to and passed Paddy, without, however, being able to reach Quilp, who went in an easy winner by three lengths. Scurry Stakes of 1 soy. each and 3 soys added, last horse paid second horse's stakes. Heats. Once round and a distance. Mr. Gee's b m Gipsy by Emigrant, 4 yrs, (M'Kune) 11 Dr. Renwick's b g RafHer, 4 yrs, (Mr. Phelps) 4 2 Mr. Cautley's b h Blackbird, 4 yrs, (Mr. Stafford) 3 3 Mr. Morse's eh c Who'd-ha'-thought-it, 2 yrs, bolted . . . (Clark) 2 O Mr. Slurray's b m Beeswing,6 yrs, (owner) 0 0 Mr. Fox's b m Madge, 6 yrs . (a boy) dis. Mr. Dillon's br h Jerry, aged, pd. ft. Betting :— Beeswing and Who'd-ha'-thought-it against the field, 3 to 2 against the latter, 2 to 1 against Beeswing, 4 to 1 against Gipsey, 10 to 1 against any other. First Heat. Blackbird jumped off with the lead at as good a pace as he could make it, and led them a rattler for the first half mile, when RafHer and Who'd-ha'-thougbt-it went to the head, the latter taking up the running at a tremendous pace. On entering the straight run home Gipsy went up to and challenged him, and the pair ran a capital race to within a couple of strides of the chair, when the young one, frightened by the crowd, swerved, and allowed the mare to win by a length. The others nowhere.

Second Heat. The two-yr old went away from the post with a strong lead and pulling double, followed by Blackbird, Gipsy, and Raffler, in the order we have given them. On approaching the crowd home, he bolted again*, ran clear out of the course, and put his chance out. Gipsy then took up the running, Wat never headed, and won in a canter. Hurdle Stakes of 1 soy. each and 5 soys. added.

Once round and a distance. Heats.

Mr. Duppa's b h Quilp, aged . (owner) 1 1 Mr. Thorpe's b g Turpin, 4 yrs (owner) 2 2

This was a poor affair, Turpin. being entered only to make a race, the formidable name of Quilp having frightened every one. Mr. Murray's Beeswing and Mr. Poynter's eh g The Elephant and Castle started with them to make a show of a race. The splendid manner in which the latter (cleverly ridden by Mr. Newcome) took his leaps elicited universal admiration. Pony Stakes of 10s. each and 2 soys, added.

Once round.

Mr. Dale's br p Billy . . . (Clark) 1 Mr. Schroder's g p Grey Motnus . .. 2 Forced Handicap of 2 soys. each, p.p., with 3f BOVB. added, for the winners. Heats. Once round. Mr. Gee's b f Gipsy by Emigrant, 4 yrs; 9st 101b .... (M'Kude) 1 Mr. Duppa's b h Quilp, aged, 12st 3lb . 2 Even oetting. Both jockeys took their horses off at score. Mr. Duppa trusting to the well-known stoutness of Quilp, and M'Kune determined to make the weight tell, the pair ran hand to hand till within half a mile of home, when the mare begin gradually to steal away from Quilp, increasing her land the further she went, and winning in a canter.

Second Heat, Ditto repeated, Quilp being pulled up' at the distance. The style of going of the mare and the very superior condition in Which she came to the'po'st were much praised. Ladies Purse of 5 soys., added by the ladies of Nelson to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 1 soy. ," each for the horses; second horse saved his stakes. Heats. Once round and a distance. Dr. Renwick's bk g Raffler, 4 yrs, list (Mr. Phelps) 1 Mr. Dillon's b h Jerry, aged, list 4lb . 2 Mr. Fox's eh m Madge, 6 yrs, lOst 111b .0 Mr. Morse's eh c Who'd-ha'-thought-it, 2 yrs, 98t bolted Betting : — 2 to 1 on the two-year old, 3 to 1 against the winner. Jerry made play for the first half mile, when he resigned the lead to Raffler, who cut out the running for himself and went in an easy winner, Who'd-ha'-thought-it bolting again. Could this colt be got to run straight, he would be very hard to beat, his style of action being by far the most superior we have yet seen in the colony. In the evening an excellent dinner was provided by Mr. Harley, at the Carpenter's Arms, where a large company met on their return to town. SECOND DAY. Sailing Match for first and second class boats from any part of New Zealand. Ist prize, £7; 2d prize, £5; first class boats not to take 2d prize. First Class Boats. Rha~damanthuß (a Deal boat), Fleury . . l Chalydra 2 Second Class Boats. Amelia, Schroder 1 Mary Ann, Moore 2 Victoria Albert, George . . . 3 Rose, Batchelor 4 Mary, Askew 5 Sisters, Edwards 6 Brenda, Fearon 7 Emma, Gale 0 The whole of the boats got well away together with the exception of Victoria Albert. In beating up the harbour, the decided superiority of the Deal boat soon became apparent. The Chalydra (a large Nelson boat), though standing no chance against the former, was ably handled by Cross, and came in second, but of course without taking the 2d prize. The Victoria Albert was the first of the second class boats to round the buoy, and there was not a doubt entertained that she would win the second prize ; but in beating up the second time she fouled the Chalydra and lost her mizen. This accident left her scarcely a chance. The Amelia took her place, and rounded the last buoy first, closely followed by Mary Ann. In running down, the latter came within a couple of boat's lengths of the former, but before reaching the winning point the Amelia had rather increased her distance, the Mary Ann being second, and the Victoria Albert a good third. Some of the other boats sailed extremely well. The Emma, known to be a good boat, carried away something at starting, and almost instantly gave up the match. Rowing Match for Whaleboats, for £5. Will Watch, Dillon 1 Worser 2 Ann Maria, Cross 3 There was an excellent start, and the Will Watch, after some hard pulling, managed to round the buoy first, closely followed by Worser, but the little advantage it bad gained was, in the opinion of most of the spectators, immediately thrown away by her steersman (Barney Miller) putting her close in shore, by which skilful manoeuvre she at first lost a couple of boat's lengths. The result, however, proved the correctness of his judgment : for whilst the others were struggling against the tide, the Will Watch, now in almost still water, soon passed them, and won without difficulty the prettiest rowing match we ever witnessed in the colony.

The Minor Sports succeeded, and were commenced on the Cricket Ground by a Wrestling Match. This was the first occasion on which this truly English sport had been played in the settlement, and from the interest which it excited, we think it likely to form a portion of the amusements on similar occasions in future. A little reluctance was shown at first, but after a short lapse of time J. Bungate and Rawlinson (a Cornishman) threw their hats into the ring, and the play commenced. In a few minutes both came rolling down, each claiming a throw, which, however, the umpires decided neither of them was entitled to. Rawlings, dissatisfied with the decision, left the ring; when Scott entered, and threw Bungate easily. The next players were T. Ward (Devon) and W. White (Cornish). After some pretty play, the latter was thrown. T. Dodson (Wilts) was the next in the ring, and received a very clean fall from John Ward (Devon). M'Gee (a boatman) and J. M'Donald (Scot) were then matched, and the former easily thrown. The four standards had now to contend for the prize (One Guinea). Scott was matched against T. Ward, but stood no chance with him, the latter evidently being an old hand from the cool and scientific manner in which he threw bis man. M'Donald, who should have played J. Ward, not forthcoming, the brothers played for the prize, which, after some good sport, was won by Thomas. Wheelbarrow and foot races, jumping in sacks, and a jingling match followed, the latter winding up the day's amusements.

In the course of the afternoon a prize of three guineas for the best, and a prize of one guinea for the second-best hand machines for dressing flax were contended for by Mr. Smith, who worked his own machine, and Mr. Sigley, who worked Hickton's. The time occupied in working was exactly three-quarters of an Boor ; and

the quantities respectively produced were — by Smith, 4lb. 60z. ; by Sigley, 3lb. 4oz. There appeared to be but little if any difference in the quality of the samples produced, and the prize, we believe, has been since awarded to Smith. It is, however, but fair that we should notice that it was the general opinion of the spectators that the difference in the quantities was the result of Smith's superior skill in working his machine, and that that of Hickton's is capable of producing fully as much if worked by a person equally expert.