CALEDONIAN GAMES IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1312, 30 January 1868, Page 3

CALEDONIAN GAMES IN AUCKLAND.

Thb institution of these famous games in Auckland 7-t» successfully inaugurated yesterday in Mr. Buekland'e paddock, Newmarket.' Happily the day was jyanarkably fine, and this, combined with the occasion itatif, the twenty-eighth anniversary of the Province —wa» sufficient to induce a large number of holiday seekers to assamble upon the ground. At onp time there could not have been fewer thrn 30CO persons present. The grand stand was literally crowded with spectators, the myority being of the fairer sex, and the lively intereot manifested by them in the proceedings tended considerably to heighten the successful reeult of this first attempt to institute there manly athletic games of the old country in Auckland. Undoubtedly considerable praise is due to the gentlemen who' have been entrusted with the preparat And preliminary management, and who have ions severed manfully in the face of every obstacjeperand difficulty in bringing the affair to a suoceaifal termination. It was only natural to expect w/.c occasion of a first attempt, partaking very muoh of the character of an experiment, that many drawbacks would arise which could not have been foreseen, but on the whole we have to "congratulate the committee on the success tint has attended their efforts. One drawback that was experienced was the extreme difilculty cf keeping the spectators from crowding in upon the space reserved for the band, the judges, and the competitors. Measures were taken to keep the ■pace clear, and several horsemen kept daehing about in all directions, very often with more zeal than discretion. Messrs. B. Graham, Captain Fraser, T. B. ( GKlliea, Mclntosh, Mcttae, and A. Boreridge and others, were indefatigable in the performance of their duties as judges of the sports; it needed all the t«ct aud skilful management of these gentlemen to avert ill-feeling arising among the crowd. Mr. T. Macfarlane, as onfi of the judges, like a very Atlas, poriormed a. multiplicity of onerous duties during the diy, and to his skilful and energetic superintendence muoh of the success of these games is attributable. A small bedy of the police, under Mr. Commissioner Naughtorj, also rendered valuable assistance. We must not omit to mention that the fine band of the 18th Regiment, under Mr. Quinn, enlivened the proceedings by playing several choice selections at inteivals during the sports. The following was the programme of sports gone through:— TOOT 84C8.— PBIZB £1. This wag a foot race; distance, 300 yards, for boys mnder 15. The competitor* were Q. Weyte, P. Mahoney, F. Sullivan, H. Browning, B. JPurchas, E. Saunders, N : . Oord, Q. White and Jft. Kelly, the first mentioned being the winner. The next erent iu SOOT BACK, 300 TABDS, PRIZE £2. There were six competitors, W. Hughes, S. Smith, Shaw, J. Regan, MoShaoe and Savell. The winner, W. Hughes, is a Maori, and his Tunning was gieatly admired. PIATIKe THB BAGPIPES. Vor this there were three competitors—Messrs. H. McOrae, J. Ferguson t and D. Frazer, the prize being £5, entrance sb. The affair -was most interesting throughout and the competitors proved tbemeelres to be no ordinary performers on this instrument, whoee tunes are ever so dear to the ear of a Scotchman. Indeed, th-ir accomplishments proved that Us capabilities are too often underrated, and the majority of tho«e who heard it yesterday could hardly havo conceived that mueic, at once so harmonious and agreeable, could have been produced with it. Several pibrochs, reels, and marches W * T ?. P' a ye<3, and so evenly balanced were the abilities of the respective competitors that the even' had to le repeated. Mr. H. McCrae was ultimately declared tho -winner.

THBOWING THE HAMMEB.—PBIZB £2. This event excited a good deal of interest. There were three competitors — Messrs. D. Molntyre (winner), W. Stirling, Carburgh, and Montgomery. The wineer ie a man of fine powerful athletio build, ana is said to have won many eimilar prizes in this and the neighbouring ooloniee. rUTIINQ THE STONO. PBIZB £2. This event was very eimilar to the last, McTntyro again proving the viotor. The other competitors were W. Stirling, Brennan, and Byrne. DANCING THE BWORD DAHCB. —PBIZB i>3. Mr. Ferguson performed this danco in a very finished and graceful style, that was muoh admired, but as no other competitor appeared, wo understand that no prize wns awarded. THE 11EST DBKBSED HIGHLANDER. —P 817.8 £-. This event excited considerable interest umongst the spectators, and considering the difficulty of procuring the necoeeary costume at euch a distance from the "land o" Cakes," the dress was mor.t croditablo to the competitors. When the idea of instituting thes3 games in Auokland was mooted some months a"O it waa urged as one of the principal obstacles in the way of their success, that it would bo impossible to procure tho High and costume, but the result has certain , ? shown that this was an error, and no doubt hs these games become more and more popular, und more firmly established as one of our yearly red-letter days, in the mutter of costume we shall not be behind other places. Four competitors entered, Messrs. D. Fraser, J. O. Ferguson, and Whitelaw een. andjun. Tho first-mentioned wae handsomely dressed in the complete Highland costumo, and was declared the winner. DANCING THE EEEL OP TT/LLOCH. There waeno prize awarded for this event. Messrs. Fraser Fergusson, and Whitlaw sen. and jun., danced this favorite reel in a etjle rarely witnessed in tho antipodes. BOSS DBESoED IN THB HIGHLAND COSTUME. This was not originally set down in the programme, but was got up on the ground by Mr. Beveridge, ono of the judges. The following prizos wore awarded : ; w. a. Murray, 12s. 6d,; J. Cunningham, 7s. 6d.; and 7s. 6d. to a son of Mr. Angus, of Newmarket. TOOT RACE ONB MIIiB. — FRIZB £3. This Was perhaps the most interesting and moat closely contested event of the day. The following came to the starting point:—Messrs. Houlahin. J. Farrell, R. Noonin, Gallaghan, 18th U.I. Heath, Kirk, Steralter, McNioll, Hilditch, and W. Hughes, a native. The last mentioned kept the lead for a long time, and the race seemed all his own until within a quarter of a milo of th* finish, when he fell out, and the race lay between Gallejjhan and Farrell. The latter,'however, followed tho example of the Maori, leaving Gallaghan, who is a eoldier of the 18th, to win with ease. THREE-liEGGED BACB. —PRIZE £2.

This race created considerable amusement. Two gets* of competitors entered, Messrs. Hogan and Ada'ms, and Heath and Methane, the former whowere evidently au fait at the novel kind of locomomation, winning easily. For the benefit of the uninitiated we may explain that the left mid right legs of theco-compatitore are fastened together. TILTING AT TUB EING. —PRIZE £3The following wore the competitors: Messrs. llaeara, Anderson, T. Bobertson, J. Wylie, H. Gillan, T. Boyce, G. Henderson, Griffiths, V. Wells, J. Smith, O. Robartson, .Gray. Mr. F. Wells was the winner of this prize of a lengthened and well contested exhibition of skill. VAULTING WITH Tflß POLE. There were no competitors for this event. RUXNIKQ HIGH WEAP, PBIZB £2. The following entered (or this prize:— Messrs. J. Began, (winner) Mills and Adam. HURDLE BACE, PIUZE £2. This was won easily by McShaane, tho other conif eiitors bring JJoonin, Curtin aud Mumford. HOP STKP AND JUMP —PRIZE £2. The following competitors entered :—O. KoUeher (winner), W. Bell, W. Murphy, and hColditchDAJfCECO THE HIGLAND FLING. —PIUZE £2. This was e most interesting event, and all the dancers acquitted themselves ably. Two gentlemen entered —Messrs. Whitelaw, jun., and J. C. Fergueson, the latter being the winner. Mr. Whitelaw, sen., had also originally entered for this event, and after the first competitor appeared he withdrew, but in obedience to the cheers of the spectators, he took his place on the platform, and went through ono of the stepe of this well known dance in a manner

that showed that the light of other days had not altogether faded. It is needless to say that he was enthusiastically applauded. Tho next event was a SACK HTTBDL.B BACK. PRIZE £2, which was won by MoShane, the other competitors being Noonin and Kirk. There were not enough competitors for throwing the caber, the broad-sword exercise, and wrestling. QT/OIT MATCH.—PRIZE £3. The following players competed for this prize : — Meears. Stirling (winnor), Mahoney, M. Ward, W. Wilion, Q. Smith, l>. Giubb, J. Dodd, and M. Davis. The sports were.successfully concluded by abfut 6 o'olock, when the large crowd of spectatois slowly dispersed to their several homes.