Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 225, 11 January 1877, Page 2

A candidate for admission to the Civil S«rvica spelled juicy "gousy." As he disappointedly tamed away, he said he might have known that it was spelled •* jjoeaay." In the sugar plantations of Natal the large python soaks; is employed to keep down rats and mice.

RAiLWAY EMPLOYEES FETE. «^- — —.. The first of what is iutended to be an annual series of holidays for the railway employ's, was celebrated yesterday by an. cxcti.vion ancf' pic-nic, at which athletic sports were gone into. The weather, which through the day was threatening, bc'.ared as well as it usually does, and with the exception of a few slight showers, the day was fine. A start was made about half-past nine from the station in a long tr.iin, the engine and carriages decked with evergreens, carrying about 300 paopla. Moeraki was reached at 11, and the train, with an extra engine, went down the Port line ; arriving shortly at the spot picked out by an advanced guard, which had preceded them some hours. About half-pa3t twelve the Sports began to the evident satisfaction of a number of Maoris, who had come from the adjacent Kaik. The following were the events : boys' race, Of 100 yards (open to boys under 14). R. Dawson ••• 1 A. Minnie 2 Seven started. All ran well, Dawson winning by about a foot. GUILS* RACE, Of 100 yards (open to girls under 14). Jane Cameron ... ••• 1 Emily Kelly 2 T«.n girls came to the starting-post for this event. The ground being rather wet, tliree of the»> came to grass. Msx's EACH, 100 yards. S. J. Loring 1 B. Dawson 2 Three started. Loring won a good imcc by about half a yard. QTJOITING. T. Hay Mackenzie 1 Alex. Morrison ... ••• 2 Seven entered for this event. YOt*2»G WOMAN 3* KACS, Of 100 yard.s. Emily Kelly 1 li-ai.r -s Six yu;i:ig women started for tiiis race .vith boots Hi. LONG LS.vr. S. M'L:: : re 1 J. M-i\ti-.ck 2 Six ot i.r-i eiitere I. M'lntyre, who is i pretty jti.up.-.-, won after a hard tiusle. mju. lsap. 11. oaurt 1 B. D.iwa:>:i 2 T.tcre wcrj only two competitors. SiXANDIN:? UVJU LSAP. 11. OMj.vl (3Jt. 10.u.) ... 1 E. Bootii ... ... •-• 2 Five entered. Odbert won the first prizj ias:ly. Booth and Trasure tossed up for tiie second prize, the former winning. men's RACE, Of 230 yards. Odbert 1 Wilson 2 Seven started for this race, which, after a good spin, was won by M'Glashan ; Odbert, 2 ; Wilson, 3. There was some dispute about t'lis race, but the judges finally gave the priz-e3 as above. 83Y.-*' KAC3, Of ISO yards (for boys under 18). H Crawford 1 J. Boreham ... 2 Three started, and Crawford just managed to win by about a foot. WOMEN'S RACE, Of 150 yards. I Mrs. Bennett 1 • | Mrs. Robertson 2 Six started for this event. After a ! good deal of abuse from Mother Boreham, who ran more like a cow than a woman, they came in as above. BABY SHOW 3. The prizes, of which there were four, were for babies under four months old, and those under nine months. For the former class, Mr 3. Robertson's and Mrs. Lord's exhibits were first and second respectively ; for the latter, those of Mrs. Cleverly and Mre. Oats. BOYS' THREE-JIGGED RACE, 100 yards. Baker and Crawford... .-- 1 Boreham and M'Auly ... 2 YATJIrTIXG "WITH POiE. J. M'FetricL- ... 1 There were four conpetitors, but the vaulting was very poor. nop, STEP, AN"> JUMP. R. Odbert, 35ft. .. ... 1 R. Trasure, 34ft. Gbj ... 2 Six entries were made for this competition, Odbert winning easily. all-comer's eaoe, 150 yarls. M'Glashan ... ... ... I E. Booth ... 2 Four started, B jofh rushing off with the dead, but rising- the bill M'Glashan

passed him, and w.pn a good racs jby i4yi •'-,. > v " -V • About half-past four, the games bang ended and the prizas given, the party, taking train at the viaduct in two delaehmenfs, "proceeded' on to the main line where the train was made up. . Oamaru was reached at 7.30, and all seemed.to have been delighted, at their day's outing.

THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT. About 200 persons attended the evening entertainment, which was. held in the Masonic Hall (kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. Longford),-and consisted of readings, recitations, and songs. The duet by Messrs. Hannah and Booth — "The Army and Navy"—was exceedingly well rendered, and received welldeserved applause. Mr. Brine's conjuring tricks amused the audience .very much, and no. doubt had he had the proper "fixings" he would have done better, although he succeeded very well in mystifying the loookers on. Mr. Brine also gave a reading from Artemus Ward, which was well received. Mr. Grave recited Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven" in a very creditable manner,, aid received an encore. The laughable farce ("111 Barber die Several") in which Messrs. Carncross, Corliss, Oaks, and C. J. Harris kept the audience in roars of laughter, the acting of Mr. Carncross as the Barber being particularly good. The farce brought the real'y enjoyable entertainment to a close, which we are sure must have given satisfaction to everyone present. After half an hour's respite, dancing was commenced, about twenty couples taking part, and was kept Tip with great spirit till half-past 1 o'clock tins