NEW YEAR'S DAY AMUSEMENTS. CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 323, 1 January 1863, Page 5

NEW YEAR'S DAY AMUSEMENTS. CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

The great point of attraction during DuncdinV. ■ high holiday, will we presume, be that portion of- • the Grange Estate which has been lent by Mr.. J. H. Harris for the first gathering of the Cale- j donian Society of Otago ; the games promoted j by which Society commence to-day, at noon. We can not only pardon any amount of clanuishne.= s on the part of true Scots, but we desire to see the most earnest possible manifestation of that feeling-, in promoting the success of this first gathering, and so firmly establishing the Societ\r ; for we are sure that there will be. the most willing co-operation on the part of a large proportion' of the new comers to the colony.Englishmen are generally thankful for the excuse for holiday' keeping: and vre are confident that, within 'fair-limits, any body of men is benentted by doffing; aside the cs.res of business, and " going in" for junketing and fun. Here in Otugo, we want a few days in the year which shall be recognised as specially set apart for no business but that of pleasurc-sec;l:iug; and the recurrence of the meetings of the Society, with its games, purely English as well as Scotch, 1 would prove suc-h d^ys, on which the different sections of our community might well combine for a common object. We cannot doubt • the success of the sports to-day and to-morrow — ! provided only that the weather he passably fair. '. The Committee have worked most strenuously; and they have made arrangements on the ground which ought to prove satisfactory. There is ajrtbstantial ■ a-j^ commodious grand, stand, whence, 1,000 persons may sec in comfort all the struggles of the competitors; and this stand has been tastefully decorated with flags and evergreens. There are bars, whence refreshments are to be dispensed, with special provision for the comfort of ladies. There are good arrangements for securing order in the contests, including a goodly number of stewards; \ and there is a long array of judges, wh <m it will 1 be well for us to name, as a help to visitors. They are as follow: Ilighlaud Keel and Dnncing: Messrs A. G. Allen, A. T. Campbell, M'Pherson, C. M'Leod, and Birch. Light Hammer.and Stone, and Heavy Hammer and Stone : Messrs Bevcrley, A. Miller, H. Murray, John Furgie, and fi. Patterson. .Foot (and other) Races, and Hitch and Kick ; Messrs A. M-Landress, H. Miller, J. Fargie, Birch, and Lang, Vaulting with Pole : Messrs M'Landress, Miller, Fargie, Birch, Lang, and Stott. Wrestling : Messrs M'Cubbiu, Little, and Gavan. Quoits : Messrs A. M'Leod, Murray, Kennedy, and Meicklc. Hop, Step, and Jump, Standing High Leap, and ltunning High Leap : Messrs M'Cubbin, • Shillinglaw, and Mumford. ■ Tossing the Caber : Messrs Kennedy, Miller, Murray, and Campbell M'Leod. Best-dressed in Highland Costume : Messrs M'Pherson, and Fargie. Sword Exercises : Officers to be named by Mr Inspector AVeldon. Music: Mr M'Pherson, with another to be named on the ground. In addition to the great variety of games we have mentioned there will be both to-day and "to-' morrow rumrng in sacks, races by boys, " auld wife's" races for quarter-chests of tea, and other contests of the amusing class. It only remains to be said that Kohler's band will be in' attendance on c.cli day ; and that the Society has for its patrons, a host of the best men of the city, headed by his Honor the Superintendent. OTHER.- AMUSEMENT 3. The Vauxhall Gardens compete with the Caledonian Gathering for public favor .tc-day at least, seeing that prizes for all sorts of games are announced, and that special arrangements (which wo have before mentioned) have been made by the manager, Mr Hctherington, to secure their success. There will be a balloon ascent at seven o'clock in the evening, and another at ten o'clock; and .the band will be strengthened, to meet the wishes o those who may desire to enjoy a dance in the spacious, substantial, and elegant rotunda. It is announced that Mr Farley has arranged for the punctual starting of the Nugget steam«r, in her trips to and from the Gardens—a matter which we felt precty sine would not long escape the necessary supervision. There is to be a repetition in the yard of the Commercial Hotel, High-street, of the games which proved so attractive on Boxing Day; and the Quoiting Match for the silver cup is likely to be specially interesting, seeing that the players inclcdp Strachan and Turkell, and William and Henry, Smith. Miss Harriet Gordon and Mr Hyde ought to secure a laige audience at the New Masonic Hall (opposite tlie Government Offices, Princes-street) for their musical and dramatic entertainment has a good programme. It consists of two " Protean sketches," entitled " The Norton Family," and " The Two Green finches," with a musical melange as an interlude. Seven or eight favorite '■ sonjiS are included. ; . The Theatres offer the attractions of the pantoI'mimes," The; Babes in the Wood|" and "The , I Maid and the Magpie," and each house will, 1 doubtless, be well attended. ■ ■ - ~ - ■ ■ At the Oddfellows' Hall'there is to bo a ball, ! under the same management as that which gave 1 so much satisfaction to those who attended on ; "Boxing night." We understand that the steamer Betsy Douglas , has born chartered for a trip on the Tuieri JBiver, I a similar excursion on Boxing Day, when the steamer ran down to tha Taieri Heads, having given great satisfaction. i A matter, i;ot of amusement, but certainly of ! interest and o>" novelty, will be the Ijiunph of the iron steamer, belonging to Mr Douglas, which has . been put together on the shore of Pelichet Bay, near the Jetty—the time fixed for the launch being about half-past one o'clock.