BLUESKIN ANNUAL SPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1416, 11 January 1879, Page 7

BLUESKIN ANNUAL SPORTS.

The Blueskin fifth annual sports were held in Mr Bland's paddock, opposite the Saratoga Hotel, on the Ist January. The morning having turned out remarkably fine, there was a tolerably fair attendance of sight-seers from Waikouaiti and other places in that district, as also from Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and tho country around Blue&kin itself, the peoplo as they emerged from tho trains making the Waitati station look quite lively. A great many arrived by conveyances also, so that the different parts of the bush, a short distance from the township, were dotted with small parties of picnickers. At the time the sports commenced from two to three hundred people would be upon the ground. Undoubtedly many more would have been present had the railway arrangements for conveying passengers been more complete. As it wa?, there was only the one paltry pigeon-hole open at the Dunedin station for issuing tickets, and although the secondmorning train was delayedin consequence many were left behind. At Port Chalmers Station the same thing occurred through want of sufficient accommodation. Such bad management should be avoided in future, for people do not like to miss a special holiday trip when they have made up their minds for it. The Committee guaranteed L 25 to be given away in prizes, and they acted up to their promise. Our space will not allow us to give a detailed foot-note to each event respecting the merits of the different competitors ; suffice it to say, then, that the men in each case ran and jumped determined to do their best, the result being in every instance close contests. There was no grumbling or dissatisfaction, the handicapping of the Committee being just, and the starting of Mr Schofield, as also the judging of Mr M'Eachern, up to the mark. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon rain commenced to fall heavily, yet the programme was carried out. Some complaints were made about the roughness of the ground, and to while away the time between each event band music would have been appreciated. A ball was held in the evening at the Good Templars' Hall, something like 60 couples beiig present. Mr G. Imrey acted as M C, the music being provided by Messrs W. aud J. Wilson, oE Palmerston, and Mr Wellsted gratuitously. Subjoined is the prize list : — One Mile Race— lst prizo, £3; 2ud, £1; 3rd, 10s. Eight entries. 1, A Allan ; 2. LI Clark ;3, Paisley. Boys' .Race, under 12 yeais-lst prze, 10s; 2nd, depend upon entry moticy. Kight entries. 1, Heffeian ; 2, J Kochford ; 3, J Mitchell. 100 Yards Raoh— lst prize, £1 ; 2nd, 103. Six en- ! tries. 1, J Bain ; 2, H Downed. Running High Leap—lsl pMze, £1 ; 2nd, 10a Six entries. 1, H Dowuea ; 2, W Lonegin. Jump, 4ft llin, the winner. Grand Raos of the Day (Blueskin Handicap)— Ttree distances Ist distance, 22a yxrda ; mo, 440 yards ; 3rd, feOO yirda. Ist prize, £4; 2nd, £2; 3rd, £1. Six entries. 1, A Allan ; 2, W Lone^an ; 3, C Olarke Running Ho?, Siep, and Jump— lst prize, £1 j 2nd, ioi>. Four entiles let, J Bain ; 2nd, A Sutherland, Winnimr jump, 87 feet. Throwing Uajiubk— lst prize, 16s; 2nd, sa. Seven entriua Ut, A > lark, 68ft lm J 2nd, D Adams, 64ft 9m ; 3rd, J 'cry. St-kdino Uion Leap— l9t prize, 15s; 2nd, ss. four entr.es. Ist, W Lonegan, 3ft Biu ; 2nd, T Muirheul. Twin Hack -Ist prize, £1 ; 2nd, 10s. Four entries, let, G Clark and J Bellar ; 2->d, H Downes and W Lonejrau. Ladies' Race— lst prize, 10s; 2nd, 53. The Com-mitte-meu ran. Four entiles. Ist, J Perry ; 2nd, J Muirhead, Hurdle Rack (300 yards, over four flights of hurdles 2£ft hi)<h)-lßt prize, &i ; 2nd, 10a ; 3rd, ss. Ist, J Bain ; 2nd, W L meean ; 3rd, H Downes. Consolation Handicap (400 yards)— lst prize, £1 ; 2nd, 10s. Two entries, lbt, W Lonegan ; 2nd, H Downe'-.

PICNICS. A number of picnics took place both on the Ist and 2nd instants, and owing to the fine weather were very successful. Several were held in the country places close to the railway lines, and a few on the Peninsula, the journeys there aud back being made on board the steamers and in small boats. The children belonging to the Trinity Wesleyan Church met at the church on New Year's Day, and proceeded by train to Mr Low's, at Anderson Bay. A large number of friends accompanied the school, amongst whom were the Revs. J. J. Lewis and J. S. Smalley, from Christchurch. A halt was made in front of Mr Low's house, and a hymn sung, when cheers were called for Mr Low and his family. The company then repaired to the adjoining paddocks, where capital arrangements had been made for dinner and tea, besides sports of all kinds. During the day friends continued to arrive, and at 3 o'clock the company on the ground could not have numbered less than 1000 persons. The picnic throughout was an unqualified success, and unmarred by any mishap. The members of the Wakari Rangers Volunteer Company held their picnic on New Year's Day, and the proceedings passed off very pleasantly. The Dunedin Naval Cadets and Baud attended, and the latter gave some musical selections. The Port Chalmers Good Templars spent a very enjoyable day at the Friendly Society's Grounds, Glendermid, on the Ist instant. The children of the Sunday Schools connected with ICnox Church had their annual treat yesterday in a paddock at North-East Valley, belonging to James Brown, Esq. There were close upen SOO children present, and some 300 of their friends. A programme of various spelling bees and Scriptural examinations for which prizes were given was carried out, and the day passed off pleasantly. About 6 o'clock in the evening the Rev. Dr Stuart addressed those present, and some hymns were sung, after which the assemblage dispersed. The annual picnic of the St. Matthew's Church Sunday-school was held at Burkes Township, on the Port Chalmers line of railway on Thursday. About 300 children, with the Rev. Mr Byng and their teachers and friends, left by the 11 o'clock train. The day was spent in sports, and the picnic was a thorough success. The party returned to town by the 7 o'clock train. STEAMER EXCURSIONS. The boats provided for excursion trip purposes were, as usual, well patronised. The Hawea, for Oamaru, was the chief attraction, taking 320 persons. The trip p.oved thoroughly enjoyable. The Jane made <t trip to Portobello, aud also steamed around the shipping at the Port ; while the Comarang, which started for the Heads, was unfortunate to get on a mud bank, upon which she remained till next tide in the evening. The Jane, however, relieved her of a number of her passengers. Next day, again, the Comerang made another trip, when she was well patronised, and was more successful than on the previous day. PORT CHALMERS. The first day of the year 1879 was ushered in at Port Chalmers in an appropriate manner, the several steamers, ships, and '

smaller vessels taking part in the celebrar " tion, while the residents of the Port were ' equally demonstrative, Mr Dodson's Port Chalmers Hotel being especially noticeable by a display of beautiful coloured fires, added to which a long row of Chinese lanterns rendered his magnificent building a perfectly beautiful picture. As the bells pealed out eight, the Union Company's steamer Albion opened the ball by burning blue light 3on each yard arm, sending up a magnificent display of rockets, firing a royal salute, and continuously ringing her bell. She was followed by the ships Inver- . cargill, Timaru, Auckland, and • Dunedin; while the New Zealand Shipping Company's barque Mataura was especially noticeable in her display, seamen being stationed on her yard arms burning coloured lights at appropriate intervals, while a brilliant display of, rockets were sent up, and a due amount of guns fired by her crew, under the active superintendence of Mr Bricknell, her zealous- chief officer. Nor were the foreign ships in port : behind the others in making an appropriate display, the American vessels, Helen 1 Angier, Helen A. Holmes and C. _S. Bushnell all joining in the celebration. On the whole the holidays, although thoroughly ceJehrated, have seldom, if ever, passed off in , so orderly a manner &6 they have in the advent • of 1879. The usual midnight and morning services were held in the different churches, and several excursion trips took place, the Union Company's steamer Hawea leaving the Port . loaded with passengers for Oamaru; 'the little '; s.s. Jane making a trip from Dunedin to the' beautiful bays along the harbour, while the' ' Iron Age came down from the upper harbour, the p.s. Coomerang unfortunately taking the ground in transit from Dunedin to the Port. „ The railway line was well patronised, numer- - ous parties going and coming throughout the ; day, which, up to about 3 p.m., was all that, could be desired ; after that it was marked by sharp squalls of heavy rain. . 1