Sports at Palmerston.

Otago Witness, Issue 1682, 16 February 1884, Page 22

Sports at Palmerston.

Tho athletic sports held at Palmerston on Friday drew together a iirge crowd of the townspeople and hettlers round about ; and altogether thoy pasatd oil very Fuccos&fully. The programme, which might be regarded as somewhat impromptu, had been arranged specially with the view of procuring the attendance of the celebrated athlete, Donald Dinnio ; and it was no doubt owing to his appearance on tho ground that there was so good a turn-out of tho public. The presence of Matheson and Anderson, of Caledonian sports fame, and other wellknown competitors, tended to iend additional interest to the games. Of music, too, there was no lack, the soul-inspiring strains of Scotia's national instrument, discoursed at frequent intervals, playing sad havoc with the heait of more than one of tho tiueborn Highlanders who were present. Among the pipers present was Mr D. Gray, the present champion, and one or' two more whom the average musical Highlander would go a long way to see. Among the dancers there were also several competitors from a distance, and the principal honours foil to the lot of an Oamaru representative, who beat Donald Dinnie at the Highland fling. In feats of strength, however, such, as throwing the hammer, tossing the caber, &c, Dinnie was facile priaceps. The easy manner in which h,e disposed of his opponents by sheer strength at wrestling created much amusement. One of the contestants who had the honour of an encounter with tho celebrated Donald, after his nether limbs had described a series of gyrations in the air, aud the broad of bis back had been brought gently into contact with mother eaxth, was heard to declare that "he was a regular terror, and one never know what ho wa« going to do with him till it was all over." At both the hammer-throwing aud putting the stone Dinnie was also very successful. Ho was in far better condition than when ho contested at tho Caledonian sports, and surpassed his New Year's performances' considerably. Matheeon and Anderson, on, tho otlu'r hand, did not aoem to [.orfmm so well. Though Dinnie allowed them liberal handicaps in all tho events, they, could not come near him ; while in the mono-putting they weio both bisaten by a local m;\n. Anderson dues not soein to have lecovered from a hurt bustained to his ami while competing at Christchutch a short", time ago, aud Mathoson did not appear in his usual form. The other events in which these competitors did not take

part were not of much interest. Tho management on the wholo was good, tho secretary being specially energetic ; but the Committee plight have shown a groat deal more expedition in getting the various contests decided. Appended aye the results of the various events contested up to the time when our reporter left :— Handicu- Fi,at Race, 220 yds. D lUin (Sir.itc l i) •.. .. • .. 1 W Hid (scratch; .. .. ..2 There woro e-ght nitrica. Hill dil not appear to put forth his best endeavour. TinwwK'.a tiii; llbav? Hammer. D Dinnie (99r. Wo) .. .. ..1 J D Anderson (75ft) . . . . '-I W lUUtheson w\=3 the only other competitor. lliohlaxd Fung (in Cokm/mb). J) Biut .. .. .. .. 1 » binnio .. .. „2 D Frame, J M'Kay, jnn. II W'Brcwn, and R Brown, jun, alao competed. Jiurt is an Oamaru reprebeutatho. TIIHOWISG THE LICtIIT HAMMER. D Dini)ie(lUft 10m) .. .. 1 J l> Andwson(9Sft 2in) .. ..2 Matiheoou also com; eted. PUTIISO TIIK lIDAVT STOXK. D Dinnie (3«f', 4m) „ .. ..I 8 Ashley (31tt lOirj) .. ..2 Amleibon and Miuheson also competed The atone was übout 2'b bulow the regulation weight. PUTTING Till! LIOUT fcTONK. D DiunJe (4 l )i!t snj .. .. ..1 S Ashley (•lOr-; lliu).. .. ..2 Mathcsou, Andtrson, and P Riusoll wero the othoicumpoMtois. HIGULASD KF.Er.. JDS Hurt .. .. ..1 J il'Kfcy .. .. .. ..2 Vt'RKSTDIXa (CUMBKRIiASD S'rrLU). Donal 1 Dionio .. .. ..1 W Alatheson . . „ . . 2 Hciity Uro .. .. ..3 S Ash'ey, Ai»cliis'M, P llus'.aU, J Orbcll, J Ma<thevss, and \V Daune r.lso nompeterl. Uinuio Jihrew oiao afi,cr anothuv of nis opponents with tho greatdbt cose. . SiiLOK's XL im'iPE. JDS Burt . . . . . . 1 X lirjwn .. .. . .. i 410 YD3 Flat Kace. J Sutheiland . .. ..1 W lull .. .. .. ..2 I) Bain .. .. .. .. S Su hcrland had boon too liberally treated by the handicappors. aad won sotneivhat comfortably from Hill. Ohk mtli: Y\,\t Kaok. Jamos Ste,\avt .. .. „1 Ku-wli .. .. .. ..2 Thomas Hollows . . . . . . 3 IT Uto also started. 'J he winner had .in ea«y aiyle, which carried him through in safety. Ho won easily in slow time. TOSSIKO THE CABKR. Donald Dinnie . . .. .. 1 W ilAthesou . . . . . . 2 The caber consisted of a bluogum tree with the branches lopptd elf. Though of considerable weight and not well adapttd for thu purpose, Dinnio wns auccehstul in ovf rturning it ; but neither Matheson nor Audercon could turn it aftor a foot had buen tawn oif the thinner end.