CHRISTMAS ENCAMPMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 37

CHRISTMAS ENCAMPMENT.

Dear Demon, — Tbe Dunedin Cycling Club may fairly claim the honour of being the first club in New Zealand to hold an official cyclists' encampment. By the inaugucafcion of this venture the clnb has shown that ifc endeavours to cater not only for ibs raci&g members, bnfc also for those members whose interests lie in other directions. The camp was held during the Christmas holidays, and was such an unbounded success that ifc is to be hoped the club will make the evenb an annual ode The spot chosen for j the camp was delightfully situated at the Taieri j Mouth. The tents were pi-ched at tbe entrance of a sheltered gully, the sides of which were thickly studded with native bush. Down fche bed of the gully a crystal brook murmured on towards the rippling river, whose sandy chores lay a few yards off from fch-J snowy tents. The majority of fche parfcy left town for Hinley on Chrij.tmas Eve with fche intention of rowing down the river thab night, bub whab with punctures and an adverse tide ib was resolved — and carried unaniinou'-ly — to navigate the river next morning. The Holy Eve was therefore joyously spent with Ho&t M'K«gg. N«t day, the early morning row was sweetly refreshing. On arrival afc the mouth the tents were allotted to fche various oceup-ants, and afc the same time each teafc received its past'cular name. No. 1 was called "The Angela' Retreat'"'; No. 2, i " The Larder House" ; No 3, " The Watchers' j Abode"; No. 4, "The Benedicts' Home"; 1 and No. 5, "The Wild Beaafc Show and Temperance Booth." About midday the party j was is creased by several who had cycled down via Brighten. AU the gentler sex were among this parfcy, and they report the road as very fair, oxcopt perhaps the latst mile and a-half neareafc tho mouth. Dinner completed, each one seenvd UDCt-iwiiously to fall into the place for which he or she was most particularly adapted, and everyone evidently determined to hava a thorough good time of ifc. Those who were nob fishing, rowing 1 , swimming, or shooting, were either fern-gathering or playiDg ab the innoccnb game of quoits ; and as ea.ch amusement ssaucd another was at its hetls to take its pl>ce. At eventide there were nob wanting o>u*ical voices to make an echo through the dells, but instrumental music was sa£ly missed. A string bind was expected in the camp, but owing to illnesses its members, along w*th several other cy-cli-ts, were prevented from participating in the camp. On the last day a sm&ll parfcy paid a visit to Taieri Inland, snd in the innocency of youth gathered molluscs, anemone", aid seashells, while their thoughts were far away in the unfathomable depths of the fairy land of love. In such a manner fcbe holiday flitted by like a tale that is told. The camp broko up on Monday afternoon, when nearly all the parfcy took the steamer to Henley, and from there cycled to town. Mi-s Crane, the ge&isl ho-ffcess of fche Coach and Horses, generously provided fcbe returning campers with a fteo fcea as a Cferisrmas box. The weather throughout was windy, bufc Father Sol d d not fail to leave his mark upon the faces of all. There was not a nose but had his crimson flush. The loyal manner in which Mesdames Scofcfc aDd Stokes perfotmed the arduous duties that fell to their lob — as supervisors, chaperanes, &2. — cannot betoo h"gbly commended, and they may rest assured tirit they have the unexpressed thanks of all. — Youre, &c, Wheel. OTAGO WHEEL RACE. The following are the handicaps for the Ofcago Wheel Race: — Yds. Yds. A. R. Barker <... — R. Claikson 195 T. Clirkson — A. T)cy 200 A. G. Mtxwell ... 30 S. J) Minn 200 W. B. Bell 50 A. Holmes 200 G Suth llaad ... 55 J. F. Bell 210 T. Thomson 75 T. Maw 215 L. \V. Graham ... 80 E Crawford 2?0 1). J. Price 110 O J. Home 220 J. Uhalmers 135 W. T. Chalmers ... 220 11. A Foimed ... LEO J. X ILnnil 225 U. M'Kerzo ...150 J. M'ftTullin ' ...225 VV. A Thompson ... 150 H. C Franklin ... 230 J. Rapaon 155 W. Ctarks,on ... 230 D. Rl'Kenz'e ... 165 J. Stewart 235 W. C. Turner ... 170 F. Out-hbert 235 W. A. S. Ferris ... 175 T. B. OhrUtie ... 240 I. Muir ISO A. X Alloo 210 V. kki-nstecn ... ISO G. Mo are 245 T. Double 195 S. Lwsou 250

Systematic deer poaching is stated to be going on in the Nelson district. Largo numbers of does and fawup, a=s well as stags, have, it is reported, been shot lately. The coal export from Westporb for the week ended 3lsfc December wss 2760 tons 12swt. The output for the year has beeu a record one, totalling 293,093 (ons, of which the Westport Oo!»l Company exported 243,630 and the Cardiff Company 14,4*33, an incteaije of over 3Q.QOQ tons n?er ske previous year's oafc^ufc.