CLYDE

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 29

CLYDE

! April 10. — The sports held here on Easter i Monday were a great success, an unusually j large number of spectators being present. The gamps were well contested, there being no lack of competitors in the several events, and particularly so in the ioot races. The day was gloriously fine, though during the forenoon a stiff , breeze was blowing, and sand and dust were much in evidouceT By the time the sports were well under way, however, the wind had given out, delightfully pleasant weather prei vailing during the afternoon. Amongst the j competitors in the cycling events were wellI known riders from almost every district in Central Otago, whilst the honoui of American j cycling was in the safe keeping of Mi Allan Jones, who won the half-mile cycling event in what may be termed record time for Central Otago. The handicappers apparently gauged the capabilities of the competitors very nicely, though the wisdom of conceding a limit of 15 yards in the 100 yds race is open to grave I doubt. It is simply putting a premium upon | incompetence, foi in the event of the limit man being free from sciatica and kindred ailments, he is about certain to keep his back upon the scratch man ovei the entire distance. I don't think that any sprinter would ever enter for tne 100 yds event with the expectation of such a limit from the man on scratch. Such concessions, at all events, are not in the' best mii terests of foot-racing, and I hope the Clyde Sports Club will perceive the wisdom of with- , holding them in the 100 yds races at future | meetings. With this one exception, I think J the handicappers, as stated before, gauged the capabilities of the competitors very nicely, coni sequently the running was very good. The I starter had no very easy task in carrying out | his duties ; but Mr J. M. Stauntou was mani- ! -festly the man in the right place, his start- ! ing being quite a feature of the well-contested j events. The judge's decisions, save in one instance — the Rabbiters' Race — met with general approval. The programme was put through in nice time, the committee managing to keep matters on the move, not allowing much timo to intervene between any two events. This, as may be supposed, was much appreciated by j the public, who never seemed to lose interest | in the constant round of events. Mi A. E. i Gye made a very efficient secretary, and to his ! energy is due much of the success that charac-. ! terised this latest meeting of the club. A conj cert and dance took place In the Town Hall during the evening, the attendance at both being unusually large. Found. — Tne body of Alexander Patrick, who was drowned recently by falling into the river while working near the Hartley and Riley's dredge, was foand below Clyde yesterday. The features were, I am told, still recognisable, j though the body had been in the river for nearly three weeks. An inquest will be held. Game. — I had thought the opening of the duck-shooting season had been altered to Ist 1 May, but now it appears that such is not the j case, for behold! the shootist is abroad, and the ducks are brought home in well-filled bags. I notice that Californian quail are very numerous throughout this district, I myself having counted as many as i 72 in one covey. I hope the Acclimatisation | Society will include this district amongst those in which quail may be shot during the incoming season. Paradise duck are now very I scarce here, and I think the society should ! make a final effort at preventing the total cxi tinction of this beautiful duck. The gun laws ' may have the effect of preventing such wholeBale slaughter of game generally -as has been carried out in the past. The wonder is where the • gun license laws come into force. One thing is certain, they will come none too soon, and, in my opinion, the age at which young men may bs permitted to carry firearms should be raised from 16 to 18 years. The ducks are now almost constantly on wing owing to the scare given them by the pot-shooting fraternity. Is there no way of limiting the number of ducks that may be taken by one shootist during a day's sport? > Valuations. — The annual valuations of rateable property within the borough of Alexandra, just made, show an increase of somo £1400 on the values of the previous year. The borough council may now honestly go. in for a water-supply scheme, though, verily, the valuations might still beai a further increase; but possibly the increase will be noted in due time, though many of the residents may say, " Sufficient foi the day is the evil thereof." Mind Derangement.— Mr William Williams, a very old resident of this district, was committed to the asylum last week. It is thought I the derangement will be only temporary. I 1 "hope this is likely to be the case, as the dej sire is general to see our old friend himself I again and back amongst us in his customary 1 good health.