Anniversary Sports.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 166, 24 January 1888, Page 2

Anniversary Sports.

The forty-eighth anniversary of the landing of the first settlers at Wellington was celebrated yesterday at l’abiatua in the usual manner, viz., by sports. Although rain fell during the previous night and early in the morning, the day was a very pleasant one, if anything slightly cold when the suu was hidden behind the clouds. There was a good gathering, Woodville being exceedingly well represented both in competitors and spectators. Taking yesterday's spurts in comparison wuh those of previous years we are inclined to think that they were not so good, ami this \ius principally owing to the Committee leaving everything to the last moment. Nothing seemed to be ii. its place at the proper time, hut perhaps the previous day being Sunday will in some measure account for tins. At all events we are willing to give the Committee the benefit of the doubt, but trust that every etTort will be made on future occasions to have everything at hand, so that the same drawbacks may not occur again. One tiling specially we must take exception to, and tiiat is the crowding of a few around the jumping matches, Ac., completely shilling out the competitors from the view of ladies and others. Some decided stand should lie taken in this direction, and if once ; t is thoroughly understood w here the spectators arc expected to take their places, then will one and all he able to witness what is going on. There is also great danger if spectators are allowed to crowd around competitors in such events as tossing the caber, putting the stone, and throwing the hammer ; and it is just a miracle that someone was not killed yesterday while the latter was taking place, the head of the hammer coining off, but fortunately it was low down at the time and rolled along the ground instead of going through the air; it passed within a shaving of several children's leg> as it was.

Mr \Y. Stewart had a publican's booth on the ground, and Mr Hicks u refreshment stall, botli of which seemed to do a fair trade. There were one or two of tho “ pop-it-on” gentry, hut business was slow, notwithstanding that one of the proprietors assured the as-emblage that lie had played with dukes, earls, and all the titled gentry of England. The Woodville Band was in attendance, and played several times during the day. Messrs Davie. ('. Avery, and Crimp gave every satisfaction as handicappers, und they certainly deserve a word of praise for the manner in which they placed the runners in the handicap events. Messrs Birnie, Ileese, Miller, G. Avery, and llutcheii (secretary) were most energetic in superintending the various items on the programme. The following is the programme gone through : Maiden flat ltaee—2oo yards—first prize, A'l ; second, 10-; entrance, 2s. Itiuigi ... ... ... ... 1 Wareham ... ... ... 2 J. Brown. E. Brown, A. McKeuuy, and \Y. MeCardle also ran. Hop. Step, nr.d Jump—First prize, 4:1; second. 10s; entrance. 2s. Jeremiah. 30ft Min ... ... 1 Nini, 87ft lin... ... ... 2 H. Gower likewise jumped, but the Maori* were too much for him. Throwing the Hammer—First prize; 41, second, 10s; entrance. 2a. \V. Murray. MKft 9in... ... 1 E. B.xirke, CMft ... ... t M. Murray al*o contested. Tho win tier pulled oil the same event his tear

with MM* —in fact his fintt throw on ooth occasions was sufficient. UK) yards Handicap—First prize, il; second. 10s ; entrance, 2*. Williams. syds ... ... 1 Gaininan. sch ... ... 2 C. Oscar 12yds. IL Hughee and W. MeCardle 9yds, E. Richardson and \\ arehum syds. Iwuii'i and T. Ldwitrd* 3 \ d». also Blurted. Tossing the Caber —First prize. XI ; second, 10s; entrance, 2s. Prues given by Mr Stewart. W. Murray ... ... ... 1 \V. Stewart ... ... ... 2 There were two other competitors, hut the caber was altogether too heavy for them. The winners got it over th<* first try, but the throw off resulted in tax or of Murray. Boys’ Three-legged Race—Prize, 10s. Won by J. Boydeti aud 11. Vile. 440 yards I (me heap—Firs* prize. XI 10s; second, 10s; entrance, 3s. B. Keats, 30yds ... ... 1 Will.aiiis, sch... ... ... 2 Edwards, sell, an 1 Richardson, 15yds, also ran. The race was almost a certainty to tin* former, hut he was in some win tripped by Richardson just before reaching the winning post. Running High Jump First prize. XI 10s; second, 15s; entrance, its. - W. Richardson and L. Hughes tied at 4ft 1 lin and divided the stakes. Carollo 4a professional gymnast) and Jeremiah also contested. Handicap Hurdle Race, 220 yards, over five hurdles—First prize, XI 10» ; second, 10s; entrance, 3s. \V. Richardson ... ... 1 T. Edwards ... ... ... 2 Williams, Jeremiah, Bain, and Kangi were likewise competitors. Putting the Stone—First prize. XI . second, 10s ; entrance, 2s. Corollo, 31ft B|in ... ... 1 Governor (Maori) ... ... 2 Handicap Walking Race. 1 Mile— First prize, XI 10s; second prize, 1.75; entrance, 2s. N. McDonald, sell ... ... 1 L. Libean, 25yds ... ... 2 Beagley and T. Hughes, 75\Js each, started, hut never saw the finish. The winner showed fine form, and could not ho touched, although Libeau walked remarkably well. Wrestling, Scotch and Cumberland Styles—First prize, X2 ; second, Xl; ontrance, ss. Prize# given by Mr W. Stewart. Abraham (Maori) ... ... 1 Bain (brother to the runner) 2 This was a most exciting contest. \V. Murray and Haka also taking part. Bam subdued Haka and Abraham did ditto with Murray after a severe struggle ; then the contest lay betweefi the two victors, or in other words between Bantam uird Shanghai. Abraham is of enormous build, with strength in proportion, whilst Bain is a little mail, but wiry notwithstanding. The contest was an uneven one, and although Bain succeeded iu throwing his opponent once, Abraham soon wound him up. Handicap Milo Race—Fir»t prize, X2 10s; second, XI ; entrance, ss. T. Edwards, 100yds... ... 1 B. Keats. 100yds 2 Bain, scratch, Higgins and Jeremiah, ! 1 1 1 v Standing High Jump—First prize, Xl; second, 10s ; entrance, 2s. E. Hughes 1 Corollo ... ... i 4 H. Hughes ... ... , ) Vaulting w ith Poll First 11 ii. . 1 1 10s ; second, 10s ; entrance, 2s. E. Hughes 1 Governor ... ... ... 2 Jeremiah, H. Hughes, rtml J. Hughes also competed.