SOUTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2739, 31 December 1881, Page 2

SOUTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

A meeting of the members of this society was held last evening at the Grosvenor Hotel ; present: Mr D. Maclean (chairman), Messrs Bell, D. Stuart, Ligertwood, J. King, R. Stewart, A. Davidson, J. Davidson. Meikle, Evans Sinclair, J. Fraser, Dr Macdonald, and Mr W. L. Whitcombe, secretary. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, a letter was read from the Inspector of Police, in reply to an application of the secretary, promising to send a number of constables to assist in maintaining order on the grounds on the occasion of the sports. The sub-committee appointed for the purpose reported that the services of the T. A. V. Band had been engaged for the day at a reasonable amount. The Ground Committee reported that satisfactory arrangements had been made for the use of Green’s paddock as the place for holding the sports, and for the erection of a dancing stage and a covered stand to accommodate about 300 people. The following gentlemen were appointed to act as judges and stewards for the music and dances: —Messrs

A. Sinclair, Ligertwood, J. Fraser, Gunn, McPherson, O’Driscoll, Poff, Spillane, Flaherty, G. Hunter, James McDonald, and Dr Macdonald. Messrs Sinclair and Ligertwood were appointed programme stewards. The following judges were appointed for general games :—Messrs Meikle, Bell, Evans, D. Stuart, McKer* row, It. Stewart, Bruce, T. R. Jones, Wildie, Capt. Mills, Pringle, Stumbles, McGill, Kidwell, and Dr Macintyre. Messrs Evans, Meikle, and D. Stuart, to be programme stewards for general games. Mr Bell was appointed starter for the races, and Mr Meikle timekeeper. Messrs D. Stuart and Sinclair were deputed to secure the services of a fiddler for the hornpipe and jig dancers. It was resolved to charge non-

members 2s, and members and children

Is for admission to the stand, and Mr t Stuart was authorised to arrange for checks and checktakers. Mr Sinclair undertook to see about flag poles and a caber. The Ground Committee were requested to provide seats for ladies round the “ ring.” A letter from Mr Uprichard, Secretary to the Terauka Sports’ Committee, was read, asking this Society to settle a dispute relative to hammer throwing. A throws first, and making a good throw stands out ; B follows and beats A. The question was whether A had a right to three more trials or to two only, making three with his first. The Society not having a copy of the Caledonian rules, the writer was referred to the Dunedin Society. It was decided, however, that at theJSociety’s games, as last year, each man should only have three throws altogether, except in case of a tie for a prize, when three throws would be allowed to decide the tie. The same rule to apply to putting the stone and tossing the caber. It was decided that the Society, headed by the pipers and band, should leave the Grosvenor Hotel at half past ten sharp, and proceed straight to the grounds. The games to commence at 11 sharp. The meeting then terminated.

Given suitable weather the Caledonian gathering at Timaru for the year 1882, ought to be a most succesful one. For the sake of the working members of the Caledonian Society, it should be so, for they have worked most energetically and with a determined purpose to make the meeting a success. Fears are entertained that the ground chosen for the gathering is too limited, but if it is proved to be so the same proof will substantiate the fact that the day’s sports attracts a large gathering, for the ground is not absolutely a small one. Hitherto this annual festival has been one of the most enjoyable of the year, and the same character may be prophesied of the meeting on Monday, so far as human agencies can secure it. We anticipate a large attendance, provided, as aforesaid, the weather is not unfavorable. We must put in a word for the visitors, that is, Stewards of the games : Pray lose no time between the events. Your programme is a long one. Hurry up the competitors, and let ever3 T onc get home to tea at a reasonable hour.