PRINCE OF WALES' BIRTHDAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3309, 9 November 1883, Page 2

PRINCE OF WALES' BIRTHDAY.

This festival had been looked forward to, and prepared for, by all manner of citizens loyal or otherwise. The appearance of the sky in the early morning gave no cheering promise, and it was feared that the day would prove wet and spoil all the projected sports fetes and picnics. However the air gradually cleared up, and people went more cheerfully about their holiday preparations. The annual picnic of the Wesleyan Sunday School was duly carried out; the scholars with their teachers mustering at the Schoolroom at nine o’clock and thence marching in procession down to the railway station, where a special train took them to Normanby, The officers of the Tradesmen’s Athletic Club were astir be-times, and made every preparation for the event of the day. The Drum and Fife Band of the Public School, under Mr Ligertwood, having been engaged to play during the day, mustered at the Grosvenor Hotel, and were thence marched to the old Show Grounds, the little fellows in their neat uniforms attracting a good deal of pleased attention as they went. A large marquee had been erected on the Barnard street hall ground, and preparations were being made for the temperance festivities of the day. Besides these public organised proceedings, numbers of private parties left town by road for a day’s outing. TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE. At one o’clock the Temperance Conference opened in the Primitive Methodist Church. Mr Knud Sando presided and there were present the following delegates from various Good Templar Lodges, Blue Eibbon Army stations, and other organisations:—Messrs Graham, Smith, Goldsmith, McKee, Barker, Jenkins, Osborn, Caldwell, Proctor, Walcot, Potter, Sando, Miller, Waite, Anderson, Thompson, Cooper, Lynch, McCaskill, Chandler, Goodey, Davies, Maslin, Revs. Hayes and McLennan. Mr Sando opened the proceedings by giving out one of Moody and Sankey’s collection of hymns, and reading the 10th chapter of the Epistle to Eomans, after which the Rev Mr McLennan offered a prayer suitable for the occasion. The Chairman then explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of I considering the best means for bringing about union of all the temperance bodies, and far promoting a political organization which should be able to influence the elections and secure legislatian in favor of temperance ; and the proper administration of existing licensing laws. The meeting then proceeded to discuss the various matters brought before them. TIMAEIT TEADESMEN’S SPORTS. The Timaru Athletic Club's annual sports took place to-day on the Old Show Grounds, Elizabeth street, but in consequence of numerous attractions elsewhere the attendance was at first very meagre. As the day wore on it improved considerably, and towards two o’clock, the numbers might be estimated at about five hundred. The sports which were advertised to take place at 11 o’clock, did not commence till close on 12 ; and a good deal of impatience wac manifested at the delay in starting. The gloomy aspect of the weather, last evening and this morning, threatened to sadlyinterfere with the day’s proceedings, but, taking into consideration the distinguished personage in whose honor the day is set apart, the clerk of the weather relented. The refreshment booths apparently did a good business. The utmost good order prevailed, so that for once, at all events, the policeman’s lot was a, happy one. The Public School Drum and Fife Band were in attendance and assisted greatly in enlivening the proceedings by playing several selections during the intervals 1 The following are the events : Prince of Wales’ Handicap, in three distances. First prize, £8 ; second do, £5 ; third do, £2, To be decided by points. First distance—looyds. J. Murphy (scratch) ... ... ... 1 Neil Austin (4yds) 2 B. Nichols (7yds) 3 For this event five only faced the starter. After a false start, the five got fairly away together. After half the distance had been run, the race was virtually over, for Murphy quickly assumed the lead followed by Austin and Nichols in the above order. 100 Yards Handicap, for Boys under 12. Kirby ... ... ... ... ... 1 Drummond ... 2 Allen ... ... 3 Prince of Wales’ Handicap—Second distance, 200yds, Organ (3yds) 1 Austin 10yds) ••• 2 Nichols (13yds) ... 3 This was one of the best races of the day, the three placed men coming in so closely together that considerable difference of opinion was entertained as to their exact order. Two Miles Walking Handicap. Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd do, £2 ; 3rd do, £1 J. M. O’Connor (scratch) 1 T. Clark (230yds) 2 There were only two acceptors for this event, which resulted iu a walk over for O’Connor, who quickly overhauled his opponent and came in an easy winner by thirty or forty yards. Prince of Wales Handicap-Third distance, 400yds. T. Organ (scratch) ... I—l 3 points J. Murphy (syds) ... 2—B „ N. Austin (13yds) ... 3 7 „

200 Yards Handicap, for Boys under 14* Ist prize, los W. Taylor 1 Vaulting with Pole. Ist prize, £2; 2nd do, £1 ; 3rd do, 10s. T. McAuliffe (10ft) 1 Rae (Oft Gin) 2 Grant (Oft) 3 One Mile Running. Ist prize, £4; 2nd do, £2 ; 3rd do, £1 J. M, O’Connor (scratch) 1 A. Fosse (65yds) 2 J. Groves (65yds) 3 O’Connor crept up upon his opponents from the first, and came in an easy winner by twenty leugths. ’Ne time was kept in any event.