The Holidays.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 40, 8 January 1898, Page 7

The Holidays.

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF SOUTHLAND.

President MrJ Hugh Mair Vice-Presidents— Messrs J MacGregor, J A Mitchell and J Sinclair Superintendent of Sports —Mr William Baird Deputy-Superintendents —Messrs Jas MacGregor and A J Rankin Directors —Lieut-Col Thomson Lieut Siddall, Messrs A Blacke, D McFarlaue, W Baird, T A Wallace, A McKellar, D Boche, jnr, C Wyeth, J McCrostie, Jas MacGregor J. Aitken, H. S Hunter, A Eaeside, M Bobertson, A Bain T. Walker, A. McNab, A Prentice, John McKellar and A J Rankin, Judges—Bagpipe Music—J McCrostie, J McNeil and Capt McDonald. Highland Dancing A McKellar, J McCrostie, Jas MacGregor, and H S Hunter. Irish Dancing—A Blacke, D Roche jnr and H Mac Alister. Racing and Bicycling—■ John Sinclair, John Matheson, W Murdoch, A Bain, J A Mitchell, A McNab, A J Rankin and Thomas Walker. Hammer, Srone and Caber — D McParlane, J A Mitchell, M Robertson, J McKenzie, D Bisset. Leaping and Vaulting—John Sinclair. A Bain, D Roche jnr, A Prentice. Quoiting J W Kelly, MHR, T Millar, and William Martin. Wrestling—J A-Mitchell, W Murdoch, Hewitt, and Anderson. Chopping and Sawing—A Blacke, Boif, Collins, Mackie, and Leggatt. Pipe Marching—Lieut Col Thomson end Sergt G Kennedy (late 72nd Highlanders) TP mekeepers —Messrs Rein, Craig, WNicol, Per-uson and Rankin. Starter-Mr T A Wallace. TPrea urer—Mr A McKellar. Secretary—Mr Jas Aitken.

Caledonian Society of Southland has made a long step forward since the early gathering to which Thatcher, the licensed rhymester of the “good old days,” devoted some verses, and described how the tents were “ blown to smithereens ” by a genuine Southland buster. Many changes have occurred since then, hut the people, and especially the Scottish section of them, have not changed —their interest in the welfare of the Society has never wavered, and the infant of the early sixties has grown with the district, and is now in the very prime of corporate life, with several off-shoots in the shape of a strong dramatic society, and, within the last few months, of a pipe band that bids fair to attain to more than local fame. The Highlanders who have been in the habit of bemoaning the fewness of the players of the pipes and the wearers of kilts at the annual gatherings must have been delighted at the brave show made on Saturday. The band, twenty strong, marched and played in a style that would nob have discredited even veterans, and they were, moreover, splendidly uniformed. As for Drummajor McGregor, when shall his glory fade P The band gave to the gathering the one distinctive bit of colour that its predecessors have lacked, and even the famous MacCrimmons would not have disdained their ‘ wild triumphal music.” The City Band also did good service, and wooed the ear with a concord of sweeter, if less martial, sounds. Passing to other aspects of the games, there was a slight falling off in the attendance, the financial barometer registering £260 as against £285 last year. But in every other respect an unqualified success was achieved —a result largely due to the untiring energy of the office-bearers, and the big fields of competitors forward for the principal events. The officials certainly deserve a special word of praise, for it requires no small amount of self-denial to work hard while others are enjoying themselves. Suffice it to say that with the exception of those belonging to the bagpipes, there were no ‘ drones ’ among them. Most of the events were well, and in some cases keenly, contested. Following is the PRIZE LIST. Quoits —1, A Purvis (3 pts) ;2, Jno Stevenson (4 pts) ; 3, M McLeod (3 pts). Bagpipe Music (pibrochs) —1, D Cameron ; 2, K Cameron. Heavy Hammer-1, D Manson (scr), 109ffc Sin ; E Tobin (4ft) 102 ft 6in Dancing Reels —1, J McKecbine ; 2, H. Geddes ; 3, J Stewart Bagpipe Music—l, J Cameron; 2, E Cameron ; 3 D Cameron Running High Leap —1, T Burk, sft Sin ; 2, E. Reidy, sft 2in Half Mile Race—l, A T Millar, (30 yds) ; 2, G Burley (30 yds); 3, A Small (scr) Time —2tnin 2 4 sths secs Bagpipe Music, youths (marches) —1, Jno Cameron ; 2, A Wilson ; 3, W. Jenkins Putting Heavy Ball—l, C Purdue (12ins) 34ft Ilin ; 2, E Eorde (scr) 32ft Tin Highland Fling—l, J McKecknie ;2, H Geddes , 3, H McDonald 120 Yards Race —1, C. Kane, (4 yds); 2, A. W. Palmer (6 yds); 3, L Broad (6 yds). Time, 11 2-sth secs Vaulting with the pole —1, A F Cowie (9 ft) ; 2, G Deegan (7ft llin) Tossing the caber—l, W Robins ; 2, F JTorde ; 3, D Manson

Highland Fling (boys)—l, M McDonald ; 2, A Stewart; 3, John Stewart' Mile Race—l, T Carroll (60 yds) ; 2, W Couling (ser) ; 3, G Richardson (60 yds) Sheantreus—l, E Sills (Dunedin) ; 2, John McKechnie ; 3, H Geddes 220 Yards Race —1, L Broad (8 yds) ; 2, C Kane (8 yds) ; 3, S A Kitto (12 yds). Time, 25 secs. Border Wrestling, 11 stone and under —1, T Burke ; 2, W Forde ; 3, J L McFadyen. Three Milo Bicycle Race—l, Melvin ; 2, Duff ;3, Jordan. Time, 822 3-sth secs. Mile Walk—l, P Gilfedder, scr; 2, J Harper, 40 yds ; 3, A Manson, 60 yds Throwing stone, Irish style —1, W. Robins, 42ft 4in ; 2, D Manson, 41ft Sin; 3, C. Purdue, 41ft 2in Sword Dance—l, W H Kilgour ; 2, G Anderson ; 3, W Jenkins 440 Yards Hurdle Race—l, C Evans, Byds ; 2, F Robins, 5 yards behind scratch ; 3, AT Millar, 15 yds. Time, 61 l-sth secs Heavy ' Weight Border Wrestling—l, A Hoffman ; 2, E Tobin ; 3, J L McFadyen Irish Jig—l, E Reidy ; 2, J Slattery ; 3, W Burk Bagpipe Music, strathspeys —1, John McKechnie ; 2, K Cameron ; 3, D Cameron Hornpipe—l, E Bills ; 2, J Stewart, 3 H Geddes Five Mile Bicycle Race —1, W Poole, 13 secs ;2, Melvin, 20 secs ; 3, Jordan, 20 secs. Time, 14 min 4 sth secs 100 yards race—l, Batt ; 2, Hill ; 3, C Robins. Time, 10 secs Collar and Elbow Wrestling—l, Amos ; 2, J L McFadyen ; 3, Joseph Yalli Bagpipe Music, reels—l, K Cameron ; 2, John McKechnie ; 3, G Anderson 440 yards flat race—l, A T Millar, 20yds ; 2, S A Kitto, 20 yds ; 3, E Quicke, 10 yds. Time, 51* secs. Log sawing—1, E Tobim and Mclntosh, 7 secs ; 2, Sheehan and Knight, 7 secs ; 3, S Fisher and J Henderson, scr. Log, 2ft in diameter. Time, 43 secs Chopping—l, S Fisher, 15 secs ; 2, J Mclntosh, 45 secs ; 3, M Cash, scr Championship in Bagpipe Music—l, PipeMajor Kenneth Cameron, 9 points ; 2, John McKechnie, Dunedin, 6 points ; 3, D Cameron, Mataura, 5 points