OTAUTAU.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 22, 1 September 1900, Page 12

OTAUTAU.

A football match was played last Saturday between Nightcaps and Otautau teams, which resulted in a win for Otautau by one goal and one try (8 points) to nil. During the game, which was an exceptionally fast one, a player had his chest severely bruised, another had his collar bone broken, and one of the Nightcaps men got his leg broken. Judging by the list of accidents one would fancy that the boys were practising to have a go at the Boers or the Chinese. The accidents, however, were not altogether the result of rough play. The spinsters’ ball came off on Wednesday evening, and was an undoubted success, fully 100 couples being on the floor, to say nothing of the guests who* were non-dancers. The young ladies did their own cateiing, and succeeded so well that their table was a credit to them personally as well as to the district. The music was beyond praise, being in the hands of Mr Edwards (violin), Glennie (cornet), and Mrs Blue (piano.) The hall had been so tastefully and artistically decorated that it looked like some sylvan nook in the primeval forest of the past, wherein the good fairies might disport themselves to the music of Elfland. Dancing was kept up till half-past five on Thursday morning, when one of the most successful balls ever held in Otautau became a thing of the past.

The Birchwood Hunt Club held their steeplechase meeting at Otautau on Wednesday m a paddock kindly placed at the disposal of the Club by Mr Lindsay, of Strathmore, The events and the results were : Hunter’s Hurdle Race —1, Tupan ; 2, Loch Sloy ; 3, Tommy. 14 Stone Steeplechase —1, Ulyssis ; 2, Golden Legacy ; 3, Kingsman. Hunter’s Jumping Competition —1, Kohai ; 2, Golden Legacy ; 3, Hornpipe, W. F. A. Steeplechase —l, Tupari; 2, Dick ; 3, Greyfriar. Ladies’ Bracelet —l, Maypole ; 2, Leola; 3, Ulysses. Handicap Steeplechase —1, Ulysses; 2, Golden Legacy ; 8, Kingsman. Mr Ford had a booth on the ground and catered for the wants of the thirsty public, and the fruit and pastry stall was in charge of Mr Jas. Boniface, The meeting terminated without anyone, so far as I know, getting seriously injured. It was pointed out to me the other day that our local Inspector of ITuisances is becoming too officious. I have no enmity against the gentleman myself, but on looking round I find that this is a true bill, and so would like to just whisper in his ear that he should mind his own branch of public work and not interfere with Constable Joyce’s duties.