NEW YEAR'S DAY SPORTS.

Colonist, Volume XIII, Issue 1285, 18 January 1870, Page 3

NEW YEAR'S DAY SPORTS.

NELSON CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

Saturday morning, like some of the preceding days, gave indications of uncertainty of weather, and at an early hour rain fell in slight showers, threatening the possibility of the Caledonian sports being somewhat too inappropriately conducted in the midst of a "Scotch mist." Fortunately, as the morning advanced the sky partially cleared, rain ceased to fall and the few clouds that remained, served only to ■often the otherwise intense fervency of the sun's rays, which would have been too strong in a sheltered nook like the Botanical Garden Reserve, fit spot as it ia for games and shows, with its natural amphi-theatre-looking Blopes which would accommodate tens of thousands of spectators of the scenes below. Tinged more or less with the tartan—to which even the' most cosmopolitan Lowland Scot must be more or less prone when " measureless distance" divides him from the Old Land—a few North Britons in Nelson resolved to celebrate New Year's Day by establishing a Caledonian gathering, and holding some Scotch Games. Once fairly set afloat the idea was successfully carried out, and as a whole far fewer mistakes arose than might have been expected on the first occasion of such a celebration. It is true that a good many of the games could not properly be called Caledonian, and some of those that really deserved being ranked aa purely Scottish, were open to improvement, which will no doubt arise in coming years. The Highland Fling, for instance, lacked that smack of the heather which a real highlander with a " good leg for a kilt" would unquestionably have given it, and it is no disparagement to the only entrant for that particular dance to say that the true lift of the foot was not given; neither were the steps so varied as a thorougbred Scot would have exhibited, there was, however, a gracefulness in the performance, which although somewhat stagey, nevertheless gave general satisfaction to the large body of spectators which collected on the grounds.

The sword dance was delayed, competitors not coming forward. At last two did make an appearance, and a third was indiiced to take the platform, and to try two or three steps, and then incontinently fled. The absence of the gay dress of the kilted Highland dancer lessened the effeot of the sword dance (G-hillie Callum), which can never be thoroughly performed in "Saxon trews," and although both of the dancers stepped out well, and seldom touched the swords, the real picturesque charm of the dance was absent. Ghillie Callum was danced to the strains of the bagpipe, played by a real highlander named Mackay, a native of the north country, and one who had been some twenty years in the 92nd regiment. The pipes were small, but the native " dirl" was all there, and the piper, with Highland bonnet, Highland brogues, the tartan plaid and trews, and green jacket of the clan, gave a Highland color to the performance which will no doubt next year be deepened and improved.

It should have been stated that over the entrance gate-way, which was decorated with evergreens, was an emblazonment of full-grown thistles, surrounding a scroll, on which appeared the legend, " Nemo me impune lacessit," ("no one shall insult me with impunity,") and there seemed a goodly number of Scotchmen on the ground who looked as if they believed strongly m the motto.

The hornpipe had but two competitors, Chittenden, jun., and a digger from the West Coast named Scott, who though not going through the preliminary walk round, and unaided by any appropriate costume yet exhibited a skill, a sequence of steps, and a perfect timekeeping that is not often equalled.

The " caber" was a formidable piece of timber, a long heavy branch of blue gum, which stalwart Scotchmen vainly sought to wield, and which had to be twice reduced in length, and even then only two were found who could toss it, no easy feat.

Putting the stone, a ball of 22 lbs. weight, was pretty well contested, the longest distance thrown being 28 feet 1 inch.

Boys under sixteen followed suite at the same game, and the little fellows managed to throw their 9 lb. ball very fairly.

The velocipede race was run by three young blacksmiths, each we believe the maker of his own particular steed. The younger Wimsett, who was handicapped, by being placed nearly one-sixth of the whole distance behind the starting post, as his wheels were larger than those of the others, —sat his bi-cycle exactly as a jockey does his horse, and won the first heat. M'Gee, whose seat was the most graceful of the three, kept the lead for some distance, and the elder Wimsett was gaining on Mm when unhappily the latter fouled M'Gee, and in doing so lost his balance and fell bi-cycle and all, and did not complete the first heat. Tom gradually gained ground on M'Q-ee, and came ia first. Through some misunderstanding M'Gee did not run in the second heat, which was won by the elder Wimsett, who then ran with his brother for the first prize. A protest was lodged by M'Gee, on the ground that the elder Wimsett not having gone round in the first heat had no right to go for the second, and therefore he (M'Gee) claimed the second prize. The protest was received and the decision is not-yet made.

The Tilting at the ring was a popular display for which there were many entries, and perhaps it covered too large a space. " Gramercy!" it was a sight to see, and if one were not exactly reminded of Ivanhoe, he could pick out among the lookers-on fair Eebeccas and Kowenas who might award the prize to the victorious jousters. There was no black knight, no vizors, no medieaval armor, but there wer manifold costumes, sundry black hats, and about as unknightly a disarray of incongruous horsemen could well be gathered together in the lists. Then the varied manner which some held their spears, and their idea of saddle seats: •' Marry!" and " by'r lady!" it was wondrous sport. The bestfour among twenty-four entrants, after the three rounds, were .Field, Lines, Drysdale, and M'Artney, the first two securing nino rings each (Field in one round having five out of the six rings), and the other two scoring six apiece. In the tie trial which followed, Field and Lines were eq[ual, and they tried it again, when the latter scored three and the former four and carried off the first

praze. In the broadside exercise, or bouts at single stick, Augarde was the most successful candidate, his opponent, Dickens, seldom suceeding in touching him, scoring only two points to Augarde's ten. Barnes and Davis showed some good play for young fellowa, Barnes being the victor by a few points. Then Dickens and Barnes engaged, the result being, after a contest, that Dickens won by one point, making ten to Barnes' nine. An extra prize of 10s., on the recommendation of the judges, was awarded to Barnes.

The following is the prize list which is shorter than the programme, four leaping matches and the hurdle race not coming off because of tho fading daylight:—

Dancing : Highland Fling—Entry, 55.; Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £1. T. Ch'^tenden, 1. No other competitor. Broadsword Exercise —Entry, 55.; Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £1 ; extra prize, 10s. Augarde, 1; Dickens, 2 ; Barnes, 3. Ghillie Callum, ,or Sword Danee —Entry, 55.; Ist prize, £2 10s.; 2nd prize, £1. ; DoDaldson,;J; Simpson (byrecommendation), 10s Gymnastic rFeais on the Horizontal Bar—Entry, 2s. 6d.; Ist prize, £2 10s.; 2nd prize, £1. Chisholm, 1; Street, 2. Ditto, for Boys, under Sixteen years—Entry, Is. Od. j Ist prize, £1; 2nd prize, 10s. Programme departed from. No entries, and ss. allowed to best youth. Dancing: Hornpipe—Entry, 55.; Ist prize, £2; 2nd prize, £1. Scott, 1. Two entriss. No second prize awarded. Vaulting with Pole—Entry, 2s. 6d.; Ist prize, £1 5 2nd prize, 10s. James Hill, 1 (7ft. 7in.); J. W. Taylor, 2 (7ft. 4in.) Seven entries Putting the Stone, 221bs.—Entry, 2s. 6d.; Ist prize £1 10 a. j 2nd prize,. 15s. ~ W. J- Taylor,! (28ft, 2in); J. Bobwtson, ; , (87ft. 6io:)

Ditto, ditto, 9fl)s., (for Boys under Fifteen years)— Entry, 6d.; Ist prize, 10s.; 2nd prize, ss. 1 S. Neilis, 1 (25ft. lin.) ;A. Scott, 2 (23ft. 2in.) Tossing the Caber—Entry, 2s. 6d.; Ist prize, £1 10s. ; 2nd prize, 15s. Lines, 1; M'Murray, 2. Velocipede Eace. Heats, Twice round CourseEntry, 55,; Ist prize, £2 5 2nd prize, £1. Disputed. Plat Eace. Once round Course—Entry, Is.; Ist prize, £1; 2nd prize, 10s.; extra prize, 10s. James Hill, 1; Linos and Barnett equal, each 10s. Flat Eace, for Boys under Fifteen years—Entry, 6d.; Ist prize, 10s.; 2nd prize, ss. S. Nellis, 1; Adams, 2. Extra Eace for Boys—Prize, 10s. Snow, 1. Three-legged Eace for Boys—Entry, 6d.; Ist prize, 10a.; 2nd prize, ss. Tregea and Leaper, 1; Adams and Dement, 2. Tilting in the Ring—Entry, 7s. 6d.; Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd prize, £2. Field, 1; J. Lines, 2. Quoits—Entry, 55.; Sweepstakes, -with £2 added. W. Hale, 1; Sadd, 2. Six entries.

Accident at the Games. —At the Caledonian games an accident occurred resulting through reckless riding, which might have had fatal consequences. Two of the horsemen who had been tilting at the ring most unwarrantably began racing, and the horse of one of them rushed towards the crowd at one side of the unroped ring, knocking down a servant maid named M'Kenzie, and a little child, a daughter of Mr. John M'Artney's, who was with her. Singularly the little child was not injured, but the horse in passing over the girl trod on her leg, the bones of which were broken below the knee. She was instantly taken up and conveyed to the hospital, where she is now recovering.