MINERS' UNION DEMONSTRATION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXV, Issue 7169, 9 March 1892, Page 2

MINERS' UNION DEMONSTRATION.

SECOND ANNIVERSARY. j MARCH THROUGH tub STREETS SPORTS.AT PARAWtf. Cfc-boirera: President, W. H, Pi.tta; vioeiPre?Mcnfc, P. Delahunty; onm« mittee, Messrs Waite, Pultridge, Rowa, McMonnamiti, Barrel, Goldsworthy, Radford, McNeill, MoDonnell, Dudley. Kummert, and Apnew; auditor?, J, H, Hodge, and B, Adams, The Thames Branch of the Amalgamated Miners' Association of Australasia yesterday celebrated its second anniversary. Work in all the local mines was suspended for the day and had hcen so from 12 o'clock on Monday night. The public offices, the shops, and nearly all places oi business except the banks were closed, and thus " all the world and his wife " wore able to keep holiday. By-aud-by, when the Brauch adds the weight of an additional year or two to its other claims to consideration, possibly the banks also will close their doois and throw care to the winds in honour of Demonstration Day, and everybody except the fruit seller, hntelkeeper, cab-horse, newspaper drudge, and a few other never-respited waiters on the public, will don his go-to-meeting clothes and hie to Parawai ivith his wife or daughter or sweetheart by his side. In the meantime, however, no one connected with the Union thinks of complaining on his own score, for the work of the mines is completely suspended in tho interest of the holiday. The weather, too, seems to be cultivating a constitutional disposition to favour the day, for both last year and this there has been no cause for dissatis-* faction on that account.

As ou the occasion of tie first miniver sary held ou the 9th of March, 1801, the members mustered yesterday at halfpast eight in the morning at the Union's office in Albert street. No time was lost, aud all present wore effectively marshalled into marching order by Mr Albert Xumin n rt. In the front walked the o(lice«bonrers. Then came the Naval Band, under the able direction of Bandmaster Smith. The body of the procession was made up of several hundred members of the Unicn, oach man wearing a rosette in hia coat. 1 Altogether the procession consisted of n line-looking lot of men, though leas than half the members were present, a great many finding ifc more convenient to go to Parawai later on in other ways. The march lay through Albert street, Queon street, Cochrane street, and into and along Pollen street, and it was witnessed and followed by large num« bers of people. What might bo called the grand side show of the affair was furnished by the ever jubilant Free 1 Mills, who, apparelled in a scarlet coat, crcam»coloured trousers aad military top-boots, and wearing a hat with plumes, was justly the observed of all observers, and cut a ficure worthy <i full-rigged German Marshal or HiMajesty the King of Dahomey's Conb mander of the Forces, Mr Mills certainly lookel radiant and happy and not only did he, with his costume, lend a picturesqueness to the scene, but he gave an agreeable vivacity to the proceedings by accosting friends along the line of march with the courtly gaiety of a cavalier "all of the olden time," Great indeed wap the joy which his appearance and de portment gave to the little folks, and even we—the grave and reverend inditer of this solemn history—feel constrained to dwell upou the circumstance, all the more, be it confessed, in consequence of the public opinion deteoted through the mediuraof the exclamatiou simul' uneously made by two very little ladies—"Oh, papa, you mud mention Fred Mills! You will, won't you 1'

But to turn to other matters.. The Miners' Union now commands respect as a firmly established, well oonducted local institution. Ite policy as a Union would seem to be. ''Moderation with firmness," and while it continues to act up to that principle it must also continue to prosper and to retain the respect of men of sense here and elsewhere. That the Union is prosperous is a patent fact. At its last half >yeavly meeting, held on tho 80th of J;muary,the audited acoounts showed that its current balance iu the hank amounted to £185 5s lid, while it had lying in each of two separate accounts, a sum of XoOO bearing interest on fixed deposit. It has been written that " a cat when it succeeds in pushing its head into a well (tiled cream jug; a young womau when slje goes to her first ball or to church with her first fashionable summer hat ;j an amourous youth when his Dulcinea confesses, with a reluctance which iu. tonsilies the sweetness of tho confession, that she regards him with that feeling \vl(i<;h the world calls love; a lawyer when he wius his first case; a political candidate when the returning ofilcer' declares him to have a majority of votes,; a parliamatary leader when 113 triumphs over a voto of want of confidence ; au alligator when lie closes his jaws over the plump and juicy limbs of an infant uogro• and u larrikin with his first penny cigar, aud before ho has hud timo to smoke it, all feel rapture •, but it is tame aud trivial compared with that which establishes itself in the aoul of him who finds that his realised receipts considerably oxceed his estimated Income. In tho beautiful words of the celebrated hymn—

It is the thing we all would know; : It is the jolli*3it joy below,*' And this great joy—the joy of being in a thoroughly comfortable financial position—it is the good fortune of the Miners' Uoion to know iu all its fulness, Long may good management enable the Union to retain possession of that pleasure, even in dull times; and, for tho suko of its members and, ajl others iutcr>

jested, may better times than those we now have soon arrive to settle at tba Thames goldfields. THE SPORTS AT PARAWAI, The procession terminated in front of the grand stand with a short speech from the President (Mr W. H. Potts), who, in a few appropriate remarks, reminded the members that this was the second anniversary of the Thames Minera' Union, and he trusted every member would enjoy himself thoroughly, In conclusion he introJucnl Mr Audley, President of the Coromandel Branch, and Mr Moore, Secretary, who had come from Coromaadelto be present at their gathering. Mr Potts then called for three cheers for the President and Secretary, and members of the Coromandel Miners UniflK which were given heartily. j|jl Mr Audley briefly responded oa be» hnlf of the Ooromanldel Union, and thanked the assemblage for the reception, accorded to himself and Mr Moore.

The race* were then proceeded with, and everything was most satisfactorily carried out by the Officers.-Judge, Mr Jamca McQowan ; Starter, Mr J, tou«[hlin; Handicappers, Messrs J, Thomas, J. Rattray, and G, H. White j Stewards, Miners 1 Union Committee. \

Maiden Bags, 120 yd* W.Hawk ... . i | W. Taylor ... „', ,'„ 2 McCarthy '" 3 Tho following also, started: MsGregor, Dotty, an} Morrisou. A splendid run ro» suited. Time, 13 2 slhs seconds, Novelty Race, Hop 50yds, run 50, put on boots, 50yds on all fours. Moore . 1 Agnew ,„ , 2 Mullins ,„ ti> "' 3 This was vory poorly'contested, Moore winning somewhat easily. j Girls' Rack, Miss Wells ... m ',„ 1 Miss Leathern... lit ~, 2 Missßwe , ti \\\ '." 3 ( Miss Billings... ", \\\ 4 Boys' Undeh 15, 150 yds. I L. Hawkes 1 \ Black 2 ' J. Gralatn 3 . Battery Boys, 150 yards; / Hanlon <M 1 ' Brown „, ,„ ,„ 2 I Anderson ,„■ 3 ! Minkrs' Union Handicap, 3 heals—2so, , . 400, and 150 yards. ! First Heat;' ■ . I ■ Nicolai (llydsj ... . „, 1 Maxwell (16yds) ... " ... 2 Noonan (13yds) 3 This race resulted in a win for Nicolai in the fast time of 276ecs. Maxwell mado | a splendid but fruitless effort to catch the winner. The field filed out with the exception of Ross, Dividond, £215 a 6d. Bona-jidt Amateur Half Miie. I Moshan ,',, 1 T.Scott Mi 2 E, McLoay ~, ... „\ 3, This ovent was delayed considerably by ' i few of tbe supposed amateurs having broken the ratea; as a consequence they were debarred from comoßting. The race was, however, a fjnod sound one through, out, and resulted in an easy win for Wi I Meehan. Time, 2min 15?ec. • ' I 1 Old Buffers Race, 100 yds, 50 co 60 lyd B'art for each year, " M,Cox i / Noonan ,„■ ,„, m ; 2 McAlpine , , £ T. Palnidee '" 4 J.rosier , 5 Truckers, Union Members, 150 yds: J. Oavies ■ 1 Smith ... ... ... ," 2 ! Mullins t ' t " 3 Akars ( M 1 4 Secind Heat Miners' Union Handicap, ; 400 yds. Nicolai ' .... 1 ( Maxwell ... „, ,„ 2

W.Taylor 3 Tliib was a well contested race, Nicolai'a win beioga splendid performance, All the men got away well together, and when eu'erina I he had a slight lead. Nicolai, however, was running very strong and when pausing the saddling paddock the result wa9 never in doubt, Nicolai leading the van by about throe yards, wbioh lead he maintained to the finish, Time, TUG-OF-WAB, 12 men a-side, including Union members. Teams to he selected from the different mines. ' Ist, £6, the captain to get J, Mc» A'drew'sgoldpin. i 2ud. £2. * Moanatahri (No 1) 1 Saxon (Not) M) 2 The following learas competed: Alburnia, Moanaiaiari Nos 1 and 2, Saxon Nos 1 and 2, and May Queen, tho first to pull were Hoanatainri No 2 (T. Boyle, capt) and Saxon No 2 (J. Inglis, capt), the Saxon winning after a pull of 32secs. The next to test their strength were the Alburnia and Moanataiati No 1, the lattov wTiining rathor easily in 12 seconds. May~Queen and Saxon No 1 then entered the ring, and the Saxon team were again successful, the fug lasting 42sec8. The Saxon Nos 1 and 2 cairo next and the former provod themselves the best men. The remaining competitors ware now reduced to tho Saxon No 1 team and the Moana'aiari No 1, and as both sides faced each .other, it waa rather difficult to pick o'nt the probable winner. Tho Moana'aiari team, however, showed exceedingly fine specimens oE able bodied men, and after a reaHy exciting pull they carriod the Saxon team over the line, amidst great applause. Indeed, when both teams were pulling their hardest and neithpr gaioing an 'iDch, the yelling and shouling.tliat toot; place, would bavo put to Bhame'somo of oufoast football barracked, G. White captained tho Moanaiaiari and J. Riokards the Saxon. The formor thornforo won Mr McAndrew's gold pin. TiiußE-liEuaJu lUcs, 150 yds. • PoobloH Bros „ l . Martin and Trainor ... ... 2 1 Wolff and Quinn ... ,;, 3 440 Yauds Handicap. Union Members. J.Brady ,„ 1 Hastings , 2 Irwin ~ 3 This event was splendidly contested, Time, 54jjsec!i, Hurdles, 150 yd?, over 8 flights Hurdles, Ist Heal: Maxwell ... ... ,„ 1 .l)rown„, „, „, „, 2, . ft A

2nd Beat: Quinn , 1 McMabon ... Iti <j These four ilicu ran (lie fimil heal, wliich I resulted ?» follows: Maxwell ... ,„ iM \ Quinn " o lirown 3 Marrikd Women's Baoe, 75yds. Mrs. Duncan 1 Mrs James 2 Mrs Arthur , ']" 3 Third Ukat ok Miners' Union Handi i gap, 150 yds. i Maxwell M 1 Nicoloi ... M , ," 2 T.iytor \ t 3 This of course ended lliu HiiDilicap, and snNicolai ran Ural in Hie two first heals . and placed himself in the Gnat, ho curiied J2 oil fiis^prizr l , Maxwell, whoso ruoniug was '$p much admired, heiug an excellent second, .wiili Taylor third, Mils Handicap. Btady , 1 McCormick ... „'. „',' 2 Hi Peebles 3 This,was a grand race, Time, 4miue iGsece. ' Comhittbb Rack, 200yde. McNeil „. I C.Waiio .',' 2 A. Kummert ... 3 J.Howe [[] 4 .T, Barrett ... ,„ ■ :"}, 5 Champion Rack, 100 yds. Brady „. ,„ 1 Oakley ~, ~[ 2 Davits,,, „, .„ ,„ 3 ' Won easily, I'iuip, lOjfscca. Meh'b Race, 150 yds, 40 to 50 yoars, iyd for each year, Aulridgo ,„ „, ,„ * Williams '+ ,U. Henderson .„ 3 Hanlon „, ,„ „, 4 'Ihe two former then ran off for firs! place, which rosuled in Williams breasting the tape first. BOYB (under 12), 100 yd?. Ladnor 1 Autridge 2 O, McDonnell,,, ,„ ,',',' 3 Cecil Waito 4 tiißLs (undor 15), 100 yds. V.Hanlon „ I O.Killgonr ~, , 2 B. Murdoch 3 L. Aulridgo „. ,„ 11( 4 E. Taylor 5 Boys under 10,100 yds, Kelly .„ ,„ „, ,„ 1 Houghton and Capell .„ 2 Bffanson ... ,„ .„ 4 Girls under 10,100 yds. B. Murdoch 1 L, Mills ' ~, 2 M. Murdoch 3 E, Dunn ~ 4 ElbctrlO lUcb (for ladies only), 100 yds. Mieß Leathern,,, ... ,„ 1 Miss Agnew 3 Thero was only one entry for Hip bioyole raco, bo Ihe ovnil did not come off. Thin was ihe last i'em on the programme, and it needs only to be said thai tlio day passed off in a most orderly and successful manner.

CONCERT ANO DANCE. The day'* proceedings were appropriately wound up by a concert which was given in the Academy of Music, and the ennro-' was in dno comse followed by it ''nnc which was kept going merrily for several hours. There was a very largo ni> lenduncs at Hie concer', and ih>following was the programme: Part I.— Overture, "Don Pedro," Naval Band ; sang, "Give me a man with an honest heart," (encored), Mr J. Hnrdman ; song, "Barnoy O'f- ea," (encored), Miss McOormickjs'ump speech, Mr J, Jones; row?, "Bring me back nay Fisher boy," Mi'sr Johns on; soog,"Don'f go, Mollie Darling," Mrs G. Smith ; comioi song, "Eight hourß a day." Mr 8. Barcbard. Part II: song, "Must wo leavothe olrii home, mother," Mr P, Grubb; ballad (Irish), " Kileen Allannh," Mies Bridnon ; aong, " White Wings," Mr It, iferdman ; ballad (Irish)," Killarnoy," Wm Noonan; flonjr, "Yoirterday." Miss Hanlon; song (comic), Mr S. Barchard. Miss Clara Noonan's " Killamey " fairly fascinated the audience, and in response to an encoro she gave " Annie Laurie," her singing of which led to yet ano'hsr recall. 'The accompaniments woro efficiently played by Mr 11. 11. Small, and at the clow of theconeert Mr W. 11, Pottn, President of the Union, made a few toumtks concerning the day's proceedings generally, anl he also (hanked all those who had assisted at the concert, and so enabled the day's doings to bo wound up in a thoroughly creditable and agreeable manner, At the dance, which followed tho concert. M' I{. Feeney acted as M.C., and the programme wan carried oul in u manner which gave general satisfaction. Mr Mariin's band supplied the' music.