BOXING DAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3511, 30 December 1885, Page 6

BOXING DAY.

Saturday being Boxing Day was observed as a general holiday throughout tho district, the usual festivities being indulged m at the various centres of population. In Timaru the Foresters' athletio sports, the return cricket match between Tunaru and Oamaru and the polo match, North Canterbury v. South Canterbury, were the principal events and all passed off successfully. There were eporta at Temuka, Fairlie Creek and Waimate. A flower show was also held at the latter place, but the weather during a part of the day rraa anything but favorable, and as a result the sports programme : waa not completed. About 40 people went to Waimate by the early train, and fully 100 to Fairlie Creek. Many more had previously made up their minds to travel but were deterred from doing so by the threatening aspect of the sky and a shower or two of rain m the early morn ng. The following are the result* of the various gatherings which have come to hand : — THH FOEE3TBBS 1 SPORTS. Committee of Management --Messrs P. Kelly, C.R., J. 8. Bennett, J. B. Dick, W. Dunne, G. H. Warrington, T. Sullivan, D. Shea, D. Owers, J. -tevenson, J. Howey ; Judges — Messrs Dunne and Owers ; flandi- , cappers— Mrssrs Howey and Sullivan ; Starter -Mr Warrington ; Clerk of Course— Mrßhea; Treasurer— Mr Bennett j Secretary — KrW. C.Burd. The annual sports gathering of the Ancient Order of- Foresters was held on Boxing Day ; (Saturday) m Mrs Watkins 1 paddock, situate at the top of Elizabeth street, and was, as m former years, a great success. The members of the Lodge and visiting brethren assembled ' at the Foresters' Hall, George street, at about 10.30 a m., and were soon well arranged m , order of procession by Past Chief Banger , Brother George Warrington. Exactly at the i town clock struck the hour of eleven the procession, headed by the South Canterbury ■ Garrison Band under Bandmaster Herd, , moved from the Hall. The line of March was as follows :— Along Arthur and Theo- , docia streets, down Nortii street, round Shep- , hew's corner to the Main North Road, along i the Main Road and round the Clarendon , comer, up Church and Sophia streets, and ■ along Elizabeth street to the paddock. Ihe procession was followed by large numbers of people, and made rather an imposing display. Arrived at the paddock no time was lost m making a commencement on the programme ■ which was a very long one. The arrangements on the ground were complete of their kind. The running track was not a good , one, bat the Conimittee had done their best under the circumstances, and had laid it out so as to suit the competitors as much as possible. Bow that the Foresters' sports , nave become so very popular, and are looked forward to as one of the. great events of the year, we have no doubt should the management decide to hold the next gathering on the new recreation ground at Patiti Point, it will be as usuallargely attended, and 'he Lodge will haTe no reason to regret goin » there. The attendance at the sports on Saturday was large, between 6 1 0 and 600 people being on the ground during the afternoon. The weather m the early morning did not promise well, a threatening sky and occasional heavy showers being bad omens. However, about noan the cf'uds cleared ■ away, and the afternoon was a fine one. Ihe result iras the sports, as we have said, were well patronised, and wo are sure no one regrets atteudi> g them. The Committee worked hard all day and kept the ball rolling merrily. The number ef children's races was , Terr large, and to get off the*e the Committee , were ably assisted by Brothers > ukey and ; Burford and Bro. Hopkins C. B. of Court Pronets, WavDo&te. The judge*, hanrfi-appers and , the clerk* of the course are to be highly congratulated on the result of their labors, and , the starter also deserves great praise for the < way he let the men go m the various events. , Our old friend Mr Bard again discharged the dntiea of Hon. Secretary m a m«t able moaner, and we hare to tbtj heartily thank him far (be courtesy he extended to oar i MpteMut&tiie, «nd to hope that he m&y be i Sound for man? jean yet presiding &t : the Secretary's tent. Brothers McGowan . and Dick "kept the gate*," and treated all their patrons m a most civil man- , aer. The Garrison Band were stationed , m the " inner circle," and played the following pieces daring the day : — Fantasia, " Dear ' old England;" raise, "Phillig;" polka, ( " Sylph V march, "Stormy Petrel j" valse, " Woodlands ;" quadrille, " Majestic ;" selec- ■ tion, " Weber's Mass ;" schottische, " Rays of , Sunshine j" val*e, "Gems of the Season;" , march, " The Blue Bells of Scotland ;" fan- , tesis, "Scottish Airs;" valse, "Dear old , Friends}" vanoviana, "Miranda;" valse, , " Boccasi» j n (election, "11 Trovatore ;" , cornet solo, " Gates of the West," Mr Hatton , (with band accompaniment); valse, " Loving \ and Hoping ;" galop, " O'er the Downs -," , " National Anthem." The music delighted , everybody, and was played most artist call? , throughout Mr Bowden, of the Melville ( Hotel, had charge of the general license | booth, and was well patronised ; while Mr | Bitchie had the refreshment tent, and al-o ] provided a most excellent luncheon. Details , of the various events are as follow :— , On Htrersßio Yabbi Maiden Bacb. , Fust prize £1, second 10s. I B. Chute 1 . H. H.Cork ... 2 ! W. '1 übb also competed. The two placed | men got away well, and kept close together all , the way. Chute just winning by about two | feet. Tubb was left at the post. ] Two Hbitdbkd Yards Opbjt Handicap. < First prize £1 10s, second 16s. ' A. McKinnon (^Oyds) .. , 1 < B. Nicholls (10yds> ... 2 ' W. F. Daw»(loyds) 3 ' - T. Kenny (6yds), and J. (Tollman (10«ds) i abo ran. All got away to a capital start 1 after a little bother, and MoKinnon was ' never collared winning nicely by a few i yards. Nicholls and Dawe had a game < straggle for second money, the first named < just managing to get m front on the ' tape ; Cullm*n and Kenny were distanced, l The time (24}»ec) the race was done m was I very good, considering a very sharp corner I bad to be rounded, and the track was any- c thing bnt a level one. Btnrifiso High Jfhp. First prize £ ' second 10s. ? B. Cbnte (Sft) 1 * J. Trwin (4ft 9in) ... 2 - Wilson, Maroo and T. Sullivan also competed. Thi* event was well contested and » created great interest. The winner is well I known, and is a clever »nd neat jumper. I SICZ Bacb (m mask*), 150 yards. First prize £1, second 10b. I 3. Gardner... ... ... „, ... 1 3. Hickey 2 j Currie, Kenny, Wood and Mason also ran. i As urnsl this race caused great fun, tumbles ( being the rule rather than tho exception. Gardner, who ""double-snuffed " all the way ] m good style, won easily by 15 yards. 440 Yabtjs Hasdicap Hdbdlb Baob. First 1 t>rii« £2, second £1, third 10s. i A. McKinnon (3Ovda) 1 1 W.F. Dawe (20yds) Z 3. M. O'Connor (scr) 3 1 A. Dorm (B>yd») also ran. This was a splendid race and produced a very close ] finish. McKinnon soon ran away from Dorm, 1 who shortly fell out of the race, and Dawe } quickly gained on the leader. The veteran was coming up stride by stride, and exerting 1 himself to the utmost. McKinnon, however, beM his own to the finish,, and won a severe 1 race by a couple of yards, O'Connor about ( eight yards bel'iod Dawe. The trio jumped the hurdles, which were very formidable- < looking m a oapital manner, not a mistake being made. 1 ICO Yasss Handicap, job Bots; first ' prize £1. ] Sbappere 1 About ten other lads competed. Shappere ] won easily. Obi Mub Waikiso- Handicap. First prize 1 £2, second £l. . 1 W. F. Dawe (120 yds) 1 1 J. M. O'Connor (scr) 2 T.Clarke (00yds) ... 8 I A. Dorm also started, but fell out after Sling a conpU of laps. Clarke overhauled awe m the third lap bat could not stick to ' him, Dawe spurting and going ahead m fino J style. O'Connor walked m bis usual game manner, aod passed Clarke entering on bis 1 seventh lap, bat he could not beat D&wg m the remaining two laps, and lost pride of 1 placo by half a yard. The excitement at such ] » clofo flnifh wm tresMsdooj, acd both nun •

wi-re cheered. The handieappere deserve credit for bringing the men so weil together. 300 YABDB" FBIBKDLT " fOCIBTIEB' HAKDI . CAP (m regalia). First prize £l 10s, second £1, third 10a. Bro. Cullinan ... ... ... ... 1 Bro. Kenny... ... ... ... ... 2 Bro.Tubb 3 Bros. Dawe and King also ran. Bro. Cullman, who is an Oddfellow, won rather easily ; the rest close up. Vadmiko with Polh. First prize, £1 s second, 10s. MoKinnon > 8f( . 10ia f Eqna i Dorm ) i Dawe, Morgan, Wilson, and Sullivan also competed. This was one of the best contested events of the day, and was eagerly watched by the large crow* of people. MoKinnon and Dorm tied at Bft lOin, and the bar was raised, but as neither could manage to get over, they agreed to divide the money. They both vaulted m good style. Mabbibd Wombn's Kacb, 100 yards. First prize, box of tea ; second, 10s. Mrs O'Hagan ••• 1 Mrs O'Connor 2 Only the married ladies named " dres«ed" for this race, for which the flwt prize was a box of the best tea, presented by Mr Owers. Mrs O'Hagan proved much too good for her opponont Singlb Wombn'B Bacb, 100 yards. Prize, handsome dress piece, presented by the bachelors. Miss Hull ... 1 This proved an easy victory for the young lady named. Hop, fcTBP aot Jump. First prize £1, second 10s. ££&}«»«» K d J. Cullmann, J. M. O'Connor and R. Dorm also competed. This event was well contested. Osb Mils Buwing Handicap. First prize £3, second £3. T. Wheelan (12'iyds) 1 J. M. O'Connor (scr) ... 8 W.F. Dawe (100 yds), and A. Dorm (120jds) also ran. Wheelan soon left Dorm behind, and on ci tering the half miie had a good lead, which he kept to the finish. O'Connor won passed the others, but he could not get within 20 yards of the winner. Cokbolavion Rack, 200 yards. First prize £1. B. Nicholls 1 W. Tubb, T. Kenny and W. King also ran. The race proved a very good one, and was won cleverly by Nicholls. The sports were brought to a conclusion about 7 o'clock by a pig bunt. Two pigs, kindly given by Mr Wm. King, of Seadowu, were let loose among the crowd, and the ex citement became intense. One pis was quickly caught, but a long chase ensued after ibe ether. Eventually he was caught by a well-known bandsman, who stuck to him gamely despite the efforts of tlio crowd, who tried hard to wrench thn pig from him. After this the procession wa> re formed, and, headed by the Band, marched back to the Hall, where the members were dismissed. Before leaving the ground Chief Banger Kelly, m a few appropriate words, thanked those present for their attendance, and called for three cheers for Mrs Watkins, who had jo kindly given the use of the paddock for the da.v • The cheers were given most heartily.