NEW BRIGHTON GALA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6089, 28 January 1898, Page 1

NEW BRIGHTON GALA.

Q_ New Brighton was en fete yesterday on the occasion of its annual gala. The morning was so promising that the ten o'clock trams on both lines were crowdeJ, no fewer than eighteen- cars being filled with excursionists. The two o'clock and neven o'clock trips were also loaded with passengers, and as a great number also went in vehicles and on bicycles, altogether there must have been five thousand persons at the seaside borough. Just before the sports started in the afternoon, a shower of rain fell, and this was folkwed by a heavy north-west wind, which nade matters extremely unpleasant, and wiiich lasted until about, seven o'clock. The pier was lined with flags and the outer end wag covered with an awning. The Woobton Band played on the pier during the afternoon, and in Patterson's gardens in the evening. During the afternoon his Excellency the Governor went down, and was officially received by the Chairman of the Gala Committee.- The officials worked hard to make the sports a success, but as the track on the beach was not railed in it was a very difficult matter to keep the crowd off, and in one race a cyclist ran into a nutnbar of women an,d .children, knocking tl^em dojgn; - and a"little^boy was rather badly hurt. There was a steam merry-go-round, which did a, good business, and several side shows were also well patronised. In addition to the; sports recorded below there were sports, undfcr the charge of Mr J. A. Bird, for children, and also races f ©r women and girls. The events, for both adults and juveniles, attracted a large number of entrants, and most of them were well contested, and considering that the running was very heavy ou the wet sand and against the wind, some of the times made were very good. The following are results : — 75yda Plat Handicap (open) — First heat : W. Dacre, : 3yrta, 1; C. Mulholland, 9yda, 2 ; A. German, syds, 3. Time— S!sgc. Second heat : J. W. Green!, 2yd3, 1; G. Oppenheim, syds, 2; 1,. Stephens, syds, 3, Time— SJsec. Final: J. W. Green, 1 ; W; Dacre, 2 ; G. Oppeuheiui, 3. Time— Bsec. 75yds Flat Handicap (amateur)— First beat: H. Killner, 4ycls, 1 ; C. j\. M'Larfen, 6yds, 2; W. J. Walter, oyds, it. 'lime— Bsee. Second heat : F. A. Lukey, 7yds, 1; J. T. Flesher, 7yds, 2; J. If. M'Kay, 6yds, 3. Time— Ssec. Final : J?. A. Lufeey, 1 ; H, Killner, 2 ; J. T. Fleslier, S. Timo~S|sea. Quarter-mile i;ycle Handicap (amateur) —W. Robertson, £oyds, 1 ; H. J. Barou, 25yds, 2 ; P. Wynn- Williams, 15yds. 3.' Time— 3B*sec. Second heat : T. Gates, 35yds, 1 ; A. Barlow, 40vds, 2 ; J. L. Carl, 10yds, 3. Time— 4Bseo. Final : W. j Kobertson, 1 ; ,T. L. Carl, 2 ; 1\ Wynn-Willinms, 3. ' Time— 4l*boc. Quarter-mile Cyclo Hnndicap (open) — G. Porter, lOjds, 1; K. Bodge: s, 15yds, 2; P. Steohens, 40yd3, 3. Time— 3BJs:ec. 100 yds Flat Hau- i dicap (amateur)— First heat : fl. Killner, syds,l ; J. Ij. Smith, scr, 2 ; J. T. Flesher, 10yds, 3. Time— lljscc. Filial : 1\ A. Lukey, 1 ; J. T. Flesber, 2; J. L. Smith. 3. Time— lOJs-.c. ICOjds Flat Handicap (open)— S. O-srman, 7yds, 1 ; W. Deere, 4yds,. 2; A. Wilson. t'.yds, 3.. Time— lOjsec. Second heat: J. W. Green, 3yds, 1 ; G. Opponhpim, 7yds, 2; W. Chisuall, syds, 3. Time— llsec. Final: .7. ST. Grncn, 1; W. Dacre, 2; G. Oppenheim, 3. Time — lOlsec. lin'f-mile Ovclo Handicap (wnateurj —First heat: P. Wynn-Wilhams, 35yds, 1; W. Robertson, 45yds, 2 ; ±T. J. Baron, otiyds, 3. Time — imintMJscc. Second hen t : J. L. Carl, 25yds, 1 • T. Oates, CKyde, 2; A. Barlow, 70yds, 3. Time— lmin 33? ec. Final : "W. Bobertson, 1 ; J. L. Carl, 2 ; P. Wynu-Williams, 3. Time— lmin 36isec. Hp.lfraile Cycle Handicap (oten)— G. A. Maxwell, scr, 1; H. W. Stephens, 45yds, 2; E. Walker, 55yda, 3. Time— lmin Uisec. 200 yd* Flat Handicap (amateur) — First; heat : J. L. Smith, ecr, 1 ; C. A. M'Laroii l.yds,2; J. T. Birch, 9yds, 3. Time— 23'sec. Second hent: P. A. Lnkey, Hyds.lj W. A. Dr .ke, Syds, 2 ; G. Ormandy, 14yd3, 3. Time— 22sec. Jb iiial : F. A. Lnkey, 1 ; G. Orinandy, 2; W. A. Drake, 3. Time— aiisec. Cadets,' Race— W. White, 1; W. Boyce, 2. Hop-step-and-jnmp— U, Lester, 37ft 7in, 1 ; W. Dacre, 2. Mea-of-wars' Kace— Seaman James (Torch), 1; Seaman Stevens (Torch), 2. Three-Jeg-ged Eace — Smith Brothers, 1; Dacre and M-Fadden, 2. Potato Kuce— Marshall, 1 : Benham, 2. In the evening a competition concert was held in Patterson's Gardens. The hornpipe was won by S. Dickiei with C. H. Close second, from thirteen competitors; the comic song competition by G. Clifford, with S. Ledsham second, from eight competitors; the Highland fling for boys was won by J. Stewart ; the Irish jig by S. Dickie, with C. H. Close second and F. Macalier third, from eight competitors. Professor Morri3 gave an exhibition, '.of fancy skating during the evening, and there was a Punch and Judy show on exhibition, which caused much amuse? ment.

Working Men's Club.— The half-yearly meeting; of the Chratelmvch Working Men's Club was held last evening when Mv E. Smith presided. Mr Mason drew attention to tho fact that the election' of two members to the Appeal Board was illegal, and a motion to that effect was carried; but upon another ballot being taken, tho two members in question were ro-elficted. A sum of .£lO was unanimously voted to the relief of tho sufferers by the recent flio at Birch Hill and Oxford. A vote of thanks to the 'Chairman closed the meeting. Institute of Journalists. — A general meeting of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists was held yesterday afternoon ,for the purpose of considering a circular from the President, embodying suggestions for increasing the usefulness of the Institute.. Mr Geo. Capper presided. The Branch approved of tho proposals to make tlie "Institute the business agent of members seeking employment or transfer of services. While agreeing to the principle of establishing social clubs m the different centres, tho Branch expressed tho opinion that the time was not ripe tor this in Christohurch. The Branch also approved of tho supgestion that a complete registered record should be made ot members' qualifications, and that, as far as possible, a list should be procured of ihe names of all pressmen withui the colony. ' ' cv