FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 9

FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF DEC. 17. 1869. Heathcote Sunday School.—lt has been decided that scholars attending these schools shall this year be taken to Sumner for their usual annual treat, and Christmas week has been chosen as the most suitable time. For this purpose it will be necessary to obtain the loan of drays and carts to convey the children. :: *: 5$ Dunedin Message.—A fatal accident occurred to Cobb’s coach last evening. In crossing the Kakanui River, which is greatly swollen, the coach was smashed to pieces, and two horses and two passengers were drowned. The passengers drowned are Mr Paterson, a civil engineer, and a young lady believed to be a Miss Ross, formerly a teacher here. Great excitement has been caused in consequence of the accident. *: _ From an Advertisement.—Subscriptions will be received to defray the fines and costs inflicted on Mr George Scott, of the Royal Oak, Lyttelton, for a breach of the Public House Ordinance. The subscribers, while admitting that he was justly fined for a breach of the law, wish to mark their disapproval of the disgraceful manner in which he was induced to commit the breach by a person in the same trade. The Sports Held on Anniversary Day.—The wheelbarrow race was first, and nothing better could have been selected for exciting the interest and amusement of the assemblage, and placing them in a good humour at the commencement. There were twelve entries, and the manner in which some of the blindfolded competitors ran astray was almost laughable. The sport was exceedingly good for a race of the kind, and it ultimately ended by C. Forbes carrying off the first prize of £1 and Alexander Ritchie the second of 10s. The standing high leap was contested by six very likely looking athletes, and

after one or two weeds had been thinned out, some very pretty and close rivalry ensued. The two winners were G. Fisher and F. Thompson, who were .respectively awarded £1 10s and 10s. The height cleared by the winner was 4ft 4Jin. The velocipede race was looked upon as the great event of the day, and some considerable betting took place among the admirers of the respective competitors as they gave their steeds a preliminary stretch on an adjacent roadway. There were in all sixteen velocipedeans, and a greater di versity of steeds could not have occurred in the most distant up-country hack race. First, and generally regarded as the most dangerous, was a bi cycle recently brought out by the Zealandia and to be ridden by Mr Harston. Then there were three similar ones of local make—one being a most extraordinary looking machine, having a fore wheel about three feet in diameter, and a hind wheel not more than eight or ten inches, then one of Parisian make, and lastly a tricycle of local manufacture. A fair start was effected on the roadway running north and south on the west side of the square; but unfortunately, Mr A. Blakiston came into collision with Mr Piper, and the two were brought to grief, thus destroying all their chances of a win. On turning into the square the steed with the small hind quarters was leading, with the tricycle second and M: Pratt third, the much-dreaded importa tion being hopelessly in the rear. This order was maintained until within a yard or two of the post, when the leader had the misfortune to come down with an ugly burst and the heavy weight—the tricycle—won, with Mr Pratt, who had very perceptibly closed up in the last few yards, a very close second.