HIBERNIAN SPORTS AT OAMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 23 April 1897, Page 15

HIBERNIAN SPORTS AT OAMARU.

(From the North Olago Times, April 19.)

ThBBE sports took place yesterday under most favourable conditions The weather was all that could be desired so far as sunshine was concerned, but the wind was a trifle keen towards the evening. The attendance was large, and the committee must feel gratified that their effort to provide a good day's games met with so much success and encouragement. The programme was a long one, and at the beginning time travelled at a rate that the conductor of the games could not keep pace with. But later on the lost time was pulled up, and the sports finished at a reasonable hour. The committee had provided a capital and interesting programme. Of course the interest centred in the Sheffield Handicap, for which there was a large entry of competitors, and for which the Society offered the handsome prizes of Cl 5. £7, £3 and £2. Morton appropriated this and the 75yds. handicap. He is one of the finest runners that has ever appeared on the Oamaru track, and modest withal, for he introduced himself to the committee with the remark that he was a ploughman at Winchester, and knew very little about running. If the same innocence characterises this competitor's ploughing as was exemplified in his running his employer will have no fault to find with him ; and if he c,in get over the ground with a plough with as much celertiy as he gets over the track m a race he should make a very energetic ploughman. Strange as it may appear several persons in the garb of Old Gaul appeared on the scene, and the bagpipes were conspicuous in the dances and in competitions for music : in fact there was a commingling of the three nationalities — a happy blending, and just as it should be. The cyclingevents, for which the entries were not as large as they might have been, were interesting from the fact that they introduced to the track an amateur of considerable merit in the person whose racing no a <lr pin mi is Harris, and who hails from Palmerston. He displayed a remarkable turn of speed, and gave evidence of taking a foremost place on the track. There was some splendid finishing in the heats and in the finals, and the public could not have been other than pleased with the capital bill of fare provided by the Hibernian Society of Oamaru. Mrs. Fagan had the booths under her control, and tor the first time tor several year^ past dispensed both spirituous and other refreshments, and there was apparently no difference in the demeanor of the people between the new order and that of the past three years. The Garrison Band lent charm to the gathering by the playing of a large number of selections. The Gymnasium Club also agreeably filled in gaps with a number of well executed exercises, for which the public duly expressed their appreciation. The following are the results of the different events :: — ■

Maiden Race. 150 yds. Prizes, £1 Kh,., Cl, 10s.— A. M'Kay, 1 ; J. M'Grail, 2 ; H. Kane. 3. One Mile Bicycle Handicap. Prizes, C 2, £1 10s, £I.— W. E. /erria, 95yds, 1 ; T. Thomson, scr., 2 ; R. Ilendry, 50yds, 3. Bagpipe Music. Prizes, £3, £i 10s., and £1. — R. Thomson, 1 ; W. M'Bride, 2. 75 Yards Handicap. Prizes. £2. £1, and 10s. — A. Morton, 6yds, 1 ; J. M' Naught, :syds, 2 : J. Maxwell, (>yds, 3. District handicap. Prizes, £2 2-*, £1, and 10s. — Sinclair, 1 : Smith, 2 ; J. M'Grail, :*. Two mile bicycle race. Prizes, £3, £2, and £1. — F. Harris, 100 yds., 1 ; T. Thomson, ber., 2 ; W. E. Ferris, scr., 3.

One mile walk. Prizes, £2 10s, £1 10s, £I.— W. Craik, 50yds., and A. Creighton, p. r.. dead heat ; H. Wilson, 90yds., 3. Sheffield hancucrp. Prizes. £15, £7, £3 and £2.— A. Morton, 1 ; J. M'Naught, 2 ; 'I. Christie, 3 ; J. M'Grail, 4. Cumberland Wrestling. Prizes, £2 10s., £1. 10s.— Wright, 1 ; Earl, 2 ; Condon. 3. Highland Fling. Prizes, £1 10s., £1, 10s.— R. Thomson, 1; W. M'Bride, 2 ; W. M'Knzie, 3. Irish Jig. Prizes, £2, £1, 10s.— R. Thomson, 1 ; W. Fitzgerald, 2 ; J. Haggie, 3. Throwing Light Hammer. Prizes, £1 10«., 155.. UK — C. D. Fleming, scr. (95ft. ;in ), 1 ; F. H. Fleming, 2ft. (!)5f t. 3in.), 2 ; W. Thynne. lift. (87ft. Tin.). 3. Running High Leap. Prices, £1 10s., £1, and ]0s. — A. Richardson, 1 inch (sft. sAin.), 1 ; L. M'Kay. 2 inches (sft. sin.), 2 ; J. Flynn, 1 inch (sft. sin), 3. Three rthers jumped. 440 Yards Hurdles. Prizes, £2 10s., £1 l()s., and £I.— L. M'Kay, 25yds., 1 ; A. Miller, Byds., 2 ; T. Ro.-s, Byd*.. 3. Half-mile Handicap. Prizes, £3, £2, £1.-1. Day. 25yds., 1 ; J. Fogarty. 30yds., 2 ; R. Gillies. 55yds., 3. Irish hornpipe. Prizes, £1 10s, Xl.and UK — R.Thomsn, 1; W. Fitzgerald, 2 : J. Haggie, 2. Putting light ball handicap.— C. D. Fleming, scr. (3i)ft. Bin.), 1 ; M. Thynne, 3ft. Gin. (3(sft. 3in.), 2 ; G. Munro, lft. Gin. (35ft. 3in.), 3. One mile handicap. Prizes, £4, £2, and £1. — W. Green, 70yds., 1 ; B. T. Evars, 55yds., 2 ; D. Bee, 90yds., 3. During the afternoon several boys' races were run. The entries were numerous, and among the small fry created a good deal of interest. THE CONCERT. The Hibernian Society concluded the holiday yesterday by an excellent concert in the evening at the Theatre Royal. The attractiveness of the programmes offered yearly to the public by this Society has become so well known as to draw large audiences, and last evening's was only another of their successes in this direction. The Theatre Royal was crowded in every part. Talent had been drawn from Dunedin and elsewhere, as well as locally, and the programme, as it appeared to the reader, was excellent itself. The fact that such music is seldom heard in Oarnavu does not need to be stated. It would attract attention in any town. The stage itself was nicely arranged as a drawing-room, and appeared quite picturesque. The concert opened with a song by Miss Rose Blaney. She had chosen " The Irish Emigrant," and it suited her soprano voice admirably. Miss Blaney's first effort caught the sympathies of her hearers and for her first piece she received a hearty redemand. She then sang " Comin' Through the Rye," with a very nice appreciation of all points which offer themselves. Encores were allowed to every item in the first part of the programme, but in the second the committee round it necessary to curtail, and only one was permitted. Hence Miss Blaney did not sing again in reply to the applause, for her rendering of " The carnival." She has a manner of coming into touch with lit hearers which assists her great vocal powers This characteristic is scarcely so strongly marked in Miss Mongrudien, but her riuh contralto voice is fitted for the singing of somewhat plaintive sonus. and List evening she san? with great sympathy for her subject "Kate O'Shnne " and " The gift." For the first sh e » was un, ored and sang ■■ Two is company, three is none." The better known voice of Mrs. T W. Lynch was well received last evening, and her singing of ••Come back to Erin" was encored. Sever.il bouquets > ere thrown to this lady for her effort. Miss Morrison also lias a very pleasant soprano voi<'t\ She i-ang •■ An Irish girl's opinion."' The national character of thi.s song appealed strmiirly to the sons of Erin present and in response to a i\ call she san«; "Bj the b'lnuie banks of Loch Lomond.' 1 In the second part she was h^ ir ' to even greater ad\antage in ■' Eidelweiss,"' which seemed to suit her better than the first choice. Among the gentlemen there was ir O od singing. Mr. James .Tago is an old fa\ounte. and a \ety general one. He sang ■• The Cruiskeen Lawn " in the first part, and ■•The Gladiator."' and was twice recalled. Mr. E. Edgar, who ha- a good tenor \oice. sang "Oh, Erin my countiy ' and "David ringing before Saul with success. Mr. J. Woods aKo saner very well '• The Valley ot the Sea" and "Our Guard*."' obtaining a recall for the first. A trio by Misses Blaney and Mongredicn find Mr. Jngo concluded the first part, and a quartette by the same sinirers and Mr. Eagar closed the second. Miss Donovan recited with effect, " Fontenoy," and was recalled. Mr. R. Thomson's Irish jig needs no praise. Mi-s J. Fagan made a very careful accompanist. During the evening Mr. H. Aitken presented the prizes won at the late tennis? tournament, and the liev. Father Mackay thanked the large audience for their attendance and hearty applau&e.

The A^h bur ton D) apery Co. have just lan tied a choice and select stock of goods f winter wear. Every department Las been newly stocked and customers will find th.it the company can supply them with, the 1 .test and most fashion iblc goods at prices to suit the times.

Messrs. Hanmer "ni Graves, Grain and Wool Brokers, Ashburton, are cash buye: •, of grain in any quantity and at the highest market value. They v ill also receive yr.iiii tor storage at very moderate charges. Tli' firm's stores are without a doubt the finest in the Colony, being cuol and free from all dampness. The firm are also agents for the Xew Zealand Insurance Co., button's seeds and Hornsby's reapers and binders. In fact, i armors can be supplied with every description of farm requisites at the stores of the firm.

There is a M. Zola a wine vneicbant at Xante**, who feels by no means proud of his nai .esake, the aul hor ot •■ N;ina," '• Lourdes " and

Rome." He has h. 3. the following inserted in certain French, papers :—": — " Notice :M. Zola, wine merchant at Nantes, has the honour to inform his clients that Le is no relative of M. Zola, the romance-writer."