QUEENSTOWN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 47, 25 March 1898, Page 20

QUEENSTOWN.

the sports. The recently formed St. Patrick's Day Sports Association at Queenstown made their bow to the public on the 17th with a lively and well-managed programme. The attendance was good, and the proceedings, which were very enjoyable, were enlivened by the music of the local band, and with the strains of Mr. A. Macrae's bagpipes. The entries were very good and the conte:-ts keen. The affair netted some £!."> — a sum which would have been considerably increased but for the refusal of the Chairman of the Licencing Committee to grant a conditional license. The following is the list of officials :—: — President— Rev. Father O'Donnell ; vice-presidents — Messrs F. M'Bride and J. Black; hon. treasurer — Mr C. E. Gudgeon; lion, secretary — Mr. M. O'Meara ; committee — Messrs P. M'Carthy, J. and T. Kelly, P. Butler, J. M'Chesney, J. M'Mullan, P. Patton, L. Lynch, M. Fitzpatrick, T. Power and E. A. Cameron. Starter— Mr. J. Black ; handicappers — Messrs G. Reid, J. Stenhouse and L. Lynch. The following are the results of the various contests :—: — Maiden Race — 100 yds. Prizes, trophies valued at 2 On and 10s : C. Robertson, 1 ; F. Olsen, 2. beven entries. Running Hop bTEP and Jump — Prizes, 20s and 10s: Healey, 33ft (Jin, 1 ; Sodden. 3Uft 9in, 2. Four entries. St. Patrick's Handicap, three distances — Prizes, L,l, L 2. and LI. First distance, 100 yds : Sodden, lyd, 1 : C. Keay, 4yds, 2 ; F. Olsen 6yds, 3. b'econd distance. 220 yd s: Sodden, scr, 1 ; F. Olsen. 12yds', 2; C Keay, «yds, 8 Third distance, 440 yds :F. Ol*en, 24yds', 1'; C. Keay, IHyds, 2 : Sodden, ber, :i. Sodden got most points, 12, with Olsen and Keay next in the order mentioned — 10 and 8 points respectively. Three other* competed. Handicap Bicycle Race, 1\ miles — Prizes, trophies valued at 30s and 15s : D. Reid, 110 yds, 1 ; B. Richards, scr, 2. Reid won pirn lv Potato Race, 30yds— Prizes, LOs and 10s : J. Waterman, 1 ; D. Williams. 2. Five entries. Boys' Wrestling, under !."> years— Prizes, 10s and ."is : C. Gudgeon, 1 : R. FrasT, 2. Eight entries. Tug-o'-War — Prizes, (>os and 20s : Won by McMullan's team after an exciting struggle. Putting the stone (22lbs), Irish style — Prizes, 20s and 10s : R. Reilly, 41ft, 1 ; E. Heally, :Wlt, 2. Nine Entries. Handicap Bictcle Rack, 2 miles — Trophies, valued «at 10^ and 20s. D. Reid, 120 yds, 1 ; B. E. Richards, scr, 2. Ohstacle Race, boys under !."> years— Prize, 8s : R. McDowall 1 • D. Rogers. 2 : R. Fraser. :>. Twelve entries. A very amusing race.

Members' Handicap. 100yds— Prizes, 20s and 15b: C. Robertson, 4yds, 1 : C. Fraser, Byds, 2. Eight entries. Several children's races were also run during the day. THE CONCERT.

In the evening a concert was given in the Town Hall. Every part of the hall was filled, and the programme was much enjoyed by the audience, and encores were the rule. The stage was very prettily decorated, the front of it displaying a green and gold banner with, the motto " Erin go Bragh." Pressure on our columns forbids a detailed criticism of the various items in the capital programme presented. The song " Killarney " was nicely rendered by Miss F. Fraser. Miss M. Robertson was -well received in her rendering of "Sligo." Mr. Woods sang with fine effect "Out on the deep" and "The gladiator" ; and Mr. C. Robertson was warmly encored for hi* '• Father O'Flynn." Mr. G. Hescott sang in pleasing style "The Romany lass " and " Eileen Alannah. " ; and Mr. J. Williams brought down the house with a song in character. The harmonised pieces added greatly to the interest of the programme. Two duets, "In the dusk of the twilight" and -'List to the convent bells" were given in fine style by Misses \ ountney and Black, pupils of the Convent school. Another, by Messrs J. Williams and S. Griffiths— a comio one— received a hearty encore. Three double quartettes were given in splendid style. They were the old Irish favourites, " The harp that once," " Go where glory waits thee," and '• Has sorrow thy young days shaded .'" The ladies and gentlemen who took part in them were Mrs. Black, Misses Gudgeon, M Robertson, K. M'Neill, C. Malaghan, and M. M'Mullan, and Messrs O. H. Robertson and J. Woods. A popular item on the programme was the bag-pipe playing by Mr. D. A. Cameron. The performance concluded by the singing of '"St. Patrick's Day Parade" by twelve persons. The accompanists were Misses M. Gudgeon, M. Robertson, M. M'Ewen, and E. Morton, also Mrs. Black and Mr. J. Williams.

Towards the close of the entertainment Father O'Donnell thanked the performers, and expressed in particular his obligations to Mrs. Black for the great trouble she had gone to in getting up the concert. He also thanked the public for their liberal support, congratulated them on their financial success, despite the opposition from certain quarters, and expressed high hope for still greater success in the future.