ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS. GERALDINE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 47, 25 March 1898, Page 27

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS. GERALDINE.

THE SPORTS. The Committee of the Geraldine St. Patrick's Sports Association are to be warmly congratulated on the splendid success which attended this year's gathering. Until late in the afternoon the weather was beautifully fine ; the arrangements made by the Committee were all that could be desired ; the attendance of the public was exceptionally large, and everything contributed to make the gathering an unprecedented success. The following is the official list of patrons, judges, and time- keepers, etc. :—: — Patrons : F. R. Flatman, Esq., M.H.R., A. E. G. Rhodes, Esq. President : R. Y. Ferguson. Vice-presidents : J. W. Pye, J. Murray, R. H. Pearpoint, and Dr. Hislop. Stewards : A. Kelman, J. Broughton, F. W. Worner, W. Beattie, E. E. Tasker, A. P. Barklie, W. C. Christie, F. Naylor, H. W. Moore, J. O'Malley, G. Louden, J. Kennedy, T. Kingston, and officers ex officio. Judges — Running and bicycle races : J. W. Pye, P. W. Fish, R. H. Pearpoint, and A. McLean, junr. ; jumping, K. Brophy, J. Slattery, and J. R. Montgomery ; wrestling, putting the stone, and tug-of-war, D. Henry, W. Mason, and Austin Lysaght ; Scotch music and dancing, J. Murray, R. Skinner, D. McLeod, and A. Fraser ; Irish dancing, K. Brophy, A. Lysaght, and T. Connelly ; fire brigade events, D. Henry, J. Cow, J. Mcllroy, and J. H. Pauling, ; time-keepers, J. C. Mcllroy, W. T. Turner, W. Houston, and C. A. Tabuteau ; handicappers, J. P. Kalaugher and D. E .Lewis ; starter, B. R. Mac Donald : hon. treasurer. J. Farrell ; hon. secretary, E. A. O'Malley. The various events were all well contested, the cycling races, thanks to the presence of some well-known crack riders, being the occasion of special interest and excitement. The Temuka Brass Band, and Pipers McKechnie, Murray, Frost, Davidson and Cooper, discoursed appropriate and enjoyable music during the day. The takings at the gates amounted to £30, and there was a large increase this year in the number of members' tickets. The following are the results of the various events :—: — Putting 16lb Weight — Prizes, LI and 10s : "W. Bradley, 1 ; — Roddick, 2 ; A. McKay 3. Seven competed.

100 Yards Maiden— Prizes, LI 10s and 15s : M. Gregan, 1 ; A. Beattie, 2. Six starters. Won by a yard.

1J Miles Roadster Bicycle Race (Local) — Trophies value LI 10s and 15s (first prize presented by Skelton, Frostick and Co. ; second by Sargood, Son and Ewing) : G. Metcalf, Bt)yds, 1 ; G. Southby, scratch, 2 ; F. Taylor. 20yds, 3. Time, 3min, 42sec. G. Bloomneld 110 yds, W. G. Napier 120 yds also started. An easy win for Metcalf.

100 Yards Handicap, in heats — Prizes. L 3 LI 10s: First heat— T. R. Tindall, 4yds, 1 ; E. Beckley, 4yds, 2; A. Murray, scratch, 3. Time, lOlsec. D. Fraser, syds, also started. Second' heat — A. Dunn, 3yds, 1 ; T. Quaid, 4yds, 2 ; A. D. Moore, syds, 3. Time, 10|-sec. C. J. Armstrong, 3yds, also started. Final heat — J. R. Tindall, 1. There was some dispute as to whether Dunn or Beckley was entitled to second place. Time, 10§sec.

Bagpipe Music (pibrochs and marches) — Prizes, L 3 and LI 10a : McKechnie, 1 ; Murray, 2 ; Frost, 3. Five competed. Half-mile Bicycle Handicap — Prizes, open orders of L 2 and LI (first prize presented by Austral Cycle Agency Company) : Run in three heats. Final heat — Buchanan, 1 ; Lane. 2 ; Stocker, 3. Time, lniin Gsec. Buchanan won as he liked.

One-Man Manual Fire Brigade Competition (dry) — Prizes, LI and 10s ; A. Fyfe (Geraldine), 47^sec, penalty lsec, 1 ; Dorm (Ashburton), 48£ sec., 2 ; Roddick (Tetnuka), 53^sec, penalty lsec, 3. The other competitors were — Sheen (Temuka), sGsec., penalty 4sec. ; J. Kennedy (Geraldine), 57sec, penalty lsec. 150 Yards Handicap (for boys under 14) — Prizes, 15s, 7s Gd, and 2s Gd (presented by Mr. J. W. Twoiney) : Gimson, 1 ; Scobie, 2 ; Smith, 3. Six started.

130 Yards Handicap— Prizes, L 2, LI, and 10s : Run in three heats. Final heat— E. Beckley, 1; T. Tindall, 2 ; Wall, 3. Time, 16sec.

Two Mile Bicycle Race — Open orders, L 3 and LI ; J. Orr, 100 yds, 1 ; W. H. Hall, scr, 2 ; R. Buchanan, 240 yds, 3. Other starters — J. W. Jones, scr ; W. J. S. Hayward, scr ; J. Grant, 30yds ; W. Lane, 55yds ; C. E. Hall, (50yds ; H. Aker, 90yds ; A. Stocker, 110 yds; H. C. Thompson, 1150 yds; Thomas Orr, 1 40 yds ; G. Southby, 230 yds ; and G. Bloomh'eld, 340 yds. Time, linia 52sec. This was a most exciting event, Orr coming up with a magnificent spurt in the second last lap and maintaining his lead to the end.

Wrestling, Cumberland style, for Youths under 18 — Prizes, 30s and 10s : Friel, 1 ; R. Connell, 2. Nine competed.

Hop, Step and Jump — Prizes, 80s and 10s: R. Orton, Gin (40ft 2in), 1; T. Quaid, 12 in (39ft Tin), 2; G. Blisset, scratch (39ft 4iu), 3. There were five competitors,

220 Yards Hurdle Race— Prizes, L 2 and LI : G. Blissett, scratch, 1 ; B. Orton, 17yds, 2. Other starters— T. Quaid, 12yds, and A. D. Moore, 12yds. Time, 31sec.

Sword Dance— Prizes, 30s and 10s : Bell, 1 ; McKechnie, 2 ; Davidson, 3. Murray also competed.

Three-men Engine Fire Brigade Competition — Prizes, L 2 and LI : Geraldine. 56 sec (4 sees penalty), 1 ; Ashburton, 57 sec (1 sec penalty), 2 ; Temuka, 78 sec (3 sen penalty), 3. Two Mile Bicycle Handicap (for members of Geraldine Cycling Club only) Open Orders, LI 10s and 103 : G. Metcalf, 110 yds, 1 ; G. Southby, 100 yds, 2 ; F. Taylor, 120 yds, 3. Time, smin llsec. Another easy win for Metoalf.

440 Yards Handicap— Prizes, L 3, LI and 10s : J. Wall, 18yds, 1 ; G. Blissett, 12yds, 2 : J. Heaton, 25yds, 3. Ten btarfced.

Quoits Competition— Trophies value 21s and 10s <!d (first prize presented by Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. ; second by D. Benjamin and Co) : C. E. Sherratt, 1 ; R. McKinlay, 2. Eleven competed. Sailor's Hornpipe— Prizes, 30s and 10s ; D. McKechnie, 1 ; D. O'Brien, 2. Three others competed.

Three Mile Bicycle Race (Provincial Championship) — Prizes, Gold Medals ; lap prizes, 5s per lap : J. W. Jones, 1 ; W. H. Hall, 2; J. Orr, 3. Other starters— W. J. S. Hayward, J. Grant, C. E. Hall, W. Laae, H. Aker, H. C. Thompson, T. Orr. The provision for lap prizes had the effect of securing a good pace from start to finish, and of producing a really capital race. Jones won by a good length. Middle-weight Wrestling.— Prizes. L 2, LI, and 10s; K. Brophy, 1 ; T. Lysaght. 2 ; J. Roddick, 3. Four competed. Running Long Jump, handicap — Prizes, LI 10s and 10 : R. Dalton, scr (17ft 4in), 1 ; W. Wells, scr (16ft lOin), 2. Two others competed. Bagpipe Music, Strathspeys and Reels— Prizes, L 2 10s and LI : D. McKechnie, 1 ; Murray,2 ; Davidson, 3. Two others competed.

880 Yards Handicap — Prizes, L 3, LI. and 10s ; J. Scobie, GOyds, 1 ; D. Campbell. 45yds, 2 ; A. D. Moore, 25yds, 3. Time, 2min 4 4-5 sec. Four others started. The result was an easy win for Scobie.

1-MILB Bicycle Race— Open orders, L 3 (or pair Dunlop tyres, presented by the Dunlop Tyre Co) and LI : R. Buchanan, 130 yds, 1 ; G. Southby, 140 yds, 2 ; A. Stocker, 65yds, 3. Time, 2min 21sec. Other starters— W. J. S. Hayward, scr, W. H. Hall scr, W. R. Lane 30yds' C. E. Hall 35yds, James Orr 60yds, H. E. Thompson 70yds, F. Taylor 150 yds. Taylor who was leading at the last lap, had the bad luck to come a " cropper " and Buchanan then scored an easy win.

Running High Jump Handicap— Prizes, 30s and 10s ; T. Quaid, scr (sft 4in), 1 ; R. Dalton, scr (sft 3in), 2 ; L. Dalton, 2in behind scr (sft 3in), 3. Five competitors.

250 yds. Handicap— Prizes, L 2 10s, LI, and 10s : T. R. Tindall, 9yds, 1 ; B. Beckley, 17yds, 2 ; J. Heaton, 14yds, 3. Time, 27£ sec. Two others started.

Five-Men Manual Fire Brigade Competition (wet)— Prizes, L 5 and L 2 10s : Geraldine, penalty 2sec (35ijsec), 1 ; Ashburton, penalty 2sec (3(Jsec). 2.

Highland Fling— Prizes. LI 10s and 10s : D. McKechnie, 1 ; Davidson, 2. Bell. 3. Murray also competed.

Two-Mile Bicycle Race — Open orders, L 5, L 2 10s, and LI : G. Southby, 420 yds, 1; J. Orr, 20(>yds, 2 : H. Akcr, 150 yds, 3. C. E. Hall ilO yds, W. Lane 150 yds, Thos. Orr, 220 yds. W. Banks •I 10yds, and R. Buchanan 2<>oyds also started. Southby won with the greatest ease.

One-Mile Handicap — Prizes, L 3. LI, and 10s: J. Logan, 30yds. 1 ; D. Campbell, 40yds. 2 ; J. Soobie, 70yds, 3. J. Fechney scr, B. T. Evans, 20yds. A. D. Moore 35yds, .T. Wall .10yds, 11. Hewson 70yds, and J. Joe 70yds also started. A very close race, Logan winning by only a yard or two. Time, 4tnin. slsec.

Half-Mile Novei/ty Bicycle Slow Race — Trophies, value LI and 10s, pi'esented by Mr. Houston : J. Pye, 1. Four competitors. 200 yds Consolation' Handicap — Prizes. LI 10s and 15s: Fechney, 1 ; Murray, 2 ; Quaid, 3. Five competed. Time, 12-, sec. Officials' Race — Prize, a rug, presented by Mr. Itoche, of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company : B. R. Macdonald, 1 ; W. T. Turner, 2. Time, O^sec. As might be expected this event created no end of amusement. THE CONCERT. The annual concert was held in the evening in the Volunteer Hall which was filled by a large and enthusiastic audience. Mr. F. 0. Flatman, M.H.It . occupied the chair. The first item on the programupe was " The long shore man " by Mr. J. R. Montgomery who gave a vigorous and effective rendering of this spirited song. In the second part Mr. Montgomery gave "The tin gee-gee," and in response to an encore convulsed the audience by his comic rendering of "Ta 'Pherson swore a feud." Miss Morrison delighted the audience by her naive rendering of " Barney O'Hea," both this song and her selection in the second part, " Thady O'Flynn," being heartily encored. A step dance by Mr. P. Leary afforded a pleasing variety and proved a very enjoyable item. "The dear little shamrook" and " Ben Bolt" were feelingly rendered by Miss Campbell, who was rewarded with a very hearty round of applause. The comic element was supplied by Mr. J. H. Dawson, whose rendering of "Pa and Ma" and "Of course he did," and " How do you do, deir boy," evoked hearty laugnter and applause. Mrs. R. Y. Fergusson's selections were "Loch Nagar " and " Annie Laurie," both of which were loudly and deservedly applauded. " Three jolly sailor boys " and " Hiding down from Bangor " by Mr. W. Christie were both warmly appreciated by the audience and received an enthusiastic encore. Miss Burridgcjmade her debut as a public singer, her selection being. " Tho cows are in the corn." She received an undeniable encore, her second song, " Kathleen Mavourneen," being also very heartily applauded. " Tim Finnigan's wake " and " The rocky road to Dublin," by Mr. Roche, completely brought down the house, and

received an uproarious encore. Fome excellent step-dancing by Mr. McKechnie followed, and a comic song by Mr. Dawson, "He wore a worried look," brought the programme to a close. The prize for the best comic song, which was offered by Mr. Roche, of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, was awarded to Mr. J. H. Dawson. The concert was followed by a dance.