A DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1955, 12 January 1914, Page 5

A DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

. FRACAS AT A .SPORTS MEETING. Recent visitors to Pelonis Sound describe in caustic terms a disgraceful scene which occurred at- tho AVaitata Club's sports hold in Turner's Bay, Waitata, Pelorus Sound, last week, says the Marlborough "Express." It is stated that the gathering numbered about 500 people, including a number of Wellington and Blenheim holiday-makers in the Sounds, and that the termination of tho day's sport was an utter discredit to those who were concerned in the final fracas, and calls for polico investigation and public centilation.

The programme of events included wood-chopping and athletic contests and launch races. Tho whole trouble, It is asserted by an eye-witness of the scene, germinated in tho dissatisfaction expressed at tho handicapping in ' one launch race, which was' won with ease by a launch in which the handieappcrs nro alleged to have had a proprietary interest. A free fight developed, and it i? estimated that about forty aggravated arid drunken persons participated in an ignominious contest which is a reproach on British civilisation and a sense of the fitness of tilings. "Women and children were unwilling spectators of tho degrading scene, and their day's pleasure was marred owing to the serious results of family strife. The gateway leading to the sports ground was tho sCene of tho trouble, and owing to the heat with which the combat was waged ladios were unable to pass through the gate to their respective launches near the beach. Members of the Star Boating Club (Wellington) and other visitors adopted forcible means in 3n endeavour to quell the feud ; but their efforts, though commendable, motwith little success. Ultimately one section of the fence was broken down by a visitor, and the ladies and men who were besieged in the sports area were thus enabled to make their way to their launches and start on their homeward journey after witnessing a most harrowing spectacle. Tho combatants were still actively engaged when tho narrator of tho incident, to an ''Express" ropresentativo left the hay. .