PUBLIC SERVICE WALK

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 2, 27 September 1921, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE WALK

WON BY THE LETTER-CARRIERS EIGHT MILES IN 77J MINUTES. Thirty-six members of the Public Service put in a strenuous afternoon yesterday (Dominion Day) testing their powers of endurance in an eight-mile road-walk —the first of its kind held in Now Zealand aa far as tho service is concerned. , The event was a decided spcc-esst It showed that the service possesses some excellent walkers, capable of putting up good performances on the track. The course was from, the Lower Hutt Post Office to the Thorndon baths —a distance of about eight miles—and the fact that the winner covered the distance in 77-J minutes is some indication of the pace maintained throughout along the dusty Hutt Road. Tho officers were as follow: —Judges at finish, Colonel R J. Collins, C.AI.G., Alessrs. R. IV. Al’Villy, A. T. Markman, and W. R. Jourdain (who also acted as secretary); judges of walking, Alessrs. T. W. Leslie, A. B. Sievwright, and C. Ellis; starter, Mr. T. W Leslie; clerk of course, Air. P. O. von Hortitsch; number steward, Mr. J. Burch; timekeeper, Mr. H. Plimmer. Before the start Mr. T. W. Leslie lined the competitors up across the road, and defined the true walk, which must be made with the locked knee, the heel being tho first part of the foot to touch the ground. No one must get any kind of extraneous assistance throughout the walk, which was purely a test of pace and endurance. The start was witnessed by some hundreds of people, and several motor-cars kept up with the walkers encouraging them on their way with words of cheer The race started at 2.19 p.m. Passing the Hutt station, Wilson (letter carriers), Si Hall (No. 2 P. and T.),' and D. Catley (N -j: IP. and T.) were in the lead, and going along in good style. At Petone Troy (letter carriers) had pulled up with the leaders, with Curry (letter carriers) in close attendance, and after a twenty yards break camo R. Skinley (No. 1 P. and T), E. Sutherland and Al. Gardiner (No. 2 P. and T.), all putting in good work. After leaving Petone Catlay dropped back. Petone station was passed by the leaders at 2.87 p.m. At the Ngahauranga bridge Wilson and Hall held tho lead level, and closely following them, came Troy, Curry, with N. C. Wiseman (No. 2 P. and T.) twenty yards behind. By this time there was probably 'over a mile distance between the first and last man—the proegssion was an attenuated line of very hot, dusty walkers? Two dropped out with the stitch. Curry developed stitch at Ngahauranga, but kept gamely on. Passing Lovin and Co.’s. store at Kaiwarra Wilson and Hall ( were still ahead of the field, both men walking splendidly—a good, swinging stride, with proper hip and. shoulder action, with Troy and Curry only a few yards behind, and }Viseman a hundred yards behind. Ths finish was a good one. A crowd was assembled on the Esplanade to meet the walkers, and the leaders essayed a final spurt, which accounted for Hall, who fell back into third place, Troy going forward in pursuit of Wilson, who held his own, winning comfortably by some ten yards from Troy, with Hall a few yards away third. Then came Curry, Wiseman, H. H. Webb (Lands and Survey), E. Sutherland, W. Tibbs, R. C. Lamason (Lands and Survey), and M. Gardiner (No. 2 P. and T.) The time of the winner was lhr. 17imin. . ■ The. first, second, and third prize winners received open orders for trophies, and there were very handsome gold medals tor the winning team, the Letter Carriers (Wilson, Troy, and Curry). The fourth, fifth, and sixth men to arrive (Curry, Wiseman, and Webb) received small gold medals, the seventh (E. Sutherland) received a' gold and silver medal, and the eighth, ninth, and tenth mon home (W. Tibbs, R. C. Lamason, and Al. Gardiner) were awarded silver medals. ■

In presenting the prizes. Colonel R. J Collins eaid that such teste of endurance woto not only good for the health, particularly among those who weilded tho pen at their desks every day, but it preserved the normal mind, and made for a cheerful outlook If the management would Accept a suggestion from him, be would like a Public Service Sports Club to bo formed. It would not in any way encroach on other clubs, but its committee would take in hand th; management of any event such as the one they h,ad just witnessed. They had their Public Service football and bowla, and there was no reason why they shotild not have their athletic sports and sports Ho then presented the prizes, remarking that the win of the letter carriers was almost to bo expected, as their work entailed walking day in and day out. He hoped, however, that teams would develop in some of the other departments who would give tho letter-carriers a good go for it next year. Cheers were then given for Colonel Collitfs, the winners, and the judges. The. fewer points the better was the system on which the result of the teams’ contest was adjudged. The winner was awarded one point, tho second two, and so on. The result worked out ,as follows :— 1. Letter Carriers (Wilson, Troy, and CurTv), 7 points. 2. P. and T. No. 2 (Hall, Wiseman, and' Sutherland), 15 points. 3 Tomis and Survey (Webb, Lamaaon, and Harding), 27 points.

Such is the-.prestige of Miecha Levitzki in the pianistio world that the Steinway Company supplied him with five "grands” for use on his world tour, and a man to look after them. The instrument used on' Saturday evening enabled people to hear a really good pianoforte once more, a pleasure they have been deprived of for .some years Pianoforte students will be interested to know that Levitzki uses a low, padded chair, with a substantial back, which ho makes use of almost continuously. The chair is one of special construction, and travels with him wherever he goes.