FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1754, 21 May 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TAKITMU v. HUIA.

Tho representatives of tho Woetern district (Tikitimu) played their first match on SatU'day last when they mot and defoated Huia by 11 points to 6. With about three oxoeptions tbe Takitimas (maroon) are nil first season playois, and with a little experionoo should give a very good account of tbomsolves. They are at present the fittest toam in tho competition, and go from start to fioisb, their play boing devoid of roughness. Tho game was oven throughout, and although not of a very seiontifio naturo was fairly intorosting Tho maroons played wilh splendid combination, several of tho backs doing splendid work. Tboy orossod tho Huia lino oo threo oooasions. Pit i To Hau’s try was a meritorious one. Ho scoured possession at tho half way rnnik, and racing around his opponents scored under the posts. Huia showed little combination, but some fair individual form was shown Tho most conspicuous amongst tho backs wore Watohhorn, Leah, and Lasoelles, whilst amongst the forwards Sohwabo, Thompson, Softon, Walker, and Punch worked hard, Schwabe and Leah sonred for Huia. Messrs W. Hay and H. Wepiha held the line flags, ond the game was controlled by Mr R. G. Hallamore, who gave thorough satisfaction.

The native suppoiters of the Takitimus celebrated ihe victory by daooiDg a haka on the soene of the oontest.

Barley-growing is making a little fortune for the Government settlers at Blind River. The Australian brewers find that the Marlborough grain is just the thing. A Palmerstonian who recently visited Blind Kiver asked' a casual acquaintance how he was getting on- He told this little story : “ Well, to tell you the truth, I have just sold out. Five years ago I was lucky enough to draw a sec ion in the ballot. Thirty-five pounds was my total capital. J paid £25 as a deposit, and was so glad, at my luck that X went on tho spree with the rest. I sold out the whole lock, stock and barrel last month for £3OOO. So you see I haven’t done so had 1 ”

The Wairarapa Times has some hard words to say of Government valuations. “There aro,” it states, “ a thousand and one men in business circles in this colony who make better and more reliable valuations than those which bear tho Government stamp. Such men base their values on the earning power of properties and not upon a fictitious capital value. The rental value of a house or land is the determining factor in the assessment. If it happens to possess no rental value or no earning value, then it is put down at a comparatively lowfigure. If the Government department studied either the earning value of properties or the price they would command on the open market for cash not terms, their valuations would be respected by business men. As it is they are usually ignored or derided. As regards land, the Government occupies the weird position of being buyer, seller, lender, and borrower. It runs half-a-dozen departments with conflicting interests ; and, under such conditions, the Angel Gabriel himself could hardly maintain a straight course.”