HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4536, 7 March 1923, Page 3

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

PICNIC AND SPORTS. The Hikutaia Schools picnic and sports took place on Friday last in the fine paddock the use of which was kindly granted for the occasion by Mrs at whose orders ploughing operations were suspended in order that the picnic might he held. This year the two schools, Hikutaia and Hikutaia Weslt, were combined, a combination that did not appear to work too well, the arrangements prior to, and on the day of, the picnic being left mainly to those connected with the larger school. The chairman (Mr A. R. Robinson) of the Schools Committee was übiquitous, and did not spare himself in the effort to promote the general enjoyment. The committee responsible for the arrangements, consisted of Mesdames W. H. Alley, G. Avery, J. Elliot, and Ingham, Messrs A. R. Robinson, and A. Gubb, together with the teachers of the Hikutaia School, Mr .t Elliot, Misses Frost, Walker, and LA. Morrison, and it is to them, and Mr H. L. Morrison, who was of great assistance to the ladies in preparing the sandwiches and .the commissariat generally, and who on the day of the sports acted as handicapper with Mr I. M. Robinson, Messrs W. K. and M. Morrison officiating as judges. To- prepare for so many was a somewhat big job, but the ladies mentioned above were more than equal to the occasion, for there was enough and to spare after the substantial lunch and the sumptuous tea had been partaken of by parents, the children, a ( nd their friends. If anyone did riot get all that was fancied it was his or her own fault, the ladies, reinforced by a number of willing assistants in Mesdames A. RRjpbinson, I. M. Murdock, W. Welch, and Thomas, not only presiding at # the tables, but sending out relays of waiters to all parts of the paddock. ■ This part of the wox'k, well and efficiently done as it was, was made lighter by Mr R. R. Lowry, who took the trouble of looking after the copper upon his own shoulders, thus helping . considerably. The solid lunch,. consisting of large pies and ham sandwiches, formed so substantial a foundation that the dainty cakes were somewhat neglected—an omission, however, that was made good at tea-time, when the onslaught was vigorous and persistent. Between meals lollies were distributed or scrambled, the pupils as well as’ those of “larger growth” being participants. During the afternoon the /toys, an excellent selection, and fairly costly, were distributed to the prize winners, the infants, as well as to those who did not get a place in the competi- . tions—this by way of consolation. The difficult task, not of pleasing the little ones, but of satisfying the mothers —a job as unenviable as that or awarding the celebrated golden apple' —was satisfactorily overcome by Mesdames Avery and Ingham,’ who yere as impartial as they were considerate. The various athletic competitions were well and eagerly, contested, the fields being large and the rivalry both keen and friendly. The babies’ race was very funny, many of the tiny, tots making for anywhere but the tape when Mr Morrison gave the signal tp go. The schools championship evoked considerable interest, Maurice Murdock winning the two longer events and coming third in the 100yds. i The relay race proved something of a novelty, and was a fine sight, some fifty boys taking part in one'and over forty girls in the other. Races provocative of much fun were the wheelbarrow and medley races, while the mile bicycle race was most exciting. The close finishes proved the skill of the handicappers, at whose disposal was the knowledge of th* teachers of the Hikutaia school, who did everything humanly possible to help the officials and to amuse the children. * Following are the details of the various competitions : — 30yds Handicap, for boys under 6 ■ M. Rare 1, A. Brown 2, E. Johnson 3. 25yds Handicap, for girls under 6: LHanlen 1, E. Gubb 2, F. Tomkins 3. 40yds Handicap, for boys under 7 ■ HRobinson 1, G. Coxhead 2, L. Ludwig 3. 30yds Handicap, for girls under 7: J. Alley 1, J. Corbett 2, Q. Duncan 3. 50yds Handicap, for boys over 7: BIri 1, T. Alley 2, T. Taupiri 3. 40yds Handicap, for girls over 7 : M. Gilmer 1, k. Ludwig 2, M. Hanlen 3. 26yds Handicap, for’boys under 5: R. Rehm I, E. Johnson 2, P. Corbett . 3. 25yds Handicap, for girls under 5: T. Robinson 1, R. Alley 2. 100yds Handicap, for boys under 10': M. Morrison 1, G. Robinson 2, J. Rare 3. 75yds Handicap, for girls under 10': J. Elliot 1, V. Morrison 2, T. Morrison 3. 100yds Handicap, for boys under 12: J. Landon 1, G. Johnson 2, L. Corbett ’ 100yds Handicap, 1 for girls under 12 : W. Avery 1, K. Collins 2, R. Smith’ 3. 100yds Handicap, for boys under 13‘: C. Murdock 1, H. Alley 2, A. Faville 375yds Handicap, for girls ’ under 13 : A. Rare 1, V. Brown 2. D. Richards 3. 100yds Handicap, for boys over 13: T. Murphy 1. M. Murdock 2, 0Thomas 3. 100yds Handicap, for girls over 13: L. Robinson 1, V. Devcich 2. Relay Race, for boys: M. Murdock’s team (M. Murdock, G. Johnson, AMorrison, C .Morrison, A. Faville, anti H. Alley) 1. Relay Race, for girls : A. Rare, J. Duncan, E. Gubb, r V. Brown, S. Ogden, A. Devcich, H. Ludwig, I. Ludwig 1. Skipping, for girls': J. Hanlen 1, V. Brown 2. Boys’ Shcools Championship, 100yds: W. Langdon 1, T. Murphy 2, M- Murdock 3. Old Boys’ Race, handicap, of 120yds : G. Thomas 1, C. Murdock 2. Old Girls’ Handicap, of 75yds: D. Murdock 1, A. Morrison and P. Hanlen 2. Wheelbarrow Race: E. and C. Murdock 1, A. Rare and H. Alley 2. Mothers’ Race: Mrs Faville 1, Mrs I. M. Murdock 2, Mrs Firth 3. Fathers’ ' Race: F. Hanlen 1, G. Avery and A. ■Gubb 2. Schools Championship, 440yds: M. Murdock 1, W. Langdon 2, E. Robinson 3. Three-legged Race, for boys under 10: G. Avery and M. Morrison 1, K. Miles and G. Morrison 2. Three-legged Race, for girls unde’. 10: N. Langdon and H. Ludwig 1, E. Gubb and E. Murdock 2. Sack Race, for boys oyer 10: C. Thomas 1, W.

Johnson 2. Sack Race, for girls over 10: A. Rare 1, V. and E. Devcich 2. Boys’ School Championship, 880yds : M. Murdock 1, E. Robinson 2, W. Langdon 3. Three-legged Race, for boys" over 10: A. and Morrison 1, E. Johnson and G. Avery 2. Thread-the-needle Race : E. Collins 1, E. Hanlen 2. Three-legged Race, for girls over 10 : K. Collins and J. Morrison 1, V. Brown and E. Devcich 2. Medley Race, for boys : W. Langdon 1, AMorrison 2, A. Faville 3. Medley Race, for girls: A. Rare 1, E. Collins 2, E. Hanlen 3. Bicycle Race, one mile: A. Faville 1, C. Morrison 2, B. Duncan 3. MUSICAL RECITAL. A musical recital was given in the Hikutaia Hall on Thursday evening last by the pupils of Mr T. Venables, of Te Aroha, who has held musical and elocution classes here for, some time. Though the programme was curtailed by the absence of performers from Te Aroha, the audience pre sent, which was only moderately large, judging by the applause and ithe encores demanded, appeared to derive great enjoyment from the conccrt. HARVEST FESTIVAL. On Sunday last a thanksgiving harvest service was held in St. Mary’s Church, the vicar, the Rev. F. B. Dobson, officiating over a congregation that filled the pretty little church. The decorations, simple but most effective, were highly artistic in conception and effective in design, the whole scheme reflecting the utmost, credit on the good taste of Mesdames Ingham and C. Walker, who were responsible for the work, and who used the fruits, grains, vegetables, and flowers characteristic of the season to such advantage that the whole was pleasing and satisfying in a remarkable degree. The fruit used was forwarded to the Vicftor’a School for Maori girls, Parnell, while the offertory will be forwarded to the Melanesian Mission. *