SPORTS AND CLUBS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5071, 5 January 1927, Page 3

SPORTS AND CLUBS.

YEAR’S PROGRESS IN PAEROA. ATHLETICS TO THE FORE. Probably there is no town t,be size of Paeroa in the Dominion that can boast of a greater number of sports bodies. During the year just ended this town can claim to have- worthily upheld the true traditions o'f sp«rt m its various clubs. The king of winter games—Rugby football —as is usual, held its own, and the various competitions were entered into with zest. With the acquisition of two good playing fields at the domain, together wih a dressing-shqd and modern conveniences, the players found every inducement to play the game and give the public as good an exhibition of the code as possibly. Early in the year the headquarters o’f the Thames Valley Rugby Union were moved from Te Aroha to Paeroa. The union’s president and secretary were, both selected from local Rugby enthusiasts, and this change certainly was the means of giving the gam,e impetus in the town. Through the combined efforts of affiliated unions the Thames Valley Union was able, to send a representative team on tour, several players from the Paeroa union being included in the. personnel. The team assembled at Te Aroha on August 4, and later played matches against King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, North Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, and Waikato, the last two games being played at Paeroa. A pleasing feature is the encouragement and interest taken in school " football during the past season. LADIES’ HOCKEY CLUB. The Paeroa Ladies’ Hockey Club enjoyed a successful season, and played a large number, of inter-club matches, meeting with varying success. Once again it is pleasing to note that two members gained representative honours by being included in the Goldfields team which played at Auckland. BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. The local Basketball Association is steadily growing in membership, and has enjoyed a good seiason, several of the district trophies being won by Paeroa teams. GOLF CLUB. The Paeroa Golf Club has made little progress, and the -men players have decreased in numbers. On the '' ladies’ side., however, an increase in membership is shown, and a really good season was experienced. CRICKET CLUB. Affiliated with the Plako Cricket Association, the local club is growing ' < in membership. Last season the club just missed winning the association’s competition by a narrow margin. TENNIS AND BOWLS. Tennis, and bowls have also been y well supported by those participating in summer games. Numerous intqrclub matches have been played, both here and away, and the competitions provided by the respective, clubs were well patronised and the different branches <*f sport kept well in the limelight in the district. ATHLETIC CLUB. L Led by an energetic and capable secretary in Mr. K. L. Slyfield, the Paeroa Athletic Club has,, had a good year, and judging by thq enthusiasm displayed and the support accorded . the venture, which was only undertaken towards the eiid of 1925, has been fully justified. On December. 11 the club held its initial sports gathering at the domain. With an offering of £lOO in prize money the various events received splendid support, some of the province’s best athletes competing. The gathering was. an , outstanding success, and it is safe to say that the next meeting is being ■ keenly looked ’forward to. OHINEMURI JOCKEY CLUB. The Ohinemuri Jockey Club continues to flourish, and its annual two \ days’ race meeting held in March last was entirely satisfactory. The club has spent many hundreds of pounds - sterling iii improving the racing track and providing a suitable training track and additional accommodation for. horses. During the year the main grandstand has been moved farther back from the rails, and has also been reconditioned. This now gives a fine widearea for people to congregate in front .of the stand, and every effort has been made to provide for the comvenience of turf patrons. The Ohinemuri meeting is rapidly gaining in popularity, and is generally recognised as one of the best conducted of the. provincial clubs. BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY. This society, comprising a ‘faithful few, has done good tfork during the year.* Seriously handicapped by lack U of funds, and also by lack of public support and interest, this small band df public-spirited persons is, deserving of hearty congratulation and thanks for the efforts madj, to beautify the town. In addition to maintaining the various garden plots and lawns under its care, the society has rendered signal service by purchasing ■and planting Japanese maples and flowering cherry trees in Taylor’s Avenue and Moore Road. The band rotunda which was situated in the main street has been removed to a more suitable site near, the old railway station. This area has been vested in the Borough Council, which intends, with the assistance of the society, to establish a park and children’s playground in the near future. r SCOUTS AND GUIDES. t The boy scout movement continues to prosper, in the town, and the, troop ~’ 3 > is now up to full strength. Early in the year a most, enjoyable and instructive week's camp was held at 'Tararaki Creek. In February the troop received an official visit 'from Brigadier-General A. W. Andrew, Dominion Commissioner. This visit stimulated the movement locally, and much good came df it. Later Mr E. !W. Porritt was appointed district scout commissioner, which means that the. local troop now has direct ’representation at general headquarters. Through the energies and service > Miss F. K. Emmott a strong troop Girl Guides has sprung up, and also a troop of Brownies. These, troops received official recognition

and congratulations from the Govern-or-General during his recent visit to Paeroa. With the idea of raising funds to purchase band instruments for the Scouts a queen carnival was held. The undertaking, which exceeded even the most sanguine expectations, culminated in a coronation ceremony extending over two nights in September last. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Paeroa Chamber of Commerce has continued to work unostentatiously Tor the welfare of the town and district during the yehr. The most noticeable of its activities was the representations, made to the Mines Department with reference to obtaining a public crushing battery for the treatment, of ore at Karangahake. With the assistance and cooperation of Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., an official visit was arranged to bepaid by the Hon. G. J. Anderson Minister of Mines, and Mr A. H. Kimbell, Under-Secretary. At Karangarake an influential deputation o’f those interested in mining matters in the dis.-, trict was received. Although nothing has so far materialised, the, Minister was able to obtain first-hand information, and good may yet come as the result of his visit. ORPHANS’ CLUB. Considerable interest has been maintained in the Paeroa Orphans’ Club, and the institution has grown in membership. The winter sessions were brought to a close by the holding of a ladies’ night, on October 30. On that occasion the Auckland Orphans’ Club contributed the programme, which was thoroughly enjoyed , and will be remembered with pleasure for a long time by those who were present. OHINEMURI CLUB. The year just closed has been an eventful one in the history of the Ohinemuri Club. With the restoration o’f licenses the club was forced to vacate its old home at the Criterion Hotel and seek “pastures new.” Temporary premises were secured, and in the meantime the members evolved a scheme for raising a sufficient sum of money to purchase a section and build a clubhouse of their own. On June 17 a start was made with the new building, which was c-iisummated by an official opening on October 2. Fitted with every modern convenience, the new 1 premises stand on rising ground, with a frontage to Piince,s Street and a right-of-way leading from Normanby Road. ROD AND GUN. The Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Society has worked along quietly during the year. Its chief activities have been confined to the liberation and protection of trout fry and pheasants. As a result very fairsport, either with rod or gun, is obtainable in the district. In May a small band of enthusiasts formed a gun club, and several enjoyable afternoons were spent in competitive clay-bird shooting. GENERAL. Other institutions, such as the District High School Committee, Benevolent Society, and Friendly Societies,! have all done good work Li their respective spheres. Much more might be written of the activities of the town, but space forbids. Suffice it to say that each organisation is, alive' andjmbued with the desire to better its position- and make Paeroa a happier and brighter town in which to live.