PLAINS SCHOOL SPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5408, 8 April 1929, Page 2

PLAINS SCHOOL SPORTS.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES

FUNCTION AT NGATEA.

The trophies won at the first annual Hauraki Plains Primary Schools championship sports, which were held at Ngatea on March 8, were presented on Wednesday evening. It took the form of a concert followed by a dance, and the attendance was very large, the hall being filled. The Turua Town Band played outside the hall and then contributed the first item of the concert programme. Mr. W. E. Hale, who presided, apologised for the absence of Mr C. S. Foster, chairman of the combined schools sports committee, and explained the reason for the function, expressing the hope that it would prove the forerunner of many others. A short musical programme was gone through and was much appreciated. Mr. A. 11. Sutton contributed “Will You Remember.” Miss Tizard, of Kaihefe, followed with a violin solo*. “Souvenir,” and was accorded prolonged applause; seven pupils of the Turua school, under the control of Miss Hoffey. were heard in the part songs, “All Among the Barley” (Sterling), and Brahm’s “Cradle Song,” after which Miss Paul, of Ngatea, contributed the negro song, “My Curly-Headed Baby.” An exhibition of Indian club drill was then given by five Ngatea school girls, who had been trained by Miss Gray. ■ Mr. A. 11. Sutton was again heard in the song, “Lay My Head Beneath a Rose” and the concluding item was the chorus, “Come O’er the Downs with Me,” by 20 Ngatea school girls. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. In introducing the chairman of the Auckland Education Board, Mr; A. Burns, Mr. Hale explained that he had come down from Auckland at considerable inconvenience. In according him a warm welcome to Ngatea, Mr. Hale said that Mr. Burns had represented the eastern ward for a great number of years and the committees of the Hauraki Plains schools had to thank him for a great deal.

Mr. Burns thanked Mr. Hale for his welcome and said that he needed no introduction to Hauraki Plains people, for he had been closely associated with the district from the time when, as Mayor of Thames, he had made representations to a Cabinet Minister to drain the Piako swamp. He complimented the promoters of the sports, and expressed the hope that it would become an annual event. Such sports Were to be encouraged, for they induced children to play the game and to give and take, and it broadened their minds and tended to produce the co-operative effort and the team spirit. A debt was due to Mrs. W. Benny, of Kaihere, who had first suggested holding the combined schools’ sports and had donated a fine rose bowl as one of the trophies.

Mr. Burns then called on Mr. W. Chappell, M.A., headmaster of the Ngatea District High School, to receive the points prize, the big silveicup donated by the trustees of the Herbert Smith Trust Fund, and he asked that it be placed in a conspicuous place in the school, as an incentive to the children to do as well in school as they had evidently done outside. In returning thanks, Mr. Chappell j said that, whilst the Ngatea school j was proud of having won the cup, it | was not unduly exalted. He expressed the hope that Ngatea would not retain the cup for long, but that it would go round, and that when another school won it, Ngatea would be, the first to congratulate it. The rose bowl, donated by Mrs, I Benny, was then handed to Mr. P. Harold, chairmap of the Netherton school committee. Mr Harold congratulated- the Ngatea school on its.win, the Sparrow family, for, had it not been for that family, the Netherton school would probably have, been the points prize winner instead bf the runners-up. I The third points - prize, a football donated by Hauraki Motors Ltd., Ngatea, was then presented to the Turua school, being received by Mr. T, H. White, a member of the school committee. THE MEDAL WINNERS. As there were 43 medals to be presented, details of the events were not given, but when their names were read by Mr. Hale, the children went to the stage and were handed an envelope by Mr. Burns. Following is a complete list, in alphabetical order:— J. Adam* Netherton, girls’, 13 and under, Ist 50yds and 2nd 100yds ; N. Bourne, Netherton, boys’ relay team, and Ist boys’ high jump. P.* Clark, Pipiroa, girls, 15 and under, second 100yds and second 75yds ; E. Douglas, Ngatea, girls’ relay team ; D. Fisher, Kerepeehi, boys, 9 and under, second 75yds ; J. Foote, Kaihere, boys, 13 and under, Ist 100yds, 2nd 75yds ; A. Foster, Ngatea, girls’ relay team ; G. Hale, Kopuarahi, girls, 13 and under, Ist 100yds ; J. Hamil, Kerepeehi, boys, 15 and under, 2nd 100yds, 2nd 220yds, 2nd 880yds ; G. Hicks, Turua, 2nd high jump, 2nd 100yds, Ist 220yds, boys, 13 and under ; H. Harwood, Kopuarahi, boys, 13 and under, 2nd 220yds ; K. Irwin, Ngatea, girls’ relay team ; N. Lawrence, Kopuarahi, boys, 9 and under, Ist 75yds ; B. McDonald, Kaihere, boys 13 and under, Ist 440yds ; C. McKain, Netherton, boys 11 and under, 2nd 150yds; R. Moselem, Netherton, boys’ relay ; M. Neate, Ngatea, girls, 9 and under, Ist 50yds ; W. Neate, Ngatea, boys 11 and under, Ist 75yds and Ist 150yds ; M. Olsen, Netherton, boys’ relay team ; D. Pulman, Patetonga, girls, 13 and under, 2nd 50yds; J. Sexton, Mangatarata, boys, 13 and under, 2nd 440yds ; A. Sparrow, Ngatea, boys 15 and under, Ist 100yds, Ist 220yds ; C. Sparrow, Ngatea, girls’ ■ relay team, Ist 75yds, 11 and under ; E. Sparrow, Ngatea, boys, ,15 and under, Ist 880yds ; I. Sparrow, Ngatea, girls, 15 and under, Ist 100yds, Ist 75yds ; A. Stephens, Turua, girls, 9 and under, 2nd 50yds ; C. Vowles, Netherton, boys’ relay team; L.

Vowles,' Netherton, girls, 11 aind un- ' der, 2nd 75yds. HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS. P. Foster, Ngatea, Ist high school boys, 440yds (Mr H. Dents medal) ; T. Carr, Kerepeehi, 2nd high school ■ boys’ 440yds (Mr W. Jones medal) ; > 1 P. Foster, Ngatea, Ist high school i boys’ 220yds (Mr F. E. Stimpson’s • bridle). All the medals were alike. The i first prize medals were of silver, with r a gold centre, and the second prize • medals were also of silver. On the ■ front was a monogram of the letters ■ H.P.S.C., and on the back was inscribed the name of the event and the . winer of the medal.

Arrangements were made to deliver the medals to those children who were not present. After Mr Hale had, thanked the vocalists and the Turua Band for the items contributed, supper was handed round and the floor cleared for dancing. Mr J. Neate organised community singing while the floor was being prepared. The dance was carried on until midnight, the music bcby the band and Miss Rogers, and an .■extra was played by Messrs M. Mar-, tin and A. Kawini