WAIRERE CARNIVAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 64, 10 January 1908, Page 3

WAIRERE CARNIVAL.

A Successful Meeting. The first annual CarnivaHo be held at Wairere, on the Mokau River, was brought off on January 3rd, after being postponed from New Year's Day. The gathering was well organised and was looked forward to as a special New Year outing by a large number of settlers, but heavy rain on the last day of the year led to the Committee deciding to iput off the event for two days. This course was followed in consequence of the river rising rapidly, and also in consideration of the fact that most of the settlers had some distance to travel in order to get to the convincing ground. In contradiction to the commonly accepted statement, that posponed events are always failures, the Wairere Carnival Committee can boast a most successful meeting. From an early hour in the morning, horses and vehicles could be seen along the roads leading to Wairere, and by mid-day fully six hundred people had assembled on the banks of the Mokau to witness the first aquatic Carnival held in the district. The day was beautifully fine, the sky being cloudless, while a refreshing southerly breeze cooled the air and tempered the midsummer heat to both spectators and competitors. The outing, for most of those present, took the form of a picnic, and the banks of the river were dotted •■with small camp fires, at which the family "billy" was boiled, and merry, laughing groups were everywhere in evidence. Vehicles of every description had been called into requisition, and in the cool of the evening horses were harnessed, and the different parties took up the homeward road and left Wairere once more to its accustomed repose, within sound of the tumbling falls so close below the stretch of beautiful still water where Pakeha and Maori foregathered for mutual enjoyment and recreation. The programme was very lengthy, and consisted of foot racing, wood chopping, canoe and swimming events, interspersed* with Maori hakas, poi 1 dances and other interesting side I shows. The Committee was com- j posed mainly of Natives, and the Pakeha secretary, Mr G! Elliott, had an-onerous position to fill. At times tbfe sport was slow, Wit every effort was made to keep up with the order of events, the whole of which were got off in good style. Naturally on such a varied programme there were many post entry events, which consumed more time than was advisable, but considering the conditions, and the short time allowed for organising, and the construction' of canoes, the executive must be given credit for good work. It is satisfactory to note that, from a financial point of view, the Carnival was highly successful, there being a balance in hand, after paying all expenses, of oyer £3B. It is intended to make the Carnival an annual affair, so that next year's Committee will be in the happy position of having sufficient funds to organise the gathering on good lines. An interesting feature in connection with the canoe races lies iiv the fact that the most successful canoe was an old vessel which had been on the river for many years, and did duty as a ferry boat for a .long time. Patched with tin and Isacking the old veteran, of close on a hundred summers, possessed the racing lines with which only the canoe builders of old could gift their handiwork. The newly built canoes were smaller, and quite creditable specimens of Maori workmanship, but they evidently lacked the racing lines which animated the old time specimen. The support tendered all round to the Carnival by Te Kuiti people contributed considerably to the success of the day, and the thanks of the Committee are due to Messrs Green and Colebrook, E. Kerr, F. Sims, W. McColl, W. McNaught, and C. Chilcott for trophies. The following are the results of the various events: — Big Canoe Race. —Ngaruawahial, Mokauiti 2. , iooyds Handicap.—McColl scr. I, Tohingaroa, 9yds, 2. Maori Womens' Canoe Race. —Mokauiti I, Pariki 2. iooyds Swimming Handicap, Waho, ijsee., I, J. Brough, scr., 2. Brough swam splendidly, passing all competitors but the winner within the first 50yds. Waho, who showed a good turn of speed, only won by a few feet. A Poi Dance by five Native girls, under the leadership of Poutu Patupatu, was much appreciated.' Pive (neat header).—J. Brough I, J. Connell 2. Canoe Hurdle Race.—Mokauiti I, " Three Men "2. A member of the winning crew having jumped on board the second canoe to help his own over No, J hurdle, a protest was lodged by the losers. After hearing the evidence the Committee decided to divide the stakes. 220 yds Handicap.—Tohingaroa, 6 yds, I, McColl, scr., 2. McColl ran a great race, the course being much against him, but despite this he was only beaten by a triflle. Duck Hunt.—Waho I. He caught the duck by the foot when least expected, thus terminating the chase. Greasy Boom.—J. Brou.ghan.d. Harvey, dead heat. Tfye former kindly landed the honour over to the latter, as he had come from a distance to compete. A Maori Raka, under the leader* ship of Poutu Patupatu, then followed, the dance being much appreciated by all. Chopping Contest. Softs 1, J. Johnston 2. I Pakeha Canoe Race—G. Elliott's I crew, I, Coburn's crew, 2.