OTOROHANGA "SPORTS."

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 357, 3 May 1911, Page 2

OTOROHANGA "SPORTS."

- - i By "Alpha." Special and exhilarating entertainment was provided for the more than usual influx of visitors to town on Wednesday last, owing to the "sale of sections"; the "sports" consisted of a very exciting series of waterjumps, which took place in rapid succession, during the day in the main street. A very fine ditch about three feet wide, extending from footpath to footpath and filled to the depth of fully eighteen inches with evil-smelling dirty water, was used for the various items. Unfortunately, "the Committee" which had matters in band failed to utilise to the full, such public assets, owing to not knowing how to erect a "bush fence" —■ although ample ti-tree was handy. A large and sententious crowd of rotund Maori "spectators" squatted round and filled in the intervals between items with animated discussions, mainly about the "progress of the town," giving sundry deep "winks" as to their own rewards in connection with the same. Now and then the debates ceased, as a hack Pakehha owned managed to take the jump gracefully. As the Maori steed lacks generally the qualifications necessary for such an effort, the majority of them "landed" in the middle, with a very pretty little splash indeed! Throughout the day the su-re-echoed with the varied "smacks" and "flops" of the unsuccessful competitors for civic honours, and the walls on either side were bespattered with mud. Pedestrians on both side footpaths made sudden dashes past the danger zone, and found their nerves beginning to suffer somewhat by the unusual activity needed to dodge the "back wash" and geyserlike displays. Some indeed, received the penalty of their infirmity in the form of a rather libera! splattering of flying mud and water. Protest about such slight matters only seemed to add to the enjoyment of the standing ■ —or rather "squatting" Committee — for when Otorohanga holds such sports, everyone is supposed to value and venerate this mud, as much as "the ashes of his fathers." The "Committee" have kindly allowed the ditch to remain, for the education of "unwilling "hacks by day and the unfortunate traveller by night. There is every prospect of the "water-jump" being svidened in the near future, and then the fun in our main street will wax and many Maori mouths become even wider'