PAHAUTANUI RURAL SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4944, 26 January 1877, Page 3

PAHAUTANUI RURAL SPORTS.

(from a correspondent.) According to notice, rural sports were held at Pahautanui on Monday last, to celebrate the anniversary of the day on which the first settlers arrived in New Zealand. There are a goodly number of early settlers residing at Pahautanui, and amongst them can he numbered the first white woman who landed in the province of Wellington, viz., the wife of Mr. W. Jones, who arrived in the ship Aurora in 1840. She was then a single young woman, and I am informed that she and another young woman jumped out of the boat as soon as it touched the beach at Petoni, and had a race through the water for the honor of being the first Englishwoman to stand upon New Zealand soil. Thirty-seven years have gone past since that time, and she is now the mother of a large family of sous and daughters, who are all thoroughly good settlers," and doing well on their own land. The sports commenced about ten o’clock, and some very good racing, vaulting, and leaping were exhibited. Seven competitors started for the half-mile race, but they gradually dropped off until the race was left between .W. Mudgeway and T. Jones, Mudgway leading until they came to the last 100 yards, when Jones shot past him and came in an easy winner. For the running high leap some good jumping was shown by Brown, Mudgeway, Hughes, and Avery. Brown was declared the winner; sft. was the highest jumped. Some good vaulting was displayed by Iggulden, Hughes, Mudgeway, and Avery ; it was ultimately left between Hughes and Mudgeway, who vaulted 9ft. and then called a tie. The 100 yards race was well contested between T. Jones and W. Mudgeway ; they ran twice, and it was, declared a dead heat each time.' At the third trial Jones get in about a foot ahead of the other. The vaulting and racing between the boys was' very good, showing clearly that with training and practice they would in time become proficient. Boys about nine or ten years vaulted 6ft. 6in. Bradey was the winner. Grinning through the horse collar was won by Sancto, but there was an individual outside the ring who appeared to have a dog-in-the-manger sort of feeling about it. It’s a pity he did not compete for it, he did a good deal of growling, and judging from the ugly faces he pulled, he would certainly have been declared winner of the first prize it he had only stepped inside the ring and put his head through the collar. There were several other events, which were more or less interesting and amusing. The Pahautanui brass band played at intervals, which helped to make the day pass off pleasantly. Great praise is due to Mr. Fred Bradey as judge, Mr. J. F. Thompson, secretary; Messrs. G. Jones, W. Howell, W. Tappin, F. Bradey, J. Loudon, and J. Pearce, as stewards, for the efficient manner in which they made the arrangements and carried out the programme for the day’s amusement.