HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 977, 29 December 1882, Page 3

HAWERA.

(from our correspondent.) Thursday. Christmas passed off very quietly here. The usual services in the English and Roman Catholic churches, and the decorations in the former were very tasteful, and reflect great credit oh those ladies who so kindly assisted Mr Root. On Boxing Day the town was simply empty, owing to the attractions at Manaia and Norraanby. The sports at the latter place were hardly a success, and would have been very tame had it not been for the Taranaki Band, who, under the leadership of Mr Drew, played some very good selections. Harkness won the with ease, there evidently being a screw loose in the handicapping, as the .third event was not competed for, Major and Minerva dividing second ami third money. The other racing and jumping event's were poor, people taking very little interest in them. The attendance was not anything like.up to last year, but that is accounted for by the counter attraction of Manaia Races. Hawera sports are looked forward to with interest, as the handicap events have more nominations than there ever were before. A good few new men are in the lists, and the handicappers have treated them so liberally that I. should not be surprised to see a large portion of the money leave the district. The Hawera School children had a picnic at Normanby on Wednesday, accompanied by the band. I am told the youngsters enjoyed themselves very much, but the weather was rather against them, as it was showery a greater part of the day. Mr Furlong is nominated for the vacancy in the Borough Council caused . by Mr Bale’s rise to the Mayoral Chair. The , contractor 'for the artesian well commenced work last week, and had got down some sixty feet or so when it was found that some of the pipes were broken. This is an unfortunate mishap, as he will have to start Again.