PUTTING THE STONE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 51, 28 January 1884, Page 3

PUTTING THE STONE.

Accoxnnto to the announcement made in our last, the contest at putting-the-stone between Constable Stagpole, of Tologa, and T. O'Connor, of Auckland, took place on the Waikanae on Saturday afternoon. Shortly before the appointed time, a large number of gentlemen, whose faces are familiar at all competitions of this eOrt, were seen wending their way over the Grey Street bridge on to the Waikanae. On measuring off the ground, the two competitors stripped, and the fine muscular appearance of O’Connor, who looked in splendid form, was remarked upon by many. Stagpole, whom we are informed has never before been beaten, is a much •limer man than O'Connor, and scarcely looked as fresh as his opponent—a circumstance easily accounted tor when we heard that he had ridden all the way in from Tologa during the morning. The two men having tossed for choice of weights to begin with, O’Connor selected the 161 b., and, taking his stand, made a throw. Stagpole now essayed a throw, but came far short of the mark, and his backers began to look rather uneasy. At the next trial, he made no progress, and at the third failed to reach his opponent by the following distance: — T. O'Connor, 161bs. weight .. S7ft. lin. Constable Stagpole „ .. 83ft. B}in. O'Connor now made another throw, which wo measured for 88ft. 7Jin. The next throw was with the 281 b. weight, when O'Connor again led off with a throw. On Staopole throwing, he fell a good foot and a naif short of. O’Connor, a position Which he failed to improve in two more trials; this heat also going against him as »the following distances will show:— - T. O'Connor, 281 b. weight ~ 28ft. lin. Stagpole „ .. 26ft. 7in. O'Connor then made the throw of 29ft. Ilin. With the 281 b. weight the result was similar:— J, O'Connor, 281 b. weight .. 26ft. B}in. Btagpole „ .. 24ft. ijin. 'As will be seen by the foregoing figures, .'O’Connor had it all his own way, a result confidently anticipated by all those who saw his creditable performances at the Makaraka sports, where he proved himself a most creditable athlete. The competition on Saturday was for a fine sterling silver cup, which is on visw at Mr. Nasmith's shop, of chaste design and embossed with gold oakleaf bordering.