TOLOGA BAY LETTER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 93, 27 March 1884, Page 2

TOLOGA BAY LETTER.

[FBOrc AN occasional correspondent.] Uawa, March 25. The aquatic sports, promoted by and under the direction of the pakehas attending the Land Court, were held on Saturday afternoon, and passed off very satisfactorily. The proceedings commenced with a whaleboat race for £lO, distance just over a mile, and for which the following boats were entered, those of Hamiora Puihi, Hone Paerata, Horomona Hap.J, and Hainiora Kaporo. This race was splendidly contested throughout by the first three boats, and was won by Hone Paerata’s boat, which passed the winning post about three feet ahead cf Hamiora Puihi’s boat. A protest was lodged against the winning boat on the ground of a foul. This was in the evening considered by the stewards, who decided to divide the amount of the stakes amongst the two crews, and gave a further sum of £5 to be rowed for on Monday afternoon by the two boats, so that the question of superority might be determined, when we trust that the race may be rowed without fouling. The next event on the card was walking the greasy pole, for which there were five entries, but none of them succeeded in getting the flag from the end, so the amount of the prize was divided between them. After the competition was over Hoana Piwaka succeeded in walking the pole, amidst the acclamatians of the assembled crowd of spectators. The dingy race, for which Sam Gilman, Hoani Piwaka, and Enoch Kirk started, was won easily by Sam Gilman. A duck hunt followed, which, after an exciting chase, ended in the capture of the duck—Hari Mokina. The aquatic portion of the programme was wound up with an amphibious race, in which the competitors had to run from Carter’s Hotel, (late Hodges) to DeCosta’s, swimming across the river. This was won by Samuel Gilman who came in second, as Graham who arrived first, had assisted himself over by the rope of the punt. The days’ sports were brought to a close by a tug of war between Maories and Pakehas, won, after a very severe struggle, by the Maories. This afternoon the race was again rowed when Hone Paerata’s crew literally walked away from that of Puihi. There will be horse racing on Saturday next on the Paremata course. NATIVE LANDS COURT, TOLOGA. All the original claims were finished on Friday afternoon and to-day the sub-divisions have commenced. The following cases are those to be taken first :— Huiarna, Tawhiti, Poroikomoana, Rakautautini, Tauwhareparae, Nos. 1 and 2, O Ta Wa Ke Puketiti Mangaotowhito. Te Rahui, Makarika Taoroa. Ahi ate Atua and Maungawaru. Several cases, in which Mr. Brassey and Mr. Rees are engaged, will not be taken until Monday.