Ohakune Karioi's 100th year of rugby

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 577, 14 March 1995, Page 14

Ohakune Karioi's 100th year of rugby

By

Merrilyn

George

From newspapers before the turn of the century we get only a glimpse of what it might have been like in this area playing rugby - young men in assorted clothes throwing a 'ball' about the stumps and fallen trees. Rugby began in Nelson in 1870 and quickly spread to the North Island. Although we cannot definitely say when each of the Karioi and Ohakune Rugby Clubs started, and it is reasonable to imagine that with the number of European settlers working and living among the Maori at Karioi by the 1870s and the early farmers settling in Ohakune from 1892, that rugby is likely to have begun at least by 1896 when the Ohakune School opened. In any case we know there were rugby grounds in existence soon after the turn of the century in Ohakune and Karioi. However, early in 1908 there were players enough and pre-season matches were played among the three already established sides, as well as other games among teams from 'surveyors', 'HapuawhenuaViaduct" and there was reported a special 'Hash Foundry match' in April. Two teams, Dominion and Ruapehu, were made up of representatives of various Ohakune boarding houses and hotels; the former including Dominion Dining Rooms, Seddoll House and Messrs Loane's and Armstrong's boarding houses, while the latter were taken from Marsh's Hotel, Ruapehu and Federal Hotel and Mr Corkbill' s dining rooms. The Ruapehu Team, captained by Hannon beat the Dominion team led by Park 1 5- 1 1 . Mr McCauley refereed the game. When the Ohakune Rugby Club held its A.G.M. in Mr Roth's rooms on 24 March, 1908, it chose to wear the same colours as had been wom the previous year, amber and black. The fees for playing members were set at four shillings and non-playing members five shillings. Credit balance Ohakune' s balance showed the credit of one pound nine shillings and four pence ($2.94). There had been correspondence between the local clubs about the forming of a sub-union and Ohakune appointed J.T. Wilson and F. McLaughlin, their president and secretary to act as club delegates in the event of a sub-union being formed, despite there being only three clubs at the time. Discussion at that meeting is not recorded but McLaughlin' s resignation as secretary was received with regret during general business. Within six weeks, early in May, Mr G. Small presided over an enthusiastic meeting at Ohakune when it was decided to form a junior club called the Pioneers. Eighteen members were elected with Mr

Ashmore secretary and Mr McLaughlin and Small delegates to the union. The club colours were to be blue and black band jerseys. Ruapehu Rugby Union came into being on 9 May 1908, after a preliminary meeting a week earlier when delegates from Ohakune, Raetihi , Karioi and Ohakune Pioneer Clubs decided on its formation. The Union affiliated to Wanganui Union on 19 May remaining under its jurisdiction until 1922. The launching of this Union followed two previous attempts. In May 1906 Raetihi Club asked Wanganui Union to grant subunion status, and again in April of the following year a second move for a subunion in the district was not granted. The Wanganui Union rules required four clubs to form a sub-union and in the two years mentioned Ohakune, Raetihi and Karioi clubs were only interested, although the second application was made when Jerusalem (Hiruharama) Club was expected to function, but the advent of Pioneer, Ohakune, and Horopito Clubs solved the problem. Ruapehu Union was one of the unions forming the disallowed Main Trunk Union and its boundaries were those of the Waimarino County. At that preliminary meeting Ohakune was represented by Park and Wilson, J. Lambert and Hogg for Karioi and Small and McLaughlin for Pioneers. The colour decided upon for jerseys was white with the emblem of Mount Ruapehu worked in gold on the left breast. Affiliation fees were fixed at one pound one shilling for senior clubs and 10 shilling and 6 pence for junior clubs. Ohakune was named as sub-union headquarters. With official status accorded it, the subunion began its two-rourid competition for a cup presented through McLaughlin and Merson. Membership fee was 2s6d. Affiliation fee to New Zealand Association was generously donated by Mr Parkes, the captain of Ohakune Club. Torrid partisanship Competition became a torrid partisan affair if reports of meetings, games and other activities are any indication. In July 1908 the Union dealt with a letter from Karioi protesting at the referees appointed. The Management Committee replied stating that it appointed capable referees so objections were out of order and that it considered the letter insulting. Mr Nicol, referee of the game in question, reported to the meeting theuseof 'threateninglanguage' by S. Cuff captain of the Karioi team and a member of the management committee. An apology was received, but three weeks later this same captain was 'on the mat' for fighting on the ground with an opposing player. The Management Committee adopted a strong TURNTOPAGE15

Ohakune Karioi's 1 00th year of rugby

FROM PAGE 14 line this time. The offender was disqualified for 1 2 months. Another player from Karioi, Patterson, was also summoned to appear at the next meeting to answer a charge of professionalism. Unfortunately for the prestige of the committee a special sub-union meeting was convened by Raetihi and Horopito delegates because of the unsatisfactory conduct of Ohakune members of the Committee. The accusation was "that Ohakune and Pioneer members had been acting too high-handed.". Ohakune members at last meeting outvoted regardless of anything else except whether it was in favour of Ohakune or not,', they added. The earlier meeting of Ohakune members and the secretary had been held without a quorum. The minutes were expunged from the minute book. Somewhat chastened, the committee then suspended Cuff only until the end of the season and the charge of Patterson having received money for playing was dismissed to be dealt with later should there be further evidence. When Ohakune Junior Pioneer team went to Raetihi to play in 1908, Mr Ashbolt, the appointed referee, was not present and the Pioneers would not play under Mr Hird, who had been asked to officiate. Raetihi, not to be daunted by this display of arrogance, kicked off, scored a try and claimed the match. Speculation about the eventual result of this game and the way the committee would deal with it was rife. Karioi was presented with the Siver Cup for the Champion Club for the season. Despite the wrangling between clubs, the Ruapehu Union fielded a team to be beaten 13-9 by Awarua and also provided a team for a Whanganui tour at the end of the 1908 season. Names of those representing Ruapehu at Whanganui were: Fullback, Potama (K); Threequarters, Te Moa(K), Jolly (R), Rogers (0), Patterson (K); Five-

eights, Park (0) and Percy (0); Half, Girdlestone (P); Wing Forward, Williamson (R); Forwards, E Keane (0), Orr (0), Ritcher (R), Ward (K), Herberts (K), Chamberlain (R), McGinn (0). Emergencies were Wilson (0) and Mareikura (K). Replacements were Coldstream, Kendell and Gilmour. In addition, McDonnell, H. Campell, W Cuff, O.N. Campbell, Musgrove, Rongonui, Coonan, were in an earlier side to play Awarua. The first annual rugby ball was held this year in Ohakune' s Town Hall. Gentlemen were charged 5s and ladies admitted free. Liabilities Financial difficulties beset the union in 1909. They had liabilities of 23 pound-7s-8d with assets of 6/1. Dances, concerts and art unions were all projects to reduce the deficit. Mr Butts donated 10s to keep the bank account open, the Karioi Club donated five pound, and Mr T.A. Blyth canvassed the business people and sold 32 tickets at 2s6d each for an impending representative rugby match. There had been keen interest in the coming of T.A. Blyth to the Ohakune School. He had already made a name for himself in rugby. He had represented Taranaki and had been made a life member in 1905. He was soon player, executive member of Ohakune and Secretary-Treasurer of the Union with more to come. The championship was won by Ohakune in 1909. By 1910 the crisis had passed and the Sub-Union could show a credit balance. But that was short lived, as they were in financial strife again in 191 1. Revenue was gained by fines imposed on players for not wearing their club colours in matches. A return game with Whanganui was contingent upon sufficient suitable players being found willing to pay their own expenses. CONTINUED NEXT WEEK