PEOPLES PICNIC.

Shannon News, 4 January 1927, Page 3

PEOPLES PICNIC.

3 ON SHANNON DOMAIN. CHAMPIONSHIP MAORI DANCES. s t Favoured with ideal weather, thp > People's Picnic, held in the Shannon r Domain on New Year's Day, proved an t unqualified success. There wai a large > attendance of adults and children, just on 700 adults paying for admission, while it is estimated that a similar [ number of children were admitted free. I The chief attraction was the Poi and i Hale a competitions, which carried with • them the New Zealand championship. , Apart from the Maori competitions, the . children's sports provided plenty of , amusement, the children entering into the sports and games with vigour, and '. it may be truly said that they enjoyed themselves. Proceedings commenced • with a procession starting from the Post Office, Avhich was headed by the newly formed Manawatu Highland Pipe Band, followed by decorated bicycles, cars and pedestrians, which proceeded via Ballance Street to the Recreation Grounds, where shortly after arrival a start was made with the children's sports and games. POI DANCE AND NATIVE ORCHESTRA. At 2 p.m. the haka and poi competitions started, but unfortunately these competitions ,did not draw the number of entries anticipated, there being only two teams for the haka and one for the poi. Nevertheless, they were full of interest, particularly the exhibition of poi dancing by the Waikato Tani Wharau T.P.M. troupe from Ngaruawahia. This team of ten Maori maidens, who were accompanied by their own .string band of six musicians, gave an exhibition that will long live in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to witness it. Among the poi dances performed were the Canoe, Long and Short, and an action love song, all of which were most gracefully earned out. The singing and music were delightful and perfectly timed. Loud applause rewarded the performers, the crowd being very'reluctant to permit them to withdraw. HAKA SHIELD WON BY, MOUTOA. The hakas performed by Iho Moutoa and Shannon reams, although a long way below ihe standard, according-to the judges (Messrs T. Parata and Taiti Te Tomo), were appreciated by those present, the action:; and facial grimaces of the competitors causing much' laughter.^ At the conclusion of the haka competition the judges recommended to the committe? viial-, owing to the, large number of,, e'Tors made by both teams, no award be made, and that the Committee hold the Shield for the ensuing twelve months; but at the wish of the Committee both teams were recalled, and after ;i further exhibition the ' shield was awarded to Moutoa. A NATION WITHOUT A WAR CRY. Mr T. Parata, one of the judges, thanked the Committee for endeavouring to revive the haka, which, he said, was becoming a lost art. He stated it was important that the British should have a war cry. To-day England was without one. He went on to .refer to the landing at Gallipoli, where the only war-cry used was the haka. by the , New Zealanders. In conclusion he impressed upon the natives the necessity of keeping up the traditions of their ancestors, and pointed out how essential it was that the children should be taught the haka properly, which, he said, was becoming a farce and a joke. Mr. T. Thwaites, on behalf of the Committee, then presented the Shields to the captains of the winning teams. He pointed out that the object cf the competitions was to assist the native race to perpetuate the customs and traditions of their ancestors.

The recipients both returned thanks, the members of the visiting poi team rendering a thanksgiving song in Maori: Mr Jacob, manager cf the ladies' team, thanked the Committee, for the hospitality shown them, and stated that their visit had been a pleasure. The committee are to be complimented for the excellent day's sport provided, and it must be pleasing to them to know that their effort was appreciated.

It is understood that it is the intention of the visiting Maoris to bring four or five teams to Shannon for next year's gathering. SPORTS RESULTS. The following are the results of the various events: — Best decorated child's tricycle: Valerie Young 1, Mervyn Terry 2. Best decorated child's pram: Joyce Merwood 1, Ada Gray 2. Best decorated youth's bicycle: Charlie Young 1. Boys' race, 10 to 14 year;.;: J. Morgan 1, Bryan Clayton 2. Girls race, 10 to 14: May Exton 1, Margaret Swindlehurst 2. Boys' race,'' 7 to 9: Bruce 1, Tom Bird (Levin) 2. Girls' race, 7 to s>: Gladys Webb 1, Edna Hill 2. Boys' sack race: Jack Mason 1, Vincent Pie arc! 2. Married ladies' race: Mrs H. Richardson 1, Mrs T. King 2. Children's tricycle race: Tom Cochrane 1, Ken Coakley 2. Bandsmen's race: Drum Major C. Stairs 1, Drummer B. Henderson 2. Cockies' race: M. Seraneke 1. Motor tyre race (boys): D. Christian 1, J. D. Richards 2. Single ladies' race: Miss Whitlow 1, Miss P. Buekman 2. Three-legged race (girls): Edith and Pearl I-libcll 1, D. Extou and Hazel Healy 2. Girls' race 12 to 14: May Exton 1. Girls' race, 8 to 11: Phyllis Patton 1. Girls' sack race: Doris Treinewan 3, Irene Sands 2. Wheelbarrow race- C. Croon and P. Roach 1, C. Treinewan and T. Roach 2. Three-legged race for boys: J. Morgan

and C. Pentecost 1, C. Tremewan and T. Roach 2. * Tyre race for girls: Eileen Foster 1, Grctchen Tippler 2. Boys' race: C. Tremewan and J. Mason tie 1. Girls' race: Joyce Linklater 1. Chain stepping: Mr Farrell 66ft, 1; Mr A. Coleman, 66ft lin., 2.