PEOPLE'S PICNIC.

Shannon News, 4 January 1928, Page 3

PEOPLE'S PICNIC.

A SUCCESSFUL GATHERINGS,

CHAMPIONSHIP MAOEI DANCES,

The annual People's Picnic in the Domain on Now Year's Day was held under ideal weather conditions and proved n most successful gather, the attendance being estimated at between 1200 and 1300. Trie main attraction was the championship Haka and Poi dances, which cany w ih them the New Zealand Championship. From the children's point -of view, the' sports gave them a lot of pleasure, judging by the .large-fields and well-contested" races. There was a merry-go-round on the ground which did big business, and an Aunt Sally, both of which added interest to the day's outing. Prior to the commencement of proceedings, there was a procession of decorated bicycles, prams, etc., from the Post Office to the grounds, headed by the Manawatu Highland Pipe Band. In the haka and poi competitions, four teams competed in the former and two in the latter, those events being full of interest, the competitors showing keen rivalry for possession of the coveted trophies. The haka per formances were a big improvement on last year's competition, as a result no doubt of practice; each team -being loudly applauded. The two poi teams were very evenly matched, there being only one point between them, and their exhibition was most gracefully carried out,' the muse being delightful and perfectly timed. fhe judges for the haka were Messrs T. Parata and Taiti Te Tomb, and foi the poi'dance, Mrs. T. Parata. At the conclusion, Mr T. Parata expressed his pleasure at -being able to be present and heartily congratulated the committee on the success of their efforts to keep up the traditions of the ancestors of the Maori race and. he trusted the: effort would meet with further success in the future. Mr Te Tomo, speaking in Maori, congratulated Shannon on helping to preserve the traditions of the Maori people and said it was iti-Hrr interest*, of the Pakehas to help preserve them. New Zealand had a population of one and a-half million- whites and sixty thousand Mauris and there jvas no doubt that there was genera] evidence of preservation. He went on to state that there was a big movement on foot at the present moment to collect the Waiatas, Pois and iiakas of the Maoris, and to hand them down to posterity and that there would be a wealth ot material preserved. The results were than announced by the secretary, Mr T. Thwaites, beinu as follows:—Haka: Ngati Whakaui' (Shannon),. lhaia Muhu (captain), 90 points, 1; Ngaiti Turanga, (Motuiti). tawhai (captain), 80 points, 2; Ngah Tukorohe (Ohan), D. Nicholls tain), 50 points; and Ngati Pikiahu (Onepuhi), Tawhiri Heta (captain), a PoV: Ngati Turanga (Motuiti). M;. harata Kerehaua (captain), SI points, 1; Ngati Tukorclie ((Jhau), MisP. Samuel (captain), 80 points, 2. The president (Mr A. E. Hyde) in presenting the trophies to the winners, thanked the public for their support, and also the competitors for conrniv forward. He. said the committee win a hard-working one and H was tho'r endeavour *o build up the pn*e >»<;;> ey to £SO to make the elKnii^en-;hit worthy of the namo and th.i.-j iL;i\\ teams from n!l ever the Domunon. lb said he was p;eud of the lo?:tl boyj who had now won the SlncM !<;'-' tw< consecutive yea:>, which Lia. they were not >oo bad a tier a' 1 - J'committee's aim and object was to liter and encourage old. time cu-.uns. o, the Maori. If no . encouragement ,r----given, he said there was a of.the'rising generation 10/ng ait thcustoms and traditions of their ancestors.

The committee are to be ecngiaiu lated on the excellence of the clouting provided, their effort being much appreciated.

SPORTS RESULTS. Decorated Tryelele: Jnsl-:ic Young 1, Thos. Cochrane '2, Bi!!'e Fiston ■'>■' Decorated Nonnrm Iva'lie1, Charlie Young 2, Basil Wilkinson Decorated Pram: Valeric Young and Eita Eastern (tie) 1. Children's Race, 4 to G years: Yal eric Youn? 1, Leonard Shnp-on 2. Girls' Race, fi to 9 years: Joan Ready 1. Kate Me Euan 2. Boys' race, (J to f> years: John Su; Clair'l, Harry Warman 2, Girls' race, 10 to 12 years: P.-a'l Hibbell 1, lima. Finnerty 2. Boys' rase, 10 to 12 years: Bviu'e Jones 1, Mervyn Taylor 2. _ Youths' race: A. Mason 1, P'"a ! d L Motor Tyre Race (hoy*): Chr'.sthin 1, Hold en- 2. Motor Ty:e Rnce («Hs): Claud ■■ Picard 1, Kancy Dn>?et 2. -. Girls' rate, ivcr 12 years: May hston 1, Melba o:.,eji 2. Boys' race, over 11 years: Merv\!i Tavlor 1, Chiktian. 2. • Bovs' race, under 12 years: Bruce Jones 1, Sid. Hoklen 2. Three-legged race (boys): •'. to.,ey and B. Bryant 1, Christian and Pcntera/'C (girls): Hibhei Sisters 1. Helen Warm an and Freda Robinson 2. .' __ • Girls' race, 14 to 16 years: Helen Warman 1, May Exton 2. Girls' race, 12 to 14 years: Cms. Dens 1, Helen Warman 2. Sack race: Jack Mason 1, Jim ( oley

"'Boys' race. 12 io M years: .'Jaek Mason 1, Jack Cu'ian 2. Children's tricycle race: 1 eddy \eale 1, Tom Cochrane 2. • Obstacle race, girls: Irene bands I, Pearl Hibbell 2. Obstacle race, boys: C. 'I lomewan 1, J. Mason 2. Married men's race: Mr In erne ■ 1, Mr Payne 2. Married ladies' race: M.rs H. Kxelxardson 1, Mrs Oheesman 2.