NEW ZEALAND WOODCHOPPERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 48, 23 September 1916, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND WOODCHOPPERS.

ANOTHER CONTEST.

(From Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with the N.Z. Forces.) The interest in the work in the forest by members of the Pioneer Battalion, mostly Maoris, continues, and there has been another contest that has attracted a good deal of attention locally. So far the Maori has been always the victor, but the other day someone unearthed a young “pakeha” from the New Zealand Cyclists, who, it-was said, would give the Maori champion “a good go.” The competition took place in a forest of 50,000 acres, some 30,000 acres of which we are cutting out for purposes war. The cutting is done scientifically, the trees of the greatest value being left, and all trees are cut off level with the ground. The first event on this programme was the championship chop, in which Pte. Shewry, said to be the., world’s champion, competed against Pte; Butler, Forest Control champion, and three other Maoris. After a close and exciting contest, Pte. Shewry, th newcomer, was declared to be the winner, with Pte. Taxnaki second. In the underhand chopping competition, L.-Cpl. Bannister was first, and PseButler 'second, Shewry being beaten by both these Maoris. A cross-cut sawing competition war won by Ptes. Butler and Tamaki, thick log being sawn through in th almost incredible time of twenty sec birds, to the great astonishment of the English onlookers.

One of the Maoris gave an exlnbi tion of the French style of tree-fell ing, and another Maori showed ho the topmost branches are first cut off a big tree before it is felled. At the close of the competition, General Godley presented prizes to the successful competitors.