With Axe and Saw

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 269, 3 February 1928, Page 10

With Axe and Saw

WAIUKU KEEPS FLAG FLYING

MEMORIES OF THE OLD DAYS

Years ago, the sport of bushcraft j was one of the most popular in Aus- i tralia and New Zealand, and the axe- J men’s carnivals attracted record crowds. Gradually, however, the unceasing inroads into the available supplies of milling bush sent the sawmills further and further back into the interior, and the prohibitive cost of bringing the logs into the main centres resulted in these picturesque gatherings becoming largely a tiling of the past, in the towns and cities at any rate. In country centres which are handy to milling areas, axemen's sports still hold pride of place as one of the chief events of the sporting year. In the old days the kauri country of North Auckland, the difficult milling areas' of the King Country, the “wild West Coast” of the South Island, and th€« big expanse of pine and birch country in Otago and Southland —all these furnished many a notable contender for world’s championship honours with axe and saw. In Tasmania Deloraine and Ulverstone were famous the world over as the convincing ground for many a notable gathering of axemen; and it is interesting to note that Ulverstone is still going strong, a big championship meeting having been held there last year. CHAMPIONS OF THE LONG AGO These old-time gatherings conjure up many notable names of champions of the long ago. Tom Pettit, the giant Tasmanian, now Australian representative of an American firm of axe and saw manufacturers: Charlie Miley, prince of standing block choppers; Dave Pretty the New Zealander, who could hold his own in any company; Scott and Clayton and the Chisholm Bros., with the double-handed saw; Gus Blanc, the Canadian; P. O'Rourke, of Tasmania; John Mackay, the hard-bitten Scotch-Aus-tralian and many another, some perhaps equally deserving of mention here, but whose names have momentarily escaped the writer. There is always a tendency to magnify the past at the expense of the present, but it is safe to say that there were more real champions in bushcraft events a generation ago than there are near-champions at the present time. That is no reflection on the present-day men. For one thing, the opportunities for competition in high-class company are fewer these times. The average sports society cannot afford big prize money, ar.d the paucity of big meetings does not attract the old standard of competition. Apart from that, the general standard is not so high, because big logs are hard to get, or at least more expensive and the average underhand chop is generally decided in 15in. logs, whereas a two-foot block was the recognised championship minimum in the old days. DUNEDIN EXHIBITION CARNIVAL Even the splendid prize-money—-£l,oo0 —offered for the big axemen’s carnival at the Dunedin Exhibition, did not at first attract the anticipated response; and in dealing with the drafting of the details of this big programme, the writer could bear testimony to the unremitting efforts of Mr. Tom O’Byrne, of Invercargill, the genial president of the New Zealand Timber Wprkers’ Federation, to ensure that the * big gathering was made worthy of the occasion. To him, as organiser and superintendent of the carnival, was due the outstanding success of this popular branch of Exhibition activities, even at a time when the present serious depression in the timber industry was already beginning to make itself felt, thanks to an anaemic Government, which has allowed the Dominion to become a dumping ground for cheap foreign timber. Last year, with hundreds of mills working only half or three-quarter time for weeks on end, the average timber worker has had his spending power so severely reduced that in many cases ho cannot afford the financial outlay involved in travelling to and from sports meetings, in addition to entrance fees, etc. Bushcraft sports have inevitably suffered, and even such a big society as Taihape has had to make a drastic cut in its programme. WELL DONE, WAIUKU! Under such conditions as these, it has been most phasing tc record, that down at Waiuku they have managed to keep the flag flying. With Taihape cutting down its prize money considerably, Waiuku took, a golden opportunity this year, and by making its big chopping event worth £BO, has now stepped into the sports arena as one of the biggest and most

t from pillar to post, but when he seemed i to ha\ e reached the limit of endurance • he would unwind a rally that made 1 the small crowd roar encouragement. ? In the 14th, however, after a heavy . right to the jaw had sent the game lad 1 to his -knees, the towel fluttered in.

Successful Bushcraft Sports

GONE from the busy city are the thud of’ the bushman’s axe rfnd the whirling dust from the saw. Bushcraft sports have seen their hey-day, but in a few centres near the cities thev still survive, a welcome reminder of days gone by; of bronzed giants atop a row of freshly peeled logs, with chips flying like cliaflf from their gleaming axes, sharpened to a razor edge. 4

important meetings, as fir as axemet are concerned, in the Dominion. The big meeting of the Waiuk»: Sports Club was staged on Anniversary Day. It was a real red-letter for the township and the expert method of running the meeting and the larc* crowd which was present gave a true indication of the popularity of th« sport in the district. Among the ax?, men who were competing were doubtedly some of the best MaocQaai can produce, and as many of them were local chaps, it goes to show that Waiuku can be marked as one of main centres of the sport. “Among those present.” as they sav in the society notes, were J. E. Rich!, ardson, winner of the big chop at Taihape a few years back: A. Murrei; veteran New South Welshman and stir v power in the land: W. J. Costello, th* winner of the big event; O. A. Johnson, C. Neame, the two Silva*, g Woodward and others: all fit to tak* their place among the best in Austra SPECTACULAR WORK Perhaps the most pleasing featun of the meeting was the fact that it way run off without a hitch of any and the chopping events were chock ful of excitement, which attracted hun dreds of people to the ringside. Whej - 8 * *

& * & fr * rh ?r. -k rlt He * STH! the bell was sounded for the axemen to “get ready,” every other item of sport on. the ground became suddenly deserted. On the word “go” the sharp sound of many axes, biting deep into the wood, rent the air, and b:g chunks of wood flew in all directions. Like giants in their strength and as quick as lightning with their swing, thw* stalwart competitors were only a little over* a minute in dividing a 15-inch block. Is earing the end. when the pace became faster and every muscl* tensed to the utmost, the crowd tuned in with a prolonged t arrack for their respective favourites. Dp shot a number, and under it stood some big fellow heaving heavily after the fierce frenzy of intense physical effort. H? was the winner. VALUABLE AID TO JUDGING The shooting up of a number to indicate the winner is pernaps not & method known to every one who ha« witnessed a. chopping event. The particular type of machine used s’Waiuku is exclusive to that meeting and was invented locally. Tie weigh' of the log falling apart applies tension on a -wire which releases a sprinp and sends up the competitor's number This method of judging chopping events has now proved itself of invaluable assistance to the; judge*, ** immediately the log is chopped clear, the number Will spring up. The big chop went to W. J. Costed (lOsec), who carried too many guns fw E. Bates (18sec) and R. Beaxlej (28sec). The victory c»f this wellknown axeman was a most popular one, marking as it did a three year? attempt to pull off the coveted pn*e* which was worth £SO and a really fin* silver cup valued at £lO to the'winner. To the worthy president of tfl* society, Mr. Frank Knight, the veteran secretary, Mr. G. Suvain, and their officials, congratulations are due for the success which has attended the effort* of this progressive centre on the soutr. arm of the Manukau Harbour. N J.M.McK. and G.K.P