CHOPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 307, 23 December 1908, Page 3

CHOPPING.

The Axemen s Championship Carnival, to be held at Eltham ou Saiuruay and Moiu&y next, gives great promise 01 eclipsov; all previous gatherings of tills . popular fixture. Tile entries received . tins .year are well up to those of l,iic ■ Association's best year, whilst the culi- , bre of tlu- men contesting Hie events i;-, of a much higher standard, taken all round, than those of previous years. According to the i'ress Association telegrams received, frum Hamilton and Tailiap.', the tivo cluinvpions (Aiilev, tiie Australian champion, and Dave Prcttv, I the .New Zealand marvel) are both in l , J rare fettle, mid a battle royal will be j 1 witnessed between these great guns ill both championship events which are to be contested on the first • dav of the Carnival. If only these two men were competing, the contests would be well worth travelling a day's journey to see, hut when it is taken into consideration - that ten other brilliant performers will compete for the world's championship, \ and sixteen for the New Zealand chain- ", pionship, the interest will be doubly keen.

In the double-handed sawing championship of Australasia, Casey and Pretty will compete once more. Probably there is not a more popular competitor in Australasia (certainly there j is not one with a better all-round "v----cord) than Con. Casey. As he has now retired from chopping and single-handed sawing contests, this will probably be his last appearance at the Eltham carnivals. The brilliant victories which he and Pretty achieved from 1004 to 1900, will long be-remembered in Taranaki. Should they again prove victorious, their win will be most popular. This event will also bo decided on the first

day of the Carnival (Boxing Day). Oa the second day (Monday) the principal attraction "will be the New Zealand Axemen's Cup, of £IOO, of which JOO sovs. will go-to the winner. Oire hundred pounds is a very nice start for the new year, and we are sure no one .mil begrudge it to the lucky winner, l'or this great event there are fifty acceptors representing every part of New Zealand; from Southland to North Auckland; from Wcstlaud, Nelson and

Marlborough; from Cape Egmont, right through tile centre of the North Island, to Gisbornc; and from Tasmania and Victoria—truly n representative meeting. All the contestants of the championship events will again meet in this out not on the same terms, as Milev' and Pretty are called upon by the nandicapper.to concede three-quarters of a minute's start to some men who have nominated for the championships, and who are therefore evidently of opinion that they can beat the champions without any start. On the other hand, the champions are confident that they are capable of giving them their starts, and a good beating into the bargain. To relieve any lengthy waits'between the chopping and sawing events, the Association has placed a number of cycling events on the programme. Very large fields have entered for these. Fif-

teen is the lowest number in anv one event, and twenty-two the highest. On the second day B. Campion: and A. E girkes the two crack riders of the North Island, will compete Special trains will run from % both north and south, arriving at Eltham just before mid-day, allowing patrons to witness all the principal events on the programme, returning from Eltham immediately after the conclusion of the last event. •