PIGEONGRAMS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2773, 3 January 1878, Page 2

PIGEONGRAMS.

OHIITEMTOI.

(from our own correspondents.)

Paeroa, Wednesday.

The Te Aroha races came off yesterday (New Year's Day), and the sport provided gave great satisfaction to the visitors. The Muidcn Plate (£7) was won by Taaranga, and was a close finish, Te Kooti and Badger being a good second and third respectively. The Hurdle Kace (£10) was won by Paraku's Government, the Pony Race (£5) by Haora's Mountain, and the All-Comers' Race (£l2) by Nicholls' Badger. All the events were well contested, and the entries averaged five each. Tho course was a good one, about a quarter of a mile from the Omahu settlement, near the base of the mountain. About 200 persons were present, including visitors from Ohinemuri, Waitoa, and the adjacent settlements. The weather was rery suitable, as during the afternoon the tail end of a thunderstorm just reached the course, and served to cool the atmosphere. Our Boxing Day's races were wound up on Saturday. The protest against Rapata Pokiha's Don Juan (for going inside a post in the Hurdle Race) was sustained, and the prize awarded to Paraku's Government. Nobody appeared to support the protest against Mr Bennett's Biddy in the Trotting Match, aod the amount was therefore paid over nem. dis. Tho dispute was simply as to whether the horses had run tho full course or not. Tlie judge declared at the time that they had, but Mr C. Franklin chose to think otherwise, and did an extra round.

Mr J. M. Robson had a very narrow escape when crossing the Hikutaia river on horseback on Monday, afternoon. It appears that although the bridge is finished, the new road from Onctai is impassable, and it is therefore comparatively useless. I think tho County Council should see that the necessary works are carried out without further delay.