OHINEMURI.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3145, 18 March 1879, Page 2

OHINEMURI.

(TBOM OUB OWN OOBBESPONDENX).

Pabeoa, Monday.

The Paoroa Races.

The First File of the Bridge Driven.

To-day was perhaps one of the greatest days Ohinemuri has yet seen. The first pile of the bridge to spaa the Ohinemuri river has been driven, which, when com* pletedj will mean a great stride in the material improvement of the district. Our entire population turned out en masse to witness the ceremony, and about 100 visitors from the Thames were amongst those present. At half-past three every* thing was ready. Mr Mitchell said that his wife had been asked to pei form the ceremony of driving the first pile, but through indisposition was prevented from doing it. He then delivered a brief address appropriate to the occasion, which was vociferously cheered by both Europeans and Natives. The winch was then minned by Messrs Johnston,' Maguire, Mahoney, Noble, Quinn, and Shaw. Mr Adams, the contractor, managing the tu^er. As the monkey fell oa the pile Mr Mitchell b.'oke a bottle of champagne on it, and declared it well and truly* fixed. Timiuha, a chief of the Ngatikoe assisted, amidst loud applause, in driving the pile home, after which a krge number adjourned to Cassrell's and Bennett's Criterion Hotel, where an excollent hvicheo 1 was partaken o£. The races commenced at two o'clock, there be'og a large number on the course. The first even* was the—

Maiden Plate—For all horses which have never won a public race. Distance : Thrpe times round the course. 'Entrance, 10s ; prize, £5. Hiinias' Cock-eye ... ... ... ± Nicholls'Jack ... ... \]\ 2 These two were the favorites. Peter, Never-mind, and Tommy also wn, but

were quite out of it, the favorites having it all their own way. «? Handicap Hubdle Each—Open to allcomers. Distance: Four times round the course; over three flights of hurdles (3ffc. 6in. high) each time. Entrance, £1; prize, £12. Hogan's Devil, list 1 Foley's Hurricane, list 2 Eelener's Never-mind, 9st 71b ... 0 This was a capital race. The riders of Devil and Hurricane were both thrown, bat mounted speedily, and came in in the above order. Hurricane was going splendidly, but unfortunately baulked.

Paeeoa Cap (Handicap).— Open to all comers. Distance: Four times round the cour?e. Entrance, £2 ; prize, £25 ; second horse to save stake. PhiU'ps's Potentate, lOst 51bs ... 1 NicLoils'Tommy, 7st 51bs 2 Dufty's Little Johnny, 6st 71bs ... 0 Foley's Maewa, Bst 0 Maewa, a."ter the start, rushed to the front, but over-excited itself. Potentate was held in, but soon over-hauled Maewa and cut the second round passed him. Little Johnny and Tommy then passed Maewa, and the race ended in the above order..

Little Johnny won the Pony Race, and Tommy the Consolation, which brought the programme to a close.

The day's diversions were appropriately wound up by a dance at the Paeroa Public Hall, which is still going on, and the dancers appear fresh enough to keep it up several hours longer.