PAHIATUA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3080, 29 December 1908, Page 6

PAHIATUA NEWS.

(From Our Resident Reporter)

CRICKET. Monday. The match between Kilhirnie and Pahiatua was played on the Recreation Ground on Friday and Saturday. Kilbirnie batted first, Walters and Wagstaff facing the bowling of Cooper and Wallace. Walters was caught out after making five. Condliffe was out in the same manner. Bramley filled the vacancy, and next ball Wagstaff was bowled off his pads. G. Cowan then joined Bramley, and this partnership put a different aspect on the game. Cowan was ultimately caught, the score standing 3 for 33. Stewart, captain, compiled 2, and Higginbottom was bowled for a "duck" in the same over. Stelliwell was disposed of by Cooper without scoring. Six for 36. Bramley was . then caught in the long field after playing a patient innings for 15. Haigh was caught after making 2. Phillips, the last man, added a single to the score, when he was caught and bowled by Wallace, and the innings closed for 43. Wallace took four wickets for 2'6, and Cooper fiv for 20. Pahiatua then went to the wickets, but were completely demoralised by the bowling of Waiters and Bramley, • and they only succeeded in compiling eleven runs, the chief scores being Cooper 3, Rev. Speer 2, and Thomson 3 not out. Bramley took 6 wick- ' ets lor 5 runs, and Walters 3 for 6 runs. Kilbirnie made 71 in their second innings, and Pahiatua were disposed of for 38, leaving the visitors victors by 63 runs. In the second innings of the match Walters 24, Condliffe 22, and Wagstaff 10. were the highest scorers in the City team, while WaHis not out 10, Cooper 7, Williams 6, and Thomson 6, were the best scores for Pahiatua. For Kilbirnie Bramley took 2 wickets for 3, Walters 2 for 7, G. Cowan 2 for 5, J. €owan 3 for 6, and Stslliwell 1 for 16. For Pahiatua Wallis took 6 for 36, Cooper 1 for 14, and Rev. Speers 2 for 19. At the conclusion ot the match the visiting team was entertained at a dinner in the Club Hotel, and they left for home by the express train on Sunday afternoon. MANGATAINOKA SFORTS.

The Mangatainoka Sports Committee have every reason to be proud of thoir efforts on Boxing Day, and the large gathering of over two thousand were highly pleased with the programme and the smart manner in which all the events were got off. In formally opening the grandstand, Mr S. Boiton, the Patron of the Society, referred to the rapid strides the Society had made within the last few years, and predicted a glorious future for the Society. He also paid a tribute to the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the President, Mr A. Quinlan, to whom the Society was indebted for much of its success. It is interesting to note that the takings at the gate have increased considerably in the last three years. In 1906 £35 was taken, £45 lis in 1907, and £6O this year, and the sum of £35 was received in nominations and acceptances. The £6O taken this year does not include members tickets sold. The Highland dancing and bagpipe playing was a new feature. Mr B. Halliburton, of Matamau, Hawke's Bay, the noted judge of Scotch dancing, stated that the gathering surpassed any in the North Island except Napier. The organisation was perfect, and the annual sports promise to be the most successful country gathering in the North Island. Mr J. W. Carter, of the Post Office Bakery, had charge of the refreshment, and fruit and lollie stall, and did good business all day. The following are the remaining results:— Hop, Step and Jump—A. McDonald 1, W. Udy 2. Girls' Race, 12 years and under— Evelaen Tait 1, Queenie McLeary 2, Nellie Starkie S.

Putting the Stone—C. Birken&haw 1, R. Hunt 2. One Mile Handicap.—B. Tempest, 80yds, lj F. J. Kilmister, 100 yds, 2; J. J. Gleeson, 100 yds, 3. Time 4min 41Jsec. High Jump Handicap—R. McKenzie, sin, sft B.|in, 1; N. Avery, sin, sft 6^in, 2. Girb" Race, 100 yards handicap, for girls 14 years and under—Alice Smith, 1, Ethel Goodwin 2. Boys' Relay Race, for teams of boys attending the primary schools; distance one mile, in four relays of a quarter-mile each; each team to consist of four boys. Three teams competed, the winning team consisting of latere, WaHon, Boyden, and Mexted. One Mils Bicycle Race: J. A, Cooksley, 90yds, 1; J. Harman, scr, 2. Throwing the Hammer Handicap: C. Birkenshaw 1, F. Lucas 2. Naither the handicaps nor the distances the hammer was thrown were recorded. Light-weight Wrestling, Cumberland style, list and under: The prize money was dividod between C.Gray and Bryan. Boys' Racs, 12 years and under: J. McLennan 1, H. Thomas 2, C. J Thomas 3. '

Piping, Marches, Strathspeys and Reels; prize, donated by Mr A. McPharson, Ist £2, 2nd £I:G. McKay 1, E. Drysdale 2. Irish Jig, Ist prize £2, 2nd £1: Thomas Pickett 1, J. Kavanagh 2. Sword Dance, Ist prize £2, 2nd £1: C. W. Watts 1, J. Finlay 2. Highland Fling, Ist prize £2, 2nd £1: T. W. Watts 1, E. Drysdale 2.

The annual social in connection with the Mangatainoka Sports Society took place in the Library Hall on Boxing Night, the building being packed, only sitting room for the ladies being able to be found. At an interval in the social Mr Quinlan, President. Mr Bolton, Patron, and Mr Robert Smith, referred to the sports gathering held in the Domain that day, Mr Smith stating that the society had honoured him by ap- j pointing him their representative to attend the forthcoming athletic conference in Dunedin. Music for the dancing was supplied by Miss Barrel!, extras being played by Mis* L. De Malmanche, and Mr McKay, bagpipes. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co. and Messrs Abraham and Williams will not hold their usual stock sales in the "Farmers" yards to-morrow. The usual Saturday sale at the Mart will not be held until Saturday, January 9th, but fruit will be sold privately at the Mart daily.

The Makuri picnic and sports to be "held on New Year's Day promise to be a great success. If sufficient inducement offers Mr S. Girdwood will run a drag to the sports from this town, and the committee have arranged with Mr East to take out fruit and lollies. Refreshments willbe supplied free, and as the lovely Makuri Gorge is passed on the way several local people have signified their intention to be present. The Pongaroa sports were postponed, on Boxing Day owing to the ground 3 being under water, and are being held to day—Monday. Various tradespeople report having done good business generally during the Christmas Holidays. One storekeeper informed me that he almost doubled his takings for last Christmas. On Friday morning, by some misunderstanding, there was no drag at the Railway Station to convey the Kilbirnie cricket team to the tovn. Mr F. G. Moore, who was on a motor bicycle, generously rode back to town, and getting a drag from the local staDles took charge of the ribbons, and brought the team to town. The visitors w ; -re naturally very sleepy after a journey of one hundred miles in the night express. Mr H. H. Godfrey was the successful tenderer for removing the infant school and the main class room cf the old pchuol to the new school site. The work is in hand, and is to be completed by the end cf January, 1909. Special servicas were held ut St. Peter's, St. Mark's, Methodist, and the Catholic Churches on Christmas Day. I am in receipt of an excellent iced Chriscmas cake from Mr J. W. Carter, of the Post Office Bakery. The fancy icing on the caKe is really a work of art, and reflects great credit on Mr Carter's skill in this branch of his trade.

The half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Mangatainoka Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held in the Lodge Ro.im (Palmerston North road), on Wednesday, 23rd. Owing to the very inclement weather, and the approaching holidays there was only a small attendance of members. The question of a new agreement with the Lodge surgeons, arising out of the conference recently held in Wellington, was held oyer till next meeting. Bro. W. H. Boyens was elected N.G., and Bro. W. Taylor V.G. for the ensuing half-year. Bro, F. G. Milne, secretary, and Bro. H. H. Godfrey, treasurer, wers re-elected. The receipts for the tvening amounted to £l4 0s 6d, nnd the accounts passed for payment totalled £2B 7s 6d.

For the financial year ended March 31st, 1908, the revenue from rate 3 in the Pahiatua County amounted to £5,244 4s 4d, and from licenses, tolls, rents, and otner sources, £286 6s Bd. The total revenue amounted to £7,352 17s Bd.

The latest Government return to hand gives the estimated are:-! of the Pahiatua Borough (at last) as 720 acres. There were 360 dwellings, 460 ratepayers, 520 rateable properties, and the unimproved value of rateable property on March 31st 1908, wag put down at £97,875. The population is given a* 1,360.