THE TUG-OF-WAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4138, 15 June 1892, Page 3

THE TUG-OF-WAR.

Another Exciting Pull. Tho tug of-war was continued in tb Masterton Theatre Royal lust (Tuet day), evening. . The audience wa Up-much larger than on the precediw ovening, and the greatest interest wa manifested in tho various events Owing to the unfortunate absence o tho Mastertoti Football Club tenn >.<•■ and the Colonials the arrangement! wero somewhat disturbed, and tin Bed Star ream scored two wins an< the Native team one by default. Tin first contest was between the WELSHMEN AND FIRE BRIGADE. This pull was of vory short dura tion. Tne Fire Brigade team, whicl beat the Footballers on the previom evening, was expeuted to tarry al before it, but met a great surprise it the Wofshmen, No sooner hat the pistol gone off than the laltei mado one combined effort, and before their opponents could realisi their position the ball had been carriec right over tho line amidst'tremendous ~ cheering. The pull only lasted half t minute, The next teams to meet won the boarders at the EMPIRE AND STAR HOTELS. <_ The former was skippered by Mr T I||Di Thompson, who created considerable amusement by announcing thai he had been feeding his men upon " burgoo" in view of the contest. Mi a, J. Searl captained the opposing team, which had tho advantage of the Weight of the Maori "Brown"as an anchorman. The ball was kept at the centre for some time, the yells of "Empire" and "Star" by tho audience being simply deafening. At the expiration of four minutes the " Star" anchor man set to work in ■ v earnest and in a few seconds the Sphere had crossed the lino, and Mr Searl's team wero declared winners. FIRE BRIGADE V, NATIVES, The best pull of. the evening was that between the Municipal Fire Brigade and the Natives, The latter was certainly the heavier team, but the former was composed of some tough fellows. For quarter of an hour after the discharge of the pistol the ballwas kept in the one position, the natives having an advantago if about two feet. The Brigade acted strictly on the defensive, and although their opponents madofioveral desperate v|gjrtß they could not increase the lead. " Brown," tho anohor man oi tha Natives, caused a lot of fun by lighting his pipe and indulging in a smoke with crossed arms, Another of the team released his hold several times and performed a sort of" haka." After a lapse of eighteen minutes the Native anohor man thought it time to do somothing and taking hold of the rope gave one desperttte pull and the ball was carried clean over the line amidst great enthusiasm.