MAURICEVILLE SPORTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4344, 14 February 1893, Page 2

MAURICEVILLE SPORTS.

(Our Special Correspondent).

The first Monday in Lent is observed in Denmark as a holiday, and , sports are held all over the country, chief among which'&re "Tilting in the ; Eini;" and" Hammer the Cat," To j commemorate this holiday of their country, the Scandinavian settlers in Mauriceville have held the day in fes- ! tivity for the past two anniversaries of ; the feast, yesterday being the second ' gathering which has been observed, • Unfortunately, the strong northwesterly gale and heavy rain did much to prevent a large assemblage of .residents and visitors, only some 200 being present, but among these were several ladies from Eketahuna and other parts of the district, who braved the elements to seo their sons or sweethearts compete for the post of honour among theircountrymeu. Had the day been fine it is estimated that quite 500 would have been present. For the two events some thirty-seven horsemen competed, dressed in distinguishing colours.' Many. of the horses wero prettily got up, instancing how the young men are in copying the spirit of their nation in this holiday sport. The Tilting in the Eing is carried out rather differently to that plan in force in the Cuvalry sports held in the Colony, Only one ring is put up and a shorter weapon is used with which to take it off. Nine tries are allowed to each contestant, the one taking tho most rings being awarded the prize, which is a valuable silk sash and fancy head-gear or crown, Yesterday two young men, J. Albertsen and V 7, Mortensen, tied with seven rings each, and in a final contest Albertson waß the winner, Mortensen taking second place Hammering the Cat is a somewhat novel game, and originated in Denmark, where a cat or bird together with a purse of money was put intoa cask strongly hooped up and this then suspended so that a horseman could ride underneath and strike at the cask with a heavy club. Whoever broko the cask was winner of the contest. As usual the cask was provided (but no cat inside), and a strong one it was, for it had to be several timeß lessened of the number of hoops, before it could be broken by B. Brooks who, after C. Larson had dealt it a smashing stroke, came next and sent the barrel to pieces, Brooks taking first place and the purse ol money ; Lateen second. i At the conclusion of tho sports tho ■ committee and a largo number of tho 1 settlers dined with Mr M. Jensen, , who had prepared a Bumptuous spread [ at his house, At the ball which was i held in Mr Cottis' Hall, about fifty I couples engaged in dancing till the ■ small hourß of the morning, to exj cellent music supplied by Mr C. Volt beira, of Masterton, Shortly after dancing commenced, a ceremony • something after the style of thatat the ' tournaments of ancient days, was perJ formed, The successful tilter, like tbo ohampion knight of the tournament, had to ohoose his Queen of 1 Beauty, but had to do so blindfolded ' from a circle of the ladies then in the , ballroom, Miss Annie Brothersen i was tho young lady elected, who after donning her crown waß led , back into the ballroom by her Knight, • dressed in the royal honours ho had i that day won 1 After hearty cheers had been given for King and Queen danc- [ ing was resumed. The Committee i were:—Messrs S, H, Kassmusson, G. [ Albertßon, P, Mortensen, L. P. Lar- ' Ben, and H. Neilsen, who carried out arrangements of both sports and ball very successfully. If only they had . reckoned with Captain Edwin and got [ 'fine weather! Mr J, Cottis provided refreshments on the ground and supt plied an excellent supper at the ball, and with his assistants was assiduous , in attening to the wants of the dancers,