TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1945, 23 December 1884, Page 2

TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha , Monday.

Although the time chosen for the local l.ice-meeting was> not quite opportune, beini? too close upon, and yet not forming a p.nt of the legular holiday amusements, theie wih a f.ur g.ithenng at the comic on Satmday. The residents of both townships turned out in considerable numbers as did also the miner-, fiom Qu.utzville, and visitor^ from Waitoa, Paeroa, helped to swell the concouise. They day opened threateningly asiain began to fall about 5 a.m and continued to pour for a few hour-, but between 8 and 9 the weathei showed signs of clearing up, and before 10 the sun shone out brilliantly. With the exception of a smait shower towaids evening tliPi»s \v,h no moie lain dining the day, and as the lvces did not commence till 2 p.m. the ground had time to dry and when t'le lir-,t event came off it was in goo condition for miming. As regards spoitit cannot be said the meeting was a success, for not one of the iaces on the piogramnie w:>« l pally well contested. The different events lesulted as follows :—: — II \NI)IC.VP HLKHLLIS. Lninsdcn'h Resurrection . . 1 Tienton's Catch "em . 2

THK VIIOHA HANDICAP. Lumsden's Snake L C.unachan's I'iospoio '3 Ruin's Na\ iqator 3

AllM u\ PLKSI]. Quin's Na\ igatoi . . 1 Montague's Black liess . 13

Jl MDKN" PLAL'j:. Kesuriection . . 1 Catch'ein 2 131ack Bess 3 Number One, Bed Robe, Ham aid, and Stanley, also staited.

si:r m.vg u \ci). Quiii'-. X,iv ig.itor 1 Peh.i'b Te N.imu 2

consol v I'iox srvicrs. O'Biien's Colonist 1 Tienton't. Catcli'em 2 Black J3eos and Te Nanm also ran. A pony lace and two or thioe private matches between local hoi sea eked out the programme and kept np the amusement until the shades of evening began to close. The pioceeding-* were enlivened by the strains of the Arnha, biass band, but the aidour of those who remained till the finish was somewh.it damped by a heavy shower which fell about five o'clock, and the threatening aspect of the sky had the effect of driving many poisons from the course before that hour. The w lsdom of the race committee in holding the meeting so near to the general holidays is ceitainly open to question, and it is a piovalont opinion that if it had been defeiml till the '2l)lb of J.muaiy oi the 17th of March, it would ha\e e\entiuted inoie successfully as legaids both racing and attendance. AVoik in two oi thiee of the mines on the lull has aheady ceased for the holidays, but the principal miniN will continue operations till Tuesday or Wednesday, \\ iien there will be a general siia])ension until the sth of January, the protectii » granted by the Warden being fiom the 2 Ith inst. to that date.

The school holidays commence to-day, and extend to the 31st J.inu.uy. The customary feast for the children will bo held on Xow Year's JKiy, and as it will Le oai tiup.de J in by the youthful ireinbei'b of the Baud of Hope, and also by those attending the Sunday-school, the day is coi!..iin to be a giand one foi all the little folks, and the iiuenile imagination is already miming not in the anticipation of .1 penod of continuous levelry from Chrintmas onwaid to the day of the big feast. A meeting of tlio school committee was held on Tuesday ovoniug last, when an im])oitant change was le.solved upon. As at present constituted that body comprise* four membeis representing To Aioha and three lopiesenting Waiorongomai. It is now thought desiiable that each place should have a committee- of its own, and a petition requesting that Wnioiongomai may be declaiod a separate district has been foi warded to the Boaid of Education. The step is a right one, and will be beneficial to both places, as with the committee divided and scattered as it has hitherto been a difficulty was* often evperienced, especially dining the winter .season, in getting a quotum together, and business of importance was thus frequently delayed. The petition to the Minister for Public Woikb le completion of railway, and alteration of time-table in being \ety numeiously signed, and will be fotwaided in a day or two to Mr J. B. Why to for transmission to the proper quarter. A leply has been received from the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, to ti.e communication sent to him respecting a daily nivil servue. He has brought the matter under the notice of the Posttnahter-deueial, who it is to be hoped will take a favourable \ lew of the matter.

BV TIXOiKYPH.] A good raco caino off to-day between Resuneotion and Catch 'cm. The owner of the Litter, not satisfied with the result of the Hurdle Race on Halm day, backed him this morning; for tlO to mn Resurrection again ovei the .same cmu-e, the distanceand huidles also to be the same. After much preliminaiy haggling a stait was effected, but at tho .second jump Catchem shied, and | allowed hi-> ad votary to get along with the lead, At the fourth hurdle Recunection stumbled, but I^qmsden quickly and cleverly picked up both himself and steed and got away again, closely followed by Catchem, who had now warmed to the work, and took the jumps without a baulk. From here the horses kept well together until the third huidle was reached in tho la«t round, when Resurrection came to gnef, and fiom that time was out of the lace, Catoh'em being almost at the post befoie Lutnsden ag.un got into the .saddle. A foot race, distance lOOvds., wao afterwaids run between P. Qmnlan, Te Aroha, and J. Campbell, Cambridge, for %%, Quinlan had the best of the start, but CanipbeU wqn b,y a yarfl.