Te Aroha Athletic Sports.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1947, 30 December 1884, Page 2

Te Aroha Athletic Sports.

At a period like the present, when ordinary business is interrupted, and there is a. general cessation from labour, and when the dull routine of every day existence, gives place to a time of festivity and enjoyment, the current of events in outlying districts neldom affords much to write about, unless it be the sports and pastimes which constitute so large a part of the cnstoin.tiy pleasures of this great animal holiday season. The occasion was looked forward to, as it always is, by the mineis and others of the working part of the population as a complete relaxation from the toil and cares that are their portion during the rest of the year, and full advantage has been taken of it. A large majority have bought other scenes that offer enjoyments of a more exciting kind than are to be had in this quiet neighbourhood, but though the mines are deserted, and the workers underground have for the most part betaken themselves elsewhere, the bulk of the townspeople h^ve remained to enjoy themselves in the sociable and homely fashion which best befits the season. Tho weather has been somewhat of a drawback to out-of-door pleasures, but it has not marred them to the extent that, from accounts received, it appears to have done in other places. Tho afternoon of fiowng Day was beautifully fine, and nearly the whole of the population, old and young, turned out to take part in or witness the athletic spurts held in Morgan's paddock, A capitfll programme was got up, tho whole of the oventa wero well contested, and an excellent days' amusement was afforded. The chief interest was centred in tho foot race", which brought out a full irnihter of the local pedestrians. For tho piincipnl event, tho Cup race, in which the amount competed for was £8, there were se\en entries, viz., W. Hyd**, Colentan, Whjtehonse, Breiian, Quinlan, Johnson and Hawkins*. Jt was run in distances of IQO, 200 and iM> yard.-.. In tho fli^l heat, which was a \eiy close one, Hyde came in fiist, with Biennan second and Hawkins thud. In the second heat Coleman took first place, Hyde second and Johnson third, and at the 300 yards Hyde came in a stroup winner, Whitehonse being second, and Coleman third. The first prize, £5, went to Hyde, (10 points.}, iho second, £2, fc<) o(|lftm.an (<S points) and the thiid, £1, to Whitchouse who made four. In the Maiden Race, 150 yards, the first prize went to Johnson, and'the'second to Mercer. In the .}mile race tl* first place was gained by Hawkins, Whiteh'ouse coming in second and H. Hyde third. For the Half-mile event the first mrmey weuj; Jo H. Hyc|e, and the second to Hawkins. On ihe programme thpjo were piizes for jumping, putting the stone, and other pei forniance 5 :, none of which deserve special mention. The whole of the arrangements weie successfully earned _ out, and weie most creditable to the committee.