ELTHAM AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVI, Issue 601, 30 December 1904, Page 5

ELTHAM AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

At the above carnival on Monday the in. the New Zealand Chamf'on Chop of £25 were :—- Gns Blanc, ictoria, 1 ; D. Pretty, Hamilton* 2 ; C, TSir. TCasey, Eltham, 3; -G*,..A; Goold, Tasmania; C. Hutton, Eltham; E R. Terry* N.S.W.;E. Pretty, Raglan; L. TBerg> Pahiatna ;C. A. Berkahn, Waipawa; H. Nelson, Levin ; W. Beck,: JNbrsewood. The scene, says the Argus, was one of tense excitement as the men marshalled for this, the big event of the day. Each man was a champion, or at adi events of prbved experience in the •chopping ring. They may truthfully be said to have comprised the pick of thb iushmen of five States. A Homeric contest was naturally expected and in this event this expectation Was TfiOly fulfilled. Gni Blanc, of Victoria, is the world's champion, whose record oi3min 58sec for a 2ft block, made at Jtevonport, Tasmania* stands unbeaten 10-day*- D. Pretty Went strong from the start, and his chance Was momentarily favoured. Beck (of Norsewood) Was the iirsfc fco begin a second scarf, then Blanc, •followed by D. Pretty and Casdy. Hutton seemed tb have struck a parrlioularlyl knotty log, and worked right' around it; he used up two axes and had io procure a third. The Victorian (Blanc) at this stage was making the chips fly -with a regularity and celerity that were and it was soon seen that he had the event safe, and he won with a lot to spare, there being fully 308 ec difference between first and -second. A very close finish ensued Pretty and Casey; the former securing the verdict by just a blow Or two. xhese ih their turn finished some 20see in front of the Tasmanian, Gfooli 7^Time, 6min 34 2-ssec. It is infcerestmg to note that this was the winner's first appearance as a competitor in New Ze& r land. For the past two years he hiis Ittld the world's championships for both mnderhand and standing chopping. The following are the winners of the New Zealand championship: — Al 1901— C. W. Casey, smin 51sec. 7i 1902— C. W. Casey, 6min 13 2-osec. y 1903— C. Hutton, 6min 6sec. 7> 1904- G. Blanc, smlh 34 2-ssec. A