THE AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 763, 28 December 1908, Page 4

THE AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

D. PRETTY, WORLD'S CHAMPION. [PEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.] Elthani, December 26. The Axemen's Carnival opened today with an attendance of over 4000 persons. The main- attraction was the world's championship chop (2ft standing logs), in which Miley (Victoria), champion of Australia^ Esau Pretty (New Zealand champion) ajid^ D. Pretty ex-N.Z. chajniiifts^ I 'and others were^.jyjsjp^tiHg. i n this event, •- uowever, and in others in which he competed Miley failed to maintain his Australian reputation, and was not placed during the day. He ascribed his defeat to his bad luck in getting butt timber and to the slowness of New Zealand timber compared to Australian. D. Pretty gave a powerful display of chopping, and won the New Zealand and world's championship. Particularly good times were put up in the maiden chop and underhand handicap. New Zealand Championship. — First Heat : D. Pretty 1, J. Newstroski 2, G. McCauley 3. Second Heat: O Miley 1 E. Pretty 2, W. L. Herold 3. Third Heat: J. Hartnett 1, J. Harwood 2, G. Puklowsky 3. Final: D. Pretty 1, Newstroski 2, E. Pretty 3. Time, 322-ssecs. World's Championship Chop. — D. Pretty (Hamilton) 1, S. Johnson (Gisborne) 2, G. McCauley .(Taumarunui) 3, J. Newstroski 4. j» A feature of this-J^pontest was the powerful choppingfer D. Pretty and the excellent performance of Johnson, who, though he struck a knot and spoiled two 'axes, chopped into second place. r " Johnson is a Tasmanian who won ' a few minor events there, and started on New Zealand wood two years ago. Miley struck hard wood, and was left be-hind. Time, 4.482^5, which was comparatively slow owfng to the wood being hard.