SPORTS AND PASTIMES ASSOCIATE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 23 August 1919, Page 8

SPORTS AND PASTIMES ASSOCIATE

A MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENING

The programme of boxing and wrestling events arranged for Friday "even- . ing under the ausp.ces of the association, which work had been shut down during the war, was most successful and opened with a fillip that appears to herald a great increase in interest by the people of the whole district. The seating accommodation was taxed to the utmost, fully three hundred being present, including visitors from all parts of South Taranaki. Punctually at eight o'clock the Mayor (Mr E. Dixon) opened the proceedings in a short speech, welcoming ai Prf sent and expressing the hope that the evening would be successful. fie said h e had always been interested an sports, and believed they exercised a great influence for good on the young men, of a*iy town. Evening sports .meetings could be arranged, and would Me felt sure, be popular. He referred* to the fact that since the days of the •Caledonian Society there had never been any regular meetings, and consequently on holidays the people went ■away in large numbers to other towns instead of coming to Hawera. The institution of regular sports meetings would be an excellent thing for the town. He hoped that the association would meet with the greatest success. Later in the evening the Rev C H Grstf^t Cowen also stressed ' the jalue or the association, and hoped that the committee would encourage *ports of every kind. He said he 'V i -,very mucn like to see cricket started again. Manly s ports inculcated self-reliant habits and self-confidence, and should be encouraged in every way possible. He wished th c association every success in its efforts to influence and assist all manly sports. During the evening there were a number of bouts, of three rounds each i which wer e watched with intense interest and created a lot of enthusiasm. lhe contestants were as follows-. L Will, and R. Henman. F. New and A*, i Hurrell M. Bailey and D. Poynton, i ?' J 111!!^ h Wills ' A- HurreU and , -Scotty Hill. The form shown by the boxers was very good indeed A! wrestling bout, catch-as-catch-can by Woods (Normanby) and Drake (Okai-j -awa) was a very fine exhibition of I -scientific wrestling and created great, ■«nthueiasm. Mr C Cumming was referee. At' the conclusion Mr J. G. Osborne the -enthusiastic president, thanked' Dr ' ihomson for his kindness in coming to \ examine the contestants, and all those who took part for th e display they had. given. H e hoped th e association would ! encourage to the utmost all sports, and I felt sure there wa s a good work to ' be done m the town and district. The j proof that it was appreciated was' •shown by th c number present He j announced that they had appointed Messrs^A. Hurrell and L. Wiifs hon. instructors, and that classes would be formed, and added that probably a tournament would be held early in October. He thanked all present for their assistance and hoped that the as-' -sociation would expand and extend its! influence to all other sports.