Mounted Carnival, Oruru-Peria Effort

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1940, Page 9

Mounted Carnival, Oruru-Peria Effort

A pledge given by the Oruru-Peria people some time ago that they would make some local effort in support of the Kaitaia Ladies’ Rest Room fund, was redeemed on Saturday, when a mounted carnival was held in Mr J. Dangen’s paddock. The weather was far from congenial, and there were threats of rain, but it held • fine throughout the programme. The attendance was confined almost wholly to local residents. Kaitaia was represented by two or three people. , The carnival was notable for good l management and the fine spirit shown jby all present. As a collective effort :by a small community, it was outj standing,'and the principles laid down j by an American coloured organisation when collecting for a philanthropic cause served to apply: We will all give something, We will all give cheerfully, We will all give what we can. All services were free, and there were no pickings for anybody. It was a net, not a gross, profit the organisers were concerned with. Prizes w T ere givien for the different events, but Mr Walter Christensen, who took the entries, and acted as a kind of general hustler, saw to it that the entrance money, if not equal to the prize money, came very close to it. The entries averaged from 12 to 15, and, by changing the rider, the same horse sometimes accounted for two entries. Mr R. Birdsall, the secretary, was largely responsible for the good order with which the sports were conducted, and for the preservation of interest for the spectators. Messrs J. W, Dawson and F. Sefton acted as judges. The ladies of the district had a tent for refreshments, and did remarkably well out of an attendance of less than 100 people. Several competitions were held with a fat goose, turkey, or cake for a prize, and no young lady had any difficulty in filling her book. A dance was held in the local hall in the evening, the proceeds from 'which also went to the rest room'. Results of Sports. Following are the results of the sports:— Bending competition. Wm. Buckingham 1, Joe Dangen 2. Thread-the-Needle: O. Berghan 1, S. Foster 2 Tug-of-war: Maori team consisting of Frank Hoepa, J. King, T. Poharama and Robert Reihana. Lloyd Lindsay Rescue Race (over two sets of hurdles): Shirley Foster 1, M. Rogers 2. Flag Race: Shirley Foster 1, M. Rogers 2. Wrestling: C. Taylor 1, W. Gardiner 2. Cigarette Race: Rangi Fletcher 1, Les Blithe 2. Tilting in the ring: R. Kitchen 1, J. King 2. Slicing the lemon with sword: W. Gardiner 1, J. King 2. Musical chairs: Shirley Foster 1, Rangi Fletcher 2.