OPUA (BAY OF ISLANDS) SCHOOL SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9022, 7 April 1888, Page 6

OPUA (BAY OF ISLANDS) SCHOOL SPORTS.

.1 ♦ A PiONio in connection with Opua public school took place on Good Friday. The R.M.3. Ida, in charge of the ever-attentive and genial Captain S. Stepheason, having been chartered for the occasion, arrived from Russell at 9 a.m. The school children cumbering over 50, with their teacher, M r ' A. Oldham, together with their parents and friends, were embarked, and the steamer left Opua wharf for Busby's farm, situated at the mouth of the memorable Waitangi river, at 10.15 a.m. Besides having about 120 on board, there were fully 60 others in the s riven boats which were towed astern. After the whole of the passengers had been safely disembarked, the steamer proceeded to Ruesell, and brought from there about forty excursionists. Having landed, the pleasure-seekers strolled off in different directions —some., to view what was once a fine orchard, some to gather shells off the beach and oysters from the rocks whilst others went to examine the untenanted" Busby Mansion, which has evidently been at one time a splendid building, but is now in a state of semi-decay. It seems a great pity that a house of this description should have been allowed to go to ruin, as when built it must have cost not less than £2000. Dinner having been prepared by Mesdames Cot Morris, Stephenson, Farr, paid other ladies and duly partaken of by the assemblage, the whole then proceeded to a level grass paddock close by, where foot racing, etc., took place with the following results : — Boys under 14 years. 300 yards: Erneet Fair, 1; Boys under 17 years, 600 yardsFrank Cains, 1: Girls under 12 years, ]0(j yards : Daisy McCormack, 1; Girls under 10 years, 100 yards : Elizabeth McMullan 1. Girls under 12 years, egg and spoon race' Kate Smaller, 1; Girls under 8 years, 50 yards : Nelly McCormack, 1; Boys'unde'r 12 years, 150 yards: Bertie Smaller, 1 • Boys three-legged race, 100 yards: Geo. Best and Fred. Best, 1; Girls under 10 years, egg and spoon race, 100 yards : Daisy McCormack, 1 • Boys' handicap race, 300 yards : W. Murdoch' 1: Boys under 12 years, 150 yards : Fred* Murdoch, 1; Boys' blindfold race, 100 yards • Fred Irving, 1; Boys under 8 years, 150 yards : C. Deening, 1; Men's race, 600 yards • C. Carroll, 1. In this event one of the contestants shied at a tin of lollies, and bolted off the course. The boys' Tug-of-war match was won by Frank team, and the men's Tug-of-war by E. Nicholson's team. I'hia eveno caused some amusement, as the* rope parted owing to the strain, and most of those engaged in the contest unceremoniously sat down, whilst a few stood on their heads. Captain Best efficiently discharged the duties of starter, and Mr. J. D. Harris Railway Manager, made an excellent judge! Having got through the racing, a return was made to the beach, where swinging, rounders, and other amusements were carried on whilst tea was being got ready. After ample justice had been done to the edibles, re-em-barkation took place, and the Ida steamed off with her flotilla of boats on the return journey, and reached Opua wharf at eight p.m. A concert having been arranged for that evening, nearly every body proceeded to the school, where the following programme was very efficiently gone through By the pupils, and several ladies and gentle. men from Russell and Wahupu, who kindly gave their services for the occasion:—Song, Too Late," Mrs. Henry Stephenson; recitation, "How We Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix,"G. Best: eong, " Apart," Mies Howe; recitation, " Tubal Cain "w. Murdoch: song, "Our Jack's Come Home To-day." Mr. Chainey; reading, " Loss of the Birkenhead," Bertie Smaller; song, "John the Masher," Mr. W. Howe; recitation, Alice McCormack; song, Mr. W. Williams; recitation, " How Cheery are the Mariners," Ed. Stephenson; song, Miss A. Brown; I reading, Belle Cains; song, "He Wipes The Tear troin Every Eye," Mrs McGovern; recitation, " The Deserter," A. Smaller; song, " Nancy Lee," Mr. Cheiney; recitation, Kate Smaller; song, Mr. W. Williams; recitation, Daisy McConnack; song, "The Fairies," Mrs. Henry Stephenson. The singing of the National Anthem brought the concert to a close, after which the usual votes of thanks having been passed, everybody left for their respective homes, having apparently thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Ida left,, conveying tne Russell contingent, at half-past ten p.m.—{Correspondent.]