NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19785, 10 May 1926, Page 13

NORTH OTAGO.

fFsiou Ovb Special Cobbesfokdbmt.)

EDUCATION FACILITIES. Oamaru can probably boast of better •ducational facilities than any other pro vincial centre in the Dominion. Apart from the Waitaki Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools, ■which have gained a reputation throughout tile Dominion, a Junior High School was established a- year or two ago, and has proved a great boon to the district. Then there is a well-equipped Roman Catholic school, a Technical School, and two primary schools, with the Teschemakers convent school a few miles distant. Now it is Proposed to establish a Christian brothers school on the Redcastle Estate, which is about two miles to the north of ihe town. THE COMPETITIONS. The syllabus has been issued in connection with the third festival of the Oamaru Competitions Society, which opens on Saturday, July 17. * There are no fewer than 164 musical, elocutionary, and dancing items on the programme. The judge in the vocal and instrumental sections is Mr Edwin Dennis, of Wellington. The society has made rapid progress since its inauguration three years ago, and is now ;in a very healthy financial position. , A SHOW VETERAN. The retirement of Mr Peter Martin from -file committee of the North Otago A. and JP. Association recalls the fact that for over ■6O years he has been a prominent exhibitor and judge at shows in the Dominion. As •, breeder of draught horses he gained a wide reputation, and no man knows better than he the fine points of a Clydesdale. It was only a few years ago that his services were sought, and ghen, as judge of Clydesdales at the Victorian show in Melbourne. The North Otago association has recognised the long and useful services of Mr Martin by appointing him an honorary life member. DONKEY AND MULE. Mr George Livingstone created some amusement at the meeting of the North Otago A. and P. Association on Friday by stating that his enthusiasm for the welfare of the association had induced him, in the early days, to enter a donkey for competition It may not be generally known that in the long, long ago, donkeys were a good deal in use in North Otago. As far back as 1856 Messrs- Teschemaker *nd Rich had both a mule and a donkey on their property. The mule wqs brc !“p b from Nelson to carry a pack containing Unt and provisions, while driving the aheep The donkey was a good beast ol ‘burden, but objected to being of the principal amusements during -pare time on the station was the effort made hv station hands to ride him. Hardly anyone except Mr Rich could remain S'e "Si on Hi. back. H. I...then. Blount. and , th ;t; r r it fl.iK Pn fte donkey Bever^'played Sh“ Mr I&b, bat .llo.ced Jim to P ride with or without a saddle. “TITUS OATES.” Educationists in Oamaru are Featly 'amused over an article appearing m this month’s School Journal—a journal whic . bv the wav, is used as a reader in all the primary schools of tin Dominion. An SLle dealing with the Polar Of Captain Scott tells how Captain Oates suffered from frost-bitten feet. It adds. "One dav S the little party waited in the tent‘while a blizzard howled outside, Titus Oates said, T am just going outs’de and mav be some time. jo contuse Titus Oates, whose reputation for lack of vcracitv gained for him considerable notoriety, with Captain Oates, the inti epid explorer, would be inexcusable in any person other than a wag or a profound dunce. At least, that is wnat Oamaiu educationists think. r A ROGUE AND VAGABOND. Charged with being a royue and vagabond, a man named Owen Frank Malonej, alias Frank Morgan, appeared before Messrs H. Grenfell and J. W. Petrie, J.’sP.. in the Magistrates Court on Saturday Senior Sergeant Shanahan said the accused had been arrested at W mdsor. where he had been causing alarm to residents of the district. The Bench sentenced Maloney to three months’ imprisonment. QUINNAT SALMON. Anglers have been having great success in the Waitaki lately. A shoal of quinnat Balmon was recently discovered above Hakataramea going upstream. One angler accounted for 28 in a day. and on Tnursdav last a party took 48 from the river. The salmon were all good sized, ranging from 101 b to 301b.' PERSONAL. Two well-known women residents of Oamaru, Misses Paterson and M'Adam, who have been on a lengthy tour abroad, returned to VS ellington by the lonic on Saturday. _ . Mr J. Cameron, of the staff of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, has received an appointment on the staff of the Napier High School.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. The championship fixtures in connection ■with the North Otago Rugby Sub-union were continued on Saturday in fine weather, the grounds being in excellent order. EXCELSIOR v. OLD BOYS. The match between Excelsior (Blues) and Old Bpys (Reds),'played on the'Show Grounds, proved close and interesting-, and much better' football was witnessed than on the opening day of the season. Excelsior played in the • first spell against the sun, but speedily assumed the aggressive. After a series of serums the venue was transferred from the Reds’ twenty-five to the Blues’ territory, but the attack was of brief duration, and the pressure was relieved by a' penalty. Ihe Blues swept down the ground, but Kent •saved the situation with a judicious line kick. Shortly afterwards M’Ewan enapped up the ball from the centre of the field and made a brilliant run, eventually passing to Hopley, who got over and drew' first blood for the Blues. The kick was taken by Grainger, who added the major points. Play was for some time in neutral territory. Then the Reds’ territory was invaded, but a mark saved. The Blues continued to press, but two successive penalties for infringements nullified the advantage. The Reds pushed their way to the Blues’ twenty-five, but their advantage was not long-lived. The Blues set up a forward rush, and carried the leather to the Reds’ twenty-five, where a penalty for an infringement was awarded against the latter. Hopley placed a. good goal, making the scores: Excelsior 8, Old Boys nil. The Blues eet.up a passing rush, and reached the Reds’ line, where a scrum took place. A dangerous situation was relieved by a good passing rush by the Red backs. Give-and-take play followed, and the Blues line was for a time in danger. From loose play M’Douald attempted a pot at goal, but failed. No further score was registered in the first spell. Play had resumed only a few minutes when Zimmerman marked in th,e Blues’ twenty-five and kicked a fine goal, opening the score for the Old Boys. The Reds set up another vigorous attack, but 3 mark by the Blues relieved the pressure. After this the Blues set up a series of forward rushes, and looked like scoring, but two infringements prevented them from attaining their objective. A little later the Blues secured a mark in the Reds’ twenty-five, but the kick by Hopley failed. The Reds then attacked, and Zimmerman had a shot at goal from a penalty, but the leather was smothered. From open play in the centre of the field Kent secured possession, and made a good run. Evading the Blues’ full-back by kicking and following up, he succeeded in scoring in a good position. N. M’Donald did not succeed in equalising the scores for the Reds. The play now became fast and open,' and the Reds assumed the aggressive. Zimmerman again took a pot .it goal, and narrowly missed. The Reds set

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up another forward rush, and the Blues were compelled to force twice in succession. Then the ball was carried to the other end of the held, and the Reds were for a time in trouble. They worked their way back, however, and reached the Blues’ twenty-five, where a penalty was awarded them in front of the goal. N. M'Donald, however, sent the leather under instead of over the bar, and what looked like a certain victory for the Reds slipped from their grasp. The remainder ot the game was without special interest, each side pressing in turn, but neither succeeding in scoring. On the day’s play the teams were very evenly matched, though the Blues had the advantage in the scrums through their greater weight. For Excelsior. Hopley, M'Narry, M’Ewan and Grainger were the most prominent, the last-named being particularly good in his line-kicking. Kent was easily the most conspicuous of the Reds, though M'Kerrow played a good game. Sumpter was carefully watched, and was not given a chance. The game ended: Excelsior 8 points Old Boys 6 points Mr J. palmer controlled the game. MAHENO v. ATHLETIC. Maheno again displayed their superiority by defeating Athletic comfortably. The latter team played well, but were no match for Maheno, whose combination was far superior. Athletic kicked off with the sun in their eyes. They bore down on the Green defence and looked like scoring. The Greens retaliated, and put in a good run, Mansfield (the Athletic’s full back) relieving to the line. From the line-out the Greens got away, again attacking, and Hepburn missed a good chance. Offside play gave Clark an opportunity, and he sent the ball between the posts, opening the Greens score- Maheno came away again, the Mansfield brothers showing to advantage. An exchange of kicks by the opposing backs was the order of the next few minutes. The Athletic’s forwards were working well. The Greens got the ball again, but the situation was saved by Patterson. The Athletic team at this stage was playing well. Direen’ Whiting, and Falloon showing to advantage. Patterson took a mark in what was r.ot considered a dangerous position, but his successful attempt was greeted with applause. Following pressure by the Green pack, Fraser speculated unwisely but successfully, and relieved a tight position. Yellows forced the pace, the forwards doing well. Greens got away in a fine passing rush, Sinclair just failing to pass the last man —Smart saying for Athletic. Rowe gathered in and made a good run across the field, but was unsupported. From a scrum near the Athletics line Richardson gathered in and crossed. Clark failed to convert. Greens got awav again from the kick-off, and broke through the Athletic defence. An apparently forward pass by Pringle was not noticed by the referee, and A. Clarke received the ball, crossing in a good position. The try was converted- Athletic worked the leather towards .he Greens’ line, and, following an infringement by the latter, Patterson bad an unsuccessful attempt at goal. Halttime sounded without further score. Maheno 11, Athletic 3. On the resumption of play Greens attacked ag" : ri. and had the Athletics hard pressed. From a general mix-up in front of the Athletic goal Clarke gathered in the leather and had a successful pot at goal. Gref ns appeared to Have the better of the exchanges, and contiin ally had the Athletics in trouble. Good play by the hacks prevented scoring. From a scrum mage Richardson broke away, out eraser tackled him and saved the situation, From this stage onwards up and down play ensued. and no further scores were added. The outstanding play rs for Maheno were Sinclair, Hepburn. Mnhlrew. Richard son. Clark brothers, and Macqnail. For Athletics Patterson, Direen, Rowe. Mansfield. and Falloon were the pick. The final score was: Maheno L 1 points. Athletic 3 points. Air R. Hinkley was referee. GOLF. A bogey match was played on the Oamarn golf links yesterday. The best cards handed in were as follows; —Basil Smith, jun.. 6 up: Murrav <l7l. 2 up; Matheson (11), 1 up; L. Sumpter (10). all square. HARVESTING. Harvesting operations are still in progress in the Kakanui district, a large paddock being at present in stock. SUNDAY CONCERT. The Oamarp Regimental Band gave a concert in the public gardens this afternoon. Although the weather was dull, there was a large attendance of the public, and file programme of music was muqh appreciated.