PUNIHO.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 118, 20 August 1895, Page 3

PUNIHO.

(Our Own Correspondent.) The annual ball given by the bachelors of this district took place on Friday night last, and, as usual, was a great success, there being about a hundred ladies and gentlemen assembled, many of whom had come a considerable distance, and I doubt if our little room had ever been so heavily taxed before. Dancing commenced punctually at 8 p.m. and did not break up till nearly 4 a.m., Everybody appearing to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Mr Geo. Wells was M.C., and right merrily did he keep the ball going. Mr H. Harrison supplied the music, assisted by Messrs O'Hanaton and Gilhooly at intervals, and Mr Revell, of New Plymouth, the refreshments, which were all that one could desire.

SPORTING NOTES. Mutiny's time, 7min 2Gsec, for the Grand National Steeplechase is the fastest on record for that.event; Ahua's time which stood as the fastest till this this year's race, being 7min 42sec. The total money invested on the totalisator for the Grand National Steeple was £2405, and for the big Hurdles £1775.

Daimio, the Victorian jumper, who won the V.A.T.C. Grand National last week, carrying the crusher of 13st 31b, cut the four miles out in Bmin 16sec which is the record for that distance. Dart, the Tarauaki juniper, competed, hut fell after going about half way. Daimio has now won three Grand Nationals.

Egmont, so well known here, did not compete at Riccarton, having met with a mishap, getting badly knocked about while on the s.s. Anglian going toLjttleton. Egmont had to be slung ashore and lay helpless on the wharf for some three hours.

Betting iu connection with theN.Z. Cup does not seem to be very brisk, though the odds against many have considerably shortened. Impulse and Gipsy Grand, the two I picked since the weights, are quoted at 14 and 16 to 1 respectively.