MAORI V. PAKEHA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12377, 10 February 1911, Page 3

MAORI V. PAKEHA.

ATHLETIC MEN AND MAIDS. Whenever there is a contest between white and black or white and brown the racial element figures prominently, and what would otherwise be an unimportant trial of skill assumes almost national sig nificance. This was demonstrated on January 28 (says the Sydney Morninp Herald), when a. few thousand spectators lined ' the picturesque shores of Middle Harbor and cheered, enthusiastically at Maori and Caucasian struryjled fo; supremacy. What brought the crowd: together was the announcement that thr Muoris of Clontarf and the whites o' Middle Harbor had agreed to test each other's mettle in three rowing races. The first event was 'in Maori canoes four whites against two Maoris. The next was a race in ordinary skiffs be tween four Maori maids and four Sydnej girls. The third and deciding* event was a four-oared race in equal skiffs. Expectation 'ran 'high as the time for the first race drew night. Two Maoris fron the village in a light canoe were pitte<" against four pakehas, Harry Pearce, Syd. Peaj-ce, W. Riddle, and C. Walters. At tho pistol the Maoris, in then lighter canoe, shot ahead amid lout cheers from the villagers. But thi whites, digging their paddles in to somi fmrpose, sent their craft along by power ul strokes, and drew level with tht Maoris. Amid encouraging cries fron the harborside, they forged ahead, ant looked certain of victory. ' But they vre strangers to paddles, and could not ) '"ntain.. their advantage. Gradually tii.' Maoris Overhauled their adversaries, and ~"entually won amid 'great excite men I. In the maiden fours, four Maori maidens -vere pitted pgainst a Sydnej quartette. .M : sseß Gertie and Kittj Lewis and M'oe and Lily Pearce. But the local girls were too good with the rculls, and taking the lead at the outset, v '»n all the way, amid more cheers and hhi.r lings. Ti.i n came the final and deciding bout, between Harry Pearce, Syd. Pearce, W. Ledger, ar.;l W. Riddle, and fouir, bravet from the M*u;ri village. It was no_ walkover for the locals, in spite of their f;reat experience. The visitors from tht and of the Moa showed plenty pf skill and no end of grit. They held on to their formidable antagonists for . fully half the distance. Bub the pace was a cracker, and the whites passed the post a len o tiw and a half to the good. Thlu the pakehas won the rubber, and hone joined more heartily in the cheerir,-; than the Maori champions who had just been vanquished.