A Pleasant Excursion.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 August 1911, Page 5

A Pleasant Excursion.

WARKWORTH PLAYS HAKARU.

The very suggestion of a hockey team travelling from Warkworth to Mangawai by coach, in the month of August, in five and a-half hours, indicates something exceptional. Not of course, because it was a hockey combination, for the followers of the game that grows, rather pride themselves that their sport is by no means slowNeither was there anything exceptional in the combination which drew the chariot along, for Lew. Ramsbottom likes to control the ribbons of a decent lot of steeds. It was the roads. For miles there would Tbe no trace of mud, at places there remained a little roughness to testify that some rain had fallen this winter. Travelling was aicomfort, and the pure ozone soon produced an elevation of spirits that found outlet in game, song, and story. Candidates for parliamentary honours pleaded for the suffrages of the assembled electors, whose freedom made itself felt by a running comment of interjections, and whose independence found scope by the deliberation in which the fate of the candidates was discussed. " Biff him out " " Oh no, don't hurt him if he'll promise never to do it again." Climbing one of the hills by the Wellsford gum reserve, one aspirant was asked " Why does this country remind one of Sir Joseph Ward ? " "_ 'Cause it's barren." At the rare sight of inhabitants the war cry was given, ending with hearty greetings. One ardent young man was discovered waving his best cambric handkerchief to—a cow. Judy, rewarded the impertinance with a chilling stare of disapproval. As the day wore on, the benedicts of the team gave some proof of their training by producing lunch. Besides discussion, this item produced disputation, for the boys began to cry, " Pa, 'taint fair, Eric's got a bigger piece than me." As the coach trundled up some steepish pinch, all hands gladly took to Shank's pony.

MANGAWAI. " Along the shore line creeps the city," were the words that sprang from memory's chamber, as a. turn in the road up in Te Arai's hills, brought into view one of the distributing centres of North Auckland, to wit, Mangawai. The tide was at the full, and the waters of the harbour, broke the monotony of the scrubby foreground, as it threw its silvern arm? around the village on the further shore.' The hills that formed the background, still retained some of its growth of bush, though the axe of the pioneers had shaved many a patch clear of its pristine covering. The sombre green of native vegetation was relieved by the light brilliant green of the English grasses on the i far-famed Tara. Tara, the name given to the several thousand acred phosphate storehouse, where nature had the care to so distribute her treasure, that it will not pay the sons of men to despoil the iavoured land of its wealth. But after all, the glories of nature are more impressive when there's no need , to tighten belts, and we openly confess that the chief charm in the Panorama for We, Us & Co. was the twostoried hostel, right at the approach to the wharf, where we knew dinner was in course of preparation. At last we came to the embankment by which the wayfarer may cross the harbour dryshod,—if the embankment is not too thickly carpeted with mud—but that will soon be made right, for the ratepayers have decreed that metalling shall be done. Once across, the coach soon swept round into the Main-street, which starting from the hills r\;ns for a level mile to where the land ends and the wharf begins. A stranger might conclude that the Mangawai householders had prepared for a corner in firewood, and had dumped their hastily purchased loads on every available spot on theii1 sections. (Some one ventured the suggestion that the Mangawaites had put the top six feet of their plots through a seive so as to remove the sticks, and afford the cabbages a chance to grow. The sifting has been done, and the heavy timber h.rougiyt. tq the "surface in,, the search for kauri gum. * Whoa.' ' Who are we ? We are Warkworth !' Having yelled the foregoing introduction, the members dismounted and were soon doing Justice tq th,e gqqd things provide^

HAKAEUWINS THE CONTEST. Shortly after three, the two teams took the field. The ground adjoins the Hotel, and beiug level and close cropped was in good order for a fast game, while the wind had sufficient keenness to stimulate action. From bully off the pace was warm. The Hakaru van, Christian, Campbell, Webster (captain), King and C. Stewart combined well together, and de^ yelqppd attapks at every opportunity. Stewart was esppcially good at left - wing putting in clever stipk work. -" v v the visiting team, John and SSelwyn ' '>on stood out in brilliancy, w^ile -.31 at full played the best back 'he field. At half time ' the ~"'» : .all. Stewart notching '■^aru, J. Morrison one 1 The second spell "v. first. Hakaru

swept down 'repeadedly Christian Stewart and Webster scored, the last securing two before the whistle sounded.

The Warkworth team was not resting, for both Sel. Morrison and Driver put the- ball through the sticks, and the determined attempts to equalise matters was only nullified by the stubborn defence of the local men. Corner hits followed in swift succession but Mason in goal saved well, and he was strongly supported. The game ended by Hakaru winning 5 goals to 3. "Mr 8.-~Ryan had.-charge of the whistle and earned the thanks of the teams for the way in which he controlled the game. Both Messrs Campbell and T. Ryan received knocks which caused their retirement for a while.

THE DINNER. The visitors were entertained to dinner in the evening Mr Webster acting as chairman. In responding to the remarks of the chairman, Mr J. Morrison stated the game was without doubt the best that Warkworth had played this season. In thanking the Hakaru team for their hospitality hopes were expressed that the return visit might soon be paid. The acknowledgment deserved was paid to the referee. After the repast a social was held in the hall. The visitors left on the return journey next morning reaching Warkworth by 3.30 p.m., after a thoroughly enjoyable trip.