LABOR AT PLAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1919, Page 6

LABOR AT PLAY.

! FINE WEATHER HOLIDAY. SPORTS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. Yesterday was Labor Day and a general holiday throughout Tav'anaki was favored by beautiful summer weather. Labor spent a day at play in New Plymouth, where a. successful sports gathering was held at Pukekura Park. Racing enthusiasts were provided with a good day's sport at Waverley, and followers of such games as cricket, bowls, and golf had a full day's amusement. The beaches around New Plymouth attracted many people, including numerous country visitors.

The sports meeting organised by the Taranaki Workers' Council, and held at Pukekura Park, attracted a large number of people. The committee catered for the entertainment of everybody, and a lengthy programme of races and other events was carried out, there being large entries for all events. The children's races were «. popular section of the programme, av.fi large numbers of contestants faced the starter for eacb race. Prizes of more than the usual value were given in the children's section. The motor cycle obstacle race created a good deal of amusement. The entrants, who numbered six, had to go right round the ground, and on the course ha'i to dismount, take a wheelbarrow to an enclosure appointed for it, then drive several nails into a beam of wood, crawl through a barrel suspended by a rope from a pole, also crawl under a net that '•van pegged down to the ground, and finally Tide along a plank over a. sock r f chaff. The slow race for motor cycles ■vas also an interesting event, the "difficulty of negotiating the course in the longest time being no mean one, and necessitating s considerable amount of skill in the handling of a machine. Another important item was the baby show, in which there were a good number of entries. The competition was divided into two classes, for six months and under and from six to twelve months, prizes for the best boy and girl being given in each. The judges were Nurse Gentry and Miss Gardner, and the awards were as follow:—Under six months, girls, Lyna Minnear; boys, Walter Land. Six months and under twelve months, girls, Mary Holden 1, Elsie Burr 2; boys, George Baldoch 1, Ray Burns 2.

The tug-of-war was contested by only two teams, one from Bell Block and the other was announced as "The Roughs." The former won the three pulls easily. A cooking competition was also included in the day's attractions, and the results were as follow:—Scones, Mrs. Woodhara; pikelets, Mrs. Mulligan; sponge, Mrs. Hadler; sponge roll, Mrs. Fitzpatrick; shortbread, Miss Scott. In addition to the competitive events, there were also a number of side shows, vhich attracted a good deal of attention and by means of which a considerable amount wr.s added to the general takings. Conspicuous amongst these were the cocoanut shies and an exhibition of performing parrots.

During the afternoon a large squad of boys from the High School gave .i splendid display of their new Swedish drill exercises, which was watched with close interest, and the boys were heartily applauded for their effort. They showed themselves singularly smart, and the benefit of the new system was apparent. The wants of the inner man were well catered for, the afternoon tea marquee being thronged with patrons throughout the whole afternoon, while good business was done at the stall which dispensed soft drinks, ice creams, sweets, etc. The New Plymouth Citizens' Band and the Eltham Highland Pipe Band provided a very enjoyable programme of musical items throughout the day. Following are the results: — 100 yds. handicap.—H. L. Sleifht (2yds.) 1, H. ,T. Austin (2yds.) 2. 220 yds. handicap.—W. .T. Austin (scr.) 1, J. Falwasser (20yds.) 2. 440 yds. handicap—H. L. Sleight 1, K. Coutts 2. Motor cycle obstacle race.—F. Taunton 1, W. F. Cubbon 2. Motor cycle slow race.—F. Taunton 1, W. F. Cubbon 2. Walking race, half-mile (boys under 14).-J. Smith 1, G. Colson 2. Tug-of-war.—Bell Block (Messrs Daisley, captain, J. Skipper, W. Carran, E. Falwasser, W. Edwards, A. Falwasser, J. Taylor, K. Tito). Bandsmen's race (100yds.).—F. Liley 1, D. Owens 2. Chain-stepping.—A. Mills (65ft. 11 Jin.). Returned soldiers' race (100yds.).—J. G. Fitzgerald 1, W. F. Herdman 2. Single ladies' race (50yds.).—Miss Meads 1, Miss Johnson 2. Nail-driving (ladies).—Mrs. McFarlane 1, Miss Matson 2. Wood-sawing (ladies).—Mrs. Kearns 1, Mrs. Thompson 2. Married ladies' race (50yds.).—Mrs. Dickson 1, Mrs. Heid 2. Committeemen's race (75yds.) —H Hedley 1; F. Reed 2. The day's amusements were brought to a conclusion with a very successful ball held at the Coronation Hall last night. There was a good attendance. Mrs. George's orchestra provided the music and the M.'sC. were Messrs C. Woodham, W. McMahon and' A. Warner. AT ,TE KIUITI. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Te Kuiti, Last Night. Labor Day was celebrated at Te Kuiti by a fancy dress procession in the morning, followed by a fire brigade competition in which various brigades in the Auckland province competed. Results:— Two men coupling (dry)— Hamilton 1, Te Kuiti 2, Devonport 3. Three men event—Onehunga 1, Te Kuiti 2, Devonport 3. Five men cany—Te Kuiti 1, Devonport 2, Hamilton 3. Rescue event—Onehunga 1, Te Kuiti 2, Hamilton 3. Ladder race—Onehunga 1, Hamilton 2, Te Kuiti 3. Disabled race (5 men)—Onehunga 1, ffe Kuiti 2. Hamilton 3. Hose reel ladder—Te Kuiti 1, Onehunga 2, Hamilton 3.