South Taranaki News

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1927, Page 2

South Taranaki News

Our Own Bopoite,)

Telephone No. 596.

P.O. Box 133.

SYME SHIELD BOWLING

COMPETITIONS COMMENCED. RAIN SPOILS THE PLAY. The sixth annual competition for the Geo. Syme bowling shield commenced at the Hawera Club’s green yesterday morning in splendid weather, four teams competing, viz., Hawera. Pask. Manaia and Patea. The Manaia players, the holders of the Syme Shield, were escorted from the borough chambers to the green by two pipers from the Hawera Highland Pipe Band, and at t>he green the president of the Hawera Club, Mr. G. A. Burgess, extended a hearty welcome to the many visiting players. The patron of the Hawera Club and donor of the shield, Mr. Geo. Syme, also spoke a few words of welcome to the visitors, and expressed the hope that the contests would be keen and enjoyable. The Manaia Club have heW the shield three times previously, and twice in succession during the last two years. Throughout the morning the matches were played in splendid weather and by mid-day the first round was completed, Hawera defeating Park by 83 points to 67, and Patea defeating Manaia by 79 points to 71. At mid-day the competitions were held up by the ’heavy fall of rain, which continued throughout the remainder of the day, and although the bowlers anxiously waited for the rain to cease no such opportunity was afforded for play. The competitions had reacheel the end of the first round, and the draw for the second round was arranged, but finally it was decided to abandon play for the day and hold the competitions over till Saturday, February 26. The visiting bowlers were admirably catered for at morning and afternoon tea by the ladies, whose efforts in this respect were much appreciated. The details of the play are as follow; — FIRST ROUND. HAWERA 83 v. PARK 67. Hawera players are mentioned first:— Winks, E. Dillon, Hodge, Robb (e) 25: v. Williams. Brett, Chadwick. W Grant («) 19. Hobbs, Shaw, R. Hicks, M. J. Squire (s) 13; v. Murdoch, Wainwright, Kendall, W. Butler (s) 18. Maslin, Wills, Corkill, Bull (s) 21; v. Parkes. W. J. Dillon, Ashton, Quin (e) 12. ' Herbert, Champion, Potter, Robertson (s) 24; v. A. Grant, E. Thurston. Barnett, Goodwin (s) 18. PATEA 79 V. MANAIA 71. Patea players mentioned first: — Morse, Mercer, Christensen, G. Williams (s) 19; v. Innes, Franklin, Ansley, Andrews (s) 19. Edwards, Power, Delargey, Burke (s) 13: v. Ward. McEwen, Hotter, H. Christie (sb) 17. Finlay, Glenny, Dwyer, Patterson (s) 24; v. Toroa, Butler, Johnson, Smith (s) 22. Dempsey, Wood. Cronin. McKenna (s) 23; v. Hickey, Sutton, Davis, J. Christie (e) 13. VITAL STATISTICS RETURNS. The vital staistics for Hawera for the month of December last are very much the same as the figures for the same month of 1925. In the case of births notified there were 25 in December. 1926, as compared with 21 in 1925, while 24 births were registered in December, 1926, and only 16 in December, 1925. Last month seven deaths were recorded as against 11 for the same month of 1925, and for December, 1926, eight marriages were registered as compared with seven for December, 1925. The figures for the year, as compared with 1925, reveal, increases as follows: Births registered 7, marriages 8. The figures for deaths recorded show a decrease of eight for 1926.

Tiie figures for 1926, with those of 102’5 appearing in parentheses, are as follow:—(Births notified, 274 (278); births registered, 282 (275); deaths, 94 (100); marriages, 81 (73). FRACAS IN HIGH STREET. Hawera was comparatively deserted yesterday after the departure of the race trains, but for the few people who remained in the streets during the afternoon an impromptu matrimonial mixup was staged, the unhappy couple being a Native and his wahine. The rain was falling heavily and very few people were in eight when the trouble commenced, but very soon curious heads were peeping from doorways and around corners, yet no one ventured, to go to the assistance of the Maori woman. The trouble appeared to commence at the corner of High and Princes Streets, when the husband was seen hitting his wife with a parcel lie carried. An aged Maori and another Native woman, followed by two small children, attempted to intervene, and the whole six Natives seemed to become hopelessly entangled. The two would-be peacemakers, however, were somewhat ’buffetted and withdrew to the accompaniment of screams from the two pickaninnies and the irate husband grasped his wife and swiftly propelled her along High Street towards Albion Street. The two, followed by the aged Native, finally landed at a small paddock in Albion Street; where their gig had evidently been left. It was at this stage that Constable Million came on the scene and he quickly put an end to the trouble. The Irate husband immediately changed his tune and quickly complied with the constable's command to get his trap and go home. He explained that his anger was aroused by his wife having liquor. CHANGED WEATHER CONDITIONS. Yesterday morning broke fine and promised a glorious day to follow, so that most people were lured outdoors early in the day and revelled in the sunshine and heat. Nothing seemed further off than rain, and everyone, especially the ladies, who had been awaiting such an opportunity, paraded in all their summer finery. At about mid-day, however, the weather conditions suddenly changed and rain began to fall, light misty rain to begin with, and gradually becoming heavier until later in the afternoon there was a continuous, heavy fall. Rain fell incessantly throughout the whole afternoon, and as a result all outdoor fixtures had to be abandoned. The Syme Shield howling competitions, after reaching the end of the first round, had to be postponed, and the rain also hampered progress in the representative cricket match, Nomads v. South Taranaki. Yesterday was officially the last of the holidays, and the phenomenal change in the weather came as a great disappointment to the many who had hoped to spend a pleasant day out of doors. GENERAL ITEMS. The danger of lighting fires and throwing matches about amongst the lupins on the Ohawe beach, was shown yesterday morning, when a fairly big conflagration was caused through some boys throwing matches or cigarette butts in the lupins. It appears that two boys had left their clothes near two camps on the Native reserve, belonging to Hawera residents, and had evidently been smoking near the camps. T3ie occupiers happened to be away at the time, but luckily the' blaze was noticed from the hill, and several people were soon on the scene and managed to put the fire out before much damage was done. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. J. K. O'Dea, of Hawera, has received word that he has passed the intermediate examination in medicine, of the University of New Zealand. Mr. and Mrs. P. .O’Dea left Hawera on Friday for a round-the-island motoring tour.