THE AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14095, 29 December 1909, Page 6

THE AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

SECOND DjlY'S GATHERING.

CUP .WON BY S. JOHNSON.

Over seventeen hundred people paid for admission to the New Zealand Axemen's Association annual championship carnival at Eltham yesterday. This is a record attendance for the second day. For the two days the outer gates, exclusive of the stands, yielded £241 — a record for the carnival.

A strong wind somewhat checked the enjoyment of the public, at yesterday's gathering, but, on the other band, this wind, carried off the **«*& that threatened. The raana.gom«nt was again good, th© only defects being those mentioned, in yesterday's Herald. Further experience of the timber used on this occasion, however, did not confirm the estimates of it previously formed. Mixed birch blocks we*© used, and the red birch geueraliy was .too, hard, and had more kuots and other imperfections than the grey h|rch. The grey birch was less hard and was more even quality, but sufficient blocks of it could npt be procured* It is always a very difficult matter to get blocks ,up to requirements in both Quality and quantity for such a big carnival. The principal evenfc of the day was the axemen's cup handicap, in which prize-money to the amount of £137 is allotted, in addition to the cup. This was won by Sam Johnson, of Giaborne, an .axeman who has greatly improved in tho past couple of years. He is an axeman with a fine st^le, and cuts a beautiful and "even scarf, judging his chopping very well. As a rule tie ' chops steadily at first, and cbmes with a great r,ush at the finish. In addition to winning the cup; Johnson won tho underhand handicap chop, the first-class underhand handicap, was second in the Ne*w, Zealand 12-inch championship chop,' tbird in the world's championship chop, and fourth in the visitors' chop. Altogether he won £165 10s in p^ee^mbney. Qn both days the jstham Brass Band rendered enjoyable programmes of music. Results : — CHOPPING AND SAWING EVENTS. AXEMEN'S CUP HANDICAP, 18in. f blocks. First prize, Axemen's Cup and £50, with an additional £50 if special acceptance fees are paid ; second, £15; third, £10; fdurth, £5: fifth, £3; sixth, £2; seventh and. eighth, £1 each. First four, men in each heat to qualify «for second round. First Heat.— J. E. Richardson, 82sec, 1; A. Twining, 22sec., 2; D. Pretty, scr., 3; B. Newstroski, 40sec., 4. Also started: J. Duggan (dOsec.), W. J. O'Brien (405e0.), C. k. M'lvor (42sec.). There was little between the first and seoond men, D. Pretty, who had bad wood, being several seconds later. Time, 3min. SOsec. Second Heat.— G. M'Cauley, 265e0., 1; C. Hutton, 20sec., 2; Esau Pretty, ,15sec.;'3: Charles Day, 42sec., 4. Also competed: W. M. ml .(30860.), W. H. Hughes (38sec), F. Bielawski (40sec.), M. Griffin (40sec). - Won with very little to spare, the first three men finishing very close together. Time, Smin. 21fgec. . Third Heat,— S. Johnson, 28sec, 1; F. Dumpliy, 20sec, 2; G. Morrison, 20sec., 3; L. H. Gregory, 49aec, 4. Also started: M. C. Andresen (SOsec.), H. G. Green <36sec.), G. Hill (38sec.), R. Willis (40sec), C, Korte (40sec.), F. J. Bear (40sec.). Johnson, chopping, in fine style, won by about a dozen strokes of thfe axe. Time, Smin. lfsec. Seoond Round.-"— SHrst heat: C. Hutton, 20sec, 1 ; J. E. Richardson. 32sec, 2; D. Pretty, scr.. 8; G. M'Cauley, 255e0., 4. All qualified started. Hutton was first round, and chopping excellently, finished . about 18 strokes ahead of Richardson, Pretty three or four strokes behind the latter. Time, Smin, lfiaeo. Second Round. ---Second heat; Gregcrtyv 43sec, 1; Morrison, 20sec., %\ Johnson, 28sec, 3; West, 205e0., 4. This was a very evenly contested heat, only a few strokes separating each man. Gregory and Morrison were first round, but the latter had to return to his first scarf. Time, 3min. 29sec. FINAL. \ S. Johnson, 28sec. 1 G. M'Cauley, 25sec. ... 2 T. West, 20seo VM . 3 D. Pretty, scr 4 J E. Richardson, 32sec., 5; G. Morrison, $Josec., 6; C- Hutton, 205e0., 7; L. H. Gregory, 42sec, 8. Hutton was the first round, with Richardson and Morrison next. Johnson was among tho last to finish the first scarf, but he had cut it splendidly. Chopping in beautiful style, and coming with a great, rush at the finish, he chopped through a couple of seconds ahead of M'Cauley. Johnson's block was a good one* ttnd he cut both scarves very evenly. " M'Cauley had good wood until toward the finish of the second scarf, when he ran into a bad knot. Richardson, West and Hutton also struck knots. The snaoial acceptance fees were all paid. Time, Smin. 20$ sec. PREVIOUS WINNERS. 1901— C. Hutton. 1902— J. H. Poynton. 19Q3--D. Pretty. 1904-rF. Johnston. 1905— Len Hutton. 1906 — J. Newstroski. 1907__t. West. 1908— G. Puklowski. FIRST-LASS UNDERHAND HANDICAP, 18in. logs; limit in this event not' to exceed 15 seconds. First prize, £10 ; second, £4 ; third, . ' £1. S. Johnson, ISsec.,, lj T. 15 sec, 2; C. Hutton, 12sec, 3. Also Competed-. G. Morrison (12sec.), .J. Twining, J. Deegan, W. H.' Hughes, W- M. Hill and J. Nowstroski QSaec, Qach). Johnson, was first round, and won with something to spare. Time, 2m in. 35seo. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION CHOP, 12in. standing blocks. First prize, £6; second, £3; third, £1. Esau Pretty 1, 8. Johnson 2, M'Caul©i 8. All qualified for this chop,' the preliminary heats for which were held on the previous day, competed. Esau Pretty was round first, and won in great style, Johnson » second or two behind. Dave Pretty, the former holder of the title, did not get through his block. Time, 49seo. VISITORS' HANDICAP CHOP, 16in. standing blocks ; optm only to competitors from outside Taranaki. First prizo, £6 ; second, £3 ; third, £1 ; fourth, 10s (prtsse money donated by Mrs. Cramp and Mr. J. H. Bleakley). First Heat. — Sam Johnson, scr., \ ; W. M'Creagh, 20sec, 2; H. G. Green, 25sec., 3. Also competed: Tom West (ssec.), Charles Day (15sec.), J. E. Riohardson (205e0.), A. Twining (lOseo.)^

C. Brunei (25sec). Won easily. Time, lmin. 37isoc. Second Heat. — J. Duggan, 20sec., 1; C. A. M'lvor, SOsec., 2; G. M'Cauley, ssoe., 3. Also competed : Dave Pretty (-srr.), P. D. Johnston (20sec). Time, lmin. olsoe. Third Ht-at. — G. Morrison, ssec, 1 ; Esau I'rptty, s<r., 2; F. J. Bear, 25s<*., 3. Also .stmUd: T. Benbow ,30sgc.), W. H. Hughes (25sec), M. Gritfin (25sec). Time, lmin. Slisee. Final.— Esau Pretty 1, M'Creagh 2, Duggan 3, S. Johnson 4. Duggan and M'Creagh were tihe first to cut through the first scarf, but Pretty chopped in better stylo... Time, lmin. 67^sec. WORLD'S SINGLE-HANDED SAWING CHAMPIONSHIP, 2ft. logs. First prize, £7 ; second, £2 ; third,

£1. D. Johnston (Oliakune), 1; A. E. Sullivan (K9ru), 2 : A. Qarlgon (Koru), 3/ Also competed: C. F. A. Volzke (Midhirst). Lot- Smith (Kaikoura). Johnson beat Sullivan, the previous holder of the title, by three strokes. Time, 2min. 58see x