ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Issue 863, 29 December 1877, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

December 26fch, 1877. As I informed you m my last letter, tht Kopua natives had determined to celebrate Christmas day by a feast and horse race:by a subscription amongst themselve and the business people of Alexandra. Sufficient funds were soon raised for the purpose ; it being generally understood by the European subscribers they wouk; be allowed to go up on the occasion t< witness the sports. Great disappoint ment was felt by many here on tht arrival of Honana Haiho, who stated thai "no Pakeha's would be allowed to be present." He strack up a notice to tha. effect at Mr. Duffus's Store. A numbei of persons expressed themselves very strongly on the subject, stating their intention to take no notice of Honana' *• veto, but to go up m spite of him. Subsequently, however, Te Reinga ManuhiriV daughter came down to Kaipiha with a similar request, saying that as there were many opposed to the Europeans going, ir would be better for them to stay, m case of trouble. On this being known, those who wished to go up to see tbe country amuch as for the amusement, at once decided not to go. As however the Hauhau.. wished to sec their first races, which arc to occur annually, reported m the district newspaper, your reporter wa* invited to the meeting, Prefering a dinner at home, I was not present at the native feast which took . place at Alexander Thompson's, where a first-rate spread of the usual Christina.-, fare was provided for the numerous guests. On crossidg the creek to Kopua proper, I found a greet improvement m the appearance of the crops for a distance of about two and a-half miles to Harewai, where the races were held ; the whole flat was under crop with wheat and oats, giving promise of more than an average return at harvest time. On arriving at t^ie race course, I found more than three hundred natives assembled, the great majority of whom were well dressed, the females especially, many of them being rigged out m the latest fashion, with the tightest of pull-backs aud high-heeled boots. Although I saw no liquor present, all were m the most intense excitement at the first race was about to commence, the Maiden Plate, for which there were four entries ; prize, £a ; distance, one mile. This raoe waa a most exciting one, each hapu cheering their representative to the utmost extent of their lungs. It was won by a A. Thompson's grey horse Rattler : Thompsons Lady Bird, second. The next event was the Pony Race; £i ; distance, one mile, four entries ; won by J. Thompson^ Blind Polly. After thia came the Kopca Cup, value £7 ; distant?©, one and a-half mile ; this race was won by the favourite Rattler, belonging to A. Thompson, a strong upstand'n^g grey horse, who should make a good steeplechaser ; Hetet's horse Tommy, second. The next event, Race for Piouon, horses ; prize, £3 ; distance oae mile, three entries; won by R. Banks' Bob, easily, he being far lighter than the other competitor ; Tamihana' s Tom, second. The Hack Race : prize, £4 ; distance, one mile, and which brought forward six entries, was a well contested one, and like all the others, raced from the start to tho finish, was a viotory for Paratini'' Hatana, and was greeted with tremendou c cheers and danc'ng by his backers ; T. hana's Pari, second. The Consolation Stakes, value £3; distance, one mile ; 4 entries, was won by P. Tumor's horso, "Warqwaro ; J. Hetet's Tomm, second. Hurry Scurry : Trize, £3 ; one mile ; 5 entries ; won by C. Herangi'sPurutahi, who easily distanced the qther horseß. A SwEEpsfA^^s M^Tcn qf one pound oach, between A. Thompson's Rattler, R. Brink's Blue Gum, and J. Thompson's Blind Polly, distance two miles, was the best race I have seen for some time, being the most closely contested. As there was great rivalry amongst the friends of the owners, the excitement wag mqst intense. JJlue giim won by a head, and pply a neck between the second and third horse. Thi<r concluded thp days sports, which were well conducted throughout. Mr "VV. Thompson (Burqpeaii) of Kqpua,' acted as Sectary, Treasurer anci Judge, all of which duties ho fulfilled to the general satisfaction. All races were run under catch weights, and many uf them the lightest of feathers. A ball at A. Thompson's followed, which wai kGpt up tiU daylight this iy.orv4»«g, and terminated the amu«omeuts, and after breakfast had been partaken of, a large numbur of those present came down to witness mid take part m the Alexandra Sports, to be held here to-day. Tawhiao, hiuisclf, was Tint present al the meeting, but, was represented by sum. of his family.

The attractions pf thn Ngarnawsihia I.'ir.s were tqo great fur u\\v _Vnunal Sports, held bore yesterday, which v,erc comparatively tame to what we havo been accustomed to. The Committee, at tlvlr' last meeting, determined to add a couple of horse races to the programme, without which there would have been a small attendance indeed. As it was, the native.

were far more numerous than the settlers* a large number of them being present. Messrs Connell and Thompson ware appointed Judges, and Mr G. Ahier. . vfc&h Mr Pistrucci, Secretary and Ttea^a^ %m. by these gentlemen, the spor|j§ .we_# . earned through without any unpliiflant. There was rip 'crack athwte'p-Swpt to ! carry off the largest uhaMoi'tl^: prizes, ; which will be seen 'by the foUowihg' programme, and the names ojt thei jwijaners were fairly distributed ;, amorist . the competitors. ' . Half-Mile Handicap Foot -Race : Ist prize, £2 ; second prize,. 10a, for which there woro 5 entries ; won Ky T. Conroy, who received 10. yards; Dan (scratch),, second. Standing High Jump : Prize, £1 ; i entries , won by G. McFarlahe. Running High Jump: Prize, £Jj. won by A. McFarlane, after a hard trial with his brother George. -•',.• Jingling Match : Prize, IOs"; won by Charles Morgan ; 10 entries. Hurdle Race: 440 yards, over 10 hurdles, 3ft 6in, won by a native, named Ohetu; prize, £1. ;• Standing Long Jump: Prize," £l; T. Kirk ; 3 entries. Running Long Jump : Prize, £1 ; 4 entries ; won by C. Searancke. Three-Legged Race: Prize, 10s; won by Conroy and Finch ; 3 entries. Foot Race, 160 yards : Prize, £1 ; 8 entries ; won by Marshall. Tiiree-Part-Race, 60 yards , run, 50 hops, and 60 yards on aU-foun ; prize, 10s; 7 entries; won by native Ohetu. j Children under 12 years, 50 yards I handicap ; prize, 6s ; won by Peai. Putting the Stone, 20lbs ; won by Forbes; prize, £1. Jumping with Pole : Prize, £l. After a severe contest with G. McFarlane, was won by Hume ; height, Bft 3in. Wrestling Match: Prize, il. The fame of the half-caste, Douglas, prevented many, doubtless, from entering. He round a competitor, however, m a native V I am inclined to think by private arrangement) and Douglas won. i This completed the foot sports, and after a short interval for refreshments, all adjourned to the race-course at Mangapiko, to witness the horse racing. As I iiave before mentioned, there vere but .wo events, and to see these, there were .iow a large concourse of peojle. The first, Hack Race, 1 mile heats : Prize, £2 .0s 0d; entry, 2s <sd. There were 5 .ncries, confined to the Kupua natives. .Uexander Thompson's horse, Rattler, .von both heats easily. Blind Polly's uder, a young lad (Appleyard), was pulled j ver her head the first heat, the mare .uming m second, without a rider, fortunately, the lad was not hurt. Second Hack Race: Prize, £1 10s; iibtance, one and a-half -mdes ; 5 entries Mr Tamihana' s Blue Gum - - 1 Mr Charley - - 2 This was won easily by Blue Gum. This concluded the days amusement, xhe inevitable Ball came off, •was well intended, and kept up till daylight. -Our JORRESPONDENT.