WOODLANDS SPORTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1674, 29 March 1883, Page 2

WOODLANDS SPORTS.

Sii.\\\Kn->: Messrs H. Steclo, C. Robert', MeCullajrh, T. H. M.irtyn. St.irfci : Mr W. K.cid. Handicappeib : Mcss>r& Forest and Dunn. Judge : Mr Reynolds. Till! employes of the Waikato Land Association held their annual sports at Woodlands on Easter Monday. The weather was all that could be desired, and 'everything went off without a single drawback, and some were heard to say that it was on the whole the best day's sport ever held in Waikato. The men in the employ of the Association worked all through the Christmas holidays, during •the busy season, and are rewarded by having a day's thorough enjoyment among themselves at Easter. I never saw anything gone into with more spirit, and here draw attention to the fact that there was neither beer nor spirits on the ground. No, one , was ; allowed .to enter except employe's of the company, and as there are a large number of Maoris engaged it) draining, iij took the white man all he knew to keep a fair share of the prizes. It would be difficult to find a liner set of men anywhere than were assembled in the paddock in front of fWoodlands .House. Theie were altogether £50 worth of prizes ; £35 were raised amongst the men, by subscriptions and entries, and the rest was given by different connections of the company. The " Directors' Prize," a silver champion cup, for the one who won the most points, was won by Mr McNicol, of ■Nowstead, who was apparently the best all-round man in the field. The second champion prize, clock and barometer, was won by a very smart Maori called "The Doctor." Both prize-winners w,ere loudly , cheered. T. Connolly won the watch for ,the 100 yards ' handicap. Hop, step and jump : Ist, The Doctor. The vaulting with pole was particularly well done, .and after a long 1 contest Won by Honi, a Maori contractor.. The same man won the 'married men's race. 0. Martin won the sack race over hurdles, and the all-fours race. The four-part race was won by Booth. The half-nule handicap was taken by Bobby Warr, who, with plenty of training, will make one of the best runners on the station for a long distance. The boys' race fell to Johnny Edo. Throwing the hammer was 1 ' won by a tall Scotch man riamed Gordon, from Newstead. The obstacle race created great excitement, as the course was up a polei down ai rope, through barrels &c 'This was won, as last' year, by McNicoli Space does not permit me to notice any more ot the proceedings, but in" the evening an entertainment was given'in'oue of. 'the buildings. The i , overture.,, ; violin.' and piano, Mrs Reynolds and , (Mr, Greenwood. The .dialogue, ," The, King and the Miller," was capitally rendered, by Messrs' McCiillagh,and Christian. , An Irish song was contributed by, Mr Steele. Redding, " The Well'o'f St; Keyue, Mr Reynolds. Song, Mrs Reynolds. " Lochiel's Warning," by Messrs Mc2^icol and Gordop, \fas done* in/chtiracteivas' $£$t)ie> King and the Miller." Mr McNicol looked every inch a Highland chieftain, and?j Gordon was simply perfect. A farce, ,in one act, " Poisoned./' Mr Steele as Mivius, quite .carried'^liejaudiedce with 'Into by J h r is -finished style 'and "spirited acting. T. Connolly was a model " Slow boy. But Roberts, as Mrs Preggitt,, was the star of that part of the evening; and deserves a word/ of foi; the i'gireat supcesS hia part- was -mad«.-^ pur r , ing aa interval of ten minutes a Highland piper strode up and down, playing the,, bagpipes to an appreciative audience.,, The curtain rose r on , sixteen „ Christy,/ minstrels,* w,b.ose Y perfor^anci^dulft ,do ( I '' fcVsi 'much more civilized 1 -place than'jbhe Piako swamp. , Where all did so 'WgllJ' can "hardly, particularise, but Icana'&^f&fh fiWa?#tJrdof praise for " .Ring the Bell^Watch'man," sung in Maori by"" The .Doctor." The J danc|ng of MiGceenwbpd jwas a toejit, and loud /bu't T Wii)%: short, ' "and^the ': pyorman^e.^finisl^d,.. with