Rarotonga Has A Sporting

Boxing Day

Rarotonga, Dec. 28.

SINCE the end of the war there has been a great revival of competitive sport in Rarotonga. This year the reintroduction of the annual Boxing Day athletic contests produced tremendous enthusiasm among competitors and spec tators, and resulted in the biggest gath ering on Muri sports field in many years.

There was a full programme of field events, but keen inter-village rivalry retained a sporting and good-natured character.

As usual, one of the most popular events was the battle of the giants on the tug-o-war rope. The eagerly awaited cycle race was disappointing, the four leading competitors being involved in a mass tangle due to the rough nature of

the ground. In his speech at the end of the meeting, Judge McCarthy promised the cyclists a better track for next year.

The athletes had been training strenu ously for their various events for many weeks past.

Some credit for the revival of sport is due to a number of European supporters, Mr. L. Cook, of the Treasury Dept., being worthy of special mention for his efforts in this direction.

Mr. C. S. St. Julian, who is second in charge of the Department of Customs, Suva, has been spending long leave in Sydney, and has gone on to New Zealand.

He is due back in Fiji in April. Mr. St.

Julian is a member of one of the Colony’s pioneer families. His father was Mr. H.

P. St. Julian, who was Colonial Post master in Fiji 40 years ago.