LACROSSE,

THE OPKNIXG GAME AT INVKROAHGILL.

Lacrosse wa3 originally a pastime of the wild ludians inhabiting the plama and prairies of North America, and is one of tha few game* invented by barbarous nation?, and afterwards adopted from them by civilised communities. About 18U7 a " National Association " was foimed iv Canada to promote into rest iv the gain 9, and to day it is ranked in that country as a national pastime. In the year mentioned previously, a party of eighteen Indiana visited Engiaad and played a number of matches in London, and the skill o( the playem excited the admiration of tho spectatora Fleetupfe of foot and general activity are tha neceesaiy qualifications to ensure 1 prominence iv Iho game, and this tho visitors posseted in ft markod degree. Attempts wero now made in England to start clubd and associations to fnator the past.me, aud, although the people did not take very great interest at tiret in it 3 introduction, it has slowly, yet surely, been coming to the front at Home. A properly constituted game consists of 12 players ou oach side — 24 iv all. E*oh player ia paired with an opponent", and tha pairs are set at a particular part of tho field. This guardß ugainst crowd ing, and makes fhe game more open and fair, sinoo, as ft rule, uo iilsiyer has more than one oppnnont at a time. E^ch player id provided with (\ crosoo, a li«ht strong stick of auy suitable length, turned round afc fcbo extremity, the tip nf which is connected with the cault'e of tho h:iudlo by a stretched piece vi calgut string Between thy string and the stick is fastened a triangular shaped netting, on which tho ball is caught and carried, or from which ifc may bu thrown. The objfiot or fhe gatus is much Iho saran as ia football. E^cb side endeavours to drive the ball through its op ponetit'j goal, one garuo being finished eveiy (imc a goal is scorod. Tho b.ill rtm&fc not bn bundled, and no player can soiza another or check him. Unless tho dinponal of tho players in definite placns be particularly attended to, the game, which, when properly played, requires all the resources which skill, presence of mind, and physique can supply, is apt to degenerate into something like the rough schoolboy sport known aa "shinty."

For the opening game at Invercargill on Saturday last the weather was delightfully fine, and a more suitable afternoon for the game could not h«vve bson de?ired. There was a large attendance of spectators, both ladies and gentlemen, all of whom appeared to take a lively interest in tho novel features of the game, Tha following were the teams :—Presidpnt's — A. M&cLsnn (captain), A. Hannah, Browning, Johnston, Howell, Mitford, Strack, Brown, and King; Vice-president's — Tarlton (captain), Ham, Sobo, Twerrilow, Hosking, D'Arcy, BewH, N^sh, and Raymond. The teams lined up at three o'clock, and play was commenced by King and Raymond facing each other. The former managed to get the best of the start, and thn ball was rapidly worked down towards the Vice president's goal. Ifc was not, however, destined to remain theie long, for Maclean, cleverly succeeding in raising the ball on his crosse, managed to mako a splendid throw, and landed it in close proximity to bis opponent's goal. Owing to the efforts of Nash, one of the goal keepers, the rubber was soon brought out into the centre of the field, and safety was restored. At the half hour, when play was stopped for a spell, no score had been made, but soon after after resuming, Ham, by a smart run, secured a goal for his side. Two of the player 3, more energetic than tho rest, had the misfortune to break their cro&pes The uniform^, although striking, wero not picturerque, almost every man teiog a law unto himself in tho matter of rno'tG and colour. Whon it n rempmborrd that Saturday's game was tho first played by mo3t of tho members, the faults displayed must not ba ton nevorely ciitici'ed. Tho gairo ifi one that rfquiroa a Rroat deal of practice bafore real skill is acquired, and now that the Olnb has madn nuch a Kiicce.'sful start it ia to hoped that members will make a point of as Bambling regularly for practice, and so secure for the Club a prosperous oaieor,— Southland Daily News.