SPORTS AND PASTIMES. [FROM THE " WEEKLY NEWS."]

Football is attracting groat attention just now in Auckland, though none of the matches played have come up to what was seen during last season. The unfortunate trip South unmistakeably threw a damper on some of our local kickists, as the place which knew them knows them no more ; or, in other words, "they don't play now," and are content to look on, or faithfully perform the duties of umpire. If Auckland wishes to retrieve her honour with the South, she cannot stand' this weakening of her clubs, which have undeniably suffered from desertion. Complaints are made by outsiders of the great danger of the game, and recent accidents at home are quoted as proving this. The chances of accidents are certainly increased by the style of play indulged in by our men, especially those of the "blue and white," who play a carrying game — preferring to run and be collared in preference to takiug a drop. \Vere this style of play to give place to smart picking up of the ball, and a neat drop put in, the game would be safer and livelier, and present a more interesting picture to spectators. Agreatadvontagewouldbegainedbythe club, who in perfecting its members in i dropping would cover one of its greatest deficiencies, and the weakest point in its play. Still, the play is far, very far, from being as rough as it has been. Tripping and hacking aud such like diversions have becoino things of the past, and their antiquity is brought to mind in the following quotation from King Lear, Act I., Scene i :— ' Lv, \n~ Do you bnndy looks with me, you rascal '! StkwaJU)— I'll not be btruckeii, my load. Kjhjt.— Nor tripped neither, you base football plajer. It may not be uninteresting to look at the first important match played in Melbourne between the Melbourne and Albert Park clubs. The team brought into the field by tho Albert Park was a combination of the last season players of that club and of the North Melbourne Club, but consisted mainly of the latter, and as tho Melbourne Club had for two seasons refused to play with the North Melbourne Club, owing to som«

quarto 1 , the contingent from that club was j particularly on then- mettle. The Melbourne Club -..-as considerably weakened owing to the absence of several of their best men. Play commenced at 20 minutes past 3. Albert P.irk won the tosi, and elected to kick towards the Richmond end, the little wind there was blowing right across the ground. The ball was soon rushed down towards the Melbourne goal, and after about a quarter of an hour's play Traynor got a mark about 4j yards from goal, and with a fine skimming'kick sent the ball flying through, amidst the frantic excitement of the Albert Pai k, or rather the North Melbourne and their partisans, for, • throughout the play, the shouts were continually " Go it, North Melbourne," " JNow, Albert Park." The loss of the goal put fire into the Melbourne, and, until half-time, they had rather the better of the game. No goal was kicked during the second portion of the game, but Albert Park had a good deal the advantage for the major portion of the time. Consequent upon the delay in commencing, the finish took place in darkness, and this, in addition to the ground being partially covered with spectators, contributed to make a scene of great confusion. No other goal being kicked, victory rested with Albert Park. The game throughout, no doubt from the cause mentioned above, was one of the roughest ever played on the Melbourne ground. The Oxford and Cambridge Boat-race this year was better contested than the former race, and resulted in favour of Cambridge. The following description of the race is from a London correspondent: — "The annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race was rowed on 8th April, upon the Thames, from Putney to Mortlake, in the presence of an immense multitude, which far outstripped in numbers the spectators of any previous year. Oxford won the toss for choice of position, and selected the Middlesex side as the more favourable. Both crews launched their boats at 12 minutes to 2 p.m., and rowed down to the starting place, which is exactly 200 yards above the aqueduct at Putney. The boats were got into their position at three minutes to two p.m. Oxford rowed in the newest of the two boats, built for her by Clasper, the Oxford boat-builder, while Cambridge occupied the new boat built for them by Swaddle and Winship, of New-castle-on-Tyne, it having developed bettor qualities than their Searle boat. The race began at 2h. 2min. 17sec. p.m. Both crews caught the water at the same moment, Cambridge getting off a little quicker than their antagonists. The form of both crews was admirable, Oxford rowingthirty-eight strokes to the minute. Mr. Edwardes-ttiosg, the stroke of the Oxford crew, showed signs of nervousness when, after the first quarter of a mile, he saw his antagonist drawing slightly ahead. Oxford immediately quickened their stroke from thirty-eight to forty, but without any perceptible gain of speed, From this point to Hammersmith Oxford was badly steered, and they were thrown further out by an eddy which caught their craft just opposite Bishop's Creek. At Craven Cottage, Cambridge was three yards ahead of Oxford, who, from this to the Crab Tree, made futile efforts to overtake their opponents. The Cantabs, meanwhile, steadily maintained their rate of thirty-six a minute. They were admirably steered almost in the centre of the stream, and when Oxford, off the Crab Tree, made another struggle for the lead, Cambridge quickened their stroke to thirty-right, while Mr. Davis, their cuxswain, crowded the Oxonians towards the shore. Meanwhile the Cantabs drew clear of Oxford, and opposite the Soap Works they succeeded in taking their adversaries' water. This virtually ended the race. Hammersmith-bridge, one mile and five furlongs from the start, was reached in eight minutes and thirty-one seconds. Here Cambridge was "a clear length ahead. At the Doves Cambridge was already two lengths ahead. At Chiswick Church Cambridge pulled still further ahead, and in rowing up to Barnes-bridge continued to increase their, lead. Cambridge finished four lengths and a-half ahead, while Oxford stopped nearly opposite the SBip Hotel. The time, a3 officially taken, was 20min. 19sec, the time of tho winning crew being faster than last year by lmiu.' aud'43sec. The winning crew were all' new men, excepting Nos.3 and 7, who pulled in lasb year's match. The Oxford boat carried six of her last; year s crew, Nos. 2 and 3, and coxswain being filled by fresh men. The Oantabs ! weighed 8Jlb. under their opponents. A great deal of interest has been' evinced in different parts of the world in the establishment of rinks for tho use of roller skates, and still Auckland goes without. Surely enough enterprise exists among our sporting men to start' one. Tho Parnell Hall would be a capital place, as the rink could be conducted by the Gymnasium Committee, who have been so successful with that institution. And while on the subjocl of gymnasiums 1 would strongly advise those of our young men who are engaged in offices to enrol themselves on the list, of membership at once, and those gentlemen who have received invitations to become honorary members, that they cannot too quickly pay their guinea, and countenance " athletics." To come back, however, to the skatingrink. Thcpromoters of the scheme may find some useful hints in the description following of the different varieties of skates in the field, all candidates for public favour, and each, of course, claiming to be the skate par exdellenee. Plimpton's, this is the original well-known American roller skate ; Malcomson's, in this the play of the wheels is dependent on a pliant steel-blade; the "Belgravia," this owes its paternity to Major Wingfield, the inventor— or, shall I say, reviver — of lawn-tennis. Bowies', this is the skate introduced and used at the King's Soad Rink, Brighton ; it is a dangerous skate, for the wheels being placed at an angle to the skate, owing to the leverage, they occasionally break off bodily at the socket. Goddard's, a strong useful skate, but heavy ; Bennet's, this is it Belgian patent, and a very good skate ; it is by a Dr. Bennett (Brighton), who is agent for it. Mutton's, a very smooth-running skate, but not good for^ figures, and said not to last. Catlm's, this is a skate with two broad wheels acting in the same plane. Spiller's is made on what is termed the interchangeable principle, and has a regulating action, to enable the skater to gain more or less oscillatory motion, according to the degree of proficiency acquired by him. Several of these classes can be purchased here, and they may be had to order in any design. A skating rink affords | good exercise and amusement, especially at this time of the year, when out-door sports give way to tho weather, and our boys are glad of something lively under roof. [Messrs. Cooke and Co. intend opening a skating rink at the City Hall to-night.] Touchstone.