SPORT AND PASTIME.

JPootbalL [By Ex-Fobwahd.] A case of very great interest to footballers and which, should guide other unions in similar iuetaucea came beforo the Ohristchurch Magistrate's Court last weok, when T. Hauua was sued by the Canterbury Eugby Union and the Canterbury Cricket and Athletic Sports Ground (Lancaster Park) Company for £5 as damages for trespass. The defendant was formerly a member of the Kaiapoi Club, being also an interprovincial player, and in June laat the Union at a meeting disqualified the defendant for life, prohibiting him from playing or attending football matches under the Union's jurisdiction. The notice of disqualification was sent to to tl'o Secretary of the Kaiapoi Club. The Lancaster Park Company endorsed the action of the C.R.U., and notice of it was sent to the Secretary of the Kaiapoi Club. On September 3rd, a match Canterbury v. Otago was played on Lancaster Park. The gatekeepers had, immediately after the disqualification, received instructions never to allow the defendant on the ground, but on the date named the crush was great, and defendant seemed to have got in without hindrance. Mr. Wilding said the aim of the Union was to maintain the good government and orderliness of the game. The defendant had disregarded the warning he received, and the plaintiffs brought the action as the only way of maintaining- their authority. Mr. Stringer, for the defence, did not call any evidence ; he submitted that the notice was too general. Both of the plaintiff bodies should have aent him a specific notice not to be present at a particular game, held under the C.R U. jurisdiction, on a particular day, on a particular ground, and that if he disregarded the notice he would be held a trespasser. It was true that on this occasion Canterbary played Otago under the C.R.U. jurisdiction. To secure the exclusion of the defendant the proper notice hud not been given. Mr. Wilding said that the defendant, as an experienced club footballer, knew perfectly the procedure in disqualification cases, and must have been well aware of the intontion to exclude him. Mr. Beetham, S.M.,said the question was whether the defendant knew that the match was being played on the ground under the auspices of the Rugby Union, and whether he knew that he was not wanted. It was perfectly clear that, as an old footballer and a representative player, ho must have known that the match was being played, and under whose auspices. It had been intimated to him that he was not wanted on tho ground, and he must have known it. He would give judgment for plaintiff for 20a and costs, witti leave to the defendant to appeal. The case was a matter of public importance. When people bauded together to secure good conduct, he thought that they should be supported in every possible way. After giving consideration to the letter of the New Zealand Uniou with reference to the visit of an English team, the Marlborough Union has decided to reply that if a visit could be arranged, it would be willing to hand over to the New Zealand Union all the profits received from the match. Arrangements had been completed for a Kumara team to visit Jackson's to play a looal team. Coaches and other vehicles were engaged to go, and word was sent out to that effect. The Jackson team went to great trouble to get up an entertainment and social, and had made preparations for the reception of the visitors, when no less than nine members out of a team of fifteen declined to go at the last minute, so it was too late to let the Jackson team know. This conduct on the part of the Kumarites came in for warm criticism at tho hands of the Kumara press. Mr. Baillie, whose tragic death at Waitara under distressing circumstances took place some little time ago, at one time was known as one of the best footballers in the Marlborough Province. Football is not a safe subject to discuss at tho present time with harbourmaster, Captain Hood (at one time in command of the Anglian) aud the residents of New Plymouth and outlying districts. The state of the harbour has ever been a serious matter v/ith the Taranaki people, aud thoir minds have been much perturbed of late owing to the alarming discovery of the rapid accumulation of silt. For the last-named reason a party of lively individuals hit upon a plan to satirise the harbour, aud at the same time play a good joke at the expense of the harbourmaster and people of Taranaki. And this is> the way they went to work : A big advertisement with flaming headlines was inserted in the local papers stating that a match would take place upon Friday, 14th October, between the officers and crew ©f the Takapuna, and those of the opposition boat Gairloch, the contest to be decided upon the reclaimed sand between the wharf and breakwater, play to start at 3.30 p.m. The proceeds, it was stated, would be handed over to the Harbour Board to assist a fund having for its object the extension of the wharf to the cattle- wharf . Seats were to boplaced in thesurf boats andalongthe wharf. From New Plymouth to Inglewood large posters were pasted in conspicuous parts announcing the impending battle. The people took the matter seiiously, hundreds came down to the wharf on the afternoon fixed for the event, while a large stream of country visitors helped to swell the crowd. After waiting for a considerable time over the advertised hour it suddenly dawned upon the unsuspecting crowd that they had been ' sold, ' and. maledictions loud and deep were hurled at the 'jokqra' who had so beautifully worked the oracle. Those most loud in their denunciations of the trick were a lady representative of an Auckland journal, who had made special arrangements for fixing up a lengthy report, aud the harbourmaster. Captaiu Hood is after .the scalps of the jokers, and hs has registered an oath not to leave a stone unturned to attain this end. The incident is the talk of Taranaki at the present time, and not even the persuasive eloquence of a Humphreys, an Allen, or a Bayly can assuage the indignation of the residents. It is really unsafe to even mention football, and experts say the receut episode haa dealt a 'death-blow at Rugby in the Garden of New Zealand. 1 Alan Rotherham, late of the Oxford Uuiversity, who represented England at Rugby football from 1883 to 1887 inclusive, committed suicide by shooting himself in London on August 30th. At the inquest tho jury returned a verdict of 'Suicide while of unsound mind.' -