ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET. OnR cricketers have been most unfortunate this season as far as the weather is concerned, almost every Saturday up to the present time, having been most inclement, For four Saturdays in succession the matches have been postponed, including last Saturday. The local players are becoming desperate, and their feelings towards Captain Edwin, the colonial rain-maker, can be better imagined than described. This stoppage ot play is most unfortunate, especially at the present juncture, for the Wellington team will be here in a fortnight. However, a good deal of practice work is being put in every suitable evening. The match, North Shore v. H.M.s. Curacoa, will not be played to-day, as originally arranged, as owing to the number of wet Saturday afternoons that we havebeen having of late the representatives have not been able to obtain the necessary practice, and as it is the last opportunity there will be for an afternoon's practice previous to the match, the North Shore ground will be required for that purpose. In lieu of the Curacoa a match will be plaved between teams selected from the members on the ground. The match with the Curacoa will be played on the 2nd December. A few days ago Mr. C. B. Turner was nterviewed in Australia as to the recentlyconcluded tour of the Australian cricketers. It was with the greatest difficulty that Mr. Turner was induced to make any statement in regard to the bickeriug and dissension amongst members of the team, to which frequent reference has been publicly made, but, on extreme persuasion, he candidly admitted that such unpleasantnesses were to a very great extent responsible for the comparative failure of the team in the field. Turner declared that nothing would induce him to think of accompanying another team to England. He unhesitatingly pronounces the captainship to have been extremely faulty, but as Blackham had sometimes to submit to the vilest insults between overs from the chief mutineer, it is not by any means astonishing to discover that ho was quite unable to exercise control over the team. Mr. Victor Cohen, the manager of the team, failed entirely to subdue the refractory spirits, who, through the team lacking firm control and proper discipline, wore able to indulge their insubordinate inclinations to the fullest extent, and to the detriment and disgrace of the team. Turner went on to say:—"l would not like to say that any member of the team purposely missed catches off the bowling of another _ owing to feelings of jealousy; but it is undoubtedly true that very simple catches wore missed in an apparently inexplicable way. . . . Judging by the displays made by some of the men at several country houses when hospitality was extended to them, I do not think that on another occasion they would be treated with so much courtesy or asked to repeat their visits. Black ham and Bannerman often abstained from joining the team at dinner on account of the sneers levelled at them by oue of the players. They were frequently and grossly insulted in the most unwarrantable manner. . . . English cricket has improved remarkably. Since my previous visit the quality of the play has made vast strides. Briggs, Richardson, Mold, and Lockwood bowled against us with deadly effect. Kortright is particularly fast but very erratic in pitch. In batting, Gunn, Shrewsbury, Grace, Stoddart, and Jackson showed splendid form. From the causes which I have stated it would be out of all reason to expect the team to have made a successful show." W. G. Grace finished up the season by scoriug 135 and 35 not out, against a team selected by W. W. Read. He scored 135 out of ISO whilst he was at the wickets, in an hour and a-half. Melbourne papers of a recent date speak very highly of the bowliug talent of A. E. Trott, a younger brother of G. H. S. Trott, of Australian Eleven fame. He bowls with a big off break, (Jreat variety of pitch and pace, and with any assistance from the wicket is extremely difficult to play. For East Melbourne recently against Melbourne he took eight wickets for 61 runs in 144 balls, bowling seven of the batsmen, and good judges of the game in Victoria are inclined to rate him very high as a bowler. ATHLETICS. The North Shore Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will hold their second carnival on Saturday, December 23, on the North Shore Cricket Ground. The programme is as follows :— l2oyds Maiden; 120 yds, 250 yds, 440 yds, BSoyds, and One Mile Handicaps ; 120 yds Hurdle Handicap; Hop, Step, and Jump Handicap ; 120 yds Boys' Handicap; One Mile Novice Bicycle Handicap ; and One, Three, and Five Miles Bicycle Handicaps. Entries will be received at the British Hotel, city, and Masonic Hotel, Devonport, on December 9, before nine p.m. Mr. T. O'Connor, Auckland's only representative at the Australasian Championship Meeting, recently held at Sydney, returned by the Waihora, from Sydney. He speaks in high terms of the hospitality of .our Australian cousins. " The Prodigal," of the Sydney Referee, had an interview the other day with Batger, the celebrated hurdlerj who said —" I don't mind giving the benefit of any experience I may have. In fact I should be glad to be of assistance to anyone who is fond of this favourite pastime. In the 120 yds hurdle race, of course the * three-step system ' must be acquired before anything like pace is attainable. A man might be a very excellent jumper, but would soon fall behind when competing against only average performers who understand the 'three-step system.' The beginner should early accustom himself to this style. He will find it at first difficult over hurdles 3 feet 6 inches high, so I would advise placing thejumps, if necessary, as low as 2 feet 6 inches, then gradually increasing the height to the proper standard. Avoid altogether, in practise, the fixed and substantial - looking hurdle. With the exception oi my training in England, I have always practised over thin laths — two sticks knocked lightly in the ground, with nails hammered in for the light crossbar to rest on, so that the height may be regulated at desire from 2 feet six inches to 3 feet 6 inches. Jumping over these the rough cornets are toned down without broken shins and nasty scars. Greater confidence and freedom, too, is acquired than by continual practice over the fixed hurdles. Place the jumps ten yards apart, measuriug very carefully from each end of the hurdle, so as to have the distance exact; a few inches out makes all the difference, and would be quite sufficient to throw au experienced hurdler out of his stride. Then measure a fifteen-yards run to your first hurdle. Be very careful with these measurements, for so ;nuch depends on even and steady work in practice, tour jumps are sufficient to run over in the early period of training: then gradually increase the number as the nay of the race approaches. To explain the three-step system without the aid of a chart, practical demonstration is a little difficult. However, it is done by springing off, say the right leg (or the left leg, then vice versa all through) over the hurdle, then alight with the left foot, stride from the left (the foot alighted on) to the right, then left, richt, and over the next hurdle, and so on." The New South Wales A. A. has redded that in future no application for reinstatement as an amateur would be considered unless the applicant had refrained from competing in open professional events for a period of three years. F. Surman, the ex-New Zealander, won his heat in the first round of the Park Handicap at Sydney on October 27, the Sydney Referee's account of the heat being :— A beautiful exhibition, and the judge should have broken the worsted Surman having got ahead, had to remain there." Surman was unfit, and was easily beaten next round. The London Athletic Club held their filial meeting of the season at Stamford Bridge grounds on September 30, when some good sport was .witnessed. F. A. Hedges" won both the 100 yds and 200 yds Handicaps. He had four yards start in the former, and won by a yard and a half from A. Ovenden in and in the longer event he had 7£vds start and got home first by a foot from P. G. Mould (15yds) in 204-sth sec. W. Lovett (82yds) won the Half-mile Handicap easily from W. B. Todd (42yds), in lmin 55 3-sth sec. The One Mile Handicap resultedin F. E. Bacon, the scratch man, winning by 10yds from H. Wade (25yds), F. L. Rowles (100 yds) being third. Time, 4min 27sec. In the Three Miles Walking Challenge Cup race T. R. Barnes-Moss beat F. A. Cohen, the holder, the latter having to retire at a mile and three-quarters, having a shoe loose. Bredin, the holder, had a walk over for the 600 yds Challenge Gun, and the programme wound up with a Two Miles Handicap, which was won by H. H. Garrett (170 yds) C. Lowton (340 yds) being 2nd. CYCLING. At Lancaster Park, yesterday week, the one-mile cycling record of New Zealand, was lowered to 2m. 29 2-ss. by the Star rider, K. Lewis, paced by A. J. Body and J. Backer, all of theChristchurch Cycling Club. Messrs. A. Lowry, W. J. Hayward, W. Thompson, and J. Pannell were timekeepers. The entries for the next Austral Wheel Race closed in Melbourne on October 28, when 81 riders paid the sovereign entrance fee, as against 53 last year. There are no New Zealanders in the list, but riders from New South Wales, South Australia, arid Western Australia, as well as E. Jeanes, of France, have nominated, the balance being made up by Victorians. Owing to the paucity of entries in some of the minor events the Melbourne B.C. extended the nominations for a week. POLO. If matters continue as they have been doing to the present the Auckland Polo Club will have to add to their notices of the dates of meeting the saving clause of "weather and ether circumstances permitting." As far aa

the weather is concerned everyone knows • what that has been. The " other circnm- * stances" are various. First of all the grass was too long to allow anything like good plaving. Then when it had been properly cut"the ground at Potter's Paddock was en- , cumbered with the exhibits for the forth- ( coming Show, and that prevented play there > for a week. Then the delusive weather last . Saturday induced the people of Auckland to , go out to the saturated ground, and there , both men and horses trampled the turf until ( the whole ground was little better than a quagmire. A week has now elapsed and re- ; ports say it is now again assuming a playable aspect, and if the same luck does not follow them the Club will for the first time this season have a passable ground to play on today, when play will start at three p.m. Next week at usual days, Wednesday and Saturday, will see the ponies in full work. We understand that a match Kihikihi v. Auckland is being arranged, and will probably come off on December 2. LAWN TENNIS. The Eden and Epsom Lawn Tennis Club is now fairly launched on the business of the season. Entries are now invited for the ladies' handicap doubles, and the next fortnight should therefore produce some spirited Play ' AQUATICS. The Viking will wot be rigged as a yawl until after the annual regatta next January. Mr. Reynolds, of Fort-street, has completed the sails for this boat which as regards appearance will certainly be prettier < than anything that we have hitherto seen in the harbour, as they arc made from a duck which it is no exaggeration to call snow-white. . Elsewhere the committee of Judge's Bay Amateur Regatta, to be held on Saturday fortnight, 9th December, 1893, aunonnce that they will receive entries to-night at the British Hotel between 8 and 10 p.m. Yachtowners are reminded that the secretary will be glad to have rating and measurements overall where required, at time of entry. Post entries will be accepted for greasy boom, selling duck hunt, etc. Members of the committee are requtsted to be present at 7.30 p.m. sharp to transact some important business. A sculling race for £25 and the championship of New Zealand recently took place at the Bluff between W. Boniface (Riverton) and R. A. Palamountaiu (Bluff). The latter won by two lengths after a splendid race. At a dinner given to Sullivan in London on October 6 F. P. Slaviu stated that he was authorised to back Stanbury against any man in the world over the Thames championship course for £500 or £1000 a side. The yachting season in Wellington was opened last Saturday afternoon, under somewhat unfavourable circumstances, a nasty easterly jobble preventing an effective display. Several vessels in port exhibited bunting. The flag of the Commodore (Mr. E. W. Mills) was hoisted at the end of the Railway Wharf, and at the close of the procession it was saluted by the various yachts. The life-buoy competitions which followed the procession were very interesting. The results were :— First-class : Maritana, 3in. 45., 1; Isca. 3m. 235.. 2. Second-class: Mahina, lm. 43 l-sth s., 1; Pet, ltn. 46 4-sth s., 2 ; Mapu, 2m. 59 3-sth s., 3. A new ocean yacht that will beat Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt's steam yacht Valiant in point of speed, and is very elaborately fitted up, was launoeed from Cramp's yard at Philadelphia, in September, for Mr. J. Harvey Ladew, a millionaire, who has a magnificent ; estate on the shore of Long Island Sound, and formerly owned the steam yacht Orienta. She is called the Columbia, and is pronounced a veritable "gem of the ocean," 180 feet long. 22 feet beam, 15 feet moulded depth, 436 tons displacement, fitted with twin-screw propellers, driven by a fourcylinder triple expansion engine, and guaranteed for 18 knots. Advices from America state the famous little steam yacht Fieseen, which is only 78 feet lone, has beaten the world's reeord by a run of 7$ miles against a flood tide in New York Bay at the rate of 31*6 statute miles Eer hour. The record is supposed to have een held previously by the Russian torpedo boat Adler, 145 feet long, which made a mile in slack water at the rate of 31 "1 per hour. Another crack flyer is the steam yacht Vamoose, which was built by the Herreshoffs at a coat of some 70,000 dollars. She is now owned by Mr. W. B. Davies, of Brooklyn. This yacht is 112 feet long, and her screw has turned up to 418 revolutions per minute. Lynx. PON SON BY REGATTA. There was a large attendance at the meeting of the Ponsonby Regatta Club last night, the principal business being to receive the entries for the numerous events on the programme. The number of entries sent in was most satisfactory, and some splendidly contested events should result. The subscriptions collected by the secretary and the committee amount to a very considerable sum, and several trophies have also been presented. The regatta will take place on Saturday next, on which occasion afternoon tea will be provided for the ladies, and the comfort and enjoyment of all visitors will be attended to by the committee. _ The Northern S.S. Company's steamer Waiotahi will act .is flagship, and the services of the Vivid will be called into requisition as tender; whilst watermen's boats will ply from the beach to the flagship. The greasy boom exhibition, the duck hunt, and the other side shows, will doubtless cause much amusement and interest, and a most successful and enjoyable day's sport maybe confidently anticipated. Messrs. Keefe, Gentles, and Cossar are the handicappers for the scullers' race, and Messrs. Dowden, Masefield, and Cunningham for the boys' dingy race. The following are the entries : — Yachts under 4 tons.—Latte, J. Clare ; Ngaru. J. Webster Gloriana, A. Logan; Yum Yum, D. Carter and others ; Auahera, D. Sutherland. Yachts under 21 feet. — Venture, E. Foster; White Heather, J. Peachey; Pet, W. Graham; Ida, S. Howden ; Violet, G. Harrington ; Maud, J. B. Parkinson. Boats under 18 feet.Mabel, A. Graham ; Eileen, E. Browne Tay, H. Miller ; Minnie, Owen and Matheson ; Irene, L. Jenkinson ; Clytie, E.J. Young. • Boats under 13 feet.—Bit-o'-Bhie, R. Masefield; Reckless, J. Reid; Lilly, D. Reid. Maiden Gigs (under 10st).— St. George's R.C. : H. Slator, 1; G. Hull, 2 : F. E. N. Croinbie, 3 ; W. Brodie, stroke. Waitemata : G. H. Reston, 1 ; W. H. Conway, 2; R. Endean, 3 ; F. Devin, stroke. North Shore : A. Parsons, 1; A. Mann, 2; C. Davis, 3 A. Bartley, stroke J. Jenkins, cox. West End: F. Stonex.l; S. Matthews, 2; E. Oswald, 3; A. G. Jones, stroke : T. Sheppard, cox. Auckland ; E. H. Hammond, 1; A. E. Smith, 2: H. I). Tooey, 3; W. A. Minnitt, stroke ; A. Graham, cox. ' Maiden Gigs.—St. George's R.C. : F. Manton, 1 ; A. McNiel, 2; G. Clarke, 3; G. Croker, stroke. Waitemata :A. Joy, 1 ; R. Wyllie, 2 ; H. Dwyer, 3 ; J. Draffin, stroke. West End :J. Leikis, 1; H. Matthews, 2; A. A. Suedden, 3 : C. G. White, stroke. Auckland :A. Donald, 1; W. Airey, 2; R. Laird, 3; E. F. E. Wright, stroke; A.Graham, cox. Senior Gigs.— George's R.C : F. M. Jervis, 1; E. Anderson, 2 ; H. A. Marriner, 3 : A. McHardy, stroke. Auckland :A. N. Gibbons, 1 ; H. H. Dacre 2; G. Barrett. 3 ; M. Keefe, stroke ; A. Graham, cox. City : E. Bailey, 1 ; E. G. Bailey, 2 ; J. Macdonald, 3 ; Alf. Bailey, stroke; P. Bailey, cox. Junior Gias under 10 stone : St. George's R.C: R. Johnston, 1; R. Steggall, 2; H. Brown, 3 ; H. G. Kissling, stroke. North Shore; W. King, 1; E. Hynes, 2; J. Sullivan, 3; A. Cameron, stroke, J. Jenkins, cox. West End :F. Stonex, 1 ; S. Matthews, 2; E. Oswald, 3 ; A. G. Jones, stroke. Auckland : M. Wiseman, 1; A. Dacre, 2 ; H. Cramond, 3; C. F. Minnitt, stroke ; A. Graham, cox. City: A. E. Smith, 1 ; W. J. Lonergan. 2; H. W. Diggens, 3; W. J. Evers, stroke; P. Bailey, cox. Scullers.— J. Cole ; City, E. J. Bailey; Aucklaud, G. Barrett; North Shore, F. Burgess. Dingies (under 21).— S. Mason, W. Butler. B. Lancrdon, T. V. Masefield. Ladies Pair-oar (free).—Misses Clare and Payne :C. Clare, cox. Misses A. and L. Smith ;F. Wickman, cox. Misses N. Edminston and O. Blomfield. Misses A. Beazley and M. Evers ; P. Bailey, cox. Dingies (under 16).— R. F. Hanna, A. Clare, J. Hall, W. Bettis. Junior Gigs.— George's R.C. : A. N. Duthie, 1 ; W. Winks, 2; H. Mellsop, 3; J. Thomson, stroke, Manukaii R.C.: E. Browne, 1 ; E. Pearce, 2 ; E. Sutherland, 3 ; B. Ramsbottom, stroke. West End : J. Leikis, 1; H.Matthews, 2; A. A. Suedden, 3; C. G. White, stroke; L. Sheppard, cox. Aucklaud :M. Wiseman, 1; A. Dacre, 2; H. Oramoiid, 3; C. F. Minnitt, stroke A. Graham, cox. Barrel Race.—Bowles, Scott, Cunningham, Clarke. Duck Cunningham (duck). Water Tournament.— Bowles, Clark, Cunningham, Scott. Yacht's Dingy Race. — Constance, Clark and Hales, Cunningham and Scott, Bowles and Clarke, Webster and Hughes. Tub Race.— Bowles, T. Scott, F. Cunningham. ■ —