FOOTBALL.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Goax Post (Pahiatua).— (l) The field of play fchall r.ot exceed' 110 yds in length, ncr 75ycls in breadth, and shall be as near these dimensions as • practicable ; the distance between the goal posts should be 18ft 6in, and the crossbar 10ft from the ground. (2) Secure a copy of the Wellington Union's Annual.

NOTES BY FULL BACK. Gibbs, the Welsh international threequarter of the British team in New Zealand, hadi t'h< bad- lu-ck to break an arm whiie playing for Cardiff against- Peniarth a few days ago. Ernie licotn, the ex-Otago three-quarter, who has been touring as a pi-ess representative with th© Australian, amateur team in England, is at present in Ireland. L). Cameron, the Taranaki representative throe-quarter back, is returning to AVellington, and wild probably play for Wellington College. Goldman, New Zealand representative at present under disqualification, purposes playing association during, the coming seaton. Slated that all the leading players of In-veron-rg-ill who last season went over to the Northern Union game are to resume their study of Rugby duriwg the winter months. .Just at present, when the- question of amateurism in Rugby football >s being disciitved, scrnething of a sensation has been cau-ec l by the discovery of i-ertara iten'l3 which were allowed by the New South Wals3 Rugby Union in the accounts of the English taarr> last year. Two members of the team stayed at Government Houwa while they were in Sydney, but they put in an account of £8 10s for tips, and this was allowed them. About £17 was allowed to the team for tics on the steamer between Melbourne and Sydney, and £1 a week \\£3 allowed to the manager. This ii'i'ter of expenses is likoh 10 bo much th-(.u=sccl at the next mesting of the union, members of v. h:ch are understood to fa.\our the English idea of amateur, while those cf tho Sydney Me-ia-opoktan Union are, en tho whole, against it. The gross receipts in the Swansea match amounted to £2010, which is twice as large as the previous club match record at Swansea. wh«r £821 was taken ..at the New Z< ;. '.and game. Ernis Booth writes: "As a forward division Swrnsea hava a specialty for systonialio pa-= K ing- amonar?.fc themselves. In 'backing up' c-ne- another they resembled a t»am of b-icks. Edgar Morgan, of the Arglo-Wc'-h tsam, aixl hi- brother Ivor arc a dashing pair. Trev\ has the finos-=e cf a g-r-eat pla\cr. and is ono cf the best thi f-e-qua; ters seen on the to-ur.' 1

P>ooth writer apropos of tha that tih-crc was "trouble" in the Australian k-ara : — Several new=paprrs rave got the ic'33. that great di-semion exi-jts in tho loam, ar.rl attribute to this their downfall in the later g-ames in Wales. Such disajrrpement did not a&sume a.ny great toportion,?, though there was seine slight feeling- by those members of the team who had not baen given many oprortunities of playing on the tour. If the list of the ulaverg in the games be icada vu, it

will be seen how few members of the team have plavcd a really active part on the tour. The selected few, who are probably the best team, have been worked into a etate of 6emi-stal€Ti'&ss, which, was shown distinctly in the fin-al Welsh matches at Swansea and Cardiff.

A -well-known Cardiff firm of solicitors on Deoembar 7 received a communication from a leading New Zealand firm of notaries asking "as to the' whereabouts of Mr Angus Stuart, an old-time Cardiff threequarter. Stuart came to Australia with the famous Shaw and Shrewsbury Rugby tourists, the first combination to visit the colonies. At the conclusion of the tour he settled down in New Zealand, where he made the acquaintance of a number of prominent colonial sportsmen. One of these, it is understood, has recently died, and in his will- has bequeathed the famous old Cardiff footballer a fat legacy. Hence the communication. Stuart returned to Cardiff a few months ago, and has since been employed by Mt John Gibson, a wellknown contractor. A reply has been despatched to New Zealand giving the desired information.

Apropos of the "difficulty" between the Steottish Rugby Union and the English Union in re th< exnemes of the "All

Blacks" and Australians in England, the London Sportsman ba« t.he following-: — The rock upon which t.he split has occurred is this special allowance to players, which in the case of the New Zealand team was £1 Is per week °per man. or 3s per day. Is tbis legal or illegal? It is indeed a thorny question. This money may be regarded as "pin money" or, as one old player termed it, "beer and baccy" money. Apparently this is the first time the principle has been seriously raised, as these payments have been made on maJjy tours. The British Rugby team managed by the late John Hammond and captained by Mark Mortison (himself a famous Scotch international) that -toured in South Africa in 1903 received an allowance of 2s 6d per man per day on land. The tourists included D. B. Bedoll-Sivright, W. P. Scott. J. Gilkispie, and R. Neill, jun. (all Scottish players), J. G. Davidsan, James Wallace. Joseph Wallace. A. T-sdford, and K. G- Smyth (Ireland), and R. T. Skrimshire (Wales). In the following year Bed-ell-Sivright, who is still playing, oaptained a side that visited Australia and New Zealand. This party included A. B. O'Brien, P. F. M'Evedy, E. T. Morgan, A. F. Harding-, R. T. Gabe, and Percy Bush. In their case the "pocket money" wm either 2s or 3s per man per day. Last year the Anglo- Welsh team captained by A. F. Hardiner and managed by Gsorge Harnett (member of the Rugby Urnon Committee) visited New Zealand and Australia. They received full hotel and travelling expe-nses and 2s per day p?r man. This tour was boycotted by the Scottish and Irish Union.*. The South Africans, when over here in 1906, received an allowance of either 2s or 3s per man per day. It will be noted, therefore, that the protest from Scotland comes rather late in tho day. Possibly the Scottish powers could make out a good case by reference to the Rugby Union rules relating to professionalism. Among- the acts of professionalism_ d-sfirosd section (d) gives : "Expenses in excess of the amount actually disbursed on account of reasonable hotel or travelling expenses." How are separate personal expenses affected by this clause? That the New Zealandevs received this 3s per day, or £1 Is per week, was common properly. It seems strange indeed that the powers in Scotland were ignorant of the fact. -Another aspect of the question is this : It is easy to spend more than the 3s per diem ; it is possibk also to practise economy and save some of that sum — at least the Scottish may, with their usual economical views, think, so. A correspondent sends the Athletic News the following- extract : "W. J. Wallace, the famous New Zealand threequarter, has received a testimonial of the value of £250 for his past services. The Prime Minister of the Dominion made the pre-^entation." My correspondent asks: "What about New Zealand notions of amateurism when the Prime Minister of tho Dominion presents £250 to a player for past services ! " If the presentation was one of money — and my correspondent apparently 1 has no misgivings on this point— then I should, imagine tlfe laws of amateurism, as interpreted by the Rugby Union, have been broken, but allowance must be made for colonial up-to-date methods. Still, one A'onde-rs why a player like James Jolley, of Runcorn, for instance, who probably has never reoeived half the amount said to have been- given to Wallace, is a. professional.

It, haft b°en definitely decided by the "WeUh Rugby Union, to take the initiative in. extending an invitation to the next side of colonial players to visit Great Britain. A writer in a recent number of the Sportsman states that he is in a position to s v authoritatively that the Welsh Union vill in the near , future, :f: f it already Ki<s not dons so, ask the co-operation of the F'ijr!i-h, Scottish, and Irish Unions in proposing; to the New Zealand Union that the list iij,,ncd body should sencl over a team to tour Gr< at Britain in the season of 1910-11. 7t .■? piobable that the F.nglish Union -vill b-i first approached. What action the Scottish and Irish Unions will take in joining '"'•■rce" can only I/O- Mirmi^efl. but as they d-aJpi'vl to ?>e associated with the tour of the Ai^rralians. it is probable that Scotland, al any rate, may hold aloof from takinsr an irteres,ted part in the proposed tour of H:e New Zealandor*. The writer doe.? not Hunk 'blithe English Union will accept unanimously the offer of the Welshmen, vet in the. ci-d he considers it will fall in with the '% OMI Union's ideas of tho n v o posed \i*it. "}><* writer concludes: "It may he taken idr granted thil thp All Blacks will be seen in England and Wale?, at any rate, in 1910 and 1911." „ . Tho deaths of two once-famous lUicliPH footbi Hers have to be recorded. "Jack N. Dyson, who died at Hudrlersfield at, the age of 42 \oru's and was considered in his time to be (he f^te=fc and most dangerous-scoring P.uj-by three-quarter back plavinq-. Between 1337 and 1391 he scored the great number of 105 ti ics. He received his Iniernatlonal CVo in 1890, and played for England .against Scotland, and «cored one nf the Iwo trios (one converted) by which England heal thfir ninrp fancied opponents to nil. Charles E. Harley, who had been missine: from his home at Cheltenham since November 25, was fomd drowned in the Rivor Severn on Saturday last. It appears that he had been strang-e in his manner and under doctor's treatment for some time, and the fact that some articles of his

" clothing were found on the river bank at the time of his disappearance led to the conclusion that he had" committed suicide. Harley, who was a fine player under Association rules, used to belong to the Acton Villa team, but on joining Everton later on one of his knees gave way in his* Srst match, and his football career ended. He was a>lso a fine athlete generally, and for two years in succession won the Midland Counties Athletic Clubs' all-round championship. The ex-secretary of the Rugby Union (England), in a speech made at one of the dinners given in honour of the Wallabies, said the Australians were, and had been, playing football after the best traditions of English Rugby, which puts to scorn all absurd and unsportsmanlike criticisms levelled against the Australians. The Australians share of the "gate" in the Wales match was £900. Amongst the passengers drowned in the wreck of the Penguin last week (says the Canterbury Times) was C E. Bird, better known amongst footballers here as "Charley" Bird. In 1895 Bird was one of the very best players in the Southern Club that won the President's Cur> that season. He afterwards played with East Christchurch and later as a member of the Merivale junior team, and was -the bright particular star of that strong combination. Going 'to Wellington he joined the Wellington Club, and played' for some seasons, representing his adopted province in 1898. He was a very light, slim lad, who appeared to be physically unfit for such a strenuous game, but he possessed an amount of skill not usually found in young players. Playing in the position of five-eighth, he was very fast, and could dodge as well as anyone I ever saw. at the same time havinpr a swerve of which Jimmy Hunter would feel proud. Of late years he had grown to almost aldermanic proportions, but he still took a keen interest in the sport. He was well known on the West Coast of the South Island, being a traveller for a Wellington firm. Major Philip Trevor, commenting in the Daily Telegraph on the Wallabies' Weigh tour, observes: — "There is one aspect of the tour which it would be affectation to disregard. I refer to the rough play, which led two separate referees in the course of 48 hours to order Australian forwards to leave the field. There is nothing to be said in extenuation of these offences ; but in justice to the Australians we ought to take into consideration the fact that if circumstances cause a referee to think a side or individual wants special watching-, the other party, who oug-ht not to escape, does escape unfavourable notice. Rough play breeds rough play. Twice in matches played after the Oxford incident did I see an orponenfc try to strike an A-ustralian, and each time ihe Australian was content to a^void the blow and not retaliate. In neither of these latter cases did the referee even caution the offender. N Putting aside the ethical aspect of the case, the ordering off the field of two offenders at Swansea and Cardiff had a direct tactical effect upon tho play."

DUNEDIN CLUB

At the annual meeting of the- Dunedin Football Club the following report will be considered : —

In presenting the thirty-seventh annual report ,tbe committee congratulates members on their achievements during the late season. The records of the various teams were as under: —

Seniors: matches played 12, won 11, lost 1; points for 143, points against 45 (winners of competition).

Juniors : matches played 11, won 11, lost nil ; points for 165, points against 19 (winners of competition).

Third: matches played 10, won 7, lost 1, drawn 2; points foi 143, points against 40. Fourth; matches played 10, won 7, lost 1; points for 101 ; points against 31 (joint winners with High School of competition). Fifth: matches played 9, wen 1, drawn 1, lost 7; points for nil, points against 97. As- will be seen, the senior and junior teams were the champions of their respective grades, while the fourth team was coupled with the High School. The juniors have -now been successful in winning the banner for the last three years, and in addition to this were winners of last year's seven-a-side competition.

The seniors brought the banner to the club for the first time since the inauguration of Flag contests. The success of the senior team was m some measure d-ue io Messrs W. M'Donald and W. Churchill, who throughout the season acted as honorary trainers. The juniors were not in any way bolstered up, being drawn from by the seniors whenever necessary, consequntly their .performance was ali -the more meritorious. The fourth were also not considered when it was necessary to fill vecanoies in Higher teams. The annual match with Sydenliam was played in Cliristchurcjj' a4> Easter, Sydenham winning by 12 points to nil. This year's match is to bs played at Dunedin, and members should assist the club in putting a strong team in the field and in giving our Chriatchureh friends an enjoyable time.

The Dunedin Cricket Club, in granting the u^e of its room in the pavilion at the Caledonian Ground, \va3 mo^t generou=. Training operations were conducted under much better conditions than formerly, and to our sister sporta we owe some of our successes. A piano was purchased and placed m the room, but the soci.il evenings were not well tupported. In tho Otago team we were represented by Me-srs J O'Sullivan, D Stalker, J Clarke, If. Puton, P Fitzpatrick, and P Ivimey — Messrs J O'Sullivan and D. Stalker gaining representative honours for the first time. Messrs Fitzpatrick, Paton, and Ivnney hpd also the higher honour of representing the South Inland against the North. The medals presented by Mr "\V. A. Thomson ("Wellington) were awarded to Messrs J. Clarke and H. Paton.

The annual ball was a financial and social success.

The year's expenses were havier than usual, but the balance-sheet submitted shows a credit.

One sad event marr-ed a season of prosperity and goodfellowship, members having to mourn the loss of Mr W. Jefis, probably the most promising back in the club.

By the removal to Auckland of Mr J. "Williams, vice-president and life member, we have lost an old and valu-eoPlriend. Mr J. K. Ross, honorary tieasurer now for E-ome feasons, purposes leaving us shortly. Iho loss of Mr Ross will he greatly felfc, and members will indeed be fortunate if they se-cure as capable and enthusiastic a sub=litutc.

During the season eight meetings of the committee were held, and attended as follows:—Messrs Ross an-d Bond 8, Sinoock, Milne, Corson and Fitzpatrick 7, Whelan 6, Dunne, O'Sullivan, and Guthri© 4, Johnson 3, Ivimey nil. Mr Guthrie was not elected

T till late in the season. Owing to the &T% % sence from town of Mr B. J. Finnegau. honorary auditor, your committee appointed Air H. Paton to audit the accounts in hi£ stead. We hope the excellent results of the past season will be an incentive ,to members tc uphold the present proud position, a.nd that not only may the club be successful in. achieving a good record, but that by clean, open, and attractive play it may uplift the standard of Kugby football. ROVERS CLUB. The eig-hth annual meeting of the Taieri t Rovers Football Club was held in the Borough Council Chambers, Mosgiel- Mr John Dryden presided over a well-attended gathering. An apology for absence- was I received from Mr D. Christie, and Mr George M'Laren telegraphed good wishes I for the ensuing season The annual report was unanimously adopted. ; The balance sheet showed the club to be 1 in credit £13 9s Bd. The election of office;beajrers resulted as follows: — President, Mr John Dryden- (reelected) ; vice-presidents— Messrs H~ Guest, D. Christie, W. H". L. Christie; A. F. • Cheyne, C. H. Brooks, J. M'Laren, Fraser, Keir, J. Robertson, John KnotF, A. F. Quelch, A. Bremner, H. H. Inglis, Joseph Smifeh, iH. MilleT, Arthur Gibson, Dr * Allan, and Hon. Thomas Mackenzie;" Committee of Management — Messrs A. C. M'lntyre, J. M'Leod, Young, 3. M'Fad, den, J. " Brown, T. Smoaton, W. Maban» J. Anderson, J. Thomson, J. Cuthill; secretary, 'Mr G. B. Burns; auditors, Messrs W. H. Young and J. M'Fadden; delegates to O.R.F.U.— Messrs G. H. Brooks, G. B. Burns, and J. Smith; Selection Committee — Messrs Brooks and MTntyro, and the captains of Second, Third, ' and Fourth Grade teams. The appointment of a coach was lefb in the hand 3 of the committee. I Mr M'Mahan was appointed practice captain. It was decided that the subscription bo the same as for last year — 5s for the first 20 players, aJid 2s 6d for the others. It was decided to open the season on March 20. ALHAMBRA CLUB. The twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Alhambra Football Club, held in tha • Trades Hall on Monday night was prej sided over by Mr A E. Beissel (president; of the club). The election of ofHce-bearers resulted as follows : — President, Mr- A. E. Beissel ;| 'vice-presidents — Messrs .James AlLen, M.P., J. M'Donald, D. Finnegan, A. Restieaux, M. Higgins, J. Perriam, -Morrison, H., Whyte; hon. secretary, Mr C. Young; treasurer, Mr G. Nelson ; assistant secretary, delegate and secretary to the Acci- ' dent' Fund Mr R- Mackenzie: General Committee — Messrs R. Bennefc. T. Brooks, A. Martin, J. King ; auditors, Messrs J. T.. Haraann and G. Davidson; delegate to the Sports Protection Association, Mr G.Nelson; delegates to the O.R.F.U.— Messrs A. Dey, C. Young, and J. King; Temporary Match Committee — Messrs G< M : Kenzie, J. King, and H. Whyte. SCOTLAND BEAT IRELAND. LONDON, February 28. Scotland defeated Ireland by three tries to a penalty goaJ. WALLABIES IN AMERICA. VICTORIA.. February 26. The Wallabies defeated Victoria and! Vancouver by 26 points to 3. AUSTRALIANS IN ENGLAND. LONDON, February 22. Barrow, with a goal and three trie< (11 points), defeated the Australian^ League team, who scored a try (3 points)., February 23. In the first half Barrow obtained two! tries, one of which was converted. In the second half Burden scored a try; for the Australians, Barrow adding at third try for the home te"am. | LONDON, February 28. I * Merthyr defeated the Australian Leagn< team by iive tries (15 points) to two goal* j and three tries (13 points).

The Stipendiary Magi'rtrate had before him on Thursday at Bluff 25 summonses for small debts, which is the -largest number ever brought before the court, at one Sitting-. Most of them w-ere confessed, ~bjxb the defendants incurred the costs of the summonses in addition to the amount of claim.

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