(Tackler.)

, Last Saturday caw tbe first ronnd of the "onp matohes for the southern division of the Taranati Engbj Football Union deoided, and the respective games brought forth play of a satisfactory nature. The Patea team bad to strike their colors to our boys to the tune oi 12 to nil. I was not able to be present at the match, but I am told that the Hawera men played a good game f though in several departments there was room for improvement. At anyrate, they have made a good start, and I trnst they mil keep on in the vjinning Patea team was, I am informed, backward^ as to condition, lout oontainß gooa matQnß\. Waimate proved too good for Eltham to the tnne of 25 points to love. There is one thing about Eltham, however, and that is that a defeat will not discourage them. I trust to see them play a better game before the season terminates. W&imate was not called on to put forth their best efforts, bat they are a good foam. „. . T Tarniogto the northern division, 1 see tWuCon&lwTvhwbeexma^Qfcaibletor the i Stars defeating Stratford. The latter ( team was a good one on paper, and wi\\, I think, ere the season closes, prove its excellence. The town boys, however, deserve their win, for their play is not only combined, bat their condition is perfect. Early as tbe season is, I think I will be safe in predicting that the team that beatß the Stars will come out on top. I am pleaseSL to see VfcwA. \>lie yv&\ota have made a start. A first rate team can be got together in the town, and it will give many young players a chance of a game, which with only one team they would not be able to get. The selection Of officers could not be bettered, and a prosperous career should be' in store for oar janior team. Tbe second round of Cup matohes will be played on Saturday. Hawera plays Waimate at Manaia, and will be represented by the following '.— Fatt-back '. Wray ; threequarters : B. Lncena, Smith, Babbage, D. Bacbanan ; halves : Boyd and Holmwood; forwards: Livingston, Buchanan, Coffey, Baker, Collins, Hobbs, E. Bartlett, and Winks. Emergencies — Baok : Winks ; forward : Hobaon. A coach will leave the Commercial Hotel Btablea at 1 p.m. sharp. The team is a good one, and should make a big fight for ffaprewaoy. . 'Sue loWtmfcß toxm mil xe^teaeut Waimate against Hawera :— Full-back : C. Young ; threequarters : A. Good, H. Good, McKay ; halves : Foray th, B Glonn, and H. Christie; forwards: D. Hughes, Lambie (2), Home, J. Glenn, W. Obrißtie, W. Young, and Williscroft. Emergencies : Purchas, Losk, and Poo. A Junior match will he played on Saturday, and from the form dieplayed by the respective playerß a team will be Beleotea to play ngainßt "WavoTley. The following are the teams '.—First team : J. Winks, Blyth, T. Coffey, A'Conrt, M. Coffey, Keith, I&akio, Shepard, Dwyer, Hobeon, F. Baker, Young, Clarson, C. Evans, and Eobertson. Emergencies —

Forward, Obiaholm; baok, W. Luoena. Second teanir-MoNivfin, Artbnr, Lash, Livingston, KiMngton, O. Carter, Satton, P. Mereaith, Potts, Baira, King, Syme, Paisley, B^Boyd, Hardlej, Watts, Or. "HoYfoß, SonWy, Moote, Stroe, ¥&\jet. The football writer in the Taraaakz News has the following :— Tbe Hawera olub is said to be in a flourishing condition, and it is expected down that way that the Hawera men have a show of being champions. They have good material, and I expect to see them well in it at the finish. The Taiporohenui club (Hawera) Beem.B to be a bit of a mystery. There are probably some tJark'uns flher&\W aa v)e\\ aa ftgaxatoQl^ in it. The Egmont Settler, referring to the Sfcratiora-Sfcar match, saya :— T&b game was a fairly even one during the first spell, during which Lusk claimed a try, but waß disallowed. In the second spell the superior condition and combination of th 9 Stars told effectually, and the ball was kept in the' Stratford's 25'n nearly all the Bpell. Notwithstanding tbeir lack of condition, the Stratford men played a splendid defensive game. The Stratford men were mnch the heaviest team, and with practice should give a good account oi themßeWea before the season closes. At the first annual meeting of the New Zealand Engby FootbaJl Union held in Wellington, Mr. G. T. Bayly represented the. Taranaki Union. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. O. Bullock, that in tbe case or an appeal to the New Zealand Union against the derision ot a district union, Buob appeal must \ie raa&e tooxi&b. I the union affected within aevea days o/| the decision appealed against. It was decided, on tbe motion of Mr. T. B. Ellißon, that tbe New Zealand representative colours should be black jerseys with silver fern leaf, black cap with Bilver monogram, and white knickerbockers. A Normaoby correspondent writeg .- A meeting was held on tire 26th, there being between twenty and thirty present. Mt H. ShepbetOL ms voted to the chair, and, after Btatiag that the meeting^ had been called for the pnrpose of forming a iootball club for Normanby, it was deoided to form a club to be called " The Normanby Football Club." About twenty names were given ia of those wishing to join. Mr P. Meredith was elected hon. secretary, and Mr B. Eowe uon. treasurer. > Messrs *E. Hall, F. Meredith, -B. Rowe, ' Cbr'iß Hunger, and Portbouse were I e^eotß& a Tn&xi&a.etQfcrv\i Gomm\Uee. The secretary was fastructed to write to Mr F. H. Brett asking him to become President and to Mr J. T. Bates to be Vice-president. The subscription was fixed at 2s 6d. It was resolved to join the Taranaki Junior Rugby Union, and Mr Porthouse was eleoted delegate of the club. It was deoided to let the choice of uniform stand over for the present. Messrs P. Meredith, F. Meredith, and B. Rowe were appointed to oanvasß the town lor bq\>scriptionß to the clul). miTABk NOTES. (Oval.) On Thursday last, thirteen Clifton reps, turned np against seventeen Rovers, and a very fast and pleasant game was played. In the first spell tbe Rovers made a very good fight of it, tbe reps, being conspicuous for not passing. In thß second spell the tepa. played with more combination and won by 9 to 2. 1 Bobßon will make a very useful member of the team, arid as we Bhall probably play W. Bayly when we meet Stratford we ought to have a good show. Hempton displayed great promise, and is inoluded in twenty men who are requested to go into strict training to form the CAifton team. No one who does not ran can be picked for makcheß th'iß BBaßon, "wlcneta ia as \V should be. The Rovers, with Oxenham, A. Jonea, Hellier, and Rowe among them, ought to play strong this season. Altogether, football is stronger than ever this end.