AUCKLAND IN THE ATHLETIC ARENA.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 288, 4 December 1889, Page 2

AUCKLAND IN THE ATHLETIC ARENA.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —May I crave a few lines of your valuable Space to ask why our Amateur Athletic Club officials are so dilatory and apathetic in determining the team that shall represent! Auckland ab the Dunedin meeting, for it ie time that arrangements were at once madd for their departure from here if they are td stand any chance of beating the Southern cracks.

I hear, sir, that these officials (or some of them) are terribly anxious as to the probable fate of our men, the contention being held that our representatives (no mattei? Who they may be) are not good'tfnough td Uphold Auckland's fair name in-the athietfci are"na. True, the time- test ab the laite Carnival, if-%f)plied; ,1 prove that oiir men cannot reach the required utandard, but againeb that it must be remembered that the fastest timee in the South have been registered on a cinder track, while here we nave grass. Any person who has ever tried will readily admib the superiority of the former. Then, again, take the winner of the Mile Club Championship. Iβ it fair bo take Winks's performance as a criterion of his ability? I pay decidedly no, for winning easily in 4min 44 l-sth sec as he did,' I am convinced that he could have broken 4min 40sec had there been anyone to bring him along in the lasb quarter of a mile, for his race was practically over that distance from home. Then take Hutchinson's performance in the quarter-mile. Here again the race was won with such comparative «»se that suggests the breaking of 52sec on » cinder track. Sir, I could further dilate on the splendid record put up by Owen last year in the 200 Yards Championship, when he cast the distande behind in 21£ seconds, and absolutely romped home looking behind for some one to come at all near him at the finish ; or I could enthuee upon Lusk'a many meritorious performances on the flab or over the sticks, or again of Wynyard'a records; likewise Peace's splendid finish in the mile walk ; Uptill's grand record in jumping, and Ciarke'a bicycling feats ; bub these are fresh in the minds of all athletes, and again the question arises—why this apathy in sending a representative team to Dnnedin ? That we have nob only the men but the money, too, is amply proved by the fact that the Club boast of a balance of £135 remaining to their credit* in fact they occupy a financial position second to none in the colony, and possess more members into the bargain. The Club was inaugurated for the encouragement of athletic eports, and the cost of sending a team of four men would represent say £40. Is this »mounb thought to be too extravagant? b&causd I; in common with numbers of other well-wishers, think it very modest indeed. For to say the least of it a trainer should accompany themen to look.afcer their interests. I must apologise for bhe length at which I have written, and feel sure the excuee will be sufficient when I add that the subject just now is causing no end of discussion and comment in athletic circles where the fair name of the province is held in respect.

Nil Desferandum.