MISCELLANEOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 163, 12 July 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand is beginning to take some standing in the sculling world, now that two of oui: men are in Sydney learning the game and preparing to do battle with the besb men of the day. Our professional and amateur champions are now both in Sydney ; though Sullivan's pnro amateur status is of course destroyed by his joining the professional ranks. McKay, whom Sullivan beat the other day, also intends to go to Sydney in a few months. We need not expect to hear very much of either Sullivan or McKay for some time, as they will have to spend some months learning and unlearning before they are tit to try their powers in a big contest. When Tom Sullivan does begin to row in proper stylo I expect to hoar of his doing something good. He is a tall, well-built young fellow, with lots of determination, and as houeat as steel.

I waa well pleased to find that those wishing to give Sullivan a Rood send-off decided to present him with a purse of sovereigns. The sum of £42 10s was more valuable to him in every way than a dozen smoke concerts, and tho compliment just as valuable. His send-offwas a good one, and New Zealander3, especially Aucklanders, will watch his career with interest.

Copeland, formerly amateur champion sculler of New Zealand, has joined the Auckland Rowing Club. He should prove a valuable addition to the Club.

Dick Matthews was bndly beaten in a fight with Pefctengell at Greyraouth some little time back. Poor Dick was quite unfit to fighb, and could hardly stand on his lega after a few blows on tho head and face.

Mr F. Wilding, who has captained the Canterbury cricketers in so many of their victories, has expressed his determination to give the game best, while Mr A. M. Ollivier has stated that ho will nob again stand for office as selector of the Canterbury Crickeb Association.

Billy Murphy, the lighfc-weighb boxer, is reported to have fared so well in 'Frisco that he proposes to make that place his home, and has taken out his first papers as a citizen.

Hanlan gets £30 a week and expenses fi'om a theatrical lncaagerfor rowing across the stage in a light shell at each perform-' ance. Hβ has beaten HosmQr this week.

Here ie an instance of extraordinary batting. S..J..Crawford, playing for Northumberland C. C. v. Durham University, on May 14, went in to bab ab the fall of the firsb wicket with the total ab two (extras), and at one time during his stay the score was 109 (four of which were extras) for three wickets, Crawford being oub at one hundred, thus having up to then made all the runs scored from the bat with bhe exception of five. During the match against Lord Sheffield's team Messrs W. G. Grace and W. L. Murdoch, representing respectively the highest development of batting in England and Australia, were photographed in front of the pavilion.

The following- epitome of the chief incidents in the early history of cricket is from "Forty Yearsof Cricket," by W.G. Grace:—

Club-ball was played in the 13th century.

Hand-in and Hand-out was played in 1477.

The word cricket wag first used in 1550,

Cat and Dog was played in Scotland in 1700.

The oldest recorded mabeh in existence is Kent v. England in 1746.

The Old Hambledon Club was formed in 1750, and continued until the year 1791.

Laws were in existence aboub the year 1700.

The Marylebone C.C. was formed in 1787.

The Gentlemen v. Players matches began in 1806.

Round-arm bowling was in use in 1827. The I Zingari Club was formed in 1845.

The All-England Eleven was formed in 1846.

The United-England Eleven was formed in 1852.

The first English team visited Canada and United States in 1861.

The first English team visited Australia in 1862.

"Forty Years of Cricket" will shortly be published by Arrowsmith in book form.

Ab Melbourne the other day a foreign hawker named Abraham Hilsen was alleged to have'stolen a truck belonging to a Greek, ■whose name the constables—in order to get over the difficulty of orthographyspelt as Steel Tack. Ho was acquitted. The Melbourne "Evening Standard's" funny man wrote:

" He nailed a truck, ' Which belonged to Steel Tack, But hadn't much luck, For the copper came up. And askeft for it fcapk. 0 Abraham brought a libel action against the "Standard" for £99, but lost it.