SPORT IN ITS PLACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 10 May 1895, Page 2

SPORT IN ITS PLACE.

Though the bats and the wickets have been laid aside for a season, and the talk i n athletic-loving circles is of football, the interest in the recent great crickeb contest between England and Australia has not co entirely subsided that colonials will nob read with pleasure of the reception accordod to Stoddnrt'e team a couple of days ago when the English cricketers landed in Plymouth. Still, although it is almost treason to say so, there arosoma people who consider the cabling of these items of crickeb news as an unwarrantable expense. The views of- those who look ab the matter in this light) is voiced by the Londou " Spectator " in a recent article. , ,

The cast of cabling Mr Stoddarb's greab and victorious encounter " m'ußb," says that journal, "have amounted to thousands. Ther.e is no objection, social or moral, to cricket), which is a most healthy and.educative, though excessively tedious, game;"—-ye devotees of the willow mark this—"bub if this elevation of ij> into a subject of international inteiosb does nob mark an increase .in the appetite of frivolity, there is no meaning in words. Horseracing arouses greed, bub the interest in invisible crickeb can arise, only from the desire for momentary excitement which so marks the hours and indicates that grave interests no longer fill the minds of the mana oi.men."

i Of course, the " Spectator " got severely hauled over the coals for its remarks. In a country like England, where outdoor sports flourish like the bay tree, to cast any indirect reflection on the importance of the national game, was unpardonable. The 11 Speaker " took up the cudgels for cricket, and raked the classics fore,and aft to find examples to prove thab the Greeks outdid us in their enthusiasm for sport, and that there was as much interest in the "Olympic games as in the fall of Troy. We are inclined to see a pood deal of sense in what the '' Spectator " says. Like everybody else we were interested in' the. great cricket contest, and read the telegrams announcing the progress of the game regularly ; bub we do think that in the present day there is a tendency to give excessive importance to our amusements. We are inclined to overlook this tendency in the case of the recent matches because we firmly believe that these famous meebings were fraught with great results for the Old Country and the colonies, bub we hold that it should not be overlooked as a general rule. There is such a thing as taking too much thought for the pleasures of the morrow, and too little for the woik, and giving to the former the place of importance in our minds which should be reserved for the latter. ' ' Itis a serious accusation-to bring against our young people to say they show a too great fondness for amusement, bub we think it is an accusation that is-well sustained by facts. The colonial youth, in too many cases, is averse to work. He wants if he has to earn a living by work to get a good, easy, clean bijleb,., and ifc veryioften happens .that he .is prepared to loaf bill he gets the occupation suited to his mind.'' And when, he is occupied ib is not his' business so much as the pleasure which is to come after the business is over which chiefly occupies bis mind—the cricket, the football, the racing, the boating, all excellent things in their way, or the loafing.at street corners, that most .detestable form ot recreation. Surely, in a young colony this is not the spirit which should animate the colonists ; and it is certainly not the spirit that will tend to the development of the counbry. We have every sympabhy with these amusements thao tend to promote health and strength, and would not like to see them in any way discouraged, bub we think wibh the " Spectator," thab they are nob the only things needful, and should be kept in their place. ■ . ■ i .■ ■ . . ■ .

The Auckland portion of the Vancouver mail by the Warrimoo came to hand to-' day by the Taupo from Fiji. The estimated population of the colony ttttheeii.fi of March, exclusive of Maoris, was 365,365 males, 324,110 females : total, 659,475: The Maori population is estimated at 41,903. The grand total for the colony is 731,468. Complaints are made that a gang of ~the' hoodlums who" have been cleared out of! Karangahape Road by the police have I taken up their evening quarters in Uppes j Pitt-street and in the vicinity of Newton I Road, where they make things very unpleasant for passing pedestrians by their I insulting behaviour. They do not hesitate to molest respectable passers-by. The: Newton police should pay these streetsfrequent visits. ; Mr Ferguason, thie Government Labour Agent, requires ten men for road work at Galatea. Applicants whose names are already on the list for employment are requested to interview Mr Fergnsson before noon to-morrow (Saturday), when a solec-. tipn will;be made*. • ■

The recent lamentable boab accident in j the Manukau Harbour, by which Messrs 'Arthur add Fred Laurie and two of their i boys 'were drowned, has resulted in two widows and eight children being deprived, of the support of the breadwinner of their households. The wife of Mr Arthur Laurie has six children, and Mr Fred Laurie has left a wife and two children. " Ibe families are industrious, and with a little timely aid now may become self-supporting in a short time. Aba meeting held m tho Ocara Schoolroom the following resolutions were carried :—" 1. That this meeting considering it desirable that some practical expression of sympathy should^ be shown to the widows and fatherless children of the brothers Arthur and Fred Laurie, "who with their eldest song were'drowned on April the 25th, resolve that a eubscription fund bo raised on fcheir behalf.. 2. That a Commictee of the following: names with power to add to their number be.appointed to collecb subscriptions as per resolution (1) and bo convene a meeting of the subscribers at some convenient time and place not later than the 28bh msb ; (2) To allocate the funds subscribed in such manner as the meeting shall determine. We shall be glad to receive subscriptions on behalf of this deserving case.

In connection with the charge of having cruelly ill-treated a dog preferred against; Mr Patrick William Ryan, licensee of the Empire Hotel, ab tho Police Court on Wedneftday, Mr Ryan has. called at this office and exhibited a prominent\scar on one of his legs, the result of a bite of the dog, which, he says, he was firmly convinced was mad,- and ou which he only used his slippered fcob, afber' Havingtwicegently removed the animal from his premises. He says a neighbour was bo firmly convinced tliaS the dog was mad that he wenb for an axe to kill ii, but refrained from adopting such extreme measures as the dog had become quieter. .

The body of John *Climd, fisherman, drowned ab the Wanganui Heads on the 21st April/ was found bn; Wednesday nighb, and an inquest was hold yesterday afternoon. The verdicb was to the effecb that death vras the result of an accident. A rider was added expressing appreciation of tbV noble condueb of Duncan McArthur and Antonio Robich, who rescued the two men who were with Climo ab the time of the accident.. Information hftß been received that the .pwners of the Ashley Bank Estate in Canterbury have accepted the offer of the Government land Purchase Board for the purchase of the property, vyhicb consists of 1,158 acres. '■'■ .- Two excellenb samples of wheat I were grown ab Cheviot of the pearl and Tuscan varieties, and represent the produce of 100 acres cul- ; tivated^by Stevenson Bros. They were grown after ploughing only, and average 39 bushels to the acre. This is considered by exports a splendid result. '' . '-.-' At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr H. VV. Norbhcrofb, an order was made lin the case of F. 'E. Baumo v, Tilson I Smith. The defendant (who did'nob apI pear) was ordered to pay the whole amount j claimed, £13 11s Bd, on or before the 17th inst. TMs was the only order made. Charges of breaches of the Beer Duty Act against C. . F.Greenslado (of Speight and Co.) arid Allan Davis were hoard before the DUnedin Police Court yesterday, and were dismissed., , Ib appeared that Davis bad brought from the Roslyu district for a grocer an ompty beer keg to be filledac the brewery. He called back tor ib, bub'it was not ready. /So called a second time, and seeing the keg standing oh the platform, took ib away, the cellarroan being away ab the time getting stamps. The grocer happened to- call in, and; ho ■; was given the stamp, but he did nob affix it in the proper place. It was pointed Out that the firm had paid jETiOOOvyeariy^aa b s eer duty, and, ib was asked, would ie be likely they would wiltully neglect putting on a 2s 6d stamp. .

■ ■ A man named Arthur Kirk was brought down from Heleneville^ to-day and lodged in Mount Eden Gaol. -He has. been sentenced to three months' impriaonmeht for indocenb exposure ab Kutneu.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Rowin tr Association has addressed a circular to affiliated clubs urging,the introduction of eight-oared racing in New Zealand. The scheme as drafted provides for interprovincial racingiin preference to inter-club competition. The clubs in the colony being too small to be able to purchase expensive eight-oar racing plant, the Association therefore proposes that tho clubs of each town or district, should aub^ scribe a sum between them sufficient to purchase an eighb-oared boat for their district; .the boat, oars, etc. to be vested in a representative committee, who would have full control of the plant. Ib. is projioaod to row tho fours at Christmas and the eights at| Easter. The circular says the Association has done good work since its formation, but it will not be complete till tho champion eight-oared contests are established. j ■'

Joseph M.Foggkn, a prisoner under sentence of seven years for burglary and other offences, . escaped from the hard labour gang at Mounb Cook Prison, Wellington, yesterday afternoon. Ab he left his prison clothes behind him ib is believed he had an accomplice. Tho authorities are at fault as to how he managed to evade tho sentries^ ■"■■■'

The following members of the V\ anderera' Quoit Club. Chelsea, play at Norbbcoto tomorrow :—Coldioubt (captain), Homewood, Mawkee, Rogere, Curtis, Peacock, Roberts, W. McLean, A. McLean, K. Copeland, E. Copehuid, Woolley, Harking, Taylor.

Mr J. H. Mackie, Hon. Secretary to the Auckland Technical School -Association, has written to Dr. J. L. Campbell in reference^ the sum of £170, which lies in the bank to the credit of the Taranaki Relief Fund in Dr. Campbell^ name. He writes in support of the proposal that the balance of-the fund should be devoted to-tho funds of the Technical School in" Auckland. He urges the claims of technical education on the attention of the doctor and his ass"bciateß to the fund, and says :—"We venture to say thab no bettor use could bo made of the money now in your hands than its application to this purpose, and a splendid opportunity is now afforded the subscribers to the Taranaki Fund to bestow a real and lasting benefit upon' the City of Auckland, for, be ib remembered, the donation of the sum in question would entitle the Auckland Technical School Association to alike amount from the Government, making a total of nearly £950."

Mr W. F. Davies, the Auckland representative of Messrs Skelton, Frostick and Co., proprietors of the Zealandia Boob and Shoe Manufacturing Company, has just opened out a, fresh lot of awn pies at his rooms, Coombes' Arcade. A specialty of this, firm is that the bulk of their goods is welted work, and the general finish displayed iv' the .800 samples now ,on view shows that the very latest: appliances are used in the factory to. turn out such firstclass articles. Glace, tan and pump work are included in the samples, also all descriptions of children's goods and women's welted work. .'■... .

The " V.M.C.A. Monthly Record ", for May just issued contains much interesting matter, including a letter from Mr J. 11, Todd, written on the s.e. Airlie on March 20th,- en route for China. A letter from Sister Blakoiey states that she is; well and happy. The Rev. John McNeill is reported to have been richly bleßsed in evangelistic work'in Calcutta. A number of new and valuable books have been added to the library. ' ;

The s.e. Vivid leaves.on the uauarexcuV eion to Riverhead at 1.30. p.m. to-morrow, leaving Riverhead for Auckland at i p, ta,

An inspection parade of the. "A* O'Brion and Lieutenants Bosworth ana nub the four gun detachments tbrougu a $£oSm? Subsequent^;.tggg, who intend competing at the military eporta on the (Queen's Birthday, went through a course ot instruction m cavalry sword exercise. i The concert in aid of the widow arid family of the late Bryon Hilditch, to be held, in St. George^ Hall tonight, promises to attract a large audience. A arst-class proK ramma has been arranged by Madame Goldenstedt. She will be assisted byMrs J. Bagob Birch, Messrs A. H. Gee, Eerr Zimmermann, Leslie Dix, and others. The' annual soiree in connection with' St.' Luke's Presbyterian Church, Remuera, will be held in the Remuera Hall this evening. Tea will-be "on tfce tables at half-pasb_ cix. Ab the public meeting addresaee and choice selections of music will be given.

Mr Charles Naylor will be the recipient of a benefit at the City Hall on Monday night next. The popular variety performer will be assisted by mecnbers of Fitzgerald Bros.' circu3 and leading amateurs. ,; ,

No efForts are being spared to make the grand musical and. dramatic evening which is to be given by Madame Goldenstedb and Mr Montague in the Opera House on Monday next isuccessj Sheridan's celebrated " screen scene " from ;*' School for' Scandal" forms the piece de resistance. With such a powerful cast a highly-finished rendering may be expected. The mußical portion of the programme, although short, will form an im por tan b f eatu re, it ems bein s promised from Madame Goldenstedt, Mrs W. J. Boylan, Mr Sam Jackson, Mr A. L. Edwards, Mr G. M. Keid, and Mr John Birch. Tho farcical comedy, " A Bilious Attack," with which the entertainment closes, abounds with mirth-provoking situations. We understand a large party will be present from Government House.

Miss Amy Vaughan advertises the la9b night of the successful burlesque " Wbittington up to Dabe." Ib was originally intended to pioduce this burlesque but two nighbe, bub owing to its great success the management have decided to repeat ib on Saturday night, when an entirely new programme will be presented., ; ■

: The social evening to be held nexb Tuesday, May '14th, in connection., with St. Beuedicb'a Club, promiees to be a great success. The dance music is to be supplied by Messrs Marriage and Meredith, und several prominent amateur vocalists have promised bo contribute items. ,

Rushbrook and Co. close at 1 o'clock on Saturday.—(Ad vt.) \

Try JUNO before smoking other tobaccos, and after—then judge lor yourself.—(Advb.) . p • • ■

The best value in the town : The 21sNew Zealand tweed suits at RuShbrook's.— (Advb.) ' . ■ / ...

Rusbbrook and Co., Queen-streeb, are open this (Friday) evening till 9.30, closing on Saturday at 1 p.m.—(Advb.) • ' :

i Ab Rushbrook'e, Queen-sbraot, 3s lid gloves for Is lid, slightly spotted, very ch6ap.— (Advb.) , ,

Blankets, 6s lid pair; colonial flannel, B|d. Popular prices all round at Rushbrook and Co.'s.—(Advt.) V