FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 214, 7 September 1895, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

The match ab Wellington on Saturday lasb between Auckland and Wellington appears to have been a very fast and interesting game, the superiority of bho Welling, ton forwards gaining for them the victory The Wellington team is a very hard one t 0 beat on ibs own ground, for not since 1877 has a provincial team defeated Wellington ab home, and in that season the Obago team were the victors, and they won by 4 goals and 2 tries bo nil. In twenty-five years Wellington has only sustained seven defeats on its own ground, as follows: Nelson 1871, Canterbury 1876, Ofcago 1877, New South Wales 1882 (twice), Native Team 1888 and 1889. The representatives of Wellington and Auckland have met on eevon occasions, with the result that Wellington claims five wins, Auckland one, while the other was drawn. The following table shows the results of matches between the two provinces :—

1875 —Ab Wellington. Wellington won by 16 points to I point.

1880 —Ab Auckland. Wellington won by 5 points (a goal potted by J. Warbrick) to nil.

1883—At Wellington. Drawn (5 Doinfca each).

1886—Ab Auckland. Auckland won by 4 points to 2 points.

1889—Ab Wellington. Wellington won by 3 points (a goal from a try) to 1 point (a try).

1894—Ab Auckland. Wellington won by 13 points bo nil.

1895—Ab Wellington. Wellington won by 9 points to 5.

A match has been arranged between the crack Taranaki Club, the Stars, and the premier Auckland Club, Grafton, to take place ab Epsom on Saturday next. The game nhould prove an interesting one, and if Grufton arc able to place their strongest team in the field, which, however, is doubtful, I would expect to see them give bhe Sbars a hard buasle.

The. Thames footballers must have been a bib surprised at the result of their match against the Auckland fifteen last Saturday. Ib will be remembered the Thamesitea ab first refused to meet an Auckland second team, but when they found thab the latter must be fairly good, as they defeated Northern Wairoa and Wai'kato, bhe Thamesites waived the objection and agreed to meet the Aucklanders, with the resrulb bhab the latter won by 10 points to 3. Several of the Aucldandera complain that the game was a very rough one. The heeling out of the Auckland forwards was most slovenly as compared with bheir efforts against Waikabo, else I'm told Auckland's score would have boen much larger. Ster-' ling, Gallagher, Hogan, Williamson, Hancock and Freeman, were the most useful among the forwards, while all the backs performed creditably. Elliotb was watched very closely. The passing of the Thame3 backs was very poor. Of their forwards, S. Smith, Williame, Billing and Johnston were the best.

From Dunedin papers to band this week I learn that the Southerners consider the match between Ofcago and Auckland as one of the most interesting seen in Dunedin for somo time. On this point, ' Forward ' in the 'Otago Witness' writes:—• Since the visit of the English team, no football match

in Dunedin has aroused such a degree of excitement as bhe contest between Auckland and Otago aroused among the spectators at the Caledonian ground lasb Saturday. Ib was a splendid exhibition that was witnessed, and the man must have been hard to move who, knowing anything ab all about football, would not have his feelings etirred by such a display as this game produced. A " great go," was the expression which was employed by many regarding the match ab its termination,and the expression was fairly justified,' In criticising the play of the Aucklandera • Forward ' saya:—' On the Auckland side one forward stood oub head and shoulders above the others. Thab was Murray, who played with great dash, and was, perhaps, the best forward on bhe ground. Speight was bhe mosb prominent of the others, though M'Millan did good work. Gibbos, the centre forward, was, I believe, suflering from illness, and ehould not have played ab all, bub Otago forwards tell me ho was by no means the worsb of the visiting pack. Brown on the wing did a lot of spoiling, bub missed soveral chances of getting the ball away. Ib seemed to me to be a weak-kneed compromise and a mistake, from the Auckland point of view, to pick one wine forward and give him a roving commission. Brown could nob be on both sides of the scrum at once, and Mason was not foolish enough to run round the side on which thab player was stationed. Ib was, I suppose, because the Otago Committee do nob pick wing forwards thab the Auckland Selection Committee did not pick their usual couple of wing forwards, bub clearly I think ib was a mistake on their part to have picked one it they were not disposed bo include both in bheir beam. As bhings turnod oub, of course, the Otago forwarde would have swept the scrums bGfore them | if two wing forwards had been played by their opponents,but that was nob to be foreseen. Behind the half back line the Auckland backs wore on the whole superior to the Ofcago men. Their clean, long throwing was very prebty and much more showy than the short; passes which the Otago backs as a rule indulged in, and there is the strong point in favour of long throwing, that the back receiving bhe play is givon a much wider field than ie bhe case when the playore huddle themselves together. After the firab 20 minubea or so the Auckland three-quarber backs, except on a rare occasion or two, had little opportunity of showing what they could do in the way of aggressive work, for either bheir forwards did nob secure bhe ball ab all in the ecrum, or if ib did come out it was nob allowed to get far, the vigilance of the Otago backs being particularly keen. Clayton, the Auckland full-back, came through a trying ordeal with a good deal of credit, "and Absolum, who as the scorer of all the trios obtained by the visitors in the two previous matches attracted a good deal of attention, fielded beautifully and ran splendidly, bub in the defensive work he was not reliable like Gage and Maseficld, both of whom— the former especially—did fine service in this respect. Gage, however, is not the player ho ÜBed to be. Braund, the scrum half back, was the best of the Auckland halves, bub he was not so smarb as Mason, whilo Ronayno was outclassed, and H. Stephenson was brilliantly erratic'

Watson, the well-known Wairarapa forward, in bends to retire from the game after thie season.

In commonting on the match between Auckland and South Canterbury,!} Southern scribo eaye :—' Masefield p'ayod a neat and safo game ab full back, and Absolum is a player who I should bhink would always give a good dieplay whenever he played, ue he does all things so neutly and e'eanly, and his three tries were well deeerved. Edmonds spoiled his play by being too selfish, and tho same remark applies to Stophensoii. Riley, late of the Now South Wales team, was oub of form altogether, and Ronayne had little to do. Braund, behind the ecrum, passed out quickly and well, and was good too in the defensive play. M'Millan, Murray and Spoighb seemed to bo the boet of a useful lob of forwards. Tho game was played in a most friendly spirit ; and lam sure the friendship wa3 even moro cemented when Braund, the Auckland skipper, ottered to allow another player to tako Healey's place when he was injured.'

In commenting on the Taranaki-Well-ington match, a Wellington scribe says : 'The game was entirely spoilt by the wind nnd the whistle. The former could nob be avoided, but the latter certainly. Mr Firth is admitted on all eidoa to be a strict, impartial and still-backed referee ; he undoubtedly showed it on Saturday, bub, iieverbhloes, his reading of some of the rules ie, not only in my opinion, but in the opinion of hundreds of others, footballers and ex-footballers, open to question. Flis idea of penalising a man wh o , when attempting to catch a ball drope ib seems to mo wrong, as ib stands to reason a full-back does not intend to knock on when forwards are charging him, yet if he fails to take the ball cleanly Mr Firth invariably orders a scrum. He was nob consistent in this, even, as the Taranaki full-back on one occasion happened to drop the ball near his own goal. The appeal was made, as ib had been done a dozen times previously, yet ib was nob allowed. The one unpleasant incident in the match was the ordering off the field of Laing for deliberately throwing the ball forward. The referee was, I think, perfectly correct. It was the third time the offence occurred during the game, and a Taranaki man was guilty of ib on each occasion. When Bayly, the skipper, was the firsb to do it, he warned him, and distinctly stated he would not allow it; later on he cautioned another of tho visitors, and on Laing deliberately doing ib when he was penned by some half a dozen of the home team close to his own line, he called both teams together and ordered tho offender off the field. This was about five minutes to time. Mr Firth ruled thab this cornea under foul play because the playerdelibernbely gains an unfairadvantage by breaking the rules.'

'•Bob' Whiteside scored three tries for New South Wales againet the Boomerang Club at Brisbane on August 15th.

Tho following table shows the results of bhe matches played by the Auckland team in the South :—

Aug. 17—v. Hawke'e Bay : Won by 10 points to 3. Aug. 20—v. South Canterbury : Won by 9 points bo 0. Aug. 24—v. Obago . Losb by 11 poinbs bo 8. Aug. 29—v. Canterbury : Losb by 10 points to 0.

Aug. 31—v. Wellington : Lost by 0 points to 5. Sept. 2—v. Nelson : Won by 9 points bo 3. Sepb. s—v. Taranaki: Drawn.

Matches played, 7. Won, 3; lost, ,3drawn, 1. '

When the team lefb Auckland it was not expected they would win any of the big contests, but they have not been favoured with any luck during their tour. At Otago they were only beaten by the margin of a penalty coal, while Canterbury won the I izame by having a reliable place kicker in J their team, for they failed to orose Auckland's line. The match at Wellington was i a decisive one, the Southerners gaining three tries to Auckland's one, which was converted. The Aucklanders were unfortunate in having Surman injured in the first match, for he was in great form this year. Riley, too, was hurt in the South Canterbury game, which also handicapped the team. The Committee, Messrs Dixon Mills and'C. Speight, who have chosen the teams in the South, have acted eomewhat peculiar in their selections. They have chosen men to play ab three-quarter who have not played in that position before this season, while they have had three-quarters standing out; they have played pack forwards on the wing, while those who were chosen to play on the wing have been among the speckbore, and bo on.

They may have a good reason for their I actions; bub to us at home they have ap-| pearedstrange. Therearemanywhocoosider that Edmonds has been unfairly treated on the tour, and after the ro«ulfc of the Taranaki match, those who consider Edmonde i our beet centre half, are confadenb the Aucklanders would have fared better in the other contests had he been played behind the pack. . *~ I hear bhab Absolum's comrades intend to give him a big reception on bis return. He was the only member of tho Suburbs F.C. in the team. From all accounts Abeolum has mbown betber form than any of tho other backs. Owing to the match between the Stars (Taranaki) and Grafton (Auckland) having been fixed for Saturday next, the game between the ' Old Rops. , and the Auckland team will take place on Saturday week, 21eb inst. Auckland footballers will regret to hear thab 'Wally , Rhodes had his face cub open from bhe mouth to the neck on Saturday last, at Wellington, through one of his fellow-workmen accidentally striking him with an axe. The painful mishap did nod stop Rhodes from witnessing bhs AucklandWellington match in the afternoon. The Wellington 'Post' of Monday lasb says : • The game bebween Auckland and Wellington was a first-class one from start to finish, being fast and Open. Masofield, Absolum, Braund and Gage were the best of the visitors' backs, while Mills. Clarkin, Murray, Speighb and Brady, more particularly Clarkin and Brady, were foremost in tho forward ranks.'

The ' New Zealand Times,' which hae a well-written and chatty accouno of the Auckland-Wellington game, praises Gage, Absolum and Braund (backs), Clarkin, Murray, Speight and Mills (torwarde). From a Wellington exchange I notice that an Anckland lady sent a horseshoe of blue and white violets to Wellington on Saturday last, to give our boys ' good luck. . The emblem was hung across the Auckland banner. Association Footbath. _ i Although only fcwo outside teams visited Auckland to compete in the Association Football Tournament, the games were mosb interesting and considered good exhibitions of the Association game. The contest between Auckland and Wellington was fairly even, bub had Austin Smith been in his best form, 1 fancy a few more goals would have been added bo Auckland's score. The Ruahine team were favourites for the tournament, and after witnessing the Auckland — Wellington match the Ruahine players considered they had a soft thing on,bub they were never in it; I consider they were fortunate in leaving the field with only three goale registered against them. lam indebted to a friend who is an authority on the Association game for the following notes on the play of the various men :— In the Auckland-Wellington match— Austin Smith was evidently not in iorm on Thursday. He did nob givo the public any of his eeneational dribbles, bub he fed hie other forwards splendidly. Hamilton passed nicely, and tho goal he gob was a splendid shot. He was inclined to take things rather easy. Rice did not seem to have sufficient confidence in himself, but ho played" much botter in the second spell. Heather played a good hard game, and has the makings of an excellent forward. He was inclined bo wait too long before centreing. Burgesswasdisappointinp. He is fast bub does not seem to be able to keep the ball at his tO3, and is consequently easily tackled. Ho should always pass before he gets to tho opposing back. Todd played very woll the first spell, his heading being very good. He had very little to do in the second spell. Dacre kicked well, bub did nob seem to stop the rushes in his usual fashion. He should remember thab ib is often advisable to send the ball on to the full back when pressed. A. Chamberlain worked hard, and got his side out of many difficulties. His tackling as usual was first-clans. Manton and F. Chamberlain were nob as reliable as usual. Tho latter should remember to take the man when his partner is going for the ball. Dr. Roberts had only one hot one to stop, bub he saved splendidly then. Hailwood wns the best forward on hia side, and had he been fed more muso have scored. Glover and McDonald passed too wildly. Tho former hnd an easy opportunity of scoiing once, bub did not take advantage of ib. Plenderleith is inclinod to play offside. He is very faeb and therefore should be dangerous, butdoes notdribblewelleuough. Ferguson played well on the wing, bub did not centre enough. Hoafford played a splendid defensive game, and stopped the Auckland men time after time. Gamble and Richardson were both to tho fore, the latter especially. The former by good play odco or twice gave his forwards an opportunity of scoring which they did not avail themselves of. Shields and Auld were the best full backs on tho ground, and quite outshong the Auckland men. The latter's kicking was much admired, and he stopped Smith once when he must have scored in a eplendid fashion. In the Auckland-Ruahine match — Gibson, the goal keeper, was evidently nervous, as he has a good reputation. Ho should have saved 2 oub of the 3 shots pub in. Andrews played a capital game. His full-back play was the best shown ab the tournament, and Auckland players would do well to take a lesson from him. McKinnon did nob have much to do, bub made no mistakes. Field played the beat game on the ground and as a half back is the best we have seen in Auckland. Duncan and Bowden invariably placed the ball well, bub the latter was rather weak in tackling. Dβ Liale was disappointing.- He scarcely dribbled ab all himself, but was contented to pass the ball on to his wings. Hudson and Philpotba N were very fair. The former has a good knowledge of the game evidently, bub did not keep his place. Daniels and Myers lacked speed, and missed several good opportunities through not centreing well. Dr. Roberts was never ab a loes. He had only two shots to save, neither of them eaey, and acquitted himself well. Manton and Chamberlain defended In good stylo. Tho latter's volleying was very favourably commented on. Dacre was the pick of the half-backs, and he only wants to learn to feed his forwards and he will be a first-class man. A. Chamberlain and Todd did all that was required of them. They both cackled well, and as usual Todd's head was to tho fore. Smith played much better than on Thursday, and kopb his men together splendidly. His dribbling was all that could bo desired. Hamilton and Rice shared the honours between them. The former's dribbling ; quite equalled his- captain's, and Rice wa« I nob far behind him. Bursress and Heather had nob much to do. Tho former played a steadier game than on Thursday. CRICKET. Yorkshire beab Sussex ab Hastings on July 6th by .nine wickets. Scores : — Sussex 189 (Ranjitsinhji 59) and 178 (Ranjiteinhji 74); Yorkshire 257 (Wainwrighfc 46) and 112 for one wicket (Tunmcliffe 50 nob out and Jsckeon 45 nob out). In the match between Warwickshire and Leiceotershire, which the former won by an innings and 9 rune, Lilley contributed 158 nob out, out of a total of 299 made by the winners.

Playing for Suseex ogainsb Hampshire on July 10th, Ranjitsinbii scored 83, and Murdoch 89 (nob out). Cn.iHl Regarding the visib of a New South Wales team to this colony next season, Mr Smich, the Secretary of the New Zealand Cricket* Council, has bad lettere from Messrs C. Richardson to*****'}!? well-known New South Wales cricketers, who say that, although the team will not be a "preßentatave ona, ib will be a very good one, and aoarb from the leading cricketers, it w»ll contain the best men available. It »c expected that the tour will be commenced at Auckland, and the team will then work ite way South, reaching Christchurch about tho second week in January, so as to.avoid clashing with the Auetralaeian Abhletic Championship Meeting, which is to Dβ held in Christchurch on January 2nd ana A writer, dealing with the subject of the • Grace Testimonial, , in one of the bpanisn papers, has attempted to explain to his counbrymon the character of the game, says an exchange. After speaking of cricket as a pastime which has. nob crossed the I Channel (which, by the way, is incorrect), the writer proceeds : — ' The eminent cricketer, of whom all London, or rather all England , , is ab present speaking, v> • ('• Grace, is a " better," and his famous career has jusb been crownod by a performance which has filled the whole world of sportsmen with admiration and wonder. At the age of forty-seven, an age when the hour of retirement is generally ab hand for players of cricket, W. G. Grace in a recent match made a score of a thousand " points, which mean 3 thab he ran a thousand times the distance of several metres which separates the two "rows of wickefce." Every time, in fact, thab the player strikes the ball with bia " batte " he haa to continue running this distance until the bowler succeeds in recovering the ball.' More than one member of the wagering fraternity (says an English paper) has offered to give'£2o,ooo in exchange for the Grace testimonial, while, according to a well-known Somersetshire cricketer, who was present at the time, a wealthy ( magnate seated in the pavilion ab Lord's the other day seriously offered £30,000 for the testimonial on its completion. From an English exchange, I notice thab a match between Stoddart'e Australian team and an eleven representing the rest of England has been arranged for the second week in September. The annual meeting of the United C.C. will be held on Friday evening next, at tho Metropolitan Hotel. A meeting of all those interested in the formation of the Ponsonby Cricket Club wilt be held in the Oddfellowe' Hall, Poneonby, on Tuesday evening next, ab 8 p.m. A large attendance is expected. CYCLING. Megson, the Now South Wales crack cyclist, and undoubted champion amongsb the caeh riders of Australia, contemplates a visib to England for the purpose of competing against the cash fraternity of thab country and the Continont. Ab Toronto, on July 1, in a match race, mile haats, John S, Johnson beab Sanger bwice in lmin 59Jsac and 2min Ifsec. He also scored in a one mile handicap from scratch, in 2min Next day they met ab Grand Rapids. He defeated Sanger in 2min 4see, was beaten in 2tnin 10>]i<ec in the second heat, and then won the last heat in the same time. lie had a try againeb 2min, bun only made 2tnin 2£sec. Previously, at Philadelphia, Johnson pub up 2min 3-sbh sec for a paced mile. On Saturday, August 31st (writes ' Phililiueier'in the ' Australasian '), Messrs G. W. Burston and Tom Hunter mako a etarb for their New Zealand three months' bicycle tour. In order to be in firsb rate riding condition when they reach Auckland the pair will first ride from Melbourne to Sydney, To bid them good-bye the Melbourne Bicycle Club has organised an excursion to Kilmoro the day they start, and a jolly time is promised. E. Reynolds, the crack Auckland cyclist, has been selected by the New Zealand Cyclists Alliance to represent this colony in the Australasian championship bicyclo races, to be hold in Sydney on Ocb. 7. Reynolds has commenced braining, with a view of getting into his best form. ATHLETICS. ■ The steeplechase race ab Epsom on Saturday last, held under the auspices of tbe Auckland Amateur Athletic Club, proved fairly successful, and I hope the club will hold a similar contest again next winter. Considering thab it was the firsb race of its kind held here for some time, the handicaps framed were mosb creditable. M. O'Connor cud H. V. Buchanan were greatly fancied, bub the result proved a bis of a surprise, for our crack cyclist, E. Reynoldg, showed that he could run as well as pedal, for he won comfortably by about 40 yards. F. Hedges, the footballer, ran a very game race and made a fine epurt home, beating Rl. O'Connor for second place by about a yard. The disbance is reckoned two miles, and if this be correct Reynold's time, lOmin 25sec, must be considered very fair. F. E. Bacon won the one mile championship of Essex for the the third successive year at Chelmsford on July 13th. This victory makes the cup Bacon's property. The English Championships. A fortnight back I gave the results of the English Amateur Championship meeting held on July 6bh ab London ; the following account of the gathering from the pen of our London correspondent should, howe.ver, prove interesting. He writes :— The Amateur Athletic Association's thirty - firsb championship meeting, held ab Stamford Bridge on Saturday July 6th, was, I'm bold by a veteran sportsman, ' the very best as ever wae. . How far this statement is true I am nob prepared bo say, bub so far as my own memory of championshiD meetings goes I can endorse hia opinion. Ib was a wonderful day's sports, under bhe very best of atmospheric conditions. The big programme was carried out in a manner reflecting the greatesb credib on all the officials. There was an international flavour nboub bhe meeting also, for France was represented, as well as Soubh Africa and New Zealand. To the muttons :—

A rery fine field turned out for the Halfmile, including the holder, E. C. Bredin, of fche L. A.C., who won last year in lmin 56 2-sth sec. His principal opponents were T. S. Horan, of theCarabridge U. A. C., and A.G. Butler, a 'Poly' boy, whom many thought would be equal to tha task of cutting Bredin'a comb. Horan took up the running at two hundred yards, and pacing along at top speed led ■ the holder ten yard* ab the half-distance (54 l-sbh sec). But Bredin then began slowly to close up, and. when fairly in the line for home made a grand effort. Thirty yards from the tape the L.A.O. crack was level with the Cantab, and the latter tiring rapidly Bredin won by four yards. Butler finished third about half-a-dozen yards behind Horan, The time, lmiu 55 4-sth sec, is the fastest championship performance, bar Bredin'a own record of lmin 55 l-sth sec in '93. Saturday's win was his third in succession.

Nexb item: 100 Yards.— This event created soma excitement, for both C. A. Bradley, who won the cup in '92 and has held possession thereof since, and A, R. Downer, of the Scobtieh Pelicans, were on the ground, and fib as fiddles both. The preliminary heats resulted in Bradley Downer, Max Wittenberg and C. R. Thomas qualifying for the final. In this Downer gob ratlur badly away, whilst Bradley was quickly into hie stride. The crack led for two score yards, and then Downer drew level, bub even as he did so the lorkshireman spurted away again and finally beat him a couple of yards in lOsec dead. Thia performance ranks with that of Wharton in '86, and Bradtev'a own record made in '93.

Third event: Tho 120 rarie Hurdles.--Godfrey Shaw of course turned out to defend. h is tibS, and had no difficulty in placing; hs name on the roll.for the third time in succession. He also broke the long-standing-record of l&ec by doing the journey m 15 4 sth, which equals the Canadian record, but is l-sth inferior to the_ American. But. they co so very, fast the other Bide that one is apt to wonder whether their watches are able to keep pace. The Hammer- Throwing event proved & eifb for Dr. Barry, of Southport, who hurled; the 161b misßile 132£b lljin.and beat all previous championship throws bar Ins of 92,, viz. 133 ft 3in. KeiUy, of the Irish AmateurAthletic Association, was eecond with 160 ft!, • 2Mn—a throw good enough to win nineteen, championships oub of twenty. Dr. Barry haa won this evenfe four times, his initial. Rucceep being gained in 1889. Next item: The Mile.-The famoua Ashton Harrier, F. B. Bacon, who won this event in '93 and '94, turned oat to maintain bis title. Luytens, the Cambridge crack, Wilkins of the L.A.C., Gavin, of the Soufeh. I London Harriers, Montague, of the Fincfaloy Harriers, and Michael boalhab, of France, were the pica: of the opposition,, but" Luytens was the only ona tbreatning real danger to the holderLuytens set off at a pace calculated to find holes, if there were any, in Bacon's condition. The Cantab reeled ofi the nrß> lap in one minute, with Bacon, Wilkins and Montague in hob pursuit. Aβ the paeamaker passed the half distance and the. clock said 2min saec, the leading quartette, were in much the same order, bub in the. third lap Wilkins momentarily passed Bacon and crept) up to Luytens, though the latter led as the field entered the last) quarter. Wilkine then passed Luytens, bub the Cantab soon recovered his position only to be challenged and passed by Bacon. The latter spurted home from the final bend and won by"t\yenty yards from Luytens in the record time of 4min 17sec. Montague beab Wilkins for third place. Thus Bacon afc last removed the long-standing amateur record put up by W. G. George in 1884* and also Coneff's American record of 4minr 17 4-sth sec made at Cambridge, Maas., oa 26bh August, 1893. The Pole Jump fell to K. D. Dickeneon, at 10ft, hia principal opponent being Hunter of South Africa, who failed, however, to beat 9ft. This makes Dickenson's fourth successive win,including bis dead-heat with Watson in 1892. Dickenson also won in 1890. The Quarter Mile brought oub Bredio. again, and he won the firsb heat from P. J. Blignant, of South Africa, easily by two yards in 51 3-sth sec. The eecon'd beat resulted in an eaay victory for W. Fitzherberb, the C.U.A.C. champion, in. 51 4 sth sec, and the third heat saw G. Jordan of Oxford University jusfa get home in front of Peter Blignant in. 51 l-sfch sec. j?b the firsb two in each, preliminary qualified for the final, six toed the mark. The Blignanbs made play at a tremendous pace for 200 yds, with Bredin in their rear. Nearing the end of the. third hundred the champion spurted and assumed the lead. For a second or so his victory seemed certain, but Fitzherberfe was Buddenly observed to be actually gaining on the L.A.C. crack. Inch by inch th<a. Cantab gained, and soon he was at Bredin'i shoulder. A magnificent tussle ensued, but the Cambridge crack began to draw away in the last thirty yards, and managed t<* ecrape home nalf-a-yard ahead in 49 3-sbh ccc. The time clearly indicates that Bredin lost by reason of the steel having been taken oub of him in the Half-mile. Philip BligDant was third syds from the winner. The High Jump foil to Ryan, of the Irish. A.A.A., who won at sft ll£in, which is 3ia less than what he did in the '93 championship. Williams, of the L. A.C., who won in '94, was eecond with sffc 10£ in, an improve* mont of l£in over his championship jump. The Two Miles Steeplechase as usual provided the fun of the day, the water jump claiming several victims. E. J. Wilkina of the L.A.C., won rather luckily from hie fellow clubman Sydenham, whose shoe burst. Time, llmin 24sec.

Tho weights putting contest ended in. the victory of bhe '93 and '94 champion, Dennis Horgan, who 'pub' the 16!b iron shot 44fb 3iin, a championship record. Gradwell, of Soubh Africa, pub 43ft lin, and Dr. Barry, 42ft Bin.

The Four Miles Walk—a dreary spectacle usually—created greab excitement. Curtis, who has won bhe championship for the lasb five years, was opposed by Sburgess, of the Polytechnic Harriers, and the pair were taken along at tho starb by Featon, of bhe Highgate Harriers. The pace was very hot, bub Sburgess stuck to the champion every inch of the way, and actually took the lead when the bell rang. Curbie, however, spurbed, ami, amid wild enthusiasm, caught and passed his man in the laab hundred yards, and won by six. Bub the judges said he had broken, and disqualified the champion. Sturge&s's time was 30min 17 2-sth sec, which is 11 3-sth sec slower than Curtis's performance last year.

Meanwhile the Long Jump was in course of decision, and in the end Oakley, of Oxford, beat Mendelson, of New Zealand, by 3sin. tbe colonial junjpiug only moderately. Oakley covered 21tb Hunter, of South Africa, and Jean Gluchowski, of France, competed, bub could nob reach the standard of 20ffc 6jin. The day's sport concluded with the Four Miles Race for the Earl of Jersey's Challenge Cup. F. E. Bacon, who won lasb jear in 19min 48 4-sbh sec, turned out! bo defend his bible, but naturally was nob very fresh after breaking the mile record. The opposition was very. strong, and included H. A. Munro, C. Pearce, Sid Thomas, H. Watkins, Bennett and King—all rattling distance peds. Wabkins took the field along, and ato the mile (4min 45 3-sth eec) was in front of Bacon and Thomas Manro being well a6bern. The second mile (9mia 45 3-sbh sec) saw Wabkins sbill leading, bub nearing the completion of bhe bhird, Munro spurted, and fairly broke up Watkins and Bacon. Sbriding along, with Thomas aud .Pearce in gallant pursuit, Munro accomplished the three miles in 14min 58sec, and thereafter, never being headed, won by about a hundred yards from Pearce, who beab Thomas fifteen yards for second honours. The time (19min 49 2 sbh sec) was only 3-sbh see oubside Bacon's championship record made last year. So ended a grand afternoon's sporb. AQUATICS. By the 'Frisco mail which is expected on Thursday next, we will no doubt hear the dates of tbe race for the America Cup bebwoen Valkyrie 111. and the Defender. The cpntesbs should take place some time this month. The race bebween Tom Sullivan and Harding for the sculling championship of England and £400, over the Thames course, is fixed for Monday nexb. In bheir lasb meebing ib will be remembered Harding defeated the Aucklander, bub ib was stated bhab Sullivan was not in his besb form. A number of our yachtsmen have com* menced working on their yachts, with a view of preparing them for bhe coming season. I hear that a number of our yachbs will be afloat early this season. Mr G. V. Edgcumbe, yachb broker, reports the sale of the yacbb Wanderer, on behalf of Mr R. Gibbe, who, I believe, mbends building a 2£-rater. The 2£-rater Rogue is for sale. The price asked should effecb a speedy sale of this desirable yacht. Full particulars may ba had from Mr G. V. Edgcumbe, who has also a number of other yachts and open boats for sale.