THE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 3 January 1896, Page 2

THE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

New Zealand has on many occasions had good cause to be proud of her sons in many lands, and in various walks of life. They generally manage bo give a good ac. count of themselves wherever bhey go, whether ib be iff work or in play. Some people hold that ib is chiefly in play that our boya distinguish themselves, but the recorda of the Home colleges and the number of successful business men this small community has produced, tell anothor talc. While in no way wishing to depreciate the value of mental and moral training we are equuly averse to speak of physical training as of little moment. Tho desideratum which we should seek to attain ia the mens sana in corpore sano which the wise ancients sought) after, and it is pretty certain that the firab can vory seldom, if ever, be gob withoub bhe eocond. V. c wanb to see muscloa developed along with brains, and so long as the physical exercise is not exceesivo ib can havo nothing bub a moot bonciliciai oliocb on the mental vigour. Tho lad who excels in athletic exorcises without neglecting his other business is probably more likely to be a useful citizen and to rear useful citizens than the boy who shrinks from exorcise and pores over hia books to tho detriment of his health.

Strong, sturdy, athletic young men are whab we want in thia young colony, and judging from tho performances of our athletes at the Auetralasiau Amateur Athlotic Championship meeting at Christchurch, wo havo gob them in very fair numbers. Wheu we con&idor our small population, as compared with thab Now South Wales or Victoria, it ia somowhat surprising to bud New Zealanders standing so high in tho contests at Lancaator Park yesterday. Ib shows very clearly that thoso young men whoso limbs were mado or nurtured in Maoriland have a fine amount of strength, agility and stayiug power. In the 100 Yards raco a Victorian carried off the final honours, bub only by a very short distance, and throe New Zealanders followed him. In the Half Mile Bicycle Race for the Championship of Now Zealand, a Sydney man was first, two New Zealanders being again behind. The samo cyclist, followed by the some two, won the Five Miles Australasian Bicycle Championship. Bub in all other events of the day the New Zealanders proved their undoubted superiority. In the hurdles race, the three mile walk, tho throwing the hammer, the polo jump, tho ten mile bicycle race and quarter mile flab raco, bhe namea of Maorilanders stood first.

The meeting was in evory respect a most successful one, and a greab deal of interest was manifested by the public in the contests. This ia exactly aa ib should bo. These exhibitions of strength and agility in which oach of the colonies contends for supremacy, are among tho moat healthful and useful forms intercolonial competition could take. The spirit of rivalry which they foster has nothing objectionab:o in it, but on the contrary it tends to promote a feeling of good fellowship between tho peoples, while ib undoubtedly does something to improve the stamina of the whole race in this quarter of the world.