ATHLETIC NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 283, 28 November 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By ACT/EON.)

CRICKET FIXTURES,

November 2G and December 12. Seniors.—Gordon v. Parnell, Auckland v. United Fnesr Jt'SiOKS. — Gordon v. North Shore' Newton v. Parnell. Pitt-stroet Mutual v, Licensed Victuallers, Auckland v. United, liulmoiit '•". Onehunga Sixuxn Jimohs.—St. Albans v. Giammar School. Poneonby v. Gordon, Helmout v, Surrey. Auckland v. North Shore (b», Parnoll v. Untied, North Shore (A), v. Clarence Canterbury v. Wellington—at Christcuureh, January 22, 23. find 25 Auckland v. Wellington—at Wellington, Dec. 2. 3, and 4 ATHLETIC FIXTURES. Ei(?ht Hours' Demonstration Sports—Dec. 5_ Nov.- Zealand Athletic Championship Meeting. i:t Domain—February 10 and 13 Noil ti shore A.A. and C. Club's meeting. North Shore Domain—Dec. 12

CKICKET.

The local championship fixtures corntccncsd today will nob be resumed till Decembor 12, as the Domain will be used next Saturday for the Eight Hours Demonstration Sporfcg. The sum of £255 was taken at the Australian cricket match in Wellington, which will give the local Association a surplus of i about; £50. : Tho team to play against Wellington leaves for the South on Monday. Owing to a number of trood men boing unable to get away (among them being Kelly, Wright, Ford, Kallender, Labatt, Ohlpon, Gardiner, Holland, Williams and Lawson), tho .Selection Committee have been necessarily restricted in their selection. The teem bb+np sent, however, is not far from beiri<; our bosfc, and the general expectation is that it; will give a good account of itself. An American cricket team will visit En "land noxt your. The tour will commence in tii6 latter part of May und close in the middle of Aufjunb. Joo. Darling was 2G years o' ! i«6 Saturday. According to a lirisbuno wri * tlio Queensland team will leave al^.;. lie middle of • ccember so that they limy •• in- | monce their lirst match in Auckland mi j Boxing Day. The New South Wales Appociatiot! has | decided to in-tko iho following recommend- ! ation to the Marylobone C.(J. rogarding I ho ' ' ioiloir-on ' rule : — ' That the rule a» ab present exiting fhoul'l bo relainod as far as it relates lo the number of runs rendering a " followon " compulsory ; but that it be t>o altered that the option of ordering a " follow on " be loft with tho side which hftft ob aino i t!ie larger number of runs in tho first, imiin us. ' Lfaving arrived at this conclusion regarding the " follow-on " rule, tho Commiiteo i* of opinion that ir. is not invited to express its views regarding the cloHiirc rule, inasmuch aa a modification of t.h&b ruin is only fugLrested in tbo ovent of tho " toliow-on " i ulo being abolished.' ATHLETICS. The Auckland Amateur Athletic and] Cycling C.'ub'i" Spring Carnival last Saturday wi(f, financially, aa great a *ucco-b as> could iiivo been desired. Though fchju wmn tho second athletic and cycling mooting in a fortnight, there was an oxce lout uttendancG, fully 6,000 people being present, i)!»d tho receipts came to somoihiog likn C2'li). 'i'o this splendid result, a gnnd f!(s;i! inwy bu attributed to the perfect weather which the Club's sports were atiain favoured with. The track waß in splendid oider, thankw to the care bestowed on it by Mr !i. V«te.«, and in this connection Jlr Vateo was presented by the President on behalf of a number of pedestrians with a very hand-oma silver mounted pipe. The atariint; machine invented and patented by Mr 1> A. Lnurie attracted a considertiblo uinonnt ot attention, this being it.a Hr«t. trial in public. It worked exceedingly well, ;ind there is little doubt but that when tho runners have become unod to it, it will provo of the greatest value in ensuring 3ven start!*. The machine, howovor, 2auld, I think, bo made a good leu! ?irapler. Mr A. Smith started the jther events eatisfactorily, and the judging was in good hand?. The • ports thomoelves were Bomewhat di^ap;)uinting. in tho sprint events it was seen l\ M. Thompson waa practically thrown inco Iho ldOYds and 250Ydfl Handicaps. Jiio of tho best running races of the afterloon was tho Half Mile, which E. A. Stone, who is quite a youth, won in the :ao?t determined manner. In the bicycle jvonts the nditi _■ of E. Reynolds was diaapjointing, for in spite of being able to ower his mile record in a breeze from 2min JO^oc to 2m»n 27 3 sth sees, ho won ionu of the numerous events for which ho v'v* entered. J. Thomson sprang i-ome-vhat of a Hurpriao on the handicappers and jublic genorally, winning tho three races io was entered for in the easiest: possible uannei, tl:ua securing the Victor LuJorum vith 15 points, L. W. Graham being econiJ for the honour, with 13 pointn, In ho high jump C. C. Laurie put up a good (orformance, clearing the bar ut 5 feed 7 nebes, only an inch below the New Zouund record. In returning his thanks for the presentaion made him of a fiilver-mounted pipe Jr Yules said that pince he had un-der aken the cure of the Domain his aim had I way* bean to treat all classes alike. It ad been f'wid that he would be inclined to how favouritism to fonior cricket, but he mild a-suro them that he had done his GH6 tor all branches of sport. He v.»s tho lore pleased at tho presentation because it ame from the athletes who had trained on :ie ground, for they had had an opporinity of eocing what he had done in jnnection with these eportf.

Ah f»r as the racing was concerned there wa« scarcely causo for congratulation. With but very few exceptions both (ho foot nine* mid the cycling races wore as? disappointing a collection as I have scon ab any ot the Club's sports for a long time. There woie only one or two finches in the foot races that canard the slightest excitement, while not a single race in the cycling evonfs caused as much interest as a dog fight. For fchi?, poor handicapping was in iho main ro«ponpible. The race* won by I. M. Thomson (pedestrian) and J. Thomson (cyclift) were practically gifts to those competitors on account of their handicaps. The tirat mentioned would havo pone very c'o~o to winning, if ho would nob have ac1. nally won, had he been put on scratch in each ev< nf. Both of them had evidently boon entirely overlooked.

The next New Zealand Athletic Championship Meeting has been fixed to f»ko oUce tit tho Auckland Domain Cricket/ Ground on February 10th and 13fch. An application was made to the New Zealand Cyclists Alliance to get the cycling championßhips dtcidod at this meeting also, but cho Alliance decided to award the privilege to Wellington. The reason, as 1 underutand it, ia oui want of a suitable cycling track.

Intending compct'tors at tho North Shore A. A. i<nd C. Club'c Meeting on December 12th are reminded that entries close tonight at the Metropolitan Hotel.

The following are the results of tho Victorian umatour charapionshipiii decided on tho St. Kilda Cricket Ground on November 14th :— ICOYds. C. H. M. WatFOn, 10 1 sth sec ; 880 yds, M. B. Watietihall, 2min, 4 2 sth eec: 1 mile ivaikiug, A. 0. Barrett, 6:nin 42sec (an Australian record), Polo vault, M. M. Ko»/ciiigravo (only entrant), 9ft Oiin ; one mi!c, W, Cumming 1, M. O'Connor (the oWi Aucklandor) 2. 4min 45sec ; 220ydp, C. K. M. Watson. 23 1 sth see ; putting the 161b wfliji'nt (from aTft square), J. P, Maher, :>Giti 7in ; 120 yds hurdlae, M. M. Koseeingrave. 16 l-sch sec (aa Australian record) ;

Throwing the 3Gib Hammer (from a 9rfc circle), \V. J. Doolan, 03fb Sin : Thre9 Miles Walking, A. O. Barrett (the only starter), 21min 36 l-sth sec (an Australasian record); 440Yda Flat, M. E. Wettenhall, 55 3 sth sec ; High Jump, M. M. Roseingrave, ola 7in ; Broad Jump, M. M. Rossingrave, 2?.fb 8 l-3rd in ; 440 Yds Hurdles, H. C. Davis, 63 4 sth sec.

The cycling races resulted : —One Mile Novice, B. E. Stock, 2min 24 l-sth eec ; One Mile Championship, L. T. Gilleepie, 2min 35 2 sth eec ; Half-mile Open Handicap, A. J. Berry (20yds), time lmin 5 1-oth see ; Two Miles Open Handicap, A. L. Simpson (JGOyde) and R. O. Stewart (!30yd3), dead heat, time smin 53ec; Five Miles Championship, H. S. Scott, 13min 14 4-sth sec.

Commenting1 on the meeting, * Prodigal,' in tho ' Sydney Referee,' Bays :—• I reckon that Koseingravo'a win in tho hurdles wan his beat performance last Saturday. At the l2oyrii", over 10 flights (any height), lam convinced ha is the best man in Australasia ,in tho amateur class. lie has improved immensely afc this game since landing here, and will do better still. Although nob too fasb on the flat 'he jumps very quick and clean—like Batger somewhat—and even from the last jump homo can generally beat a faster man, as he gets hia stride so quickly. Next to tho Irishman, I think A. 0, Barrett stands out conspicuously for hia walking achievements. In the mile it was understood ho intended to try for world's figures—rather ambitions this—and as a ro;<uk : -t-r ho pub up 6min 42aec, which is an Au-!i:iiian record, cutting hia own figure* {-.m the Sydney Cricket Ground on October Sub last) by |sec. In the three (jniieei Barrett, single-handed, is credited with 21min 36 l-sth sec—a slashing go. These ligures put the previous Australasian amateur record of 22min 51 2-sth sec complotbly in the shade, anil aro but 27t-ec worse, than the world'R amatour record, hold by P. P. Murray,- of New York. This comment on Barrett's walking reminds me that hia rocord figures put up in Sydney crime besforo our Council to-night. lie j>ut up record figures for thin colony no one, two and three miles on October sth. and I sco no reason why tho figures should !tor bo panned. Tho iollov/ing sin- S'urgoßs'new record liLMiron: — 9 milos : \V. J, Si urge?.", *lhr Omin 31 2 sth hoc. Previous) bent: JI. Curti», Highgato H., Ihf 11 mm 14 2-5U> sec, December 'JTrli, 1890. 10 miles: W. J. SburgeßS, *lhr 17nriin .'<3 4 sth soc. Provioua he«t: 11. Curtiw, Hiijhgato 11., lhr 19mm 27 8 stli tec, D;cemhftr 27th, 1890. ', 11 mi'o^ : W. J. Sturgegp, *lhr 25min i 53 - sth tea. Previous bust: \V. .J. !Sturl'bs-", Pu'y. If., lhr 29min :(2 0-yth sec, IX-cember 2G'h, 189.1. I-J miles: W. .). Sturgess, ~lhr 31miu 41-oe. Previnuß besi.: ('. W. V. (Jiarko, Southampton A C, lhr 41miii 32soc, Do camber 2lith, 1895. 13 miioM : \V, J. Stnreesi", *Mir 43m in 42 15 h ccc. Previous best, E. Knotb, S»u'h London H, lhr 45mi;i 6 4-sth sec, L)ecemher 20' th. 189.~>. 14 milus : \\. J. SfurgcPß. *lhr 52min 59 2 ;'i h nee. Prevtou- be«i, E. Knoti, Souf.i: L'iridon H., lhr sMmiu 30 2 flih* eec, December 26ih, 1895. 1,1 mi!e>' : Dover, 2hr llmin 50 2 s>'h sec. Previous boat, Tmn Uidli h, .South E-cex A.C., 2ln-Omin 27-ee, Uccember 3 <t, 1870, an-l E ICtKjtt,. South London H , 2iir 2min 57 45 ii ee<-, December 260, 1595. ' v\ orld'd amutcur bfMi.!» on record, Ono offon C"mo« ncr"."*1 oxcedinply shrewd commonii in the 'Rofe-rea' over ' Diuonet's ' hignature. i was struck wit,h ihe truth of some remarks in tho current i-MHi of i.hftfc paper on what ho calls the ■ tnnntaiion boom of uport.i and pastimes ' at pcerunt atfiiating his country. 'So farroichintr have its nlleetK become !h>.t' (i-ays the popular writer) ' tho great men of rhe day »ro no im gor tho politicians, the scu'e^men, tho philosophers, the philantliropiniw, the men of science, and the man of art, but the men of sport. With a few exceptions—Mr (Jladstono is one—there are no men so well known by mime to the great body ci Englishmen as, let us cay, Morny Cannon, Tommy Loates, Rnnjy, and VV.G, Football doeH not eivo so many names to Lune individually as racing, cricket a;ul cycling, but the leading team* in curtain parts of England hay» very comfortable seafca on tho pionaclo of fame. Journalism helped to popularise sport, and in return sport has helped to popularise journalism. Hundreds of thoupatuls of novrspapora aro bought to-day by mon who bub for tho racing, cricket, and football intelligence would nover trouble themselvoa about tho day newa. But having bought tho newspapers and read the sporting item 3 and results, they turn to tho obher portions and frequently begin to tsko an interest in the articles devoted to political and social questions. Popular journalism in this country is in its infancy. Tho newspapers havo only just begun to shake themselves free from tho oldfashionod trammels and conventions which for years limited theirsphero of influence. They havo only just reached the fringe of that vasb populace in whoso hands lio« the making of the England that ia to be. Tho next five years will witnosa developments which will revolutionise tho governing power of tho country. Tho popular newspaper will number its readers iiy millionH. It will draw into its huge not not only the manhood but tho womanhood af the country, and it will bo the greatest power for good or evil that tho world has ever seen. And the journals wielding tho greatest power will bo those which show themselves most in sympathy with our national sport!!! and pastimes.' B. J. Wefers, tho American amateur champion *>printor, is 22 years of ago, stands 6ft high, and weighs J.'isb 31b. CYCLING » Ono of tho latent inventions in cycle brakes is what is known as the chain brush or.ike. By this form of brake epood i-> checked by a bruf.h attached to part of the Frame, and ho adjusted above the chnin that ivhen the rider i^ back pedalling it prosses against the chain. The best resultn aro obtained when the chain is rather loose, and ;he brake bo adjusted as to just touch it vvhen no pressure is on the pedals. When hiving the chain is just clour of the brush. Ono of the large»b bicycle buildine condoms in England has, ib is said, decided to turn out next, year nothing but chainlets machines. It ia expected that the patent ivill revolutionise tho whole of tho bicycle trade. Aa there appears to bo an imprcsion shaft my remarks in last week's supplement regarding one of the officials at the Cycling Jlub'a eporti referred to Mr Norden, tho "tarter, I might hero state that they had no reference whatever to that gentleman. Among tho recent inventions is a selfnbricnting chain. It is claimed for this I invention that it) protects the chain from iusb, and does away entirely with the u»o if oil. The ecrow thread is tapped in the centra block and graphite is inserted in a molten state and allowed to harden. The •procket wheel is similarly treated. This Jrrangemi.'rsb wan tried by the inventor, srho dipcovered that after riding 1,000 miles p.rnctically no duet had got into the chain. It took him three months to cover the ten! 3Gnturies and ho did not find ib necessary to clean the chair, during the entire time. run Cycling Industry—The Outlook in England. Among the passengers by the Rotomuhana, which arrived from Sydney on Monday, was Mr li. Inglis, of the firm of [nglis Bros., cycle importers, of Wellington. Mr Inglis has just returned from a trip to England, where he has made extensive purchases of cycles, in view of the rapidly increasing trade in this colony. He vis brought back frith him over 100 machines, from the well-known Humber, Hudson and Graaville factories, and large

shipments of New Howe and James bicycles are on their way out.

Interrogate'! by a Star representative B=3 to the state of tha cycling industry in England, Mr Inglia said that the English manufactures were utterly unable to turn oub enough machines to supply the enormous demand. The factories were all being enlarged, and were working night and day to endeavour to keep pace with their order?. He m6utioned aa an instance that he had to wait a full month before he could purchase a machine for his own use. With trado at such a pressure, ib was not to be wondered at thab colonial ordera were neglected or, at least, met with very tardy despatch.

Tho different factories in England were severally inspected by Mr Inglie. Ko was especially impressed with the Huinber Cycle Works. Within a week after the groat fire which, destroyed the Hambor Works at Coventry tho Company had 100 men working again, avid before a month had passed tho works were in full awing onco more, giving omploymenb to over 1,000 men.

One of the objects of Mr Inglia1 visit was to make inquiries with reference to motor curs, and he has acquired the agency for these novel vehicles. He hoped b&foro three months to have a sample .car out from the Old Country. These cars carry about four passengers and a driver. There is a Swo h.p. engiue which weight! 221b, and a gallon of keropeno will carry the machine a distance of 100 milee. As for speed, they average throughout i<- '"tig journey from 15 to 20 miles an hour.

Mr I':»gli8 admitted thab at the present hour there was a ' boom ' in American cycles in England. ' Hub,' ho continued, 1 they have nob come to slay. A* soon as ever the English factories cun supply their own demand, I beliovothe American wheels will ho lorcod out of tho market. Thegrenb reason of their present popularity \» • imply thab tho English factories are not turning out Biiilicienb machines to meet tho demand. Tho feeling in England i?, ho thinks, that American bicycles are too ligM for general tiding, and tho majority ol wheels riddon do not woigh less than 'IB or 26 pounds.

Mr Ing]is has a very poor opinion of woodon ritnu. In England, nt nny rate, they are h thing of tho past. Tho Simpson lovi-r chain luih nob caught on with tho U rcat body of cyclists, and in nob likely to t.fiko fcho plnco of tho rollor chain. English riders gen entity arc contenio 1 with lower

i/rado whools llian coloniuio, and many tn'iclii'ie." (ire feon on tt-.o road thab local m k'r-i vvfiulr] turn up their noses an.

i\lr I ntrlj« f-,aa made extensive purcha.ae.o, hi iiiiucrh ho hart hud no inuoiifideruble difficulty in trett.ing hif orders exenntod, nnt» ibltHtaiuling that, ho made per»"ti'il npplication?. A cnmplotc f-ofc of Humbcr machines are fco arrivo within n fortnitrlit Th''?e include n tandnm, n tricyclo nnd a number of bicycles, all beautiluUy fininliefi in art colours, with the exception of {hreo of tho bicycles, which are nickelplatrd »li ovpr, and have an exceedingly striking nnd handsome appearance. Tho oliiptnent. alpo include.'! n dozen racing machinea from tho IJetioton 11 umber factory. AQUATICS. On Sunday In-t mo-a of the Auckland yucht" which wore out for the wetiWy cnii?f.« had their rendezvous at Maf.iutiu Hny, Wuiheko. The wind being very light in tho nfternoon Hjinilb w'mt wnijiij ntherwico huvo beon iitterosting triu's 01 speed on t!ie return trip. Tho Rita hns beon launched for the sonfinn, having boon hirod by a number of lonul yischf-Miicn. Tho Wo.»t) Rnrl P.owing Club hart announces an nttractivo picnic nt Lake Tdkapuna for Satunfny, December l'2tli, whon there will be whalebont races on the Luke for gold bracolHtH presented by Mofsra McLean and Kirknr. The ' Marlboroujjh Impress ' suirgentf thut next yenr'« chnmpinnohip rega'tal nhould bo held on tho V\',iiriui River, which, it say«, providos one of tho bo.»t cournos in tho colony. The homo of rowing, po far as Australia i* in question, is tho Hunter district jijßfc now (writos ' Trident ' in tho ' Sydney Mail '). Quire a number of men can be found who arc abe to row, and can bo proTided with tho necopfmry stnkos. The New South Wali>s Rowing Association (says the ' Now Zealand Times ') hns informed the secretary of tho New Zealand Rowing Association that, owing to the trouble in Victoria in connection with the amatour definition, it is hopeless at prosenb to attempt to arrive at a solution of a definition for intercolonial contests.