ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 7, 8 January 1916, Page 16

ATHLETICS.

The Waikato Caledonian Society is to meet during the course of next week to confirm the programme drawn up for the society's annual sports at Frankton Junction. It is understood that this year the society is relying almost on the amateurs to providte the sports programme, only one event —a sprint distance—being set down for cash athletics. The well-known sprinter and City Rugby Club three-quarter, H. C. Burns, is at present in the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Southport, England. He writes to an Aucklander very interestingly of eport in England. Applegarth, the world's champion sprinter, has joined the colours, and there is hardly an athlete of note in England who is not in khaki, either at the front or actively assisting recruiting. Together with his fellow New Zealandcrs, Burns is experiencing the hospitality now being extended to wounded colonials in England. One of their treats was witnessing an Association match between the famous Everton and Manchester teams. The "gate" was greatly diminished as the result of prevalent conditions, but even then the attendance astounded the Aucklander. The common regret amongst the New Zealanders was the monopoly held by the Association code in the district in which they are quartered, their leanings not naturally being towards },ue Rugby and Northern Union games. The Aucklander, who departed! with the Engineer Corps, attached to the main body, suffered from nervous debility and septic poisoning, but at the time of writing expected that bcfoTe another two months elapsed he would again be on the active list.