AMERICAN ATHLETES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1922, Page 3

AMERICAN ATHLETES.

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON. I ITINERARY OF N.Z. TOUR. On board the Maunganui, which arrived at Wellington yesterday from ; San Francisco, were three American i-hampion athletes—Maurice Kirksey, sprinter; George Krognese, hurdler, high and broad jump; and J. W. Mer"hant, field events and sprinter (world uhampion hammer thrower). They will 1 be tendered a civic reception at the Town 1 Hall to-day at 5 p.m., and will be con- ! veved on Saturday to Paraparaumu, j where they have been invited to compete. I Sir Francis Bell (Attorney-General) has been asked to represent the Government at the civic reception at which Councillor L. McKenzie will act on behalf of the Mayor, who is m Auckland Mr. D. F. Wilber (Consul-General for U.S.A.) will also address the gather- ' Allowing are the latest official details of their Dominion tour: — January 6—Wellington. January 13—Masterton. January 17—Invercargill. January 20—Palmerston North. I January 27 —Gisborne. January 29—Leave Gieborne for Rotorua. February 3—Auckland. February 7—Hamilton. February 10—Wanganui. February 14—New Plymouth. February 17—Wellington. February 21—Cambridge. February 24 —Auckland. March 1-Leave for Vancouver by R.M-8. Niagara. Mr A T. Daviee, president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, referring yesterday to the difficulty that had arisen with Otago, said tha\ at the annual meeting of the council held on November 20, the application of Otago to hold the New Zealand championship meeting wae Z™*f- "I"* £ was suggested (not decided) ttattto meeting 1« held in February. Otago Toee February 17, which date the council confirmed," said Mr. Davies. "It was also at the annual meeting that word was flr.t received that the cans had accepted our invitation to visit the Dominion, which provided that they arrived at the end of January. Subsequently a cablegram was received stating that they mint come a montli earlier, and the council had no option hut to accept the change. This neces sarilv changed oi.r plans, and the date of tlie championship meeting had to be altered. It was. perhaps, unfortunate for Dunedin, but circumstances demanded it. The itinerary of the American visit submitted to the centres wae headed 'Proposed Itinerary, , thus leaving it open for euch alterations to be made as might be deemed expedient. The date set apart for Otago January 20, was, however, not changed, and it was suggested that they might hold the New Zealand championships on the same day After receiving protests from other places, the council came to the conclusion that it would be to hold the New Zealand championship meeting during the currency of the Xmedcan visit, and advised Otago to tZ effect. The whole trouble, Menuto be the postponing of the date of the Vow ZeaW championship meeting from February 17 to March 3. The date submitted for the Otago meeting with the point out that the Americans will be performing at Wellington on that date. The greatest difficulty was encountered in arranging the American itinerary so a "s S flashing with racing cricket, Spionship meeting, Otago must Purely be reasonable, and recognise that it is solely due to the visit of tne Americans, "and that such visit has been arranged, not to annoy Otago, but to benefit and encourage athletic. inaU parts of the Dominion. Should y l **" not be willing to accept a later date for Presented by one solitary competitor, SETS paid U. own K 9 , a O thlr C in q .t Auckland they were not represented at all.