CYCLING.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9944, 25 January 1898, Page 3

CYCLING.

LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND WHEELMEN.

A meeting of the Executive of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen was held at the Clarendon Hotel last evening. Present— Messrs W. E. Thompson (Chairman), W. G. Williams, W. G. Atack, A. R. Kirk, G. Milne, R. L. Adams. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. H. Thompkins and G. H. Lethaby. The cose of a cyclist who had been reported by the Christchurch Cycling Club as not having paid entry fees was considered. It was fouud that the rule of the League had not been complied with, and it was resolved that no action could be taken. The Balcluth* and W T yndham and Petone and Hutt Cycling Clubs were affiliated to the League. Permits for race meetings were" granted to the following clubs:—lnvercargill Amateur Club, March 30th ; Roxburgh, March 3rd (including a goldfields championship race); Hawera Cycling Club, March 11th; Hokitika Cycling Club. April 13th. In the case of the Invercargill Club it was decided that the clause providing for Jthe payment of prize money pro rata, if * necessary, must be struck out. The .. Secretary of the Sports Committee in connection with the Dunedin Jubilee celebration wired, asking

for permission to include six bicycle races, value £47, in the programme of a sports meeting for March 23rd. The Secretary of the St. Patrick's Day Sports Committee telegraphed for a permit for sports on March 19th. It was decided to hold over the matter pending the receipt of information from the Otago and Dunedin Cycling Clubs. The Wanganui and West Coast' Clubs applied for a permit for a meeting on Easter -Monday. The Executive decided that, having previously granted a permit : for Easter Monday to the Cook's Garden Board of Control, it could not grant another for the same date. Mr F. D. Woodroffe wrote, accepting the suggested alterations in the conditions ot the competition for the Royal Enfield challenge cup. The New Zealand manager of the Massey-Harris Company wrote that the firm had entered Messrs Forbes, Reynolds and Hunt for the Dunedin Club's meeting, had had them elected members of the Otago and Dunedin Clubs, and now applied for cash racing licenses and colour licenses for the men. It was decided that the men must make their own entries and send in their own applications for licenses. Mr Shields further wrote that a Cycling Club had been formed amongst the employes of the firm, who would hold private race meetings, to which admission would be by invitation only. It was decided j to reply that the League had no control over private race meetings, but that mem- I bers of League Clubs must apply for permission to compete. The Secretary of the j Dunedin Club wrote that his Committee was desirous of putting a stop to riders ! wearing jerseys on which were displayed the : names of their machines. S. R. Sredman, a cycle firm employee,and W. D. Howlison, an employer, were desirous of taking out League amateur licenses. The Executive decided to inform the Dunedin Club that it had power to prevent riders advertising their machines on the racing track, and also to recommend affiliated clubs and sports associations to put a stop to the practice. It was resolved that Messrs Stedman and Howlison were eligible to race as amateurs. The explanation made by the Secretary of the Lawrence Cycling Club with reference to members competing at unregistered meetings was accepted. It was decided to ask the clubs j interested to nominate a consul for the goldfields district, and in the meantime to appoint Mr J. D. Buchanan, Captain of the Vincent Club. It was decided to ask the G ore, Wyndham and Mataura Clubs to suggest a suitable man as consul for that district. Messrs S. Myers and A. E. J Smith wrote accepting the position of consuls for Dunedin and Invercargill. The following standard times were I adopted :—Paced quarter mile, standing start 31sec, do flying start 26sec ; unpaced, j standing 31§sec, flying 27sec ; competition, 27sec. . Half mile, standing lmin 2_sec, flying 59sec ; unpaced, standing lmin ssec; competition," Iniin ssec. On© mile, standing 2rain 2sec, flying lmin 58sec; unpaced, standing 2min 16sec; competition, 2min 16sec. Two miles, standing 4min lOsec ; unpaced, 4min 42sec; competition, 4min i 40sec. Three miles, standing 6min 30sec ; unpaced, standing 7min 12sec ; competition, 7min lOsec. Five miles, standing llmiu; unpaced, standing 12min lOsec ; competition, 12min ssec. Ten miles paced, standing start 23min. The Dunedin Cycling Club was granted permission for registered and unregistered members to compete in a Club novices race on February 2nd. The Linwood Club's secretary forwarded the amount due by a member of that club to tbe Christchurch Club. The latter club, they considered, should be censured for laxity in allowing the matter to stand over for four months. It was decided that as the amount hod been paid the member was entitled to membership privileges. The draft programme for the championship was considered, and will be dealt with at next week's meeting. A general meeting of the League was fixed for February 14th.