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Press, Volume LV, Issue 16610, 25 August 1919, Page 6

Mr ~W. H. E. Wanklyn has been so long identified with the Canterbury Jockey Clnb that the news of his resignation, announced in our news oolumns to-day, will come as a shock, both to members of the club, and to that large public which looks to the club for its sport. It is thirty years save one since he came to Christchurch to be secretary, and the great development of the club's business during that period has had his unceasing and unflagging

matter of common knowledge throughout) New Zealand and beyond its coasts. In addition to his work as secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club, he was tho first secretary of the Racing Conference a very responsible position, which he only resigned a few years ago, and is editor of "The New Zealand Stud Book," having in these offices rendered further valuable service to the New Zealand turf. Every sportsman will regret the ill-health which has caused his resignation, and will hope that the leisure thereby gained will permit him to continue the Stud Book, and perhaps to add to his well-known works upon the Thoroughbred in England and in Australasia. His retirement will be sincerely regretted on all sides, but none will doubt that his leisure will be employed for the benefit of the community.

According to a statement by the Hon. Mr -.tycrs, on the eve of his retirement from the Ministry, 21,735 tons of coal from oversea had reached Now Zealand since August Ist, and 23,552 tons were to arrive. The coal received and the shipments in sight, he said, would enable him to supply the railways during August and September with 70.229 tons of foreign, coal. This, with the Department's share of local coal, would provide the railways with 87,229 tons for the two months. Since this is about double the amount consumed by the Department in pre-war years, the slight easing of tho restrictions which is now announced ought not to cause any embarrassment to the Department. In the meantime tho cflect of tho "cut" in the services is very pronounccd in tho railway returns printed in tho current "Gazette." The period for which statistics are given is tho month (four weeks) ended July 19th, during two and a half weeks of which tho "cut'' had beeni in operation. Tho revenue for the four weeks was £359,514, which is £18,000 more than in the corresponding period of 1918; the expenditure, £279,354, was £26,000 more.

Thore was a distinct falling off in the passenger traffic. For the first 1G weeks of the fiscal year (April Ist to July 19th), 247,234 moro tickets were sold than in the corresponding period in 1918. But, in the last four of these weeks, there was a substantial drop in the number of tickets sold. On tho North Island main lines and branches 420,558 tickets were sold, compared with 510,190 in the four weeks Inst year. On the South Island main lines and branches tho drop was from 243,928 to 239,462. 0» the smaller sections, with the exception of Gisborne and Nelson, increases were recorded. As for the goods traffic, there was a substantial fall on tho North Island main line and branches, the revenue under this heading being £86,285, as compared with £95,102 last year. On tho South Island main lines and branches, on the contrary, the goods traffic kept up, the revenue being £69,400, as compared with £60,377. The full effect of the "cut" will bo more clear when the figures for tho period ending August 16th are available.

Before tho triumphal arches in the Square are taken down tliey will hare ferved the double purpose of decorating that part of the city in honour of Peace and of Lord Jellicoe. They will also, incidentally, have indicated how useful an "island" in the roadway between the Cathedral and the tram shelter would bo. It is, no unusual siftbt to see some aged or crippled pedestrian resting in. safety for a moment or two behind the outside leg of an arch before essayinc; the crossing of the rest of the road. The nature of private means of locomotion has changed very much in the last few years, and the wideness of our streets, and especially of the thoroughfare through the Square, while affording ample elbow-room for the motor-car traffic, adds considerably to the difficulties of pedestrians who are not so nimble-footed as they once were. Unfortunately, as the result of the war, the proportion of such people is larger than it used to be. If we remember rightly the establishment of an "island" on the North side of the Square was one of the numerous schemes pnt forward by Dr. Thacker in the early weeks of his Mayoralty. If he would take ifc in hand seriously and add to his proposal the construction of another "island" opposite the tram-shelter ho would earn the gratitude of many to whom the traverse of the Square presents many perils.

Any admirer of Rugby football who fears lest l "the gamo is losing its hold on the youth of Canterbury would have had his doubts removed if he had visited the public ground in the South Park on Saturday morning, when the seven a-side tournament among the primary schools was played. Some seventy teams had entered and five grounds were continually occupied during the morning. To a lover of clean, vigorous sport it was an inspiring sighti and those whoso advancing years keep them nowadays outside the touch-line did not know which to admire ancl onvy more—the physical fitness and keenness which enabled the youngsters to play hard football at 9 o'clock in the morning or the enthusiasm with which as soon as a match was over the two teams threw themselves into the role of barraclters for other teams. Some of the young players showed a knowledge of the game which spoke well for the manner in which they had been coached, and in almost every instance they played a hard and '''willing" game. Judging bv what could be seen on Saturday the Rugby Union has some excellent material ' coming ou to keep the old game alive and vigorous.