GREAT DOMINION ATHLETE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21909, 9 October 1936, Page 19

GREAT DOMINION ATHLETE

MR L. A. CUFF MEETS OLD FRIENDS

DISTINCTION ON MANY FIELDS OF SPORT

One of New Zealand's most distinguished all-round athletes has returned, after an absence of 40 years, to attend the congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. Mr L. A. Cuff, who was bom in Christchurch 70 years ago, not only represented Canterbury, Auckland, and New Zealand at cricket—he captained the New Zealand team, too—but tie has won a national athletic title, the golf championship of Tasmania, and he has represented that Australian state at cricket, golf, and bowls. A leading player of the Lancaster Park Cricket Club, which has only recently readopted its old name after many seasons as the Lmwood Ciuo, ivir Cuff has been busy renewing old friendships in the city, and apart from the engagements of the chamber of commerce delegates he has already attended two gatherings arranged by cricket friends. He has recently retired from the management of the Commercial United Assurance Company and the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation in Launceston, and he has now more time to give to his present hobbies —golf and golf course construction. Mr Cuff has designed several courses in Australia and he is very keen to see some of the New Zealand championship courses before returning to Tasmania. Cricketer and Athlete During his 64 years’ business experience Mr Cuff was associated with insurance for no fewer than 48J. He left Christchurch at the age of 30, but he was 18 months in Auckland before leaving for Australia. After two years in Melbourne he accepted the appointment in Launceston from which he recently retired. His father was Mr Albert Cuffi senior partner in the firm of Graham and Cuff, a large shipping concern, and a very wellknown business man in Christchurch 50 years ago. Mr Cuff’s achievements in the sports field have been notable. He excelled chiefly, of course, in cricket, and he was the hero of many brilliant performances for his club, for his province, and for the Dominion. Tall and well-built, he was a delightful batsman to watch, and his scores in days when the batsman was not the master of the situation that he is to-day stamp him as one of the finest cricketers New Zealand has ever produced. His work for athletics is only slightly less notable. He was a fine sprinter, hurdler, and jumper, and he won a New Zealand championship at the long jump. He was secretary of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club and first secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, a position he held for nine years. In 1892 he was a member of the New Zealand athletic team which toured England. Work As Administrator He has also been a hard-working enthusiast on the administrative side of cricket, and he was one of the founders of the New Zealand Cricket Council, on which he represented Canterbury for some years. After leaving New Zealand Mr Cuff played a good deal of cricket In Tasmania, and in one season he scored 1100 runs and made five centuries. In the year in which he retired from cricket he topped the batting and bowling averages of his club. He still holds the office of president of the North Tasmanian Cricket Association. “The cities of New. Zealand - have grown but of all recognition," remarked Mr Cuff, when interviewed by a reporter yesterday. “In Christchurch I notice a distinct trend for the business centre of the city to move east. That is where most of the new buildings have gone up, and very fine buildings they are.” He said he was particularly struck with what had been done to make the banks of the Avon a real beauty asset to Christchurch. The whole country was looking beautifully green. Mr Cuff is still an athlete. A sixfooter. he is as straight and clean of figure as a young athlete less than a third of his age, and the manner in which he takes flights of stairs two or three steps at a time speaks of the boundless energy that carried him to distinction In many fields of sport. He has many old friends to meet, but he intends to find time while in Christchurch for an inspection of his old club ground. Lancaster Park, and for a few rounds of golf. On Saturday he will leave for the Franz Josef glacier with other chamber of commerce delegates, but he will return to Christchurch again on Monday and will spend a few days here before going on to Blenheim and the North Island.

Welcome By Old Friends

A very enjoyable gathering was held yesterday morning at Beath’s, When Mr Cuff’s relatives, friends, and cricket and athletic comrades of some 50 years ago entertained him at morning tea. Among those present were £r\?, nd , Mrs ** A. Cuff, Mr and Mrs D. Wood. Mr and Mrs Charles Wood, a — d Mrs J. D. Fairhurst, Mr and Mrs Tidswell. Mr and Mrs C. F. Turner, Mrs K. Turner and Miss Turner, Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Appleby, Mrs Lance, Mrs G. Dougall, Mrs Tonks, Mrs Searle, Miss O. Cuff, Miss L. Turner, Miss Norris. Messrs C. R. Clark, H. C. Ridley, A. Cant, S. A. Orchard, F. C, Raphael, D. Reese. J. D. Lawrence, F. E. Graham, and E. R. Webb.