NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 753, 28 February 1910, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The Johrisonville; manoeuvres,, "on '. Saturday;.in, the presence -of.'.Lord Kitchener may be' taken- i as : a' virtual .victory for the attacking' force under Colonel Bat/chop. -His deployment was sound and his operation , orders were. /clearly-; expressed andvery well carried:but'by ; the bat; | talion - commanders "acting- .'under him. -It'is rather, regrettable,:therefore, that he ■ did inot effect a : " more reconnaissance which would' : have : given: his force ; absolutely the -tactical victory /which') he '"'■'. virtually. ,won.; Of the defence it' can:: only, be that its deployment was essen-'. itially: .faulty,' though! the ".battalion I and company-work,. viewed.by,'itself, : was- Viewing these - man-; .oeuvres- in connection/with; the some-. ,what .successful:: manoeuvres ■. held at Johnsonville about: two "years ; "ago',' it seems to be/a .fair inference.that '.Now Zealand volunteers are •improving in knowledge 'of'ground' in relation ./to. war /and .it may be" added that until the:present Defence.Couri-: cil took: up the reins, 1 knowledge;- of this , kind- :was ..exceedingly \ small. The 'very/fine-spirit'shown-by ! the mohv.undcr: the .somewhat, trying: weather conditions of Saturday was wholly commendable.:.--,.:;- :

.'sent,;a strong team 1 , both/ in i- point: .of; numbers and '.in .quality/, w> compete .for the Amateur Athletic! Championships at/Auckland /on the'amount of ■ sue: cess! met 'with must, be' very; gratifying 'to-, the 'local'/athletic. bodies: Eight/championships, were, secured 'and the .championship' banner/'will .in :■ consequence .'be //again!, held/.'by Wellington. as expected,' won' both his/.events i very •■hand-: somely,;and:; Hardinq; 1 was also_ v /a '"double/':winnefi' V Some /disappointment naturally/will" .be felt: at, the . defeat/-of /.Kerr'/iib/both, /walking races. 'He/was looked' on ;as' pretty certain -f to win /these- and; he is : so popular .personally .'and'; so good 'a sportsman that'his non-success will :be^very/widely .regretted..',. It is a pity.' that, doubts should/'have; been raised, as to, the .style of 'walking practised ..by his conqueror.. Sound judges : :of; walking 'are not "easy .■• to get and.'the.; tendency; usually !is-,:to err, bn/tho' side ■-, of /leniency/ -'-'The/' gentleman who acted;at. Auckland is 'stated to/ have. erred'in this 'respect.; Whether /this,, is iso'/.'or not. "it : is; to be regrotted .that there' should 'have; Bseri 'any'"'room;' for -doubt ;as ! to'the merits/,,0f ; K ;WiiiSbN'S// , 'wins. :: ,/Such doubts" not' only'tend ;to discourage the' beaten contestants' who have' ad- : -hered clodely to the rules/of but/ they' detract; from .the- honours of : the..' victor.":';! The .Amateur .■>' Athletic Association' might well give further'attention .to the Question of the selection; of; 3u'dges in walking, contests:-: ;'/:•''//;/'; ?y : '; /;'';///'.: , :/;//T '•'/;- ; ,