ATHLETIC PARK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3156, 7 August 1917, Page 6

ATHLETIC PARK

SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION. Respecting the fight which is being put up by the Wellington Rugby Union and the Rugby public to save Athletic Park for the men who are away at the front and for future generations of footballers, a glance at the prospectus of the original Athletic Park for the men who are away at the front and for future generations of footballers, a glance at the prospectus of the original Athletic Parle COlll- - provides interesting information. The prospectus sets out that tho oanital would be 5000 shares of .£1 each. The land to be acquired was parts'of Town Acres 98G to 987 inclusive, to be used for cricket, football, athlctic sports, and, should sufficient inducement offer, for agricultural shows and exhibitions. The proposed ground would be 8J acres, within five minutes from tram; a fi3 years' lease could be obtained from November 1 1893, with renewable terms not exceeding 21 years, subject to a new assessment of ground rent; first term the rental to be .£153 per annum. It was proposed to level an area 202 yards by 142 yards, thus giving two football grounds, and a firstclass cricket pitch, with cinder track not lc.js than G25 yards round and 18 feet wide. , „ , , , Messrs. Richardson and Rcardon had taken levels, etc., and given an estimate of .54300 as (lie cost of levelling and preparing the ground. To this estimate had to bo added various incidental expenses necessary for the promotion of a company and also to provide for the erection of a suitable pavilion, water service, saniforv arrangements, plant, say, another jj 7 (IO. The following was the annual estimate' of annnnl expenditure and receipts for tho first 21 years of lease:—Expenses: Ground rent, .£153; maintenance. JilSO; interest on capital, .£300; contributions of irate money to clubs using ground, say, Jisoo- rates, taxes and incidental expenses; .£117—.£1250. Receipts: Gate money from cricket, -football, and athletic meetings, —; .£1250. From those figures it would be seen that tlie promoters were of opinion that the "round would, when in working order, return a fair interest on the capital invested. Apart, however, from this consideration it was confidently expected that the scheme would be cordially supported by all members of various branches of athletics, in whose-interest the company had been formed, as well as by a large section of the public which was interestrd in outdoor exercise.

LIVELY INCIDENT IN MELBOURNE

'VARSITY STUDENTS DUCK AN AUTHOR

UNPOPULAR ARTICLE

Students of the Melbourne University were very displeased at the tone of an article written by Mr. Guido Baraclii which appeared in the May issue of tho "University Magazine." On tho evening of July 25 they expressed their displeasure by immersing Mr. Baracchi up to his boot tops in the lake opposite the biological hall. The fact that he was not pushed further into tho water is not to be taken as an indication that tho students wero kindly disposed towards liyn. It was merely that so great was the crush that had those at tJ.c back pushed any harder Mr. liaracchi wuul not have gone in unaccompanied.

The attack was pre-arranged. P.arlyin tho evening a largo crowd of students had gathered under an adjacent tiee, and discussed methods. Mr. liaracchi had intimated his intention of attending a debate on the subject of tho future of trade unionism. He walked smartly lip to tho h,all at about half-past 8 o'clock, and had ascended nearly to tho top of tho stairs when ho was hauled down by soveral athletic youths, and l ushed down to the lake, where the immersion took place. Two policemen were in attendance, and they endeavoured to prevent tho students from carrying out their intention, biiit one was knocked down, ar.d the other found himself powerless to cope with the crowd, although he stuck manfully by his charge. After having pumsned Mr. Baracchi, tho students proceeded to try him. He was informed by half a dozen people at onco that in expressing certain sentiments regarding the war in the "University Magazine" he had heaped insult upon the University staff. Mr. Baracchi, on the other hand, said he had not desired to offend the susceptibilities of anyone. and if anything that he had written had given offence to any student vho had volunteered', or who had returned from the war, he was willing to apologise. Many of tho students, however, wire fit and eligible for active servic;, yet had not volunteered, and to' those he declined to apologise. At this thero were boohoos and cries of "Push him light in," but the suggestion was not acted upon, and eventually Mr. Baracchi was allowed to enter tho hall, where he read an interesting paper on trades unionism. , Later there was a further meeting on the steps of the hall. A chairman was elected and when the meeting was reduced to something like order a resolution was agreed to that Mr. Baracchi apologise in the next issue of tho Melbourne "University Magazine" for having used that journal for the purpose of expresing views which was calculated to reflect discredit upon the University. An amendment was proposed by one who championed Mr. Baracchi, "That fust, second, and third year 'metis.' who have not volunteered should apologise for their existence." This .created much hilarity amongst those who did not come within any of these three classes, but there being no seconder it lapsed. "That the apology should also be inserted in 'The Argus,'" was moved as a further amendment. but as 'Mr. Baracchi firmly declined to do this, and it was pointed out that the apolo?v could be taken from the "University Magazine" and reprinted in "Tho Atsuh." the amendment was withdrawn, and the motion carried-by an overwhelming mhjority. Jfr. Baracchi then agreed to the apology demanded of him, ami the incident was declared closed.