CRICKET.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 54, 7 March 1881, Page 3

CRICKET.

•» The return match between the Excelsio C.C. and the Bohemian C.C. was played on Saturday afternoon on the Basin Reserve. The Bohemians winning the toss elected to handle the willow, and were disposed of for a total of 92. W. J. Salmon and Blaoklock showed the best batting, the former making 28 by good play, and the latter 13. In the bowling department Kreeft and J. Renner were most successful, the former obtaining four wickets for 11 runs, and the latter two for 6. The Excelsiors then went to the wickets, and when time was called had lost 9 wickets for a total of 124, thus winning on the first innings by 32 runs and one wicket to spare. Five of the Excelsior players obtained double figures, M'Girr contributing a well-played 29, R. Eenner 21, Kreeft and Augarde each 16, and Ridings 13, net out. The best bowling averages were obtained by 'Blaoklock with 3 wickets for 24 runs, and Salmon with 2 for 34. The following are the scores : — Bohemian C. C. Blacklock, c M'Girr b Duncan ... 13 Haughton, b Duncan 4 Kirker, run out 6 Salmon, b Ridings 28 Luxford, c Mansill b Kreeft 6 Woodman, b Kreeft 1 Russell, b J. Renner 9 Godden, b Kreoft 0 Speed, b Kreeft 0 Barnett, b J. Renner 0 Mann, not out ... 2 Extras 18 Total 92 Excelsior C. C. Kreeft, o Speed, b Blaoklook ... 16 Brown, run out 6 B. Renner, b Salmon 21 Mansill 1.b.w., b Luxford 1 Duncan, b Blaoklock 0 J Renner, l.b w., b Luxford ... 2 b Blacklock 0 M'Girr, b Salmon 29 Ridings, not out 13 Augarde, b Haughton ... ... 16 Hoggard, not out 4 Extras 16 Total for 9 wickets 124 LAND SPECULATIONS AND THEIB REMEDY. + TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST. Sir — In your issue of Friday last you give the authorities great credit for frustrating the efforts of pome land speculators to obtain land in the Parihaka Block at a oheap rate, and you give credit to the Government for stopping the schemes of a hind " ring" in a very roundabout way. Now, Bir, when you give credit to the Hon John Hall, Mr. Kolleston, Major Atkinson, and Mr. Dick for any action against land speculators, I think you must be very credulous indeed. Their political part has been bound up with laud speculations. If they had any real desire to stop the operations of land speculators, two very simple clauses added to the Land Act last session would have done it effectually (but thoy did not dare do it), viz., compel the purchaser of every seotion sold to put a house on his section, within six months say ; compel him to fence in and improve say one-tenth of the land he purchases within the first twelve months, or forfeit his money, and only give possession until these terms are complied with. This would paralyse the operations of land "rings." But, sir, Messrs. Hall and Rolleston will, I believe, never willingly consent to step the operations of their friends. But, as I stated in the public prints last session, I hope the

financial exigencies of the colony will compel some Government to adopt a more simple, liberal, and enlightened land law before long. When will the pnblic see and understand that the land-grabbera' tax exceeds by many hundredfold all thf other taxes put togerher ? "When will the public understand that if the farmer has to pay .£SOO for land, which the Government sold for £50 or .£2OO as the case may be, that said farmer must make the pnblic pay more for the wheat, potatoes, eggs, and butter that he raises to recoup himself; 320,000 emigrants went to the United States last year. Why? Mainly because they could be certain of getting land of their own, at a fixed price. They knew they need not be at the mercy of land speculators. How long will it be before our Government takes the same track? I am, Ac., Traveller.