SPORT AND PASTIME.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 99, 23 October 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

SPORT AND PASTIME.

» . Cycling* [By Dagowbt.] French lady cyolists, it is said, do not ride bo gracefully as Englishwomen. All the women bend over, and do not look well on their wheels in consequence. But they are daring riders, dashing in and out among the oarriages and horses in the crowded boulevards, and accidents are exceedingly rare. Some of the women lean so far over their handle-bars that from the rear you don't know whether the thing is human or not. As in London, the best and the worst ride, aud they ride all together, side by side. A Napier oyolist has ordered from a Melbourne maker a new racing machine, which is to have thirty-nine teeth on the sprocket wheel, and seven on^the back cog wheel, whioh is equal to a gear of 156 in. The cranks are to be eight-inoh, and the seat fixed a foot behind the rear bracket. The writer thinks a special frame will 'be required for this machine, because a high gear strains the machine considerably. The latest gear oase is one made of sheet rubber, which v Bprung on to light framework, is consequently always in tension, and keeps true. The side is closed by a flap whioh ia solutioned down. It may be urged that oil spoils rubber, and that consequently f .he chain could not be lubricated. Graphite is the solution of this difficulty. It is just as good a lubricant, and both dry and olean. Such a gear case should prove particularly dust and mud proof, for it can be made a perfect fit round the axles without danger of friction, and there are no other aportures. The police of Dayton, Ohio, are now provided with • patrol cycles ' for the speedy conveyance of prisoners to a watohhouse. The machines are tricyoles with cranks at the front and back for two constables to work, while the spaoe between ia occupied by a seat for the prisoner. This Beat is fitted with stirrups and handouffs, and it was only after exhaustive tests with powerful prisoners of the most violent character that the machines were adoped by the department. Platts-Betts (the great English rider who is now in Sydney) is- (says the Sydney Mail) a well-built man. Though small in stature, he is exceptionally big across the chest, and has also very powerful limbs. He looks the pioture of health and is in very good form There is/ no doubt whatever about his pace. The other day in Sydney a triplet could by no means take him fast enough even in his present condition, ,so that things will be exceptionally lively when he strikes form. Dancing on bioyoles is the' latest of all fads. The bicycle dance is in the form of a musical ride similar to that practised by the Life Guards at the Military Tournament. The ball-room is specially fitted out like a cycle track, and the highly polished floor dusted thickly with French chalk to prevent slipping. Couples cannot, of course, embrace, as in the ball room ; but experienced riders may entwine one arm each, carefully guiding th© bicycle with the other. The fad is already spreading, and several wealthy people in the West End of London are having tracks laid. The racing board of the League of American Wheelmen stands no nonsense from riders. If they enter for araoe they start for it, or out they go for a month. Non-payment of entrance fees entails disqualification for a month after the debt is liquidated, and at latest advices about 30 men wero standing down for these offences. Le Velo, one of the leading French cycling daily papers, has cleared profits for the last year amounting to £4000. Aquatics. rowTng. [By Neptune.] The Nelson Bowing Club had a credit balance of £36 on the past season's operations. The assets now stand at £277, while the liabilities are nil. Mr. R. Catley has been re-elected Captain of the club. The question of holding a regatta this season is under consideration by the Committee. The movement which is on foot to change the locality of next season's Championship Regatta from Picton to Otago is not, I am pleased to notice, being reoeived in a Belfish spirit by the Picton Rowing Club. At its last meeting that club took up a very fair attitude on the question, and decided, in the event of Picton not being chosen as the course, to support the claims of the Southern province. The club has given an order for the construction of a new racing and a new clinker four. The final heat of the Star Club's senior fours on Saturday afternoon produced a magnificent struggle, and a well-known aquatio authority, wLo has seen a good few races in his time, describes the fight at the finish between the three crews as a splendid exhibition of stamina and staying power on the part of R. Pownall's crew, who, after lying last for nearly the whole of the distance, came with a tremendous rush about a hundred and fifty yards from home, and passing the other two crews like a flash won by a good length. It was a beautifully timed effort, quite equal to first-class regatta form. The iorm shown by the Wellington Club's crews in the Burns Fours on Saturday was of a very soratchy order, but this was mainly due to the fact that the men had had no practice together, the competition being limited to post entries. Hill's crew displayed only fair form, and they owe their victory to a great extent to the foresight shown by Hill in selecting two of the men who had been associated with him in the Club Fours this season, and with whom combination came almost as force of habit. YACHTING. The 'Ngaira,' which has up to the present been uuder yawl rig, is to be rigged as a cutter for the coming seaßon. Her owner, Mr. J. H. Jack, has sent to Auckland for a new mainsail, and intends to go in for racing during the summer. The 'Mapu,' Messrs. M'Lean, now on the Slip, is to have a new topmast fitted, to replace the one lost last season. 'Novice,' Mr. Carrick, just launched from Huffam's, has been beautifully fitted below, and oan now boaat one of the finest cabins in the harbour. v Her schooner bow adds greatly to her outside appearance. The half -rater 'Ripple,' from the same slip, looks very neat in a coat of emerald green. The owners (Messrs. Willason & Co.) have put in a great amount of work in the winter replanking and generally overhauling. She ought to give a very good account of herself this neanon. ' Jennie Reed,' Mr. J, Black, has almost been rebuilt after a very bad grinding up on the Thorndon beach during last Easter. It is a great pity this popular owner does not go in for a Ist or 2nd class racer. He ?9 a genuine * sportsman, and a small boat under his flag would be raced consistently and well. ' Waiwetu,' Mr. Maxwell, is undergoing alterations whioh will, it is honed, increase her speed considerably. It is a pity such a pretty boat has not turned out as good as her owner should wish, but the alterations will make a better boat of her. 'Siren,' Mr. Anderson, was first boat ia the water from the slips. The wish has been expressed that ' Siren ' will be raced a good deal thin Reason. She Ought to do well. Mr. Anderson has fitted his boat very nicely indeed, the cabin in beautifully done up. ' Haeata ' has been sold to some energetic gentlemen, who intend to do all they can to encourage third-class racing. We hope to see Mr. Renner, one of our cleverest steersmen, come out with a flyer very shortly. One who has the ability and heart as he has can do a great lot towards healthy yaoht-raoing, and a boat ia his hands will , be certain to do well.

Miss Coloma in London. CONFIDENCES TO HER COUSIN ACROSS THE SEA. London, 10th September. Deae Cousin — F» have just returned to town after a fortnight at Buxton, whither the doctors sent father for his rheumatism. Buxton lies, in the heart of the Peak country, and is the highest town in England, stand1000 feet above the level of the sea. It is consequently very, very breezy and bracing, and restores shattered nerves aud brains surprisingly soon. But the raison d'etre of the place is, of course, its marvellous spring, -which contains more nitrogen than any of the continental spas, and works wonders for bad cases of rheumatism, gout, and kindred complaints. Colonials afflicted thus almost always make for Aix-les-Bains or Bath. They would find Buxton cheaper and more amusing. It contains very fine public .gardens, where the inevitable band plays twice a day, and where energetic youth can, on several series of superb lawns, disport itself blithely wiih tennis, croquet, andbowls. Forthelessactive there is golf over perhaps the most artfully constructed and perfectly kept links in England, and for those who don't or won't gambol walks and excursions in numbers. The latter include the Izaak Walton valley of Dovedale, Haddon Hall, Rowsley, and Chatsworth. Of course we visit all these places and many more. Chatsworth is most disappointing. The Park certainly makes one envious, and the gardens (which were laid out by Sir Joseph |Paxton) are worth walking through. But the house is a cheerless barrack, and, despite pictures, frescoes, and marvellous carving, hopelessly cold and bare. Father was ordered 'cheerful society,' so instead of going as usual to rooms we stayed at a huge caravanserai called the Palace Hotel. This appeared to me to be the acme of luxurious discomfort. Marble halls and mouldy meat, gilded saloons and graceless service. We dined at 6.30 instead of 8, and the evenings were interminable. Father, of course, walked off to the smoking-room, where gouty old gentlemen entertained each other discussing ' symptoms.' I had not even this resource, and could do nothing but read. For downright deadly dullness commend me to hotel life in provincial England. FOE FOSTT THOUSAND POUNDS. The Windward, with Mr. Jackson and the Harmsworth expedition aboard, has returned, but, ne«dleßs to say, without having discovered the North Pole or anything else of importance. When one reflects that this Arctic sojourn — for it amounted to little more— cost £40,000, one feels cross.' So much, could be, done in London with such a sum. It does appear terrible waste. This time, too, even the danger which usually forms part of Arctic expeditions was absent. Nothing can be more prosaic than Mr. Jackson's story. Proceeding to give details of his party's life far north, he said : — ' Not one of our party has had a minute's illness since we left England, and a jollier, 'healthier, and busier little community never existed. Every minute of our time was occupied, even during the long Arctic winters time never bung heavily on our hands. Of course, when we were away on our expeditions our movements were necessarily uncertain, but while at Elwood during the winter we kept regular hours. In the Arctic regions the sun sets for the last time about the middle of October, and is not again visible until the third week in February. During those long four months our days were spent as follows: — We breakfasted at half -past eight, after which we performed our household duties — sweeping up, washing, and attending to the dogs. After that we all went for a run on ski, or when the weather was so bad as to prevent this, took exercise round the house. Returning in two or three hours we set to work on any jobs that were in hand, such as the making of tents, of which we completed two last winter, the repairing and manufacture of fresh sledge harness for the dogs, and anything else that was wanted. We dropped having lunch, but at two o'clock we had tea, bread and butter, and oheese. At half -past seven we dined, and until half -past eleven, when we turned in for the night, amused ourselves with reading and smoking. ' It may be interesting to persons other than Arctic men to know that from, the date of the disappearance of the sun until the second week in November there is a period of two or three hours twilightin the middle of the day. From November till February midday and midnight are praotically alike. During the whole of our stay in Franz Josef Land we always had plenty of provisions — we practically lived on loon, an Arctic bird, of which I shot no leas than 1400 last autumn and froze for the winter. Last autumn I set free nineteen loons and 'twenty-two kitti wakes, to eaoh of which I attached a copper label marked' with the letter ' J. It will be a matter of great interest if any of these are shot in Norway, the North of Scotland, or elsewhere, as it will indicate the place to which these birds migrats for. the winter. On the whole, last .winter was mild for the Arctic. The thermometer registered as low as 48 degrees below zero, but on occasions jumped to 20 degrees. Of course, we had to exeroise the greatest care not to expose ourselves unnecessarily, and with the exception of the eyes we wt>re always completely covered.' A GRAND OLD LADY. There will be a notable family party at Copenhagen next week to celebrate the eightieth birthday of that redoubtable old lady the Queen of Denmark the mother of our Princess of Wales, the Empress of Russia, and the Duchess of Cumberland. Her Majesty is wise aud venerable as she was once beautiful. She brought her loving and lovely daughters up on a plan of her own, and in the strictest and yet homeliest fashion. They rewarded her by attracting the best matches in Europe. The Princess of Wales goes to Copenhagen every Autumn, but the Prince seldom accompanies her. The highly cultured tone and serious atmosphere of the Danish Court is not to his taste. H.R.H. will, however, join the family party this time, and instead of billiards or whist after dinner, may have to put up with hearing his wife and mother-in-law play severely olassio duets. jkzrkel's towee. Of quaint religious sects and unobtrusive Anti-Christs there are no end even in England. Few of you, I imagine, will have heard of the Jezreelites. an all but defunct community whose temple or tower near Chatham was, on Monday last, offered for sale at Tokenhouse Yard. The Jezreelites believe they are immortal. Their sect was founded by a private soldier named White, who in due course blossomed into James Jersmon Jezreel. This cognomen ought of itself to have given the fellow away as a flagrant impostor. But ' There is no death ' was a seductive doctrine, and whilst the world goes round there will always be plenty of fools to fall victims to novel religious crazes. Jezreel attracted many converts and also cash from all quarters. With the latter he founded a college for the training of preachers for the sect, and the tower was planned for the housing of 144,000 of the ' latter ' people who are not to taste death. Unfortuuately, White died before the tower was finished, and his wife, Queen Esther, as she waa called, also proved the error of the dofitrines she had been teaching by succumbing to an affection of the kidneys. The scheme had, however, enabled her to drive about for some years in handsomely appointed carriages, and to live in a style that is not usually possible for the wife of a private soldier. The buildings must be extenfeive, as the auctioneer on Monday declared they cost £70,000 and that 620 tons of iron was used in the construction of the tower. Before bidding commenced it transpired that a number' of the Jezreelites or Latter-Day Israelites were still resident at tho tower, and a gentlemun present suggested that they mijrht be difficult to ejaot.

' Pooh ! Pooh ! ' said the auctioneer, • they ye had a quarter's notice and they'll go quietly enough.' ' I doubt it,' responded the first speaker, ' they intend to remain there till the crack of doom, and will fight for their homes if driven to it. You'll see.' » This deliverance threw" a wet blanket over fho procecdinga. Somebody proposed that the conditions of sale should be altered so as to defer the date of completion until possession was obtained. But the auctioneer, whilst stoutly averring, that|the Jezreelites would quietly take themselves off declined to make the alteration. Ultimately the property was withdrawn at £3950. So the Jezreelites will not, in all probability, be immediately evicted from their tower. A 'peouliab' motheb. The vagaries of the religious sect known as the ' Peculiar People ' are being constantly brought to light in the Coroners' Courts of the East End. ' It is apparently an essential of the « Peculiar ' creed that in sickness only prayer may be used, and any member of the sect calling in medical aid is thenceforth deemed lacking in faith, and undergoes the somewhat humiliating ordeal of being prayed for at the 'Peculiar People' meetings. The result is that in many cases unfortunate men, women, and children suffer untold agonies, and die simply for lack of a doctor's ministrations. Doubtless dozens of these murders in the name of religion never come to light, and hitherto in those cases which have occupied Ooroners' attention the culpable parties have been let off with censure, simply because English juries have not as a rule liked to punish a man or woman for acting in accordance with the spirit of their religious beliefs. Happily for the children of these 'Peculiar People,' it seems that inhuman conduct is no longer to be condoned on the score of religion, and the father of a hapless little child who died at Mayfieldroad the other day has been committed by the West Ham Coroner to take his trial for manslaughter. At the inquest Mary Ann Vince, the mother, stated that deceased was one of twins. Witness in her confinement was attended by a midwife. When about three weeks old witness noticed that deceased showed signs of convulsions. About three weeks ago it seemed very much worse. The Coroner : What did you xlo for it ? Witness : I didn't do anything, only prayed to the Lord. Coroner: Did the child recover ? Witness : It got worse, it had a cold and severe cough. Did you send for a doctor thenp witness: No, I sent for Brother Southgate, who laid hands on in the name of the Lord. In reply to further questions witness said the deceased ' still continued to get worse, so she sent for Sister Jarvis and Brother Southgate again, and the same proceedings were gone through; although deceased got rapidly worse, she etill trusted in the Lord. The Coroner . . And the child died without any doDtor, after being ill three weeks? Witness: Yes, sit. Coroner: Is it essential to your creed not to have a doctor ? Witness : We can call one in if we^like. The Coroner : Was your husband aware that the child was ill? Witness.' Yes. The Coroner: You also knew it was dangerously ill ? Witneßs : Yes. I thought possibly it would die. The Coroner : Your conscience allowed you to have a midwife ; why didn't you have one of the elders to attend you if you so entirely trust in the Lord ? You go outside your own oreed for yourself, but not for yoiir child. James Southgate, a labourer, said he was elder of the seat. He laid hands on the deceased on the 16th, 1 27 th, and 31et of August last, but did not anoint him. — A Juror: Then you didn't carry out the word of the Lord. You were sent in the name of the Lord and didn't do your duty ? Witness (indignantly): I have seen the Lord. A Juror : You never have seen him. Another Juror : You are the doctor, I suppose. Witness, rising from his seat : I am not a doctor, sir. I am a servant of the Lord. A Juror : It is about time these people were taught their duty and made to call in doctors. Another Juryman : If one of your sect call in a doctor would they be looked down upon? Witness: I should think them short of faith. Dr. Carey, who made a post-mortem examination, said he found lobular pneumonia and signs of advanced Ibronchitis, which was the cause of death. A doctor might have saved the child's life : the fact of one not being called in certainly accelerated death. Tho Coroner, in summing up, said the law was quite clear with reference to a case of this description — the parents are compelled to call in a If the death was accelerated in any way by their failing to do their duty they were liable to punishment; their religion had nothing to do with it. The jury retired, and" after consulting half an hour returned into court and said that twelve out of the thirteen agreed 'That Arthur Vince on the 3rd day of September died from pneumonia, accelerated by neglect of the father, George Vince, in not calling in a doctor, and that the said George Vince did feloniously slay and Mil the said Arthur Vince.' The father was then committed to take his trial on the coroner's warrant. A EATIONAL .DEESS EXPEDITION. Tho new woman was to the front laßt week. For some time paragraphs had been appearing in the papers about a gathering j at Oxford of lady cyclists— devotees of the rational costume — and the 'Congress,' as they called it, came off on Saturday last. A contingent was to ride from London, and although the exact time and place of starting had been kept pretty quiet, a great crowd collected at Hyde Park Corner shortly before 10 o'clock. As a rule a lady cyclist can ride round London in bloomers without attracting anything beyond passing notice, but the first one to arrive at tho rendezvous on Saturday was made the object of very unpleasant attentions. The crowd was expecting something, and as she dismounted they fairly mobbed her. The police ordered her off and threatened her with arrest for blocking the roadway. However, by ten o'clock, threp ladies in rationals and one gentleman had collected, and a crowd reminding one of au Anarchist meeting in Trafalgar- square (except that they were well dressed) surged all round the corner and fairly paralysed traffic. At least twelve ladies were expected to turn up, but the high wind and lowering sky no- doubt made them think better of it. • However, the three who had come up to scratch took advantage of the first stroke of ten from a neighbouring clock to escape from the mob. After they had pone two nicely* dressed and befurbelowed old ladies oame up to a press representative and asked, 'If you please, can you tell us where tho ladiei' races are going to be P' ' ' What, no races ! Why it was in the paper. ' "Splendid races, beautiful costumes, lovely' prizes," it said. 1 So they went away disappointed, like a great many others. After the main party of three had left there was a rather funny incident, however, for the delectation of the orowd at Hyde Park , Corner. Just a few minutes after the first three had escaped the crowd, two other rationally dressed lady cyclists oame up and started on a search for the ' Congress.' They peered round to try and find another belated wearer of the bifurcated garment among the cyclists who had assembled to witness the departure. There was nobody, however, and, glad to get out of earshot of the things the crowd said, they started off 'on their own.' The sailor hat of one was flying in the wind, and her short hair streaming out in apparently a vain endeavour to catch up with it. It was a sight that provoked the merriment of the crowd, and they went away in a good humour with a general impression that tho whole thing was a ' blooming fiasco.' The party was swelled a little after leaving London, and they battled on resolutely in the face of the heavy head*wind. Only one or two gave up andnsompleted tho journey by train. All alongthe route the cyclfsta received quite a reception, a^ at Slough the people turned out and lined the roada

as though it were a Jubilee procession. A member of the party has collected some of the comments passed on the party by the way. ' Pip Pip' seemed to be the favourite cry. but there were endless phrases used, of which the following is a fair sample :— ' Now we sha'nt be long.' • Oh, look at her bloomers.' 'Ain't she got lovely calves.* ' Turn 'em out to grass,' sang out* the lade. 'You're a disgrace to your sex,' shouted som9 of the women. 'Disgusting,' said some of the men. Others seemed appreciative, and called out merely ' Bravo, go it, bloomers !' or ' Oh, ain't she beautiful ' as some pretty girl passed, or ' Oh lor ! theres beef ' as the heavy-weight went by. In the villages the children and women were all waiting for them to pass. And at each few detached houses the child who first flaught .sight of the procession at once set up a cry of ' Oh, mother, look, Jook!' while bigger ones shouted 'Pip -pip, women in men's trousers!' or ' They've got their . father's breeches on !' The ' reception at the old conservative City of Oxford seems to have been slightly more assuring. A number of cyclists conducted the worn-out London contingent, at least the first of them, into the town and to the resting-place, at the Clarendon Hotel. There they were welcomed by Lady Harberton and a party who had had a most enjoyable run from Che ltenham with the wind. Oxford, it is said, bore a livelier aspect than it has done for years. Thousands were in the streets to witness the arrival, and a large number of extra constables had to be put on to keep the roads open. A peculiar deadlook occurred just before dinner, which was served at nine. A lady journalist who had " run up from ■ London by train wished to be present at the banquet which, of course, was the main feature of the proceedings. She was a lady of unusually massive proportions and had neither ridden a bike nor donned bloomers in her life. The law of the lady rationalists to the effect that 'Skirts are not to be tolerated under any circumstances, either on cycles or off,' was, like the edicts of the Medes and Persians, unalterable. For tome time it Beeraed as if there would be a row. Some of the ladies absolutely refused to sit down to table if anyone appeared in a • skirt, while others went so far as to say that if a skirt was admitted they would take off their bloomers and be done with the whole thing. It was the latter who settled the business, for, as they had nothing but bloomers and nightdresses with them, it was impossible to let them carry out their threat. So the lady journalist was lent a pair of unmentionables by a lady who had an extra suit, and she sat down with the other fifty. Of course she looked very uncomfortable at first, but after a b^t this wore off. On the Sunday morning there was to be a parade, but it was so miserably wet that it had to be declared off, and the only item of the proposed programme carried out was the judging of the costumes and the awarding of first, second, and third prizes. Some rode back to London and some came back by train. The most original remark heard during the whole proceedings was, perhaps, that of a small boy, who yelled out after some of the returning cyclists, ' Miss, ain't at time you was getting into long-'unsP' The gathering is to be repeated next year, when it is hoped, that under better weather conditions, it will be more of a Buccess. These advocates of rational oostume for women seem any way to have had the strength of their convictions. I remember a rather amusing instance in New Zealand in which ladies, rationally dressed, although they may have had the strength of their convictions, did not care to face openly the stares of the adult community and the jfeers of the small boy. It waa a number of years ago, when Christohurch claimed to lead the advanced woman movement in the colonies, and as far as that goes, I think tbe same claim is still pat forward by the people of Canterbury's chief ' centre. However, the time I refer to was before the rage for bicycles, and when walking was a favourite pastime. A band of ladies who advocated rational dress determined on a email demonstration. They went very cannily about it. Costumed in blouses and bifurcated lower garments they collected in the morning at the railway station. There was no improper display of any sort, however, for each and every female wore a long mackintosh reaohing almost to the ground. In fact, no one on the platform hardly suspected the party attired in the extremely long mackintoshes. They took their tickets to a station in the direction of Bakaia, and when well away from civilisation they left the train, and removing their cloaks gambolled about to their hearts' desire. The only persons wKo came across their path were a few country yokels, who as hastily as possible removed themselves to other parts. A return was made to town in the evening 1 in the same decorous manner in which it had been left in the morning, and there the demonstration ended. They certainly did no one any harm by their demonstration, but I think last Saturday's was moru the .kind of affair to either kill the rational dress fad or to increase the number of its advocates.