ARC OVAL BILLIARDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1908, Page 6

ARC OVAL BILLIARDS.

The "Arc-oval"' table, to use its full name, is bounded by four arcs of circles, two large ones, and two small ones, the arcs of the large circles forming the long .sides, and the arcs r>i' the small circles forming the short sides. It follows that the distance from a top pocket on one side to the middle pocket on the other side is invariably the same, and a knowledge of tho' positions of_ the centre's of the smaller circles helps' tile player to calculate the angles of rebound, which depend nil the al)g!p between the direction gi\en to tho {able, and tho tangent r* the point where it strikes the cushion. Tho geometry of the angles, though much more complete than is the case with the rectangular (able, is easily explored by the player who knows the proportion of the', circle. Mcssrr. Alcpck and Co. have manufactured at their Wellington factory a specimen of the oval table, which is now erected in the late premises of the Welle'sly Club, Johnston-street, and on Tuesday afternoon next Bragge and Smith, two Australian pryfcssionals, wijl, commence a game of 9000 up on level terms. The game will be continued daily at 3 a.m. and 8 o'clock, the final tessipn taking place on Monday, the 17th inst.

Lord Plunket leaves Onehunga on Monday next by 'the Tutanekai for Hokianga, whcie he arrives on Tuesday. A visit to Kawhia will be paid on 13th February, the steamer then leaving for the south, and probably calling _at New Plymouth and the Marlborough Sounds. Later engagements extending to the south of the South Island will occupy his Excellency till early next month, and he does not expe.ct to return to Auckland till the micldic of March. Our Greytown correspondent telegraphs :—: — "Doctor Henry Thomas Spratt died this morning, aged 80. lie had been 53 years in the colony, practisiug most of that time in the Wairarapa. He leaves a widow and four daughters, all the latter being married, and one son, Dr. Henry Spratt. Mr. A. Wilson, who has relinquished the editorship oi tho New Zealand Times, and will snortly leave on a trip to England, was presented with a silver inkstand and greenstone paper cutter by .the literary staff of the paper last evening. The presentation wa,s I made by Mr. F. Kirby, sub-editor. The officials cf tho Wellington Boxing As&ociation have been informed that a private match was contemplated, and that the contest, it it, fctated, was lev ho for a sum of money. Under tho Police Offences Amendment Act tnab is illegal, and the officials havo intimated to the parties concerned that if the match takes place ail concerned will render themselves liable to penalties. The association says it intends to do all in its power to prevent these contests, and has refused all applications for permits for matches, preferring that boxing should take place under its auspices. In Chambers yesterday his Honour Mr Justice Cooper granted probate to the following deceased peisons : — A. C. Jenkins, late of Wellington ; m. W. Walker, Jate of Greytown ; and A. Allison, lato of East Jnvercargill. Letters ot administration were granted in respect of the estate of Thomas Robert Macintosh, of Timaru, clerk, deceased. The Wellington Association of Architects held its monthly meeting last night, the president (Mr. F. de J. Clere) presiding. After the general business had been disposed of an interesting paper was read by Mr. Thomas Ward, C.E., on the planning and luying-out of townships, which was greatly appieciated by the members present. Many Wellington people are expectsd to vi§it Pctono to-morrow afternoon to witness the local celebration of Hosp«toJ Sunday. Theie are to be pi occasions in which city and suburban bauds, member.-, of friendly societies, the Fiio Biigado, and tho Petono Navals will take part, most of the local streets will he traversed by iit least ono hand, and then all the bandsmen and membra of the piocessiou will' assemble in the Recreation Giound One feature of the prnLecdingh there will be the playing of tlio march "Injjo^iar"