ALL-ROUND SPORTSMAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 143, 16 December 1908, Page 8

ALL-ROUND SPORTSMAN.

ANTHONY F. WILDING. After a stay in the old world, extending over six jears, with the exception of a flying visit to his native countr7 two years ago, Anthony F. Wilding, the Australasian tennis champion is expected to arrive in Wellington shortly. While in Sydney Mr. Wilding was interviewed by a Daily Telegraph representativej who gives the following sketch of the champion's career :—: — Son of a fine sportsman, who was himself seven times doubles cliampion of New Zealand, Wilding early received much parental encouragement in lawn tennis. He won the singles handicap at the New Zealand championship meeting when 16 yearc of age, and a year later was champion of Canterbury. Sincethen, to record his tennis successes would require pages; both in England and on the Continent he has won countless championship matches, and his play *in the Davis Cup last v-o*»k fittingly se# the seal upon a brilliant tennis career. Leaving to pursue bis studies at Cambridge, he won the Freshman's tournament, and was selected to play against Oxford in 1904-5, being in the latter year president of the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Clnb. He represented his college (Trinity) ii football and cricket, playing also for Herefordshire in the latter game, and incidentally dabbled in other branches of sport. Always a devotee of shooting, he went for a long tour in Hungary at the beginning of this year.- A keen motor-cyclist, he has lately done most of his Continental travelling on the machine, this year no less than 36,000 miles have been covered in this way. Add to the list that he is a Lieutenant in the King's • Colonials, and it will be admitted that the man to whose efforts Australasia owes so much in this year's Davis Cup, has both seen and done a good deal during- his 25 years of life. When seen at the Australian Club the young champion commented on the recent international match, which he describes as being the best and most keenly contested of the whole series. "I do not think we will readily see -another like it, for not only was the play of high standard, but the chances of the game veered round so innch that excitement was maintained right to the end. The court on which the contest took place played well on the last day, but on the two former it was just a bit slow, materially being affected by the heavy rain which stopped play on the Thursday. V\hile the court,, was not quite so good as that at Wimbledon fast year, still the arrangements generally proved very satisfactory indeed. The spirit in which the whole 'match was played made it quite a pleasure .to participate, and our opponents did not grudge Australasia's success, recognising that it means far more to us as a nation than to them, for in America the game stands on a more established footing, and to hold the cup would not make much difference to its progress." "Were you at all nervous when playing the final match with Alexander?" "Well, not exactly. Of course I knew a lot depended on the result of that game, but I never let nervousness make any difference. A man can only start out determined to do Diiis best, and if tte starts worrying about how the match is going that does not improve his chances. Personally I was veify dubious as, to whether I could win, before the game started, and my three-set victory came as a great surprise to me. 1 did not see Beals Wright play Brookes, which must have been a great match. It is never a good scJhy^rne/ however, to watch a trying match likfe that just before you commence, for it has a tendency to unnerve a man and put him off his game." "Regarding the withdrawal by the New Zealand Association, how will that affect j'gu in regard to futuijb Davis Cup contests?" "Well, Brookes and I are both hoping that New Zealand will not persist in this attitude. We have made representation to the association asking them to reconsider the matter, and pointing out that Mr. Dwight Davis, the donor of the Cup, is particularly anxious that the combination should not be broken up. I think there is a big chance that the difficulty will be bridged over; it would certainly be a great pity for such a split to take place." Mr. Wilding was asked about future intentions. "To work hard at law," he ingenuously replied. *'I am really rat'iiisr fond of it, and was admitted as a barrister at the Inner Temple. In New Zealand one can be both a barrister and solicitor at the same time, so I am going into partnership with my father. It will be rather a change after the last six years, but I think I shall like law, and, once I commence, tennis can only be taken in week-end doses, with perh_aps an occasional trip across to Australia for the big championships*." According to a Press Association message from Sydney, A. Wilding, F. M. B. FisW, and H. A. Parker will sail in the Manuka to-morrow, and S. N. Doust will sail on Saturday, to participate in the New Zealand lawn tennis championships.

Farewell Spit was the only New Zealand station that had a blue sky at nine o'clock this morning, and probably by this afternoon the azure had said goodbye to that lovely spot. All over NewZealand rain was either threatening or falling, and in some places, the southerly which brought up the valuable rain was very blustery. Wellington's share of the downpour up to 9 a.m. to-day was .47 inch, and light showers came subsequently. The forcast announces a probability of further moisture for the North Island and the east coast of the South Island, north of Lyttelton. Mr. F. W. Rowley, Chief Deputy Inspector of the Labour Department, was married at the Presbyterian Church, •Khandallah, this afternoon to Miss Lulu M. Spence, a daughter of the late Mr. Spence, for many years Commissioner ■of Crown Lands, Southland. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr. J. H. G. Rowley, and the bride by her two sisters. From Captain Blackburne, secretary of the local Anti-Opium Association, we have received a copy, in pamphlet form, of the Chinese Government's decree for the prohibition of opium, issued on 22nd November, 1906, with a supplement setting forth the proposals, in ten articles, submitted to the Throne, by which effect was to be given to the decree. Also, a report of the speeches at the Anti-opium meeting held at the Queen's Hall, London, under presidency of the Bishop of London, on tho fiftieth anniversary of "the Tien-tsin Treaty, and of the resolutions passed at that meeting. An event near at hand — the meeting of the International Anti-Opium Commission at Shanghai on New Year's Day, will be looked foi with great interest. The annual meeting of the local Anti-Opium Association, when the year's report will be read and considered, is advertised to take place on Friday evening, at tho V.M.C.A. Rooms. It is understood (says the Poverty Bay Herald) that the police will not take proceedings against the licensee of the Coronation Hotel, Gisborno, for keeping his premises open on the afternoon of the day on which the Maori election was taking place. li is considered that the Legislature did not intend that the hotels should close on that day. All the other hotels in Gisborne closed. The Lnngor Dresn-cuttinjj Sohopl closeß on Friday for the suniß'*' vacation.