THE CRICKETERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 260, 12 November 1901, Page 2

THE CRICKETERS.

Loveiss of the good old game of cricket liavo naturally been .deeply interested in the opening play of Maclareu’s team in Australia. The display inado so far is disappointing, and gives color to the adverse criticisms passed upon tho team before it left England. However, it is too early yet to judge, and it is to be hoped ■ that even before the present match is concluded the Englishmen will show that they are well able to uphold their prestige

as exponents of the manly game. On the evo of the team's departure for Australia, the London Daily Mail gave a review of the team, describing it as one of the best all-round teams that had yet left England. “As Mr A. O. Jones said at the Leicester Football Club's dinner, it is the best lielding side which has ever gone out. while Leonard Brauud, the brilliant young Somerset professional, says that it is a young man’s team, that many of the men who are going have to make their international reputations, and will strain every nerve to ensure success. This may be taken to be the spirit which animates the team, and looking through the names one cannot help being struck with the fact that Brauud has very fairly summed up the position.” The critic goes on to declare that with regard to batting, the team cannot well fail. The runs scored by the players in lust season’s cricket and their averages will prove what a magnificent batting side it is. They are as follows:

It will (continues the Mail) be seen from the table that no fewer than three men have averages of ovor 50 runs per innings, while 11 can claim over 50. It is made up, too, of men with styles so widely dissimilar that it is sure to bo well balanced, and therefore attractive. While Jessop stands in a class by himself as a scientific hitter, there arc fine forcing batsmen in A. O. Jones, 11. G. Garnett, and Macluren. The sound batsmen, who, while taking no undue risks, can score at a great pace when opportunity serves, include Tyldesley, Lilley, J. Gunn, Brauud, and Robson, who is a much better player than last season’s record would suggest. Then of the stonewall brigade the three greatest of the present time are in tho team, and will all be wanted in tho playedout contests. C. MeGahey, Hayward, and W. It. Quaifo can be relied upon to stay in if necessary against almost any bowling. Moreover, tho Australian wickets should suit them to perfection. The latter statement is hardly borne out by tho experience of yesterday, but the visitors may do better later on. The last season’s record for bowling shows:

The bowling, tho critic considers, is the doubtful side of the picture. “ All depends on Barnes,” is the declaration. The writer adds : —Braund is the only bowler who lias taken over 100 wickets, although Gunn and Blythe have both exceeded 90. Yet it is not quite up to the previous standard of English teams. Should Barnes prove a really first-class mar, there is an abundance of good bowling to help him. If he fails, tho Australians will make record scores. An Australian critic told the writer the other day that Blythe would be a failure on Australian wickets, and many good judges in this country hold very much the same opinion. Mead or Hargreave, failing Rhodes, would perhaps have proved bettor and more useful trundlers.

The rifle match, Gisborne Rifles v. Civilians, postponed from last Saturday, will take place on Thursday next. Messrs Mackrell and Colley's tender has Ijjeen accepted for the erection of tho Maraetaha school, the price being 91296 10s. Captain Edwin forecasted at 2.45 p.m. yesterday : —“ Modorato to strong south to south and south-west winds ; glass rise ; tides ordinary.” A rise in the price of timber is to bo made. The local merchants have received notice from tho mills of an advance in the prices, and a proportionate advance will be made by the local dealers. Last evening there was a pitiful scene in Peel street, when a woman who has already been convicted 159 times was arrested by Constable Doyle. The woman was screaming out filthy language. Constable McLeod arrested an old offender for drunkenness and disorderly behavior in Lowe street.

Tho following are the total amounts received b,y the Salvation Army for the self-denial fund in the four divisions of the colony : Auckland 911625, Wellington 2410, Christchurch 911092, Dunedin 911867. The total for tho Australasian colonies is 9124,850. The Gisborne corps ranks tho fourth highest in New Zealand for its contribution.

[ An accident of a painful nature occurred ; to Mrs Campbell, of Mangitikatea, on [ Sunday afternoon. Whilst walking on . the verandah of her house, she slipped ' and fell and broke her leg. A telephone message was sent to Gisborne for medical assistance, and Dr Fisher was in attendance at the house the same evening. By latest accounts the patient was making satisfactory progress towards recovery. The Poverty Bay Cycling Club hold their cycling and athletic sports on Thursday, the 21st inst., and judging from the number of maiden riders who have nominated, there being no less than eighteen, the Club should have a very successful gathering. The track is in splondid going order, and with the thoroughly efficient supervision that Mr A. Gregg gives it, bids fair to make one of the fastest tracks in the colony. The secretary advises that nominations close to-night. Messrs Eure and Hooper are acting as handicappers for the cycling events, and Messrs Fraser and Primrose for the running events. Considering the unfavorable weather, there was a capital congregation at Wesley Church on Sunday evening. The Rev. B. F. Rothwoll preached a practical and pointed sermon on ’‘Take yo away the stone,” showing that it was the duty of the State and the individual to remove the obstructions to the Redeemer's Kingdom by human agency, because it was

human agency that put them there. There would still ho Christ’s work left, for he alone could raise the “dead in trespasses and sins.” The drink traffic was shown to be a “ stone of stumbling,” and it was urged that everyone should lend a hand to get it out of the way. A full choir led the singing most heartily. The anthem was, “ Awake, awake,” Miss Foster being the soloist.

A tmp accident of a rather serious nature occurred on Friday evening last, near Mr Cooper’s residence, Makauri. A gig, containing three persons, Miss McClure and her two younger brothers, who were on their return jourruy from Gisborne, was run into by a drunken Maori, galloping on horseback. The Maori was on bis wrong side of the road, and there was a lamp burning in the gig. As the result of the accident, the near shaft of the gig penetrated the che;t of the Maori’s horse, which was almost instantly killed. The weight of the impaled horse and the shock of the collision

threw the gig’s horse to the ground. Miss McClure was thrown out of the gig between the horses, whilst her two brothers wore thrown on the road. The elder bo.y quickly recovering, backed the wounded horse off the shaft, thus enabling hi 3 sister to get clear of the horses, but not before she had received a kick on the leg and had been covered with the blood which spouted from the chest of the pierced animal. The older boy had his wrist

sprained, whilst the younger one and the Maori escaped unhurt. No damage was done to the gig or harness, 'except that they were covered with blood. With the aid of Mr Joseph Cooper, of Waerenga-a-hika, who arrived most opportunely on the spot, the Maori and boys hauled the horse off the road. The practice of galloping horses along country roads, both in the day time and at night, is becoming a menace to the travelling public, and should receive the attention of the police, otherwise moro serious results than those } recorded must cutur, I

The Harbor Board 'call for tenders for the extension of the western groyne. A notice regarding the payment of land and income tax appears in another column.

The Military Sports, postponed from last Saturday, will be held at the Park Racecourse on Thursday.

At a meeting of the L-"al Gisborne Lodge, No. COST, 1.0.0. F.. 1.U., held in the Oddfellows’ Hall last riling, Bro. B. S. Cox, N.G., presiding, .j new member was proposed and otfcu . routine business dealt with.

A meeting of the Loyal Gisborne Juvenile Lodge was held last evening, Bro. A. AV. Kirk, Deputy Superintendent, presiding. Bro. LA. Murray was elected Right Supporter of the \ T ico Grand, and Bro. Alcßeth Left Supporter ; Bro. I. Quigley was elected Warden, and Bro. E. Corbett Guardian.

Here is the usual story In consequence of a dream, a young man named Shaw, living near Greytown, stands to win over .£3OO through Tortulla winning the New Zealand Cup. Some time ago a Mr Eoob imparted to Shaw that his wife dreamt that the Porirua mare won a great event. Mr Shaw was much impressed, and immediately backed Tortulla with a tirm of AVellingt-on bookmakers at 75 to 5. He sold his bicycle for £lO. The odds, owing to the mare doing a poor gallop, were lengthened, and he was laid £250 to £lO. On Saturday afternoon Robb received a telegram asking him to tell his wifo that Tortulla had won the Cup. The second of the inter-club bowling matches for the pennant presented by Mr J. AV. AVitty will be played on Thursday afternoon, when Haiti meet Gisborne. The teams to represent Gisborne at the AVellington tournament, to be held in January next, will bo selected from the following: Messrs C. Ferris, C. H. AV. Dixon, F. A. Martin, G. Humphreys, J. Ponsford, A. J. Massey, AV. Gaudin, J. AA r allaee, AV. J. Quigley, AV. Pettie, J. Sheridan, 11. McGowan, J. Coleman, lan Simson, and Judge Batharn. The Gisborne Club will require two rinks, and when these have been decided upon it is probable that a team representing the suburban clubs will be got together, as several of the suburban players whose names are not already down for AVellington are mentioned as likely to attend the tournamont. A meeting of the committoo will be held this week to consider this and other questions.

Name. Runs. Average. \V. G. Quaito 1,700 56-66 Tyldesley 8,011 55-29 Hay ward '-1,535 50-70 C. McGahey 1,838 48-36 A. 0. Jones •■2,292 46-37 G. L. Jessup ... 2,323 40-75 Lilley (wicketkeeper) 1,054 39-03 J. Gunn 1,317 36-57 Braund 1,537 36-06 H. G. Garnett 1,758 30-87 A. G. Maclaren 1,069 31-44 C. lvobson (res. wicketkeeper ■141 15-75 Blythe (bowler). Barnes (bowler).

Name. Barnes Wickets. ... 6 Average. 16'50 Hayward ... GO 20-43 Blythe ... 9G 23-12 Wl G. CJuaife ... ... 44 23-15 J. Gunn ... 92 23-41 A. 0. Jones ... ... 06 27'62 C. McGahey ... ... 52 28-50 Braund ... 120 30-62 G. L. Jcssop ... ... 29 31-10