The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1912. ANNIVERSARIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15862, 27 February 1912, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1912. ANNIVERSARIES.

1557 First Russian Ambassador to Britain reached London. 1815 Wellington defeated the French under Soult at the Battle of Orthes. 1863 First meeting of ratepayers held in Christchurch. 1900 General Cronjo surrendered to Lord Roberta at Paardoberg.

TO-DAY’S NEWS.

In the House of Representatives last evening Mr Massey unreservedly withdrew any imputations oontained in his speech on Friday evening against the Prime Minister, tho member for Grey Lynn and the member for Napier. (Page 7.) Mr Lauronson last night accueed Mir Hina of having made allegations against Sir Joseph Ward. (Page 7). The debate on the want-of-confidence motion was continued last night in ttfo House of Representatives and adjournod until to-day. (Page 7.) Auckland beat Wollington in the interprovincial cricket match by one wicket. (Page 8). Search is to be made for the missing Chatr ' ham Island steamer Himitangi. (Pago 8.) Work is proceeding steadily on the Brisbane wharves with free labour. (Pago 7.) The Christchurch Tramway Board mpt yesterday. (Page 3.) A meeting of tho Canterbury College Board of Governors was held yesterday. (Pago 3.) Brighter 1 prospects are reported in connection with the mining trouble in Britain. (Page 7.) The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is discussing a motion of no-confidence in the Speaker. (Pago 7.) Yuan-Shi-Kai promises to remove religious disabilities in Ghi&k .(Pago U

THE DAVIS CUP.

The prospects for tho noxt contest! for tlie Davis Oup already appear to be highly satisfactory. Though the American challenge has been accompanied by a rather deprecatory statement from the president of tho National Lawn Tennis Association of the United States it seems reasonable to assume that the challenge from the British Isles will spur the Americans to make very strong efforts to secure representation. Their tliree unsuccessful missions to Australasia have given thorn a prior right to contest the supremacy of the world with Australasia, and it is scarcely likely that they will bo content to look on while 4 another nation endeavours to lift the Cup. The British challenge may bo accepted probably as a guarantee- of the intention of the English Association to compete. A team of British players is to visit Australia next summer, and three of its chosen members will bo quite equal to the task of upholding the national prestige in the international tournament. Probably tho suggestion that the preliminary tie will be played in Australia has been based on the knowledge of tho impending British visit and the fact that it would be easier for the Americans to travel direct from San Francisco to Melbourne than to cross the Atlantic in order to play a preliminary tournament in England and in the event of their success to continue the journey to the Antipodes. A challenge from France, which would ho welcomed very warmly by our friends across the Tasman. Sea, would not he likely to affect the arrangements, since it is known that the leading French players are anxious to visit Australia. If they do enter the lists their participation will add very considerably to the interest of the contest, but even without them there will be reason to anticipate keen competition in Melbourne at the end of the year. With two challenges in hand the Australasian Lawn Tennis Association has cause for gratification. Soon after the completion of the memorable tournament in Christchurch a prominent American 1 revived a suggestion that tho older nations should refuse to visit this part of the world again in quest of the Davis Oup. The adoption of that proposal would have been inimical to tho interests of the international competition and unfair to the present holders of the Cup, and the action that has been taken by tho British and American authorities affords pleasing evidence of their sportsmanlike intentions.