"TWO-UP."

Mataura Ensign, 7 June 1907, Page 1

"TWO-UP."

ANCIENT GAME WITH MODERN DEVELOPMENTS.

■ ~.., „, ('Post.') lwo-up hag come into such prominence lately that a peep into the past of the game is justifiable. "Two-up" is not a modern invention. It is reafiy »n old friend, pitch and toss, under a new name.. Bitty or sixty yean ago pioneers m New Zealand played pitch and toss with a couple of pennies in much the same stylo as the one adopted by thoir two-up descendants to-day. AJI ove f the English-speaking world "twoup has a vogue. A visitor from Australia says that this game has greater popularity there than even in New Zealand. In shearing sheds, in slaughter yards, or cab ranks, men are for ever tossing two pennies with the bit of wood known as tho "kip." It is only during the past ten years that "two-up" has come into any great prominence in New Zealand, and the large increase in the number of players is ascribed to the growing prosperity of the country. The people have more money for gambling purposes, and the simplicity of "two-up" appeals to the masses. A small piece of board, which costs nothing, and two pennies are all that are required for a school A few years ago Hagley Park. Christehurch, tho site of the Exhibition, was a favorite rallying place for two-uppers. Uu (sunday afternoons numbers of men and youths used to congregate there and gamble, and by an elaborate system of scout* they managed to escape trouble for a long time, but in the end they were routed by the subtlety of detectives, aud changed their habitat. Ihey began to play in a section adjoin»'g, the Theatre Royal, and there a school was surprised one night by the 2,°.™ The , P u P ,ls fled i leaving about ±.4 10s in the ring. The money was ii'sver claimed It ,vas displayed in the Canterbury. Industrial Exhibition half a dozen years ago, and was afterwards paid into the public account. In Wellington some time back, "twouppers were wont to congregate in Kelburne, in the region of the Botanical Gardens, and also at the back of the plantations on Mount Victoria; but the march of progress has compelled them to take to darker quarters. In Dune(lin, too, the penny-tossers had a fondness for open-air assemblies till a raid ny detectives the other day discouraged In city and country alike "two-up" has many votaries. This pastime is especially popular along the North Island Main Trunk railway lino. On a recent Sunday afternoon a traveller noticed £6O in one ring up there, and other authentic reports go to show that many of the workers are inclined to try to increase their shillings bv pitching two pennies. To-day a 'Postreporter asked a police officer whether io considered that sharpers went up the line to prey upon the toilers. j n J?% of me , n aI P, n 8 the Mne °«n t«k« down the spielers," was the reply Two-up seems to appeal to gamblers because tbey consider that it gives them a straight, even chance on each toss, harii player has a right to cry "I bar" if he thinks that the coins have not been properly spun, and he may also take his turn at the kip. There are tricks in this trade, of course. Recently the writer saw a kit, with a slit filed neatly in one side for the reception of a double-headed pennv. This instrument was found by the police on a man who had no doubt used it to victimise greenhorns. Palming, ordi-nary'sleight-of-hand, is also practised lor tho confusion of simpletons.