SPORTING EVENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 243, 12 September 1929, Page 7

SPORTING EVENTS

WITNESSED IN ENGLAND.

MR WATSON’S RETURN. GROWTH OF METROPOLIS. After an eight months’ health recruiting trip to England, where he was under the care of a .leading specaalist’ Mr H. JL Watson has returned to Palmerston North greatly benefited in health. Although he was mostly in London ho was able, owing to the beautiful spring weather, to witness many prominent sporting events, and he recounted his impressions to a Standard representative to-day .Keen interest was taken . bv' Mr Watson in the University crews, and auring their period of training he was in the launch which followed them. He was present at some of the best cricket matches, including the Universitv game, in which he had the satisfaction of seeing a player from his own school and college win the match for Cambridge against Oxford, whose chance had been strongly favoured. TENNIS AT WIMBLEDON.

With his enthusiasm for tennis, Mr Watson saw the Wimbledon tournament through, being present every day. He also saw many of the leading tournaments, including the ParisLondon match. “I could not see any young players likely to take the place of the present cracks,” he commented, ‘‘with the exception, perhaps, of the young American, Van Ryn.” He was a tremendously hard hitter and exceedingly active about the court. Wimbledon was more crowded than ever and accommodation was at a premium, said Mr. Watson. He understood that about £60,006 was returned to unsuccessful applicants for seats. For the finals seats were selling at £5 5s and upwards for the day. Speaking of the performances of the Palmerston North player, Mr E. D. Andrews, who was engaged in the Wimbledon tournament, Mr Watson said that, in his opinion, he was as good as any of the British players, but he would have no chance against the expert Frenchmen or Tilden. Andrews played a different game from what he had shown in New Zealand, added Mr Watson, who said that his failure was in his inconsistency, but he could volley well' and had cultivated variety in his service. Playing at Queen’s Club (London) Andrews injured a shoulder muscle and his shoulder was in a plaster bandage at Wimbledou, where he was defeated in the second round by Landry. However, Andrews won the first set 6 —4 quite convincingly, but he was rendered practically helpless when the plaster bandage came undone. He had won two or three minor tournaments before Wimbledon. On the departure of Mr Watson from England, Andrews was recovering from the injured shoulder and intended to defend his title for the North England championship. The Trooping of the Colours on the King’s Birthday was one of the glittering military spectacles witnessed by Mr Watson, who stated that the sight was as great as ever. He informed the “Standard” representa : tive that Major Mead, formerly or Palmerston North, participated in the ceremony, and rode in a prominent position, while he also represented New Zealand at the funeral of Marehal Foch. . Describing the military touriiament as better than ever, Mr Watson expressed disappointment at the Horse Show, where he stated that the jumping was especially bad, while that at the Hunt show was even worse. The standard of jumping by the army trained horses at the military tournament was magnificent, however. FLATS REPLACE MANSIONS. ' Since he had last seen London five years previously, said Mr Watson, considerable difference was evident and many of the old buildings were being replaced by enormous blocks of flats. /Rents were high, reaching from a minimum of about £3OO to several thousand pounds a year. Roughly epeaking, flat rents were not less than £IOO per room for moderately comfortable quarters. Immense blocks were being erected Ell over London, even in places hire Portland Square, along one side of which now extended a Une of flats. In Park Lane a large hotel was to be built where the famous Rochester House was being pulled down. <jirosvenor House had already disappeared to make room for flats, and where the Duke of Devonshire's house formerly stood was now a huge block of flats, while the Mayfair Hotel site occupied •what were originally the gardens attached to the residence. Iho building of flats had, however, been overdone, and tenants could not be found for a large number. Constantly driving through London and through the East End, Mr Watson was impressed with the manner in which the building area was spreading and extending over the outskirts of the great Metropolis. Many of the old romantic places were being displaced by new buildings and the. country was becoming covered with “horrible little bungalows and rows of villas.” , c Despite the enormous volume of traffic in London, it was controlled in a wonderful manner and driving was exceedingly easy, hut nevertheless fearful traffic jambs occurred occasionally, owing to the number of vehicles on the streets. Under the circumstances, everything was wonderfully regulated. , . There was little interest manifested bv the i>eople in the British general election which took place while he was in England, stated Mr Watson, und it was that apathy to which the Conservative Party had attributed its defeat The public seemed quite prepared to accept the change of government in order that it should be given a trial.