Sporting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 16

Sporting Sprints.

The first horse race in Australia took plac© at Parramatta in 1810,

"Bob" Sieyier, the moat noted punter of recent years, once a man to be reckoned with in connection with every big event of the Australian raoing world, where he was known as 'Bob" Sutton, ia now seeking political honours in England. He married Lady Mary Brudenel, daughtej of the Earl of Cardigan, and was owner of the groat mare Sceptre.

Cricket, which seems t<s have originated in England in the fourteenth century, was regarded with much disfavor by the Plantagenet kings, on the

ground that it., occupied : time which in the interest of the" liation should have been, devoted to archery. In the new edition of 'the Eanyeldpaedia Britannica we read that by a statute of Edward IV. anyone* allowing , -the game to-be played on his premises; was liable to three years' imprisonment and £20 lino, any player to two years , imprisonment and £10 fine, and tfe implements to be burnt. The game was : for a long tim<? regarded as more or less disreputable. Sir William Dugdale states that in his youth Oliver Cromwell (who was bom in 1/599) throw "himself into a dissolute and di".orderly course,"_ became "famous for football, cricket, cudgelling and "wrestling/, and acquired "the name of roys-terer." In the life of "Thomas Wilson, minister of Maidstone, published anonymously in 1672, Wilson having been born, in 1601, and dying in o>r about 1653; occurs the following passage: '-'Maidstone was formerly a pro-fane town, inasmuch as I have seen morrice dancing, cudgel playing, stoolball, • and many other sports openly and' publicly indulged ..in. on the Lord's day." In 1748 it was decided that cricket was not an illegal gam-ft xindor t-tte statute of 9 Anne, cap. 19. th« Court of King's Be»ioh holding "that it was a very marily game, not bad in itself, but onljr in the ill use made of it bj» betting more than £10 on it v but that was bad and against the law."

Rev. Hulton Sam.?, tiie -Queensland Church of : England minister, who ja also a first-class amateur pugilist, is no sooner settled down in a tbtvn than ho is in the boxing ring (writes a centra>l Queensland correspondent to Q. "Worker"). The fighting: • parson, is now in Longreach, • wlifre boxing is booming mildly, and he has, with the assistance of Father Lane, orgaavwd an amateur boxing tourhafla-ent for Jamiary i and 2. Mr. has every confidence that he will' off<^r l such inducement as to attract- the best men in the district, and expects to realise £15i) for the local hospital. This is turning muscular Christianity'to pious practical purpose.

An Anglican clergyman, the Rev. H. C. Williams, talks interestingly on boxing .-—"Boxing is one of 1 the manly arts. It teaches men good manners, self-control, honesty and clean living. It helps to keep youhW men in the straight path, and makes "them sound in mind and body. Boxing: "isthe greatest enemy of intemperance, for its practice gives men "strength mind to withstand temptation, building up the body and helping to lit jnpn for tiie-battle of Hfe. Boxing is a fine, a splendid pastime'; tho p-ofea-sion of boxing is an 'msnorable occupation. Nothiui can }>'> sajeV or- Mrrit-

ten against it when properly and fairly conducted. Parents should engiaft the love of boxing in the hearts of their children, so that in the years to come they might be better men and women. So long as boxing was free from dishonesty in intention it is not for mc or anyone else to say that it sliould not take place. There is nothing firmer than a good straight left, a stout heart and fche spirit of fight in man or boy." • • . ■ '>' :

Two well known American. racing cyclists, Ivor Lawson and W. L. Mitfcon, arrived in Sydney recently for the purpose of taking part in the forthcoming six days' cycle races in Sydney and Melbourne. The Sydney event starts on January 1. ~ : . * ■»•.#■'*■.

Many European motorists, both carists and motor cyclists, are now using benzol as fuel in competitive events in place of petrol, as they claim that the former fuel gives anything Tip- to 25 per cent, increased power. Ben?ol is perfectly safe to usej and is: said to be surprisingly economical. It is manufactured chiefly in those districts "where coal and iron, trades are carried on, and is used very considerably in France. The chief difference,; between benzol and petrol is in their specific gravity—the former having a specific gravity of 882 as against.petrol's 720. There is said to be no great difficulties in the using of benzol if two points are kept in mind. First, Owing to its greater gravity, the carburetter float rides higher, thus lowering the height of fuel in the jet, with the result, that starting up of the engine is effected. This can be easily obviated by adding a small lead washer to the tdp of the float so that the 'iquid is brought up to the- same level as when petrol is used. Secondly, the throttle does not need to be opened quite so'nnich, whilst more air is needed. Benzol, can be procured in England at 9d. per gallon, but the writer is not aware whether it is obtainable in this country in sufficient quantities to be tise^d- commercially. As it is a coal there should, however, be no reason why benI zol should not be distilled in this country, ■ ; - :

The British War Office is adopting a scheme of subsidisation in connection with petrol-driven motor lorries, and in the memorandum issued by the AN ar Department the terms for the enrolment of lorries and the conditions : as regards bo-:h the initial grant and. axirmal subsidy are given. The lorries are to be subsidised for a period nt two years. The initiaL subsidy is to be £12 for live axle lorries and £10 for lorries with encased chains and £8 if chains are uncovered. An annual subsidy of £15 per lorry, in addition to the al>ove, will also- be paid, privoded that the conditions are satisfactory alter inspection. In return, the British Government is to have the 'option, oi purchasing lorries and all spare parts m case of national emergency at tJiree days' notice, the purchase price to be the then value of vehicle, sJus 2o per cent.