Athletics.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 74, 30 November 1901, Page 19

Athletics.

J. M. Hamilton, well known in Wellington, won the half-mile and one-mile amateur races at the Greymouth sports on the 9th November. He was timed to do 4.08 from scratch m the mile. A friend writes me from Auckland as follows — George Smith is m active training for the amateur championship meetings in Auckland next month. I saw him rubbed down the other day. He is a mass of muscle, and his arms, back chest, and shoulders are as brown as a half-caste's, and he looks the picture of health. His friends and trainer state that in view of the times put up by him over the 120 yds and 440 yds hurdles during the past fortnight, he will, bar accidents, accomplish something sensational in these events at the championship meetings The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association is embarking on a new ventuie. It has seriously decided to take into its consideration the holding of an annual boxing tournament, and a subcommittee has been appointed to collect information, etc , etc. Methinks a feiib-committee to consider the best means of reviving public interest in amateur athletics would have been more in the order of things and the controlling body would only bo fulfilling its legitimate functions. A while back they wanted to assume the control of cash running, but that was not agreeable to the bodies they wish to affiliate to the Association, and it was allowed to drop. Now, it is boxing — or the "noble art," as one scnbe hath it. Why not wrestling, fencing, and all other sister sports — theie is a gieat^field that could be exploited by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association if they could only be pievailed upon to take it up In this issue the programme of the Druids' Annual Gala and Fete will be found set out in detail The amount of £120 is announced to be distributed in prize money at the sports meeting, which will be held on the Basin Re-

serve, on New Year's Day (January Ist). A Sheffield Handicap of £17 is the main attraction for the running men, while Liberal prizes are offered to cyclists, the events for the latter being open, and not under the League of Wheelmen ru?es. Nominations for all events close on Friday, the 20th December, at Mr. Abel's, Manners-street. An art union is being held m connection with the celebration, and £100 is to be given away in prizes under that heading. Tickets, covering a chance in the art union and admission to the grounds, are issiiod at the moderate price of one shilling