ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9325, 30 March 1889, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

AQUATICS. Tins afternoon the Auckland Swimming Club hold their second carnival, and have again been successful in tiecaring from the Harbour Board that splendid giant bath, tho Calliope Dock, wherein to hold the races. This club has made groat strides since its formation, in the beginning of the summer, and is rapidly taking rank as one of the foremost institutions in the city for the development of physical -education, and in this regard is already very popular, to say nothing of the extreme utility of popularising the art of swimming well. Trie programme is a very varied one, and the members have been assiduously practising each for the special events in which he considers himself to havo the best chance of winning. The committee have made the best possible arrangements for the convenience of spectators, amongst whom will probably be Admiral and Mrs. Fairfax. Seats will be provided for ladies. The. ferry stoamers will run direct to tho Dock. Programmes, giving particulars of starts and identification of the competitors, will be available. A bright warm day is all that is required to assure the success of the affair. On Saturday, April 13, the Judge's Bay hold their annual regatta, and a perusal of the programme issued discloses the fact that the prizto money is liberally distributed and the races wall chosen. To this latter fact some little exception has been taken, in th\t the club has pat those gig and whaleboat races upon tno programme in which St. George's Rowing Club were recently victorious, the inference being that by so doing the Regatta Club have shown a disposition to favour the St. George's oarsmen. I am in a position to state, however, that such is far from being the case. After tho conclusion of the junior whaleboat event at tho Auckland Regatta considerable difference of opinion reigned as to which of the four crows engaged \ras the best, as the race was somewhat marred by fouls. There was a elmilengs thrown out to tho winners, and a good deal of talk, oonoorning the promotion of a sweepstakes raoe between the competitors. Although toothing came of all this fuss, tho foot that the question of junior oarsmen's supremacy was not properly settled still was a theme of discussion, and giro Jill and sundry another opportunity of proving the merit of any claims thay might advance to the honour, was one of the chief reasons that induced the Regatta Club to make their whaleboat event, at least, one for juniors. The pair oar races are likely to bring contestants from nearly all the local clubs, while the dingy championship and skiff races aro always worth going to see, not to mention the attraction that always attaches to a ladies' raco. ATHLETICS. As ' I anticipated some weeks ago the* entries for the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club autumn sports have produced a larger list than the big number which competed at the last carnival. The handicaps were issued this week, and should have little or no effect in diminishing the competitors, as the compilers have, in my opinion, succeeded in framing a very equitable scale of allowances. The championship sprint over 200

■ yards has, a3 was expected, not brought out a good field, but if the men come to the post fit a grand struggle should ensue, and to pick the winner in such a contest will bo a task of much nicety. From the start given in the 120 yards' hurdles there should be one of the best races over the " sticks" that has yet been seen in tho Domain and I hope to see both Owen and Lusk face the starter in this event. Both the long distance events, the mile and half mile, are well patronised, and should the competitors run according to training form, there will be good spurting in tho straight, ,and some bunchy finishes. In the wheel events, the handlcappera have brought tho ecratcn man gomewhat farther from the limit than previously, but tho wins made by A. G. Clarke against big odds completely justify such an apportionment. A. G. Buchanan has also had his allowance curtailed, a*fact that his late performances have led one to expect. The other whoolmen are put down to various starts well regulated according to their ability, and in all the " bike" events we may confidently anticipate even closcr contests than the exciting finishes which so frequently have characterised these popular races. FOOTBALL. On Saturday last the first practice of the season was held at the North Shore, where the I'onsonby and Pirate Clubs together played a scratch match. In some of the more important details the new rules were observed, and the players seemed quickly to grasp the various advantages to be gainod under the fresh code. Though the ground was rather rough, and all engaged were, of course, out of form, some very decent play was exhibited, and the zeet with which all did their work showed that our great winter game was very popular. Among the forwards C. Marshall, W. Habson, D. Gash, Edgar, and others showed up very prominently, though several faults arising from want of practice were to bo seen in each. The back division could not, of course, be expected to play with any great amount of combination, but several times pieces of really good individual play were to bo observed. Stewart, the new Ponsonby threequarter, showed excellent promise of being a reliable fast back when in S roper fettle and playing regularly, while ■roen at centre was alert and smart in his returns, besides being clever in his tackling. A; Braund, Tanfield, and Stephenson showed fair form, but were all evidently not cherry ripe. The balance of the players worked hard, and made tho practice a very interesting one. This afternoon the Ponsonby first and second fifteens will combine with the Grafton in the Domain, to hold a general practice, in preparation for tho forthcoming Poneke matches.

This week a wire was received in town from Wellington, to the effect that the Poneko men cannot play Ponsonby on Easter Monday, as desired, so that the definite dates for the fixtures will now bo Grafton v. Poneke, April 23 (Easter Tuesday); Ponsonby v, Poneke, April 24 (Wednesday). This latter date is an extremely inconvenient one, both for players and public, coming as it does just after the conclusion of *, spell of five consecutive holidays, but it appears that the movements of our Wellington friends will admit of no other arrangement. In playing on Wednesday, they cannot be said to be anxious for a " gate," tor the attendance at Potter's, on that day, is sure to be very meagre, for the reasons mentioned. The attempt to revive the North Shore Senior Fifteen has so far met with but a partial success, and will not, I think, ever come to anything permanent, as most of last year's members have already cast in their lots with other club 3. Last night the annual meeting of the Grafton Football Club was held in. the Imperial Hotel. There were about 30 members present, Mr. J. Page presiding. The annual report showed that the first fifteen had won the Rugby Union's Cup for the past season, with the following record —Matches played, 8 ; won, 6; lost, 1; drawn, 1; scored 35 points and 10 scored against. The following officers were elected : President, Mr. G. S. Kissling; vice-presidents, Messrs. M. Gallagher, H. H. Hayr, H. Davy, and W. S. Lyell; captain, Mr. T. Ryan ; deputy captain, Mr. J. Leckv; secretary, Mr. G. Orchard ; delegates, Messrs. Ryan and Orchardcommittee, Messrs. Twiname, Locky, and Gardner. In tho second fifteen Mr. T. Moresby was chosen captain, with Mr. G. Camwell as his deputv, the committee being Messrs. Parkes and Barton. The following new members were elected Messrs. Parker, Adcock, Higgins, Hawkins, Collins, Rudd, Hulme, Arford, Perrin, Major, Stone, Marshall, Upfill, Jeffreys, 'Logan, Whyte (2), Banks, Wilson, Porter, Brown. The annual meeting of the Gordon Football Club is announced to take place to-night at tho Imperial Hotel, when officers for the ensuing year will be chosen, and tho plan of campaign mapped out. Though the "all blacks" have been rather quiet in regard to recruiting, I hope to seo that they will place as stroug a fifteen in the field as last season, when they were second for the cup, being the only club which defeated the winners. Jason.