ATHLETIC SPOSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10133, 16 May 1896, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPOSTS.

FOOTBALL. The championship fixtures will be continued this afternoon, the contests in the senior grade being, Grafton v. Ponsonby, City v. Suburbs, and Newton v, North Shore; Parnell standing out. The ilrit-mentioned match will be deoided on No. 1 ground ; and as we have had no opportunity of gauging the Strength of the Graf tonites, perhaps it were not wise to venture an opinion on the probable result of the match,, though the fact that Grafton has lost so many of last seasons prominent players, together with the form shown by Ponsonby in their match of Saturday last with Parnell, the odds would appear in favour of the veteran suburb. If the Newton team is. up to last year's form they may just about beat North Shore, while there appears to be a, prospect of City scoring a bloodless victory over Suburbs, who I am given to understand may not tie able to place a team in the field. The players selected are as follow :— Grafton v, Possonbt (No. 1 ground).— Grafton: Sloman, Lusk, Clayton, Moncur (2), Hay (2), Laird, Frost, Brady (2), Sterling, Gittos. Andrews, Cucksey, Williamson. Ponsonby: Stichbury, Masefield (2), R*msay, Braund, Lendrum, Cole, Graham, VVrigley, Gallagher, Purdy, Clark, Miller, Brairhwaite, Scott. Emergency: Greenough. Newton v. North Shore (Devonport ground). — Newton: Kitching, Siddell, Roberts, Freeman, Kelly, Hobson, Beck, Freeman, Williamson, Heffernan, Wilson, Richards, Murray, Hazeman. Knight. North Shore: Carduo, McPhail, Wynyard, Walker, Clark, McKenzie, Chamberlin (2), Speight, Marshall, McDonald, Valentine, Purdy, Nicholson, Quiun; emergencies, Grattan and Bull.

Cur v. Suburbs (No, 2 ground).—City: Smith, Absolum, Hales, Thomas, Codes, Stone. Brown (2). Breen, Major, Scott, Creagh, Oliphant, Surman, and McClusky.

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

A practice will be held in Mr. Niccol's paddock, Devonport, this, afternoon, play to commence at three p.m. sharp. Teams will be selected from the following Kent, Goring, Roberta (2), Dacre, Chamberlain (2), Allen, Cave (3), Hould, Marshall, Cotes (2), Copley, F. Burgess, C. Williams, Burgess (2), Alexander, S. Best, Hooper, Campbell. The fallowing will represent West End against United:—Howard (2). Miller, Allen, Atkin, Richmond, Kennedy, Osmond, Owen, Harris, Stewart, Smith, Langsford. A meeting of the committee of the Auckland Football Association was held on Thursday evening last, at the Occidental Hotel, .Mr. H. Reea George (vice-president) presiding. Amongst those present were Messrs. C. Hesketh and C. C. Dacre, vice-presidents of the Association. Correspondence was read from His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., accepting the position of patron, and several vice-presi-dents accepting office, also from the Auckland Rugby Union and New Zealand Football Association. An invitation to visit Coromandel on the 25th inst. was received from the Coromandel Association. It was decided to send a team, and a sub-committee was appointed with power to act. It was intimated by the delegates representing the various clubs that each club would place senior and junior teams in the field this season. It was decided to postpone the opening matehes of the Challenge Shield Competition till Saturday, May 23rd. The result of the draw is as follows .—Seniors: May 23, Grafton v. United and North Shore v. West End; May 30, Grafton v. North Shore and United v. West End; June 6, Grafton v. West End and North SIK-.'e v. United. Juniors same as! seniors.

The opening of the 1896-97 season on Saturday last was favoured with satisfactory weather, and as a consequence some 2600 followers of the Rugby game visited Potter's Paddock, Epsom (the principal scene of action), the majority of whom devoted their attention to the struggle on No. 1 ground between the old rivals Parnell and Ponsonby. Taken as a whole, thegame was fairly interesting, and though Parnell were returned victors with the decisive majority of 13 points to 3 this can hardly be pronounced a fair criterion of the strengths of the respective teams, which were pretty evenly matched— with the odds ( slightly in favour of the Maroons. A similar instance of an equal division of honours was witnessed at the North Shore, where City defeated the fifteen from the marine suburb on their own ground by 11 points to 7, after a most interesting game. The remaining matches in the senior grade, Grafton v. Suburbs went to the former team by default, Suburbs not being able to place a fifteen in the field. Hedges, at full back for Parnell, played a sound game in his position, his defensive tactics throughout, and more particularly his collaring, being a decided advance on his Waimate-Pamell form.

The return of F. Jet-vis to his old love has greatly strengthened the back division of Parnell, and will do likewise for Auckland when representative matches come along. He was seen to advantage in all departments of the game, and participated in several neat passing runs, but it was perhaps his judicious kicking that called for most approval.

Elliott has apparently lost none of his old form and cunning, and played a really good all-round game, the only discrepancy bong one or two bad passes.

Ronayne was at times brilliant, though his play on the whole was somewhat patchy, and by no means up to his old form of a year or two back. His collaring was his strong point. Edmonds presented a strong defence, and stopped a number of dangerous rushes, in quite his old style. He generalised his team in a workmaulike manner, and, us usual, catered for his backs whenever opportunity offered, but methinks he often fondles the ball too long, when falling on it. Tait acquitted himself as wing threequarter very well, all things considered, and judging by the manner in which he shaped, is the makings of a good player. Evitt and Whitley, on the respective wings, left no room tor complaint, and the vanguard as a whole grafted in good honest style. Perhaps the mo3t prominent of a good pack wore Murray, Anderson, Nicholson, and Broberg, the former of whom kicked two of the three goals entrusted to him from really difficult angles. Val. Masefield, the Ponsonby full-back, is showing decided improvement on last year's form, and but for one injudicious kick on his own goal-line, which resulted in a score for Parnali, filled the position with credit. R. Masefield did a lot of useful work at threequarter. In addition to several stroiig runs he kicked and tackled well, and on one or two occasions showed more "foot" than he is usually credited with, Mitchell was, perhaps, the man who pleased me most in the Ponsonby ranks, and though perhaps a trifle green, played one rf the best threequarter games on the field. He is strong in every department, his collaring, kicking, and running being above the average, and with a little more education will be hard to beat. He can also muster up ft/lot of pace. I have seen Ramsay to better advantage than on Saturday last, though he occasionally showed glimpses of brilliancy. Passing was his chief failing. Brauttd has evidently not forgotten much, and mustered his forces to the best advantage. He always knew exactly where to place the ball when he brought it out, and did not forget that he had a back division to look after.

Galloway at five-eighths is a serviceable man in the position. He takes a ball well, can run, and never waits to be collared before passing. Of the forward division Miller, Gallagher, Cole, and Graham were, if anything, the most prominent, though all did their work well. If anything, the Pousonby vanguard hold the advantage over Parnell in the scrum work, though this is counterbalanced by the superiority of the latter in the opon. The referee, Mr. Parker, gave general satisfaction, his decisions not being questioned in a single instance. At the oloso of the game his efforts were recognised with a hearty cheer by the two olubs. Neither Wynyard, McDonald; or Valentine represented tliir club (North Shore) in last Saturday's match, but if the absentees are present to-day, their inclusion will greatly strengthen the fifteen. Absolnm gave the North Shore Club a taste of his Southern form, he being responsible for the three tries recorded by City. . At a meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union on Thursday evening, it was decided to keep the date of the North v. South Island fixture open until the tours of the Queensland and other travelling teams have been arranged. The committee also deemed it in the best interests of football not to foster the formation of small unions.

Some doubt seems to exist in local football circles as to the prospect* of a Wellington representative team visiting us this year, owing to the inability of the Auckland Union to guarantee a return visit next year. Speaking of D. Gages first appearancefor Poneke in the representative fixtures since his return to Wellington, a football writer says! "Gage did not have a wonderful amount to do, but he was always safe."« The Wairarapa Union will play Hawke's Bay, Bush, Manawatu, and Wellington Unions this year. - The West Coast Union offered to send a team to Wellington during the season, provided the latter could see their way clear to pay a return visit, The Wellington authorities cannot make this promise, but will be pleased to meet the West Coast players ! during August. News of the World of the 17th of February Bays:-The Veteran, A. E. > Stoddart, was [ prveiiilei upon to turn out on Saturday for

his old club. tßlac.kheatK), who are very short of three-quartersj owing to the departure of Latter and Thompson to ', the Cape. Considering that it Was the veteran's first appearance for over three years, he played a very good game. >-'; '■'■ , , ( I take it that the notice of motion given by Mr. Bate at the annual meeting of she New Zealand Union to the effect" that the rules as to professionalism and delegation of powers which may from time to time be made applicable to the English Rugby Union, shall mutatis mutandis, apply to the New Zealand Rugby Union,' is intended to enable the New Zealand Union to delegate to affiliated unions the power to conduct investigations into cases of suspected professionalism (says " Forward' of the Otago Witness). lain not sure that the adoption of Mr. Bate's proposal will attain the object in view. The Euglish Rugby Union, whioh has framed and adopted the rules in questiou, may delegate to " recognised governing bodies—such as counties, union of counties, and universities-powers to act for it in such cases and under such regulations as it may determine"; but the committee of the parent union have laid it down that these "recognised governing bodies'' have hot the right to further delegate any of these powers. It seems to me that the wiser course to adopt, and the one that would give effect to what I assume to be Mr. Bath's object, would be tor the New Zealand Union to join in the request which I understand the Qtago Union has made to the English Rugby Union for the delegation, to provincial uuioos in the colony of the powers that were granted to them under the rules as to professionalism that were in force previous to the adoption of the new regulations at the September meeting of the English Union last year.

CRICKET. The North Melbourne Club have won the penuant for the outgoing year in Melbourne. The sub-committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council appointed to consider the letter from the manager of the Australian eleven re terms for a visit to New Zealand, are of opinion that an offer should be made to the Australians of 70 per cent, of the gross takings, less ground charges, with a guarantee that the said 70 per cent, shall not be less than £150 for each match. If the leading associations give this guarantee, and the Council further holds out inducements in connection with the New Zealand match, the committee consider it probable the Australians will accept the terms. The Hawke's Bay Cricket Association will guarantee £25 towards sending a New Zealand team to Australia, provided £200 can he raised in addition to the amount they themselves offer. They are also prepared to offer the gross proceeds of the gate to the Australian eleven should they visit New Zealand for a match in that centre.

In presenting bis list of the individual scores of 50 aim upwards in the championship and representative matches, which by-the-bye is headed by W. T. Wynyard, of Auckland, who put up the memorable 161 (not out) in the contest Auckland v. United in November last, " Dark Blue," the welt known cricket writer, says:—With thi exception of Otago, where a very wet season was experienced, nearly every district shows more or less of an increase on former seasons,: and this is particularly noticeable in Canterbury, Auckland, and Wellington. During the season of 1894-5 the highest score made in New Zealand was G. H. N. Helmore's 158 not out, but during last season this score was beaten no less than nine times, while the New Zealand record was also beaten. This year's centuries in senior cup and representative matches do not include a single one made in Duuediu, whereas last season's list contained as many as five. On the other hand, no Auckland batsman played an innings of three figures last season, but during the season just closed several were made, G. Mills being responsible for no less than five.

CYCLING. . The wretched state of the weather daring the.past week has prevented many of our amateur wheelmen devoting much time to preparation for the forthcoming road race of May 25th, though I understand that a large number of competitors purpose turning out for the event, several of whom announce their intention of going for the prize which goes to the rider who records the fastest time for the journey. If the roads are in good order on the Birthday, the race should be a decidedly interesting one. Entries close this evening, at the Metropolitan Hotel, when the riders will have to decide upon the course.

The cash amateurs will also hold a road race on Queen's Birthday, and I understand great preparation is being made for the event.

No less a personage than Mr. Goscheo, First Lord of the Admiralty, is one of the latest converts to the wheel in England. A triplet geared to 300 inches has been built in England. It is fitted with a Simpson chain. . . '

Woman has at last found her true position in the world (of wheels). She will in future take a back seat—on a tandem.

F. W. Chinn, one of England's most prominent amateurs, is said to have thrown in his lot with the professional riders. Mrs. Grace, the English champion female racing cyclist, is 4 feet 10 inches in height, and of slight build. She rides a Gamage 'cycle with Dunlop tires. Word comes from America that Arthur Augustus Ziihmermann has been engaged as a 'cycle writer on one of the New York wheel papers. 0. H. Jones and F. Q, Simpson have established a fresh New Zealand tandem record for a quarter of a mile, flying start, covering the distance in 275.

An English contemporary gives the following as the world's records for an hour's riding :—

W. W. Hamilton, a Californi&n, is credited with having reduced the mile record, flying start, to lm. 39 1-53. On March 16, at the Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Boog6 rode 50 miles in In. 46m. 31 3-55., or at the rate of 28J miles an hoar, or 2m. 6s. a mile all through. A. G. Nesbitt, captain of the Oxford University Bicycle Club, on March 6. rode a measured mile in lm. 25 2-ss. on the road., The road had a fall of 1 in 298, therefore the rider only dropped 18ft. in the mile.

The Victorian League of wheelmen has refused to sanction the proposed match between Martin, the Amerioau cyclist, and the trotter Osterley.

Harris, the English rider, will return to England shortly, but it is understood that Martin and Porta will remain in Australia, and hope to indulge in another season's racing on Australian tracks.

Count Magre, who married Tom Thumb's widow, has ordered a midget bicycle, which is to cost 60 guineas. The Count, who is 47 years of age, will ride this, and he may prevail on Mrs. Tom Thumb, who retains her old name, to either ride a hicycle or take the front seat on a little tandem.

" A bishop on a bicycle has not yet been seen in the streets of London," says the St. James' Gazette, but he is coming. One of the latest interesting items of news from New Zealand—the land of the lady Mayor, female suffrage, and the incipient prohibition of intoxicants—is the announcement that the Rev. Dr. Churchill Bishop of Christchurch, has been seen • propelling & tricycle. No doubt, by the time the next PanAnglican Conference assembles at Lambeth, his Lordship will.be in a position to dispense with the superfluous wheel. Bishop Julius has already acquired the reputation of being the most unconventional prelate in the Anglican communion. His Quixotic feat of layin? the topmost brick of his restored cathedral spire will be fresh in public recollection. Dr. Julius, who was formerly an Islington vicar, is a vigorous and at times sarcastic preacher. At a town he visited during a recent tour he thus addressed the congregation :—"I never saw so much ,bad 'coin in all my life. To offer to the chuich— ;the cause of God—money the baker or the butcher would not accept shocks me. The man who would do that wants the grace of God very badly— three months." The New Zealand Church News, in referring to the above, says:—"As to the tnoyole, we must confess to never having seen His Lordship on it, and never even to have heard of it, outside of London— of Chicago." ATHLETICS.

It was hardly a matter of surprise to local athletes, who have had a taste of A. H. Holder's qualities over hurdles, to hear that the popular Wanganui athlete had lowered the world's record for the 440 yards hurdles. He is a fine stamp of an athlete, and a good fellow to boot, and while certainly sorry to feel that such an honour, as the possessors of the world's record holder, has now slipped through our grasp, bone will be more pleased than those Aucklanders who know him personally to congratulate him on his magnificent performance. .';/;; • P -. ■ R. Edgren, ol California, is stated to have, in a trial at the grounds of the Berkeley College, of which institution he is a student, on March 10th, thrown .the 161b hammer, from a' s«veu-foot circle,' a distance of 147 feet 7 inches, whioh.fif all the conditions were fair,- and the measurement oorreot, breaks the former record, which wag ]i 5 feet I inch by James Mitchell, e* '.=;. , :i

;.. :•• AriAMR ATHLETICS IS ENGLAND. At"*. rtieang of the 1893-6 general committee of IB Amateur Athletic Association, held, on . l&rch 14, the following walking records, r#nmendea by the southern committee; ws> passed:- miles walking by W. J. Sfrgess, time, 13m. 44s„at Windsor and Etonpports, September 26th, 1895, Records ride at the Polytechnic Harriers meeting, aiWembley Park, December 28th 1895; elein miles walking, by W. J, Sturgess, p. '29m. 32 4-55.; thirteen miles' walking, WE. Knott, lb. 45m. 6 4-55.; fourteen mileswalking, by E. Knott, Ih. 53m, 36 2-sth s,: fifteen miles walking by E Knott, 2H 2m. 57 45th s. The twelv,' miles reccfl of Hi. 39m. 55 2-sth s. mads by W. jlSturgess in the same race, was " refused, jecause E. Knott undoubtedly . beat it, be as Knott's time was not taken at '.-. that distnee he could not be credited with Stnrgessf time, which he certainly beat. j-. Knott's lime being an .unknown quantity, ."'■-. the while twelve miles record was refused. '£.■;: The oner regards passed were:—W. J. M. ! ;,. Barry'/ hammer-throwing, 137 feet 8J inches, .£» I at Wwburn, 1895 , also as a British record, >|;- J. Mayan's high jump, 6 feet 4£ inches, :;;"': at Tuperary Sports, August 19,1895 (passed.. '■' by tie Irish A.A. ff% To report of the Leeds International- : " : £ Conference. February 1, 1896, between the %. debates of the A.A.A., the Irish A.A. A, ■■'% an/the Scottish A.A.A. was adopted with-V- .-."';' on/ alteration, including the following new'■-.•' ;; wrding of the amateur definition : "An ': aiatcur is one who has never competed for.' ',':;; ajioney prize or monetary consideration, or/ .'■ it any declared wager or staked bet; who : \ tie never engaged in, assisted jn, or taught iy athletic exercise as a means of pecuniary : - ■■■>', sin; and who has never taken part in any '.!;] pmpetition with anyone who is not an' i' Anateur," which was to be submitted to the . s. nuual general meeting on March 28. ■-, ■'}. The following alteration in the hammer-' ■;.'.; browing rule was also passed for submission; '.•> to the general meeting: "The head shall be,' of wood or wire. No crosspieCe at the end if the handle shall be allowed." I The following recommendations by the;,., ; ; Southern committee were adopted :—" That.:'- '■ & man be not disqualified from winning » ':

rsce by falling on the winning line, so long.- .'■ as the whole of his whole body is over the line - before the second man passes the winning '-'-j line," and " That a competitor be disqualified'. y for jumping over the worsted.' The appli- : . .0 cation from the A.A.U. of the United States for a mutual agreement as to suspen- ':["£ Bions and rules for competitors was left in: ,;": the hands of the hon. sec. to obtain full particulars. The general committee also decided on a . question from the New Zealand A.AvA:;.. :., that the proper authorities to settle any: i depute as to unfair jumping in a hurdle race "■■ .; were the judges and officials of the day, andnot the committee of the meeting in questiou: j (This paragraph evidently relates to the dis-. pute in the 440 yds Hurdle Championship at .» Napier last year, and is the outcome of Mr. ", L. A. Cuff's request to the secretary of the. V English Association for information as to.; - what course that body would adopt under » similar circumstances.] '..;-. ;

aquatics/ 4. ■.'is Lord Dnnrayen received, on March 11, the; .' '■!■ official notification of his expulsion from the , § New York Yacht Club. His answer was asV ' ■'}■ followsl beg to acknowledge the receipt . ■;■:■£ «f the certificated copy of the preamble and ■''& resolution passed at the adjourned meeting of theftew STork Yacht Club on February 27:- ■ '■''; My opinion on the desirability of continuing to be', member of the New York Yacht C luS' .J S is a messed in my letter of resignation ol &; February_{9. _ .„_.'??' ■' ;;..f,i

Cranfieli, the skipper of Valkyrie 111. has .-;':/ been discharged by Lord Dunraven, which ' ;"';- ; ': seems to indicate that the big ship will rini ii be fitted out this Reason, unless under new ' ownership The ex • skipper of L'Espev'. -\ ranee will have charge of his lordship's tiiTe,.:' new cruiser, Cariad, some of the crew of, which will help to race the 52-footer Audrey; V;, throughout the season. " : ,k '■■$ Baron Edouard de Rothschild's new 5-rater;. ' .a£ Honeymoon, is a particularly smart-looking, v;.;; little craft. She was built at Paris, but has : "» not yet had a chance of showing her racing.' -^' qualities. She has been a very unlueky little- ■„; '$. ship, so fa:, in the matter of breakages-;: When in proper fettle, however, she may ' < ~-', prove a tough customer for the Anglia ami.' ';J, Dusky Queen to tackle. There is no doubt ; 7. ; that the former at least of these two British-, ' j built boats is a veritable clipper. ■ -*~"'..' Concerning the University boat race, a',' , ' London correspondent writes:—"The University boat race on March 28 will rauk with :,?." the dead-heat »f 1877 and the equally memo-;:'' rable struggle of 1886. The critics who pre- 1-, dieted a more or less easy win foe Cambridge" " were sadly ou;in their reckoning, the truth. "

being with those who regarded the race as a f?j.f.. perfectly open one. Inasmuch as Oxford, ";', J' over a course of four miles and a quarter, ,£( only < won by eight yards, the difference in '■!■;"' .. quality between the two crews could scarcely ■;■'_, have been discovered by even the keenest ;. • '■- and most impartial expert. The style of ..,, Cambridge in practice impressed most people with the idea that—especially in ';' : -' such rough water as had to be en- ■;• countered from Hammersmith, to the "!*' % finish— would last better than Oxford, but it was just the lack of staying >£ power in the last half-mile that cost them ':■ \% the race. In its central fact the struggle "': s %; was a repetition of that of ten years ago, . }$'"\ the winner being behind at Barnes Bridge.","'"' Oxford did not'have such a distance tfl;,.; 5 . .. make up as Cambridge in 1886, but their t!C' : ' effort, considering what they had gone. ''?■;,. through, was among the biggest things we -\ . can remember in boat racing. That thej ? '■• should have been capable of it said a good ■■&■■;■ deal for the skill with which they had been .;•» trained by Mr. D. H. K-iLeaa and Mr. Leh s|3 : ; man. The men of both crews were remark z? .■- ably fit-in fact, in the very pink of con- .' dition,'' „__________ Lynx.

No. County. Bider. Distance. mis. yds. 1 England .. Stocks.. .. 29 0015 2 Franco.. .. Bonbours .. 28 1508 3 Belgium .. Michael .. 27 0493 * America .. Titus .. .. 26 1660 5 Germany .. Michael .. 26 1517 0 Italy .. .. Fischer .. 26 0762 7 Austria .. Ikiierer .. 26 0544 8 Africa .. , Greathead .. 26 0036 9 Denmark .. Hansen .. 25 1039 10 Switzerland ..I Portier .. 25 0983 11 Russia .. Pitresijff .. 24 1510 12 Spain .. .. lAcasa.. .. 24 1386 13 Holland .. Wittereen .. 24 0827 14 Australia .. Carpenter .. 23 0097