ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10419, 17 April 1897, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. THE COMING SEASON.' It has been definitely decided by the managing committee of the Auckland Rugby Union to open the 1597 football season on Saturday, May 8, and iu the course of a week or two we may expect to see the draw for the various grades of the district championship contests announced. Alreadyjthe jersey has been donned in practice in many quarters, and on Saturday preparations will, no doubt, commence in downright- earnest. Aβ stated in my last week's notes the incoming season will present very little of interest beyond the local fixtures, the only foreign matches of note beyond the annual contests with the various country unions in the province, so far arranged to be played in Auckland, being that against the New Zealand team on their return from Australia, whither they will probably go in June. Neither will Auckland do much in the way of touring, the only arrangement, as fur as I know, being the visit to Taranaki and Wellington. Iα the home fixtures, there appears nothing of an unusually startling character in store for followers of the game, and judging from what information I hare at my disposal, I should hardly think that the matahes will be so evenly balanced as was the case in 1896, on which occasion Parnell, Newton, and City divided the honours. Each of the teams bracketed beat the other once, and were beaten by them once, while none of them lost to any of the other clubs taking part in the competition. Attached are a few preliminary particulars concerning the several district clubs:—• PARNELL As far as can be ascertained at the present juncture, the Parnell district will place a strong—perhaps the strongest—combination in the field. They have, of course, lost the services of a sterling forward in McLean, who I hear now resides iu the Ponsonby district, and will also be without the assistance of that old " war horse" W. Elliott, though it is hinted in some quarter* that he will find great difficulty in keeping clear of the jersey. To counterbalance these losses the club adds to their ranks such well-known quantities as Cranston (Pukekohe), Pike, (the Wairarapa crack), and probably Brody, who, it will be remembered, played 113 threequarter back for the inaroona in 1895. He has recently returned from Coolgardie. and having added considerably to his weight, the only essential he lacked in the old days, the district will no doubt be very glad to get him back again. Beyond the above there will be very little alteration in the regime of the club, other thau that it is expected that the old crack threequarter, Frank Jervis, who has been laid aside for some time owing to au injured shoulder, will again don the jersey and do battle for his old lore. He.iwith D'Arcy and Brody, will in all probability be the tbreequarteta, and a etrong trio they will prove too. GRAFTON. The Grafton seniors will include the majority of last year's players, and at the present time there appears very little probability of material alteration in their ranks. ; The only man of note that will be found wanting is Gittos, who as a forward has done yeoman service for hie district, and whose place it will be difficult to fill. I. Mills, who was undoubtedly one of Newton's most prominent forwards last year, and S. Browne, one of City's best "front rankers" residing within the Grafton boundary this season, but from what I can gather neither of them (both now married) intend donning the jersey this year, though this is not actually definite. PONSONIY. The western suburb will this year have to draft several of their juniors into senior ranks as very few of their old-time seniors appear on the list of membership of the erstwhile crack club. Amongst the notables who (I am told) will know the football ground no more are" Reg" Masefield, C. Stichbury, and V. Langsford, three of their very best. Of the seniors still left 0. Riley, who has returned and will again play for the old club, Gallather, and A, Braund are perhaps the mainstays. Last year, of course, the senior fifteen ! had to draw upon their first junior players, ' but certainly Dot to inch w extent u will bt

the case this season. This will not, however, prevent the Ponsonby Clnb putting a very respectable teum in the field, as there are quite a number of first juniors in the district quite capable ot holding their own with the senior representatives, this being shown in the fact that last year the club was particularly strong iu junior players, carrying off both the first aud second junior championships. Let us hope that the infusion of new blood will prove beneficial to the club. NORTH SHORE. In the North Shore senior fifteen the incoming season will witness quite an extensive alteration, and from what can be gathered as regards the capabilities of the new men the changes will be for the best. This is mainly attributable to the recent changes in the permanent artillery at the murine suburb, amongst the men drafted trom Wellington recently being three exponents of note in Pitt and Inviu (forwards), ex-mem-bers of the Athletic Club, and White, a Wairarapa forward of repute. The clnb will also lay claim to the services of the ex-Anck-lander, H. Dacre, who represented Southland last year, Jainieson and Price, three-quarter backs from Franklin, and'the evergreen " Teddy" Bitiney (wing forward), who is now within the North Shore boundaries, aud has intimated his inteution of playing for the club. The club, I understand, also expected the services of two or three other men, and there still appears t> chance that they will come. The must uotable prospective loss will bo that of the veteran, W. Wynyard, who met with a nasty accident iu tile Wel-lington-Auckland match, last seasou, which is still troubling him. He fern that he will not be able to do battle for the club, aud if such proves the case, North Shore, and for that matter Auckland Proviuce, sustains a serious loss. SUBURBS. The outside district seems to be iu a sadder pickle than ever this year, and I am sorry to hear that it is feared that they will find themselves unable to place «. fifteen in the field to represent them in the senior contests. Last year, it will be remembered, they were frequently at their wits end to get together sufficient to from a scratch team (junior or senior) to fight for them, aud now, if possible, there seems to be less interest taken in the game than ever. Indeed, only some five or six senior players attended the aunual meeting of the club, and those who last year fought so hard to keep the club together, have become thoroughly discouraged with the outlook. TLj great difficulty in past years, with so scattered an area, has been to get the players together for practice, hence lack of combination, and now with the loss of several good-men, the prospects are even more gloomy, and what was a promising club looks likely to go to the wall. NEWTON. This district, from all accounts, will be quite as strong as last season, for while they have lost three or four good men, fortune has favoured them with an equal number of first-class players to fill the vacancies, aud they look upon their prospects as decidedly promising. The losses sustained are Siddell, threequai'ter back; and Hazeman, G. Murray, mid I. -Mills, forwards; all men who could be ill-spared, but as against this, they will once more have the services of W. Airey, Richards (a threequarter back of note, who, il I remember rightly, huils from Wairarapa or Menawatu), aud a couple of new forwards, whose names I have not yet ascertained, but who are said to be fit to wear a representative cap anywhere. This being the case, Newton has nothing to complain of. CITY. The City seniors are more than satisfied with their outlook, and are confident of placing a fifteen in the field that will take a power of beating. Their only loss is Surinan, the speedy crack threequarter back, who is now at the Thames, and will wear a representative Jersey under that union this season. The loss, while a serious one, is more than atoued for in the acquisition of Siddell, who, last year, did good work for Newtou at threequarter back; McDonnell, the heavy and useful ex-Auckland forward, who has just returned from Christchurch, where he played for the Merivale Club, and Rockley, who comes from Xaranaki. It is also expected that Weir, who is residing iu the city district, will throw in his lot with the club. With these valuable additions, it will bo seen that City have every reason to look upon themselves as a dangerous combination. D. Gage is up Waikato way at present, and nothing definite seems to be known as regards his intentions this seasou, though North Shore expect that he will place his services at their disposal, should he come to town. On Friday evening next, the Ponsonby Club will hold a special general meeting, to receive thn auuual balance-sheet from the auditors, also to discusss matters in connection with the club's strength, and any other mattery that may be brought forward. At a meeting of the newly elected management committee ot the Auckland Rugby Uniou, held subsequent to the aunual general meeting of Tuesday evening, Mr, T. Henderson was fleeted chairman, aud it was decided to open the football season on May S. The usual weekly meetings of the Management Committee will in future be held on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. During the eusniug season the Colleges' Union matches will be commenced at 1.45 p.m., permission having been granted by the A.R.U. Management Committee. The Taranuki centre threequarter, Allen, has settled down in Aucklaud. He resides within the City district boundariesat present, though I have heard nothing as regards his intentions.

The attention of the Auckland Rugby Union might well be directed to the fact that our junior players appear to be losing all interest in the game; iu fact, with the exception of one or two clubs there is a sad falling-away in quality and enthusiasm. The Union should go into the matter thoroughly, aud if necessary take further steps to ■encourage the younger players, as from their ranks spring the seniors of the future. The bulky Wellington representative forward, Pauliug, is, I understand, going Home with the Artillery contingent, to take part in the Queen's record reign celebration. It is said that he was anxious to come to Auckland, and certainly had he done so |he would have beeu a welcome acquisition.

Rumour says that even if S. Brown, who is at present residing in the Grafton district, felt disposed to don the jersey, there is some question as to his eligibility. I hare not inquired iuto the faces of the case yet, but shall do so.

Mr. A. E. T. Devore was at last Tuesday's annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union unanimously re-elected president, and the Union is to be congratulated on being able to retain the services of a geutleman who for years past has taken such a lively interest iu the Rugby game, and done so much for it. On instituting inquiries into the alleged action of the Parnell F.C. in writing to young Asher, of Tauranga, and offering him a situatiou if he would come down and play for the club, I find that the statement is entirely without foundation. The secretary of the Parnell Club knew nothing of the matter, wnich emanated from Mr. Tapper of Parnell, himself an old Tauranga resident and a friend of Asher's. He communicated privately with Asher, without the sanction or knowledge of the Parnell Club, informing him that he could obtain a situation in Parnell district and be able to play for the club. Asher being away from home when the letter reached Tauranga, his father opened it, read the contents, and thinking that the communication was an official one from the Parnell Club, he not beiug acquainted with the officers, hastened with it to the Bay of Plenty Times, hence its publication. Thus is the alleged professionalism, which on first sight looked rather ugly for Parnell, disposed of. A special meeting of delegates to the Auckland Rugby Union will be held' shortly to discuss the notice of motion given by Mr. W. Airey at the annual general meeting of the A.R.U. on Tuesday last, to the effect that Rule 5, which provides for a selection committee (for representative matches) of three men, be expunged, and a fresh rule inserted providing that in future the selection committee shall consist of one man only. The one man system has proved eminently satisfactory down South, and if we can get a man with plenty of backbone and who has the couragejof his own opinion, then the time has arrived for its introduction here. I feel confident that it will work better than the present system aud allow of no loophole for the introduction of club partisanship, which is always held by some to exisc under the present mode. In moving the adoption of the annual report of the Auckland Rugby Union on Tuesday evening, the president (Mr. A. E. T. Devore) said that he did not think that the defeats sustained by the Auckland representatives against the invading teams From the sister provinces were attributable in any great measure to the lack of good players, but rather to the absence of that most essential adjunet to success in the Rugby game — combination. And certainly uo truer word could be spoken, for while it will be retnembered Unit Auckland was somewhat unfortunate in losing several good men through accidents, etc., there were still left men from whom a really goad team could be selected. He suggested the substitution of one man as a selection committee in place of three as at present as a factor that would assist in bringing about the necessary combination, hia opinion being that the one, man would pick a team more satisfactorily in this direction than would the larger committee, who perhaps had their party feelings ud lciningt-not that they wouli

wilfully do an injustice to anyone—and in looking for those upon whom they looted as the best men would to an extent orerlook the question of combination. He thought the defeats would be somewhat of a lesson, and would teach the local men to look to their combination a little more in future. It might.also be added that if the Selection Committee would pick what they considered the best team earlier in the season, unci refused to chop aud change right down to the eleventh hour, this might also improve the combination. The motion brought forward by the Newton Club at the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union, on Tuesday evening, asking that the Selection Committee be chosen at the annual general meeting instead 'of by the ' Managing Committee, was after discussion negatived. After having heard all that was said for and against the motion I incline to the opinion that tne meeting acted wisely. The danger would be the introduction of clnb feelin; amongst the delegates in selecting the committee at the annual general meeting, as it is only natural to suppose tlnit they would feel inclined to get on men who favoured their own club, aud in so doiug would thus perhaps pass over those really more competent to do the work. In fact the whole thing would probably he hurried through under such circumstances without due consideration. IV. Auckland Rusby Union shows a net profit, on season 1595 of £571 9; 6d, which added to the £33 as 3d brought fo.-ward from the previous year, leaves a baliino after paying all expenses of £604 Us 9.1; £500 of this lias been voted to the ground tiust fuud, which now totals £1300 12s Bd. W. Uru, the burly Maori, was asked to accompany the Maori contingent to England, aud accepted. Marriuer, of the Merivale Clus, Christchurch, who is now in .Sydney, has joined the Wentworth Club there. The death 13 announced in England of Mr, F. Inues Carrey, who gained his international cap in 1872, and tor mauy ye»rs he was on the committee of the English Rugby Union, of which body he was president about twelve years ago, The ex-Aucklander Walter Rhcles, a prominent member of the Athletic Football Club, has been transferred to Wejtport, and will not, therefore, be able to jiay for his club this year. ill , . Rhodes wil> prove an acquisition to Westporo athletic circles. Sir. IS. D. Roben, late hon. <ec. of the New Zealand Rugby Union, has been elected a vice-president of the Wentworth F.C., Sydney. John MoConuell, the ex-Aucklander, who has been for some time past a member of the police force in Christchurch, and also of the Merivale F.C., is back in town again, CRICKET. I am indebted to Mr. L. A. Cuff (captain), for the attached batting aud bowliug averages of the Auckland United Cricket Club :— Matches played, G; won 5, lost L BATTING AVERAGES. Inues. N.O. Ituns. U.S. Averg. C. Hay.. .. S 1 MS 00 2911 D. Hay., ..9 I) 225 92 26 V. .stomson ..in 0 332 57 2V20 A. M. Lihatt.. 9 0 209 63 23'22 L. A Cuff ..8 0 108 47 21 A. Brown ..9 3 105 29 17-60 J. ffatta _ 9 3 33 50 16-33 N. I.iuk ..9 0 12a SO 14-33 C. McCormick 9 ■( 67 S'i 11*40 P. Marshall .. 6 O 62 Ifli 1033 IV. Hawkins ..8 2 52 23 S'66 MePheraon played three innings for 53 runs, average 17-66; and Walton one for 2. BOWLWO AVERAGES. Balls. Miln'4. Huns. Wkts. Aver. D. Hay .. 6nS 36 252 30 9'4 W. Stemson.. 573 21 298 25 11-92 A. 11 Labatt 731) 2S -294 22 13-64 Hawkins .. 325 12 182 9 20'22 Walton, Cuff, and McPherson, bowled less than 100 balls. Total runs scored: For, 1663 for 89 wickets-18 6; against, 1223 for 97 wickets—l 27. Where batsmen, have been absent and the inniugs completed, I have debited the full ten wickets in each innings. The cricket match Wbaugarei v. North Shore, which took place yesterday on the ground of the local team resulted in a win for the North Snore eleven. Play started in the afternoon, each team having one innings. Tile total scores were North Shore Ho, aud Whangarei 70. For the visitors McDonald (14) and McKenzie (13) were the chief contributors. Wyiiyard (5-1), Clayton (23), A. Grey aud Deuby (15) were the highest scorers for the local players. An aborigiual team, known a3 the True Australians, woo the Hart Cup, presented for competition to the clubs in the Kempsey (New South Wales) district, aud it is now their absolute property. When aeked what they intended doing with the trophy, the captaiu said they were going to send it home to the Queen as a present in connection with her record reign, and to show what sort of cricketers the Macleay blacks are. Cricket of 25th February contains an interesting chat with Mr. William Wright, hon. secretary of Notts County Club. "As a man who has played against modern fast bowlers, as well as against those of 30 or 40 years ago, Mr. Wright has had excellent opportunities of comparing their pace. ' There is no bowler now, , he said,' ' faster than Jackson or Tarrant. Jackson was over six feet high, and big in proportion. He ran some distance up to the wicket, and had a perfectly fair delivery, while his action was so easy that he looked as if he were a piece of machinery in motion. Bat the best fast bowler 1 ever played against was George Freeman, the Yorkshireman.' Mr. Wright still makes a poiut of playing for hie village team at Wollaton. He is the father of Mr. C. W. Wright, the famous Cambridge Blue and Notts amateur." ATHLETICS. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association's executive at a meeting on Tuesday evening decided that owing to the lack of financial support on the part of clubs aud the lateness of the hour, the project of sending Holder (Waugauui) and Reynolds (Auckland) home this year be abindoued. Iu referring to the question of betting, alleged by Mr. Griersou ta be curried on in Auckland (in his report to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association), the southern writer "'Vaulter," says:—"My remarks on the betting curse that hangs over amateur athletics in Auckland are not relished in certain circles in the northern city, I am informed, lam not surprised at that. By those whom the cap fits let it be worn, What I what to learn is that the executive of the Aucklaud Amateur Athletic Clnb has eet on foot an enquiry iuto the general charge that has been brought against Auckland amateurs of betting, It is not the actual betting on the grounds on the day of a meeting that is naiticularly referrod to— this perhaps is hard to detect. It would be as well for the supporters of pure amateurism to know whether any member of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club is aware of his own knowledge of any cases of amateurs backing themselves, or reported cases. Of course a man ueed not back himself, but he can get plenty of friends to get money on for him, If the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club are friends of amateur athletics, as they should be, then the veiy slightest chance they get of making an example of the delinquents should be taken advantage of. That betting goes on there is no denying, and apart from any Council byelaws or action of tlie police the club should endeavour to satisfy the public that they are doing their best to carry ont the rules which they are supposed to carry on under. At the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's autumn meeting of Saturday last, H. De Maus won a treble, and finished second in a fourth event. He annexed the 100 yds (from 9yds mark) in 10s., the 200 yds (from 17yds) in •20 2-5 s., and the 300 yds (from 26yds) in 335.; his second being in the 600 yds (from 45yds) in wnich he is said to have been jostled when in a good position. Iflmistakeuotlreadapara«raphinaSouthern exchange recently to the effect that the entries received for the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's carnival, which was held on Saturday last, presented a record in point of numbers for the colony. As the entries totalled Bomething under 270,1 must correct my Southern confrere, as the Auckland Club has not yet relinquished the claim to the largest entry ever received in the colony, the number being something over 370. Why, even at the last March meeting the entries reached 320, The athletic writer of the Christchurch Press aurt Referee does not hold with Mr. R. Coombes proposal, with re?ard to the taking over by the New South Wales A.A.A. of the control and management of pedestrian contests for cash as well as those for amateurs He says:— With regard to the proposal, I cannot see how a eontroling body, formed to foster and protect amateurism, can lend itself to countenance professionalism iu any way. Probably Mr. Coombes may have some sound arguments in favour of his propasala, but at present it seems to me that the better plan would be for those who desire to support pretessional athletics to form a governing bodv of their own. CYCLING. The proposal to send Reynolds home ha* been abandoned, partly because Reynolds himself feared that he would have some difficulty m arranging business matters on such short notice, and partly because the time at his disposal for preparation when at home would be all too brief. I quite agree With the course adopted, but hope, however, to see a team sent home next year, and earlv stem taken. Both our amateur and caim cyclists hold their annual road races on May 24 (Queen's .Birthday). At the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club'i sports of last Saturday R. B. Benson (220 yds) won the One Mile Bicycle Handicap in , 2m 153.; N. Alexander (140 yds) the Three Milei <n7tn. 38 2-5 s., and H". Amos (200»di) tat Five Miles in 12m. 35 3-5 s.

I notice that the N.Z.O.A. I heartily intothe project of sending iffll home, donating £10 and offering to «tffi * ramus funds. We thank the allU n « * 11, I F. Hunt, the well-known cash rid 1 Rangitikei with whom it was thonziil °' ? little time back that Reynold, was & ■ I gnj-J, hashed the GOLF. ' rVg Several matches in the local club C W I pionship were played last Saturday i?" i Walker and Mr. Burness had 3 A match, which resulted in the former win." % by 2 up and Ito play. Mr. Walkw & '■ first three holes, but Mr. Burner mi*' l good fight, Mr. Walker had a ' ?*.« t bridge hole. Mr. Flint played Mr. Carr .i I won the match by 3 up and 1 to play M?' ; i Kyd had a somewhat easy victory over \l '' • Caldwell, whom he defeated by 5 nn and] to play. wmt g A large number of players will probably In, on the links during the Easter holiday. ,S : V it has been arranged that lunch will be 7k ' tainable at the club-house. °* ! Messrs. Duncan and W. Pryde, of Weliin ton, have signified their intention of b»i I present at the New Zealand Championffi ?' Meeting. The two players referred to 3. 1 the two strongest iu Wellington, if not in ' the whole colony. • •* 1 . The Ladies' Golf Club re-open their lint !■ on Saturday, the :24th, after being closedfiX* two months on accouut of the long grass. ■» AQUATICS. $ The yachting season may now be said till have practically closed, a3 although seveßd 1 of the yachts may remain in commission lor' a few weeks longer the majority will g 0 into winter quarters. The past season has been " an excellent one and yachtsmen generilli have had an enjoyable time. The Viking left for a cruise to Waivren : and Kawau yesterday afternoon. She \jjl return on Monday evening. ' A large number of yachts are awaycruishi ' * for the Easter holidays, the majority dot! ' to Waiheke. ; The yachts which were away on Saturday < •' and Sunday had a hard job to get back to! i their moorings owing to the light wind re . vailing. The Rita did not get back until ib; o'clock on Monday morning. The Volnnt«i was hve hours in setting down to Home Bay It his been decided by the Waoitanal Rowing Club to send Lewis a crew (who Hen so successful at the late Wanganui Regatul to Ficton to take part iu the Junior Race and the Ladies' Plate at the regatta there ai Easter. The winnings of the Star Boating Glubat i the recent Wauganui Regatta amounted to ' £-26. The Wanganui Rowing Club took ' £30, and the Union Boating Club (VYann. nui) £4. K ! A meeting is culled by Mr. C. C. Dacre fa Wednesday night next at eight o'clock, of the representatives of the local rowing clubs, and' all persons interested in the revival of rowing iu Auckland. It is to be hoped that then - will be a full attendance, and that something definite will be done in the matter. ': Iu connection with the jubilee of the provincial district of Otago. the Regatta Com. mittee has decided u> offer for next week'j regatta a. prize of £50 for senior four-oared champion race, in best and best boats, and other prizes will be in proportion valuable, BOWING REGATTA. The West End Rowing Club's final outing of the season takes place to-day, at Lab Takapuna. There will be seven gig races, thi first and second prizes (medals and crab jerseys, respectively) being presented by Pro- : fessor Carrollo, vice-president, and a life member of the club. Thirteen crews arc engaged, and the followiug is the work of th< ■ selection committee :—l. Youug, Gulliver, i P. H. Hughes, Munro. 2. Stiohbury, W. Gallaher, Main, McGowan. 3. Bach,Cow»n Mills, Bigelow. 4. Harris, Swales, Jowitf, j Osmond. 5. H. Matthews, Fricker, McGor, Levi. 6. Wright, Couway, E. Dowdei, Gray. 7. Bailey, Warne, Reid, Gittii. 8 H. Sandes, C. Stephenson, McLod, j Bullen. 9. Rees, Bell, Patterson, Bucth. 10. Hanna, E. Oswald, Flymi, ..Whitelw, 3 11. G. 0. Stephenson, Hickson, Short, Potts. \ 12. ■J. C. Gallagher, Lowry, Christie, Kflly. >1 13. H. Cooke, Morgan, Gannon, Somerville, | The fine steamer Eagle will leave the Firry '.}. Tee at 10.30 a.m., and again at 1.15 p.m., re- I turning early in the evening. .; THE LADIES , WHALEBOAT RACE. ,i> The much-talked of ladies' whaleboatraci i takes place iu the harbour this afternoon, and a good deal of interest centres lit the events. There are two crews engaged, om from W&itara and the other from WaitemitaCity. The Waitara crews arrived on Tu» day, and were received by Messrs. Col, Even, and Goldwater. During the «ed ( both crews have been actively training. Th( . arrangements made are to have the ran rowed in smooth water. The Ferry Con» : pany's steamer Eagle leaves the Devonpori ferry tee at 3 p.m., and will follow the race, Mr. Mercer has kindly placed hiss team hunch, the Beatrice, at the disposal of the ornoir connected with the affair. Mr. A. Cox, was the originator of the race, gives tophi* valued at ten guineas, aud five guineas eaclr for the winning and losing crews. Tk( Waitara crew consists of Misses Eva and Blanche Tattou, A. Sarten, Bella Nichol, and Mesdames Goffe aud McKenzie. The; . will be steered by R. IVic, of WaiUra. The » Auckland crew are Misses Ada Smith, Mabel Evers, Nellie Ruth, Gretfa Even, aud May Evett. They will be steered by C, Moore. The course will be about three- > quarters of a mile. Lynx. . ' CRICKET MATCHES AT THAMES. [Br TKUiGKAPH.—OWN CORRRSPONDIStrt,] V Thames, Friday. :. The Manukau Association representative arrived rhis morning, and played the Taran Club today, on a dead wicket, which, boW' ever, improved during the afternoon, .'■ Batting first, Tararu made 36. Mannkaa replied with 33. Lyons, going in first, mi last out, but retired for a few minutes oviil to an injury. Newton secured a good bowl;' ing average, for out of 17 overs 14 wetf maidens, and he took 6 wickets for 5 runs, Tararu made 84 in the second venture, am) just played out time. In the cricket match between the . One- : hunga and United Clubs, the former wop the first innings by 12runs, the scores being! Onehunga 60, and United 48. . :