ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10479, 26 June 1897, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. The Rugby Union championships will be continued this afternoon, the senior contests set down for decision being Grafton v. ParnellftNo, 1 ground), City.'v, Grafton (No, 2 ground), and Newton v. North Shore (at North Shore). Followers of the Rugby game hare been looking forward for some weeks past to the first-mentioned contest— Ponsonby v. Parnell—as on its result the resting-.place of the 1897 championship appears,to linger, for it is hardly likely that the victorious team will meet a reverse iu the succeeding fixtures of the season. Up to the present time either team has won.five of the six matches played, and with their best fifteens in the field the match of to-day would certainly prove one of the most interesting and closely contested of the season, but unfortunately this will not be the case ; at least so far as Parnell is concerned. The maroons will be without the services of Hedges, Jervis, R. Handcock, and F. Murray, a quartette not easy to replace. This must materially interfere with the strength and combination of the team, and it is generally considered that Pousonby will prove too strong for their oppoueuts under the circumstances. The Ponsonbyites will, it might bo mentioned, also play minus the services of their skipper, A. Brauud. The City v, Uraiton match should be an interesting one, though the iirst-meutioued team will be miuus the services of their crack threequarter back, G. Smith, and a good game should be also witnessed at the Devonport groiiud, where North Shore aud New-

ton meet. Several alterations have been made iu the referees for to-day, the reviled list, together with the grouuds, being as under:- No. 1 ground, Ponsonby I. v. Parnell 1., Mr. A. Campbell; No. 1) ground, City I. v. Graiton 1., Mr. Parker; No. 3 ground,Pousouby 11. v. Parneil 11., Mr. Jleefe; No. 4 ground, City 11. v. Grafton 11., Mr. liecfc; No. 5 ground, Pousonby 111, v. ParnoU 111., Mr. Pelham; So. 6 ground, (Jity ill. v. Grdftou 111., Mr. Bach. North Shore: Newton I. v. North Shorn 1., Mr. Katterus; Newton 11. v. North .Shore 11., Mr. Knox; Newton 111. v. North Shore 111., Mr. Surman. The positious of the seuior district clubs-to

The public schools matches under the auspices of the Rnsby Union will be resumed next Saturday. No matches will be played to-day. The whole of the Association football matches have been postponed until Saturday next, the Domain being occupied to-day by the second day's sport in connection with the military tournament. At * meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union ou Thursday D. Guge was disqualified throughout the colony, on the complaint of the Wellington Union. Canterbury played the South Island team on Thursday, and carried the day by 19 points to R"

To-day rhei North y. Smith Island match will lie played at Wellington. It is generally thought that the Southerners will make a determined effort to overthrow their opponents in order to strike a blow at the selection committee for their action in selecting fifteen of the twenty men chosen for the New Zealand (earn for Australia from the North Island. The New Zealand team leave for Australia after the match. Two additional fixtures «e to be added to the matches to Iμ played in Australia by the New Zealand team, between liathurst and Orange team;. These will have to be on dates between July 3rd and 10th, such dates to be determined by the Unious concerned. •Writing of the visits of the New Zealand teams to Australia, "The Cynic," in the Sydney .Referee, says:-" The lapse of Dine years' between the visits of the first and second New Zealand teams was too great altogether, Australian football, of conrse, in the interim was givnu an impetus by the tour of the famous English team in 1888, but as Australians have to look to New Zealanders for theii' football education and experience of the highest value, just as they have looked to Englishmen for cricket knowledge, it is a pity visits from Maoriland teams were not more trequent than in the Btfs. It is to be hoped that the near future will eee the establishment of annual matches between New Zealand and New South Wales, and at loast of biennial fixtures between Maoriland aud Queensland. Taking a line through the results attained by the two first teams, Australian footballers should, with systematic organisation, prove more formidable as antagonists than Maorilanders have previously found them. The finer points ot the game are now better understood <in New South Wales than they were a few years ago, but it must be admitted that the knowledge is not general amongst players. Combination amongst the bucks appears to be worked up to perfection in New Zealand. It is not ■o here, although occasionally combined effort of a high character is shown." Wellinmon, Friday. ' The following are the teams competing in the football match North v. South Island to-morrow:—North Island: Laws, Smith, Allen, McKenzie, Bayley, Humphries, Mills, Blair, Hardcastle, Handcock, Pauling, Calnan, Wells, Wilson, and Murray. South Island : Benjamin, Orchard, Wood, Armif, Duncan, Glennie, Priest, Rhodes, McLaren, Fanning, Brooker, Johnstou, Smith, Stewart, and Harris. Bayley is the captain of the former team, and Duncan of the latter. The New Zealand team which tours New South Wales and Queensland met to-night and elected Bayley captain and Duncan vicecaptain. The following committee was appointed to select the team for each match while on tour :-Bayley, Duncan, McKenzie, Pauling, aud Hyams (manager).

ATHLETICS. R. Ofiphant (scratch) put up a rery gotd performance in running within a yard of McDonald (6yds) in the Victoria Handicap of 100 yds, at the Military Tournament, on Tuesday, the time returned being 10 2-5». , Lieutenant Lewis, of H.M. 8. Goldfinch, who is credited with being the champion sprinter of the Australasian Squadron, was on scratch in the sprint events on the Military Tournament programme, with R. Oliphant, but did not start. He, however, won the Officers Handicap Hurdle Race of 250 yds from scratch in the eaiieat possible fashion, leaving an impression that he would have rendered a good account of himself, had he taken part in the other events. ■ ' Ah Moy, who won the Half-mile event for Chinamen, runs at.a good even pace, and found no difficulty in giving his brother competitors 35yds stnrt in that event. Hβ will ue remembered as having won a similar event at the Bnmnertuit Relief Carnival, under the auspices of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club,

I I cannot allow the Military Tournament to pass without reference to the services rendered to the committee by Mr. W. C. Speight, the courteous and energetic hon. secretary ot the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club. His knowledge was invaluable in the carrying out of the snorts programme. Mr. R. Yates, caretaker ot the cricket ground, is also deserviug of a meed of praise for. the time and labour he had evidently expended in the preparation of the grdund, which was in excellent' condition. At a recent meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, the follqwing. records were passed :—A. H. Holder, 120 yds Hurdles, in 163., aud 410 yds Hurdles,- , in 58 4-55., at Mew Zealand Championship Meeting; Hori Ereuera, in Pole Jump, lift, liii., at the A.A.A. and C.C. Cariiiral on llarcb 31. A letter waa read from the local officer at Auckland forwarding information chat one Bowser had run at Te Kopuru under an assumed name and had. afterwards gone to Sydney. After discussion; Mr. Selig moved that the New South Wales and Victorian Associations be written to giving full particulars, and that Bowser's name be struck off the list of amateurs. This was seconded by Mr. Kerr and carried. Evidence having been received that A. Brady, of Auckland, had walked in an open event and forfeited his amateur status, it was decided to strike him off the list of amateurs. The North Shore A.A.C., through the local officer at Auckland, reported that T. Roberts had been suspended and expelled from membership for breaches of rules with regard to competition and forwarding au insulting letter to the committee, It was unanimously resolved to endorse the suspension during the pleasure of the council. The secretary was instructed to write to the New South Wales Association, asking for particulars with reference to the Australasian Championship Meeting, to be held in Sydney in October next, and to write to the affiliated clubs with regard to the support they would give in-the way of funds, and to name any of their members they considered good enough to be included iu a team to represent New Zealand.

Ad obstacle race for amateurs appears on the programme of events in connection with the Military Tournament, to-day, entries for which will bo received at the post. I understand there will be a large field. At the annual general meeting of the Amateur Athletic Association, held in London on April 24, the only busiuess of real importance on the agenda was the recommendation from the sub-committee, that in lieu of the old rule which read " a competitor who asks for or receives expenses ceases to be an amateur," the following should be ■übstituted:—" A competitor in athletic competitions (other than A. A.A, Championships or bona h'de International, inter-club, inter-team, inter-colleee, or inter-school contests), who asks for or receives travelling expenses ceases to be an amateur. No club, society, or managing body promoting an athletic competition, shall either directly ..or indirectly pay or offer a monetary consideration to, or the travelling expenses of, any competitor in .such competition. Clubs, colleges, or schools shall be answerable for any payments made by them, and if called upon to do so shall produce full details of the same and accounts to the A. A. A. (North, South, or Midlands) committee." This caused a discussion of considerable

length, but it was finally carried by a large majoricy. Believers in the time test must (says a Melbourne Leader writer) have beeu edified by an official record of 83-os. for 100 yards from scratch at an up-uountry athletic sports meeting, and of Ik for 200 yards, credited to another pedestrian who has never shown any pretensions to be unite a Hutehena. The records are flattering to the runners, no doubt, but somewhat detrimental to their future handicap prospects. The subsequent issue of tho Leader contained the following :—Commenting upon one of my paragraphs which appeared last week, a correspondent writes:—"Dear 'Javelin:' You appear to throw some doubt on the official records of some ' goes' at a country athletic sports meeting. I see no occasion to doubt the correctness of the times given— 8 3-03. for 100 yards, and 19s. for 200 yards, I have seen distances done by men in much less time. For instance, I remember one man covering 150 yurds in 4 2os.—down a precipice! This performance I know to be a fact, or I would not mention it. Oα the occasion I held the performer's own watch —I have it still."

CYCLING. Dexter showed fine sprinting powers, winning the one-mile amateur bicycle handicap at the military touruameut sports on Tuesday. As the iast lap was entered upon he began to close up, and about halfway round he shot away to the frout, coming with great dash, lir seemed to leave his opponents almost stationary. An exhibition trial of the motor cycle, imported by Messrs. \V. A; Ryan and Co., from the British Alocor Syndicate, will be given during the course of next week, before a number of cycle experts and pressmen. This is the first motor cycle that has reached New Zealand, and particulars of the trial will appenr in my notes of next week. Prom information received, it appears that E. Reynolds has forfeited his claim to the distinction of amateur cbaifipion of New Zealand, and has thrown in his lot with the New South Wales League of wheelmen. It is said that he has obtained a lucrative appointment to ride for a cycle firm. The Raugitikei riders, F. Hunt and A. C. Forbes, have been made hon. members of the New South Wales League of Wheelmen during their stay in Sydney. A committee of the New Zealand 'Cyclists' Alliance, consisting of Messrs. Good, Leys, Dunn, Brown,'and Langdown, has been appointed to enquire into the alleged practice of winners turnius their open orders into cash.

E. C. Bald, one of the fastest of the American riders, recently issued a challenge to the world. Moriii, the famous French sprinter, aim Jaap Eden, the Dutch champion, both eabled IJald that they would race him for large sums of money. Bald evinced a disinclination to leave America, and it is improbable that a match would be arranged. Again rumours are abroad of the illustrious cracks of the racing path coming to Australia (says a Syduey exchange). They are nor, howover, authentic. One statement frnm Knglaud says that J. W. Stocks, one ot the bestknown pace followers of tho world, is coming out, and another assertion made simultaneously is that he retires from the path sit the end of 1897. If be does not retire, there is little doubt that Stocks will continue to find raoiugm England much more profitable than it can possibly be in the Australian colouies. The latest rumour is that T. 0. Shorn, a celebrated English sprinter, will come to Australia to put in a season's racing. But A. C. Edwards, on his return from this country, will have,a tale to tell which will effectually settle the question in the minds of the English racing men, and they will stay at home.

GOLF. Last Monday was n held day at the Auckland Golf Club, when a large number of member spent the day in friendly competition in honour of Her Majesty's Jubilee. In the morning a handicap match took place for a prize presented by the captain of the club, Mr. Arch. Clark. Tho conditions under which the captain's prizu is given are that there shall be a monthly handicap competition held on the Saturday following the San Francisco mail. At the end of the year the winners competeamong themselvesfor the final possession ot the trophy. An entrance fee of Iβ is charged for each competition, and the proceeds of these entrance fees are distributed between first, second, and third, players in the proportion of three, two, and one.

The first match was held on Monday last (June 21). A large field of twenty-two competed, and on reading over the cards it was found that Mr. Caldwell, with a score of 106 less 7=99, was the winner. The Rev. Mr Beatty, with 108 less B±=loo, was a good second, and Mr. A. Hanna, with 126 less 22= 104, took third place. Taken all round the scoring was not as good as usual, the ground .being in rather soft condition. ■ After lunch a handicap foursome was held, first-ojass players drawn with second-class partners. The round, which consisted of 15 holes, was played by Messrs. Reed and Gillies in 90 strokes net subject to a reference to the committee on a point in the rules of golf, which will be settled to-day. The next best score was returned by Messrs. Cochrane and Peel, who, with a handicap of 12, returned 91 net Menre. F. Duthie and Dr. Coates were third with 94 net.

Prizes having been presented by Messrs. Flint, Carr, Gillies, and Walker for a ladies' and gentlemen , foursome, the committee have appointed next Saturday, July 3rd, as the date on which the match shall be played. Ladies are requested to give in their names to Miss Baretow, hon. sec. Ladies' Golf Club, before Wednesday next, June 30th, on which date all entries must be given in to the hoo, sec. Auckland Golf Club. The last handicap held proved such a succesj that the coming event is looked forward to with great interest. em AQUATICS wm

During the jubilee holidays somt members of the Nearuawahia Rowing Club, who were in town for the festivities, paid a visit to the West End Rowing Club boathouse, where they were received by the officers and a few members of the-latter dab.' The Ngarnawahia members were also given the use of the West End racing gig for a trial spin, a compliment that the country members fully appreciated. A' surprise visit was also < p»id to the, West End club by a couple of crews from.St. George's, so there is a little going on when/the weather is favourable. \.s ~• ■ A new oil launch has jiis't been launched by the JLojciu Bcothers for Air., A. H. Morrisby." Slio is « very smart looking little boat,.and on/her' first trial last week averaged about

~l a l| k «W>» knots. She haTken bJjSWw i the diagonal principL her : «• ■ M, 35 tet?b«® 7 *»BS : • draught, 2 feet. The cabin E&! -"ffi. & I 5 wajid, and is very nicely fitted A final trial of the launch tak£ '■ day, when it is proposed th'at'tti/f "Wk i > Ko down as far as Ci c k Th ' >1 » «ry pretty appearance in thSJf^kt-'I ! > Ihe keel for the new ten-rater Messrs. dagger Brothers, has& ' m^ e 0 8'' 11 Brothers' shed. 'V i i ihe works of the Logan BmH, • fkfaffg ■ Freezing Works reclamaL ? °*H« i 1 | siderably extended, in order J 7 " -HC^j 1 the increased work of the firm-° 5k ' . as everything is iu order thTxi ** ihi 3 1 Brothers wiil be able to 'do cn S' 1 ?!! i sible to compete with the ordm »k- lw * 5 ■ have in hand. ' ' *tuc& 1 been place" with Mejsrs o '^^^* i*. ' been placed with Messrs. WanT and it is probable that several ordered in the near future' thett fIS ' . The New South Wales Assort..- ' vf® cided to row senior four-oared JfitJlft in single streak outraged,boaX , o !*' 1 as hitherto in the old-fashioned »© I gigs. The change is a wise one W races rowed on calm water, andS^l^ll of rowing should be raised therehv 'SN' rough water of the harbour outrigged fours should prove S if for practice, and would even be lft 1 * racing use than gigs f or meiJ any time to race in eights ",£*• ' According to the reports ot theracMl§ Tyne, England, between .Tamoo New South Wales, and W X % <* Windsor, the Australian wored avl victory, and displayed cl, fornix was pronounced to be one of the h«£ 11 * W ever seen on the river. Wrayapfe . have some trouble m securing anothicl 5" « though he has been profuse in his chl&S He seeks races with Harding or w!5 England, or with Gaudaur, of so far without success. , rlr'".' THE RIVIERA REGATTAS,; iiSIS The Field says The absence ofv« and Satan from southern wato? rtS spring deprived the Riviera regattaj&S of their interest as far as the big 111 W concerned; still, the racing fetw&T*#? such well-tried opponents as BritanJ. !" 0 Allsa was of a sufficiently even cliar provide plenty of excitement alike toSIL and spectators. During the early iff il the Prince of WaWs cutter had maffi % her own way, a result which was Si due in a great measure to the fact haT 1 ' , was provided with a new mainsail Ti?" PAilsa contented herself with W7 sail. Britannia, as was the case ImS?' drew first blood by winning the „£?' event at Marseilles International ItjE'lW February 'JO in a decisive manner Sterf-f had at one time gained a conaiderihl i® and both cutters wiped off the time ance they had to give the three .t*Bl# Samphire, Stephanie, and MaW TJ vThe Prince cutter repeated the J on the following day, sailing in & liant style over the last (art #»• uP?* course in a freshening breeze, which ct„H yard topsails to come down on*deck' a? ' - '" 1 arriving home nearly Bm. ahead of hw ',X ¥■ whereas, one hour before, she had beat? astern of her. This was, perhaps a, S bit of sailing Britannia has don, r 7? Mediterranean, though, in fustic* Sffl# Walker's boat, it must be stated-'tlS V"®" crew had great difficulty in getting hfhtiN • jackyarder down, and that the jib OP and spinnaker were both torn, the Wn ripping as it was being hoisted. IffiS At Toulon Regatta there was oiMf race for the big boats on February 9.3 once more Britannia showed the Fife «t, clean pair of heels, this time in' quite S! weather trial. Britannia's fourth succfi! Wwin was scored at Hydros on March 6 Ki, W' a light to moderate breeze, but on the tend-ft 15 day Ailsa reversed the order of thini P leading the black cutter home by IS# than seven minutes, thus winnin/S®' town cup. However, on .MarcHS ft' at, Cannes, Ailsa had to put up with tayS place throughout the race, and shewaaijd sm. astern at the finish. Two days laterbV®fine, sharp-headed topsail breeze, what mised to be a battle royal between the ™ was cut short by a foul, which resnlteU Ailsa's mainsail being split from he»it» foot, thus bringing the match to an abS'?® conclusion. The white cutter seemed to im recovered some of her traditional Meditei* nean form for the last two trials at CarX when she thoroughly woke up and delfcS!® her partisans, by winning in decisive fasUfc, securing in succession the prizes presented the President of the Republic, and the jawnational cup giveu by Mr. Ogden Goelet iij Mr. J. Gordon Bennett. She also won tie match from Cannes to Monaco the next if securing the Grand Prix de Monte Carlool# ±600- ' Lrtr&MH

WELLINGTON AMATEUR ATHLH*^ ASSOCIATION. ■«»£s! Wellington, Fridw. 1 At the annual n.eeting of the Wellinpij Amateur Athletic Association to-night; it resolved to ask the New Zealand Am«te« Athletic Association to hold its next meetiti in Wellington, and rourge that in future tin 1 banner should be held by the assoeiitka winning the most championships.' at. tlwsP meeting, instead of by points as at pretty •.&;

date are as under :— District. Ply'it. Won. Lost. Dr'n. For Agst Parnell .. B 5 l u 63 iu Poiisonby ..6 5 1 0 55 23 NorthShoie .. 0 * » 1 33 SO City . 6 i 4 0 29 50 Orafton .. « 1 S 2 10 31 Newton ..6 1 4 1 19 41