BILLIARDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12736, 13 December 1904, Page 6

BILLIARDS

ROBERTS TO HIS CHALLENGERS.

.Tons Robkkts being back again in England, and again in a position to engage in money

match*?, it is (says the English Sportsman) not surprising 10 find him assailed with challenges. Though 57 last August, Roberts is

still looked uponeven by his brother pro-

fessionala and rivals—as a strong drawing card, and, as the public may perhaps bo anxious to see how the once celebrated player performs after his long absence from the metropolis, matches with Roberts no doubt

mean money. Whether he has lost any of the brilliant form that marked ins play a decade hack, or whether he still retains the touch, the power of cue, and general allround excellence, that enabled him success-

fully to concede starts to all in the profession, remains to be proved by a genuine and straightforward match. Whatever, however, may bo the class of John Roberts as a player of to-day, the fact remains that he still looks upon himself as a power in the land, and, although challenged on even terms, absolutely declines to allow anyone to occupy the pedestal he considers, rightly or wrongly, his own particular freehold. He claims to be« still top weight in the handicap, and answered the challengers as follows: —

" 1 am willing to play either or both Harverson anil finnan, and allow a start of 5500 in 18.000 up, tho matches to be for £100 or £200 a-side. and to take places after December 3. Ido not care who supplies the table, hut thai made by the maker giving the best term- to be accepted. There is one stipulation, and that i- 1 -hall require three-fourths of the gate, win or lose, after the proportionate payment of expenses. As regards Stevenson and Dawson. 1 will allow cither man 2000 point- in 18,000 up, the Mime conditions to govern as regards the table, but 1 shall require two-thirds of the gate receipts after proportionate payment of expenses.'

, How this will suit the tastes of the two rren who have been contesting tho champion. I ship of K'lglitud remains to l>e seen. Roberta has been playing quite a considerable time only with composition balls, but he thinks a few weeks' practice with ivorv will enable ism to accomplish any task he inav think fit to -set himself. Roberts looks in fine health, fit and well, and not a day older than he did I when tie left England, nearly live years ago

As an instance of the extraordinary quantity of flowers sacrificed to make up the various exhibits at the floral fete on Saturday last ,t is stated that, two large fields m the Kuigsland district, aggregating .some acres in extent and literally covered with field daisies, were entirely denuded of these flowers for use in the construction of the colossal beehive exhibited by Mr Geo Court- •'The Beehive." Newton, and it is roughly estimated that no less than 5000 of these flowers were used in this one exhibit alone.

Boys' straw sailor hats, Is 4d, la lid 2s lid.— the Beehive, Karangahape Road Arthur Nathan's " Reliable" Baking Powder should be m every household. Full strength, pure, economical; fed, Is, 2s tinseverywhere. '