ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1211, 17 May 1895, Page 28

ATHLETICS.

There was a capital attendance at the Wellington Amateur Gymnastic Club’s rooms, Taranaki street, last week to witness the athletic entertainment by the staff of the Club and some of the pupils. The display was of a most interesting character, especially the acrobatic performances, club-swinging and boxing exhibitions. The Rizzio Bros. (Messrs W. Clark, W. Dean and R. Gamble) gave a performance on the Roman rings and an acrobatic display, on the whole quite equal to anything previously seen in Wellington. They were enthusiastically applauded for their acrobatic feats. Some very pretty club swinging was shown by J. Doyle, junr., while Mr Doyle, senr., showed considerable dexterity in handling the heavy club. Mr Jones also performed with the clubs. A weight lifting competition in which Messrs J. Doyle, Newman, Chambers and Jones took part was another interesting item. Mr Doyle succeeded in lifting the 1001 b dumb-bell above his head 10 times, and gave further evidence of his strength by lifting the 1001 b and . 751 b bells above his head. This feat was warmly applauded. Newman, after lifting the 100 pounder six times above his head, cried enough. He afterwards lifted the 751 b and 451 b bells above his head. An exhibition of wrestling, Cumberland style, between Messrs J. McCarthy and J. M. Earle was brief but interesting, the latter getting the majority of three falls. Messrs A. S. Paterson and Robinson had “ five minutes’ loose play” with the singlesticks, and two members of the Club gave an exhibition of leaping from a springboard. By far the most exciting items were the boxing contests. Messrs J. Doyle and J. Graham had a three-round combat, the last round being a very merry one. Later on J. Melaney and Graham entertained the audience with a very lively three-rounds of the “ hammer and tongs ” order. The event of the evening was the “ bout ” between the stalwart foreigner H. Plaeke, who has earned a reputation as a plougher of the mighty deep, and W. Fisher. Plaeke stripped well, and his splendid physique was the admiration of all. They “boxed” four rounds, and appeared to be so very much in earnest as to rouse the audience to a state of some excitement. At the beginning of the fourth round there was some very hot work, and the gentleman who acted as referee called “ Time ” before it was up. The entertainment concluded with an exhibition of the different holds and stops in wrestling by Messrs S. Mathews and Graham, but the effect was spoiled by the performers being placed in such a position that they could not be clearly seen. This will be altered for the next entertainment. It is intended to give another display in about a month’s time, when new features will be introduced.

The Athletic Park Company’s ground has been completely fenced in, and the levelled portion, .about Isoyd.s in length, with a breadth of about 120 yds, has been sown with grass seed. Once the grass is long enough to be mown it will be constantly rolled and mown. It is hoped that the ground will be ready for use by next Christmas.

CKKiSTcnjancfr, May JO. The committee of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association met’to-night to consider the protest from Auckland Club in reference to the disqualification of W. B. Martin and T. .Roberts in the 440yds Hurdle Championship at Napier, After a lengthy discussion, the following resolutions were carried • unanimously : (1) That under the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association the question raised by the protest in the Quartermile Hurdle Race was one of fact, within the province of the judges alone to decide either upon what fell within their own observation, or with the assistance, if necessary, of other evidence (2) that the judges having considered and finally decided the protest upon what they found to be sufficient ground, this committee has no power under the constitution to reopen the matter either by reversing the decision or by ordering rehearing; (3) that inasmuch as evidence was heard in support of. the protest the judges ought to have given competitors protested against an opportunity of adducing evidence on their behalf before adjudicating upon the

The meeting considered in committee the evidence taken in regard to the disturbance on the evening of the Championship Meeting. The following resolutions were carried : —(1) That this committee is satisfied by the evidence before it that some of the competitors at the late Championship Meeting held at Napier grossly misconducted themselves on the evening of the sports, and brought public discredit upon the Association by their behaviour ; (2) that the committee has power to take cognizance of such matters, and will not hesitate in future to deal severely with any offenders in cases of a similar character brought under the notice of the Association.”

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs F: Logan (Napier), C. A. Knapp (Wellington), J. F. Logan (Auckland), and the Auckland Club’s committee for the assistance they had rendered the Association in the enquiry.