BOXING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 7

BOXING

WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT. Tho fifth annual meeting cf the Wellington Boxing Association is lo be hold in Armit’s rooms next Tuesday. The repriT of the committee congratulates members on the progress made by the association, and the success which has attended it during tho year. Patrons of the sport have boon as eager as ever to become members of tho association, and every vacancy has been quickly filled. There are mt present several eligible candidates awaiting election, but the committee recommends that for tho present the association should adhere to the existing rule regarding its limitation of membership. The most important event of the year was the Australasian championship meeting which was hold in the Upera House under the auspices of the association on September 10th and 11th, 1907, New South Wales was represented by five competitors, Queensland by three, and New Zealand by nine. Tho results wore:— Bantam—E. Lusher-Fonn, New South Wales, 1; J. Parker, Christchurch, 2. Feather-weight—W. Elliott, Tima.ru, I; A. Treoizo, Avhburtou 2. Lightweight—R. Mayze, Christchurch, 1; D. White Now South Wales, 2; Middle-weight—A. J. Scanlan, QuoensHnd, 1; L. Fletcher, Wellington, 2. Welter—A. le Nash, Christchurch, lu J. Lane, New South Wales, 2. Heavyweight—C Hill. New South Wales, 1; J. L. Lloyd, Christchurch, 3. This was tho Erst occasion on which the At stralasian championships were hold in Wellington.

Three other tournaments of a most interesting and instructive character ncre held during the season. Tho first took place at His Majesty's Theatre on July 24th when J. Godfrey. Auckland, and J. Gosling, Wellington—two well-known ex-amateur featherweight champions—were matched for fifteen rounds. Godfrey eventually won a good contest. A special featherweight competition for amateurs was hel l at the same time. The contest was limited to six uunds. and special trophies were awarded, valued at £lO for first and £2 for second man. The contestant” were 11. N. Gould (Timaru). E. Sanderson (Auckland), W. Crawford (Ohau), and A. Tresize fAshburton.) The final was lefs to Tresize and Gould, the formcf ultimately proving tho victor. The second contest hold in Hia Majesty’s on July Slst, consisted of two amateur events between H. Tracy end J. O’Donoghne, and W. Kirk and G, M. McCarthy, Tracy and McCarthy being the winners, end -a fifteen-round professional match between 8.. Turner (New South Wales) and T. -Tracy (Wellington). These men had previously met in Christchurch where Turner secured the verdict.' A fairly interesting exhibition resulted in a draw The thi d and final tournament took nlace in the Opera House on November 25th, when J.. Godfrey, Auckland; met J. Hanley, Sydney, in a fifteenround professional contest. A crowded house witnessed the contest. It was fou.-ht out in the best spirit and eventually resulted in Godfrey securing the verdict on points. As a curtain raiser, an exhibition of catch-as-eatch-oan wrestling' Was given by Messrs A. Skinner and C. Stephens, hoth of Wellington. , Seme difficulty was experienced in getting together a really representative team for the New Zealand championships. The Wellington men 1 who , eventrady marie rhe trip were B. Tracy (bantam), G McCarthy (light-weight), C. Fletcher (middle-weight), asd H, Sandow' (heavy-weight). Tracy succeeded in winning tho bantam-weight contest, and F.etei'er asd Sandow were runners-up is their respective divisions. J. Godfrey was trainer of the team.

It is a matter for congratulation tiiat sane of the associations which had shown signs of inactivity have recently obtained new vigour. The Manawatu .Associate) a has set n good exan pie, which ought to be speedily followed by other associations in the northern portion of the WollingtDn district. The Marlborough Association which has hitherto been under the jurisdiction of the Canterbury Association, has, with the consent of the New Zealand Council, come under the control of the Wellington Association.

Some important amendments, were made in the Police Offences Act during the last session. The association took early steps to comply with the requirements of the Act, and has also rendered assistance to other .associations when required, to enable them to come within the provisions of the Act. Thanks are accorded to the press for valuable assistance, to Mr W. F. Corbett, tile-association’s representative in Australia, to the and vicepresidents for their donations of trophies, to the Hon. J. Xligg, M.L.C., and Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., for services rendered to the association in various ways, to the hon. medical examiners, Dra. James, A. W. Izard, ami H. J. McLean, and to the police authorities for their promptness in acknowledging the communications forwarded to them cn the subject of the administration of the Act relating to boxing. '

For the approaching season the committer has engaged the Opera House for four nights, June 16th and 17th, July 13th, and September Ist. A complete list of accounts accompanies the icp-rt. The balance-sheet for the year shows that the receipts t tailed £1123 IHs 7d, and the expenditure £903 4s lid, leaving n credit balance of £220 13s Bd. The association's liabilities are ml, while its assets are valued at £285 13s Bd. The July t. uruament yielded a profit ot £B3 4s 3d, the Australasian champioi ships of £35 5s 7d (exclusive of payments to the New Zealand Council, etc.), and the November tournament o‘ £62 Ss 3d.