BILLIARDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7057, 19 February 1910, Page 12

BILLIARDS

With the present spell of hot weather matters conn'Bcted with local billiards are very quiet, but it should not be long before things are stirring 3j?ain and tournaments once -mote commenced. . Just before the mail left most of the leading English professionals had been indulging in a Flying Handicap of 100 up, the proceeds being devoted to a benefit.' lteeco pulled oft the event with a. start of 20 rxsnte, defeating in- turn. Inman, Cook, Sparrow, and Harverson, the latter being beaten in the final by 52 points. ■ : '' ,'■,.■ i . ' The arack Staffordshire professional, A. E. AVilliams, is now outward-bound for Australia. He left London on January, 21st, and proposed putting in a couple of weeks each at Cairo and Colombo. Last year he met Inmani for the championship, but since that, time has been in .poor health. The long sea voyage should put him right, and no doubt he I will meet the best in Australia in the, near future.

The Lindrum-Gxay combination, recently in Wellington, have been showing to good houses in Christchuroh. At Stephenson's fine new room in Worcester street. Lindrum* led off fay conceding Gray 50 in 750 and winning by 750 to ffK?. Ir. n game at the same rooms on similar terms Lind Tum again proved victorious by 750 to 583. %im Jpair next played at Lyttelton, where Lindrum once again was in - fine form, -winning the game with 100 points to' tie Rood. The" English professionals entertained the press—the billiard section—to the annual dinner in London last month. The pros, were W. J. Peall (ill the chair), J. P. Mannock, C. Dawson, and H. W. Stevenson (vice-chairman); M. Inman,' T. Reeoe. C. Harverson, W. A. Cook, W. A. Gregory, and A. E. Williams. Amongst the guests'were: Messrs Sydenham Dixon (president B.A. and "Sportsman''), S. A. Mussabini (editor ■ "New • World of Billiards"), G. Beid ("Hazard," "Sporting Life"), C. Graves', A. Wi Simons, G. J. Groves. E. A. Luckman, H. E. Jewell, W. J. Stephens, Herbert Young-, andiC. Baneome. The function proved a big success. ' ROBERTS ON TOTHJ, AGAIN. . At the age of sixty-two years, and fastrisinj? sixty-three, John Roberts ■ gives further proof: of. his remarkable vitality (says a Home paper) by undertaking yet another, visit tor the Par: Eastern' part of the world, where his name and fame are i held in as great: esteem as with the large body of billiard-lovers in this country. It has been spread abroad that his mission on this occasion is\ to take up the post of billiard-master to some Indian potentate, a position he held some thirty years ago when ho was ;rewarded with diplomas of merit, choice jewels, and. generally speaking, covered with the highest attentions. John came back to this oountry_ to instal himself with the championship mantle, and the gold cup which went with the title. He accomplished this, the wish of his heart, and for nearly twenty years after he reigned as the king of English billiards. One oan hardly believe that at his advanced ago he will undertake service again in any capacity save that as a peripatetic playing force. Australia seems to us to be his real objective. There is a billiard boom in course of progress out there and in. New Zealand. It should suit the veteran's match-mak-ing propensities down to the ground.