BOXING.

NZ Truth, Issue 56, 14 July 1906, Page 3

BOXING.

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The Wellington Association Is m high glee at securing the Opera House for the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships on the 9th and 10th of next month. There was first a doubt as to whether the building would be available on those dates, but last week Secretary Coffey re-J ceived the pleasurable intimation from Mr Willie McLean, Secretary of the Opera House Company, that no obstacles stood m the path to bringing off ,the competitions m the Opera House. The "pushfulness" of the country Boxing Associations is really astonishing. Weeks ago the Wellington Association circularised these institutions m the matter of forming a governing centre for the Hawke's Bay-Taranalci-Wellington territorial districts, but up to the time of penning these notes there was no response from any one of them. The Wellington Association has taken the "bull by the horns" and intimated to the several Associations that if no word is received from them within a fortnight, it (the Wellington Association) will take their silence to mean that they concur m the local body acting as the governing Centre, and at once take steps to bring the supervising institution into existence. A matter which is sure to give concern to the Wellington Association is the. getting hold of a referee who would do justice to his thankless billet at the colonial tourney. Dr. Na-pier-McLean, who was such a success at the Hock Keys-Tracy bout m the Opera House last year, went away on an extended honeymoon trip some months ago, but the Association hears that he is now on the homeward route. The officials will be delighted if the doctor sets foot on Wellington soil before the 9th of next month. Failing Dr. Napier-McLean, our old friend. Professor Stagpoole, of New Plymouth, has been suggested as a good man to fill the bill. Haying discovered tbat their little schemes to /bring about boxing contests without the concurrence of the Wellington Association, is of no avail against ; the watchfulness of- its officials or the police, three or four of the so-called professional bruisers are now making it known that they have no desire whatever to participate m such contests unless it is with the approval of the Association. The controlling afficials don't care a dump what the professional stoushers' views may be oh the subject; their plain duty, will be i to protect the public from a recurrence of the "schleinters" which took place m this i city m past years, and to see -that the provisions of "The Police 1 Offences Act Amendment Act, of 1904," are rigidly adhered to. Heavy"penalties follow any infringement of the Act, and it is perhaps as well that this fact was made known to the talent. It has been decided that all, .entries for the N.Z;, Championships should plose oil August. 6. The Wellington;. Association • has notified the Manawatu, TaranaJci, Northern (Auckland), New Plymouth, Wairarapa, Timaru, South Canterbury, Otago, and Canterbury Associations to that effect. Writing the other 'day Mr "Wai" Atack, hon. sec. of the New \Zealand Boxing Council,, said there was every indication of a formidable string of entries from aspirants for colonial championship honors, and advices rereceived from Auckland, Canterbury and Otago this week confirm this. Genial Tommy Robson, who is the life and soul of the Canterbury Association, advises that Canterbury is sending up a team of five or six, and the probabilities are that there, will be'a numerically strong second string to ,the Association's bow, as Its representatives are dead after the honors m each division. Secretary Holt, of the Otago Association, wired the gratifying news on Monday that his ,Association would be represented m dll the championships. Secretary Keenan is hoping to get away a powerful team from Auckland and the combination will, I think, include J. Godfrey, the ex-amateur champion 'qf England and the conqueror of the local champion, Jack Gosling, m Auckland a few months ago. Another meeting between the pair would arouse tremendous interest, particularly as "The Goose" is laying himself out this time to turn the tables should the pair face each other again m the roped arjena.. Godfrey, by the way, has now ,taken up his residence m Auckland, having left Gisborne, where he has been located since his arrival from the Old Country, only the other week. Young Marks, who shaped so well m a cyclonic couple of rounds with "Gnab" Williams last season, will face the music m the light-weight division of the N.Z,. Championships. The Taranaki boy promises to be heavy metal for those opposing hirri'.%J Billy Low, who held the secreta^a!- 1? reins of "the Wellington Boxing "Asfsio-j ciation before George Stephenson collared him to look after the treasury m connection with -his dramatic orga-

nisations, writes to, a local chum that, he is coming' back to the Empire City, shortly to settle down m business once more. . Through a friend "Professor" Sam Kingsley, whose name is really iquite different to his adopted professional, one, writes to state that he and Baldwin, otherwise Mace (these pugs seem to be very indifferent as to a moniker more pr less,!) did , go to a local place of amusement, as stated m a paragraph m last issue, but only with the intention of trying to get an opening for an exhibition spar among the other items of the programme. He also disclaims any intention of doing anything against the rules of the Association, but fails to see how the giving of exhibition spars by scientific, men would be doing so. Also he'd rather let the matter drop if he cannot get the sanction of the Association. At the same time he announces himself ready to fight any man at 9st 1016, and would even concede 4ft, if the Association would offer a substantial purse ; something worth training for. . With regard to this master, Kingsley has no right to allude) as he does all through, his letter, to an indivi--dual, as being responsible for last week's paragraph. The Editor of the paper is alone responsible— there is no individualism m a newspaper office. Also, the "professor" cannot expect the. Association to foster and pay for, a friendly prearranged scrap between two unknown men who see fit to agree ,tp a meeting. That is hot the sort lot thing the Association was formed for. It is m the game . for its advancement and no "little arrangements" can be considered for an instant. •