GYMNASTICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13263, 20 April 1905, Page 5

GYMNASTICS.

BT Parawels,

Accuse not Nature; she hath clone her part. I Do tliou but thine.—Milton. ; The annual mooting of the Otago Gymnastic Association will be held on Saturday, April 29. ■ Tliero is every probability of (lie Ilill Gymnasium Club (Oamaru) joining the association, and sending a team down for the Banner competitions this year. I wish the club every success. The Dunedin Club had very good musters last week, when some efficient work was gone through by the members, the majority oi whom arc getting over their stiffness, anil beginning to get into form once more. It is pleasing to see such old members as G. G. Austin, H. G. Siedebcrg, W. Beadle, and oihers still sticking to this sport. W. 11. Matthews is in excellent form. This old stager seems lo improve every year. He is a model for young gymnasts to follow. A. Jl'Master, the deputy-captain of the D.G.C., is a good understudy of AV. 11. Matthews, and should soon bo one of tlio very best gymnasts in Dunedin. 'He isa good sample of what a gymnast can do in a couplo of seasons by sound instruction, and following these instructions out to tlio letter. Tlio Dunedin Club has several very promising new members, who will, no doubt, secure places in the Banner teams this season. From all accounts the High Street dub is going to have another successful season. In Captain Gollan ami Deputy-captain .T. Pa.go this club has two very efficient instructors; while its energetic secretary, P. Taylor, is the right man in tho right ' place. The Trinity Club anticipates a much more prosperous season than last. In Captain Downes it has a very capable instructor. It is, however, in need of new materials. This is to be one of the first improvements which the new committee is going to undertake. I Tho High Street Ladies' Club makes a start. 011 Wednesday evening, when it expects to have a largo muster. As the majority of the old members intend rejoining, and a largo number of others, a successful season is anticipated. Tho Trinity Ladies* Club has a large membership, and everything points to a successful season. Tho jUornington Club, though weakened by the loss of a. number of the old mem. liers, anticipates a very successful season. Last year they had a lot of promising juniors coming on. With J. Gallawav still ac tho helm, there is every hope 'for a number of good gymnasts coming from this club. Tho Roslyn Club has most of last year's members again this .season, and with J. Robson and A. Smith to load the way, things should go well with this young club. E. Sunderland is again secretary. Tho St. Joseph's Olub anticipates a big season. I hear, that there is every probability of "Tommy" Ferguson instructing this elub this season. Ho would undoubtedly bo tho very man to bring this club on. J. Drninin is-the energetic secretary, and' as he is keen oir gymnastics everything in , the secretarial line is in good hands. There is a rumour that there is a ghost about Dunedin. Well, if anyone takes a walk down aVout tho ovcrbridgc on a Tuesday or a Friday evening, he will see a good few ghosts in the form of gymnasts,' members of tlio Dimedin Gymnastic Club, who go for a run over the bridge. I , am sorry to see. that, keen evmnast' D. Power having to take things a bit o.isy, owing to a bad knee. I only hope it will soon get better. He is now, I think, the oldest gymnast in Dunedin, aiid lie can held his own with most of thsm yet, The absence.of; Fred :Liggins. from''the D.G.C. lias been greatly felt of 'late. vVs

'an instructor Fred was one of- the best, 9.111! bis place at tho piano has yet to bo filled. I hope lie is not giving gymnastics up altogether, as his club mates will sorely miss him. The North 'Dunetlin Gymnastic Club opened its season 011 the 10th. The attendance, which was very good for tho first week, will be increased considerably after the Easter holidays. Another new mattress lifs ■been addd to the apparatus. ' This club anticipates a very successful season. Amongst the old gymnast? back at the gymnasium, I noticed ft. Jl'Donald, Baker, Weir, J. Robertson, Purdie, L. Maw, and Drcaver. There are several promising gymnasts in tho older newcomers—namely, A. Jory, 'Robertson, Arthur, Biggins, and J. Sparrow. Tho juniors are a very promis-ing-lot of young fellows, and they pay very close attention io the instructors. The most noticeable last week wero Stevens, J. Mitchell, Umbers, Thomson (2), and Tc.mplcton. Several well-known athlete have promised to become active members. This club opens the practices with a good half-hour at Sandow's system of dumbbell exercises, then members aro' divided into squads, according to ability, these squads quickly changing to tho different apparatus —horizontal bar, parallels, Roman rings, travelling rings, horse, ropes, qnd ladder. A welcome finale to the evening's work is fimdow's running exercises, which are thoroughly enjoyed by tho members. Visitors are cordially' welcomed to this gym- ! nasium 011 practice evening.;.