BOXING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 8

BOXING.

(Feb United Phess Association.) WELLINGTON April 24. Blewden, the New Zealand light-weight representative, who. was sent to London to competo ill tba' English boxing championships!, writing to tho secrotary'of the Northern Boxing. Association, under dato March IG, states that ho liaA an accident through which tho mingles and sinews-of one of his legs wore severely strained, and had been compelled to give up training. This accounts for his defeat, in the first round of tho contest.

NEW ZEALAND BOXING COUNCIL. Hie fifth annual report of the New Zealand Boxing Council contains the following clause?:—

Competitions have lieen held in various parts of the colony, and have becn-wcll patronised. In Auckland, Chrislchurcb, and Dunedin patrons of the sport were particularly well catered for, but in Wellington ouly. one competition was held. Last season thoro wore 10 affiliated local associations, as follow: Northern (Auckland), Taranaki, Manawatu, -Wairaiapa, Wellington, Reefton, W.estland, Canterbury, South Canterbury', and; Otago, two others not -being affiliated —viz., Auckland and New Plymouth. Of those affiliated, Manav;atu, Wairarapn, and Rcefton have ceased" operations, During the season ono.new asso-. ciation—Timaru—was admitted to membership, the total strength at- the present time being eight. While numerically the .council is weaker than it was iast year, reports are to tho effect that tho sport is now firmly established in those districts where affiliated bodies, have existence. Interest in tho sport has reached 'Invorcargill, where a strong association was formed on March 8, and will be affiliated in due course. It was hoped that during the parliamentary session of last year "The Police Offences Amendment Act, 1904," would have been amended in the direction that has been approved by the local associations, and which-is absolutely essential to the welfare of the sport. Unfortunately, the sudden death of-the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and the absence from the colony, of Sir J. Or. Ward, caused the session to bo: considerably shorter than usual, and although tho committee deputed to draw up tho required alterations to the act carried out its duty, consideration of the matter had to be postponed, It is the intention of ! the Council Committee to make a strenuous effort early in the coming, session to have the wishes of. the local association given effect; to. A con-' feieiu>? of representatives of tha-'Queeiisland r-.scociation, N.S.W. Amateur Sports Club, and the New Zealand Council, was held in.Sydney in September, for the purpose of' considering the contimianco of tho Australasian championships. The parties agreed to (a lenewnl of tho existing agreement for a priod of three years, the championships for 1907 to be held in New Zealand. It was also decided that tho competitions should 1 be controlledtby a referee and two judges. In connection with tho sending of n team to compete in "the English Amateur championships, it was agreed that li. L. Baker (N.-S.W.), middle-weight, and J. Dowridge (Queensland), ' ieaihor-weight, should be selected, arid, that New - Zealand should be allowed to sefect a light-weight,, each body to pay tho expenses of its'representative. For some reason no attempt appears to havo been made by the Quocnsland Association to bo repiesented, but both New South Wales andi.New Zealand were able to finance their respective representatives, who left, Sydney on -December 29, 1906. A. Blewden, of Auckland, was selected by the council, he being the only available representative.' Unfortunately Baker, stricken 'down with enteric fever shortly after reaching England, was unable to compete, and Blewden was defeated The first venture of the Australasian amateurs lias thus been without result. Tho amount raised to defray the representative's expenses reached £150. Of this amount £73 10s was paid into the'council's account, and v/ns augmented by a vote of £5; from the council's funds, Tho balance was collected and donated by the Northern Association, Auckland. The financial position of the>council is in a healthy condition. The season opened with a credit balance of £96 17s 7d, and closed with a credit of £92 lVs Bd. Thero was'u, heavy call upon the funds'incurred through sending a full team to Australia,