ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14784, 17 March 1910, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

Bit Amateor,

; That there is a decidect and unfortunate slump in amateur athletics in Duncdin was paimully evidenced;, at the twentv-lifth annual sports meeting of the Duitedin "Amateur Athletic Club, held on the Caledonian Ground , on'- Saturday afternoon. The weather-was beautifully a fact it was almost a perfect day for,athletics, but the public-faded. -to. be : attracted to tho meeting/ The attendance was really the ,worst ever experienced by the premier club since its inauguration, As'.one wag, gazing at_ the, ompty,:benches, .put'.•it:,' "Why, thc-y would not come.in if, one toofc'.'thii railway embankment ;down. a,nd the ground • was madb.ja.'..shprt<!nt:,to,.St.. Clair" To the management; who had worked' hard to mako the meeting a;. tho-poor response by tho. public was most.- disappointing. Before; another Isiiorts.'-meeting is hold some means will have to be devised to secure (lie .Support,'"of"' IhV.-JJ'ritisli public, who arcnecessary to.thc up-keep of'the sport. "Not only'-., must... the •;' meeting.. : be." judiciously boomcd.'but tlie.'attrabtioiis' riiust he forth-coming-to induce the public to attend. „ -In tho.-case" of the D.A.A.C. meeting (here was really no star attraction on the programme; and of the few prominent athletes we' have all'did not compete at the meeting. ,'Wo .noticed with regret the absence of G.'P: Kcddell, whom rumour hath it has decided to retire from the track and field fori good. I sincerely trust this is not so. Tlic Australasian hurdle champion and New Zealand broad jump recordholder is still in the heyday of his fame, and good for many seasons yet, and we can ill sparo such a champion. I quite expect to learn of Keddell changing his mind on the subject, and .turning out next year in readiness ,to defend his title at the. Australasian championships, which everyone-is looking forward to being held in-Dunedin. ■ Another 'athlete;. too;-" who -was -"missed from Saturday's:, little ..gathering was M'Knight,.of the Caverslfem 'Harriers,'who promised to turn out a top-riotchcr, but who has not yet succeeded in winning championship honours. M'Knight has, I'trust, hot retired-from, the sport, and.will be seen but again shortly;'■'■The'opening'of the harrier season will probably see* tho Caversham runner competing over tho crosscountry track. ,It was significant, too,.in the—temporary, lot us hope—decadence of tho sport, that there were no events for high 'jumpers, hurdlers, and hammer-throwers. It is a great pity to. let these events go by the board at a sports meeting, particularly .by the premier club of Dunedin;- but paucity of entries no doubt forced tho hand of tho committee to decide against the inclusion of these events. There was a sad falling-away, too, in tho Half-mile, which, though showing eight entries, only brought out tlireo runners. Three runners' in llio Half-mile is significant enough in itself, but there it is. Whyte, who had the limit of 20yds, showed good form,-and won by his handicap from Foster, who was on the syds mark.. The time was not fast, but it brought out a plucky .young runner in (he winner.

There was a fine finish in the first heat of the Hundred, won by Carey off 3yds in 10 3-see, Leslie, the second man, off syds, putting in a strong claim, and being beaten'on-the tape. ,

The second heat saw Mitchell on scratch, but the tall follow could not get on terms with the leaders, and finished out of a place. 0. Roid, the winner, off 6yds, showed dogged finishing powers, and is more likely to win a. race on his fine finish than probably a slightly faster man. ' , There were only three sprinters in the third heat, Davidson finishing strongly and winning on the tape from 11. Curran, who, I understand, hails-, from Tapanui. Tho final saw a line race won by 0. Reid from another good sprinter in Donaldson, with Carey third. Although oui- sprinters are not fast, the majority of them have cultivated the art of a good finish, which counts for much. - . .

The first real note of regret at Kcddoll's absence was when the Broad Jump camo. along for.-decision. There were only four competitors,' the most promising of whom was A. .13. Love, whoso actual jump was 19ft lOin. and whoso 2ft 3in handicap brought hint out a winner for the event. Love, of tho four competitors, showed some knowledge of the "second spring"' in tho air, so well demonstrated last season by Ihe Rev. Rands, who is "now in the North Island. Mitchell, who was looked lo .win Ihe event, is evidently stale,- for he could not "jump a yard" up to form. His taking-off was uncertain, and bis landing was cumbersome. It was simply Mitchell out of form, and that's tho last word. Of the. two other competitors, Shand, with a 2ft 6in handicap, cleared 21ft lOin, and Roid (lft 3in) was credited with an actual jump of 19ft lOjin. Tho jumping may not liavo been of a high standard,. but worse performances have been put up in college sporis in.England, where they do pretend to -turn out -jumper*.

Beatson is deserving of .all congratulations for his run in the Mile, which he won in a field of nine oil' scratch, in 4min 49 l-Siec. Beatson, who is a much improved runner, is capable of better timo than this, but he was content to win without unduly pushing himself. Thompson, off i 25yds, made a great effort in .the straight to overhaul Boatson, but h« w;as unable lo «et alongside Ihe Cavershani man. who finished with about 3yds to spare. Chambers, the limit man, ran well, and finished third.

The woighf-mttling was not exciting, nor yet remark-able. D. C. Macfarlane's 36ft lin was Ihe best, actual putt, but Ij. Skinner won on his handicap of 2ft 9in with 37ft llin.

Tansey. oft- Syds. was rather fancied for tin? final of llio 220 .Yards,'which'.was run off 'in heat*. Tansey succeeded in winninjr, his heat in 24 4>ssec, but could only, get

third place in the final, won by C. Reid, who came with a rattle and literally hurled himself at the tapes in front of Donaldson, who had led well to within a few vards of the finish.

The Two-mile event saw the honours' with Bcatson, who had previously succeeded in winning the Mile. Once lieatson got on terms with the lirsl division it. was nil over, for be won comfortably at the finish by 15 yards front Thompson* who was 30 yards ahead of M'L'aclilau, the limit man. Some line touches of genuine comedy were given •to . tlie 'Mile Walk by tho "styles" of several of the competitors. The spectators enjoyed the diversion immensely, and went, home in better spirits for having had a good laugh. There was only one in it practically all the way, Morrison being in a class by himself as a heel and toe artist. M'Konzie, tho second man, showed fair form, and should make a good walker, but he handicapped himself by wearing ordinary boots, instead o£ proper footwear; while Stewart, who gained third place, discarded any protection and walked barefoot! The 440 Yards proved a good race, William's, off 20yds, winning from Mitchell, who, having passed Foster, made a great effort to catch the leader, but, tho winner's handicap carried him safely home. Among tho officials was T. Bass, tlie ■one-time Olago sprinter, now of Auckland, who was in. •Dunedin on holiday 'leave, and who was invited to act with the committee of the D.A.A.C. in controlling the races. Bass left on? his return . to Auckland on Monday last.

I was pleased to ;ec Mr J. R.. Wilson out again on .Saturday after his four weeks' illness. The hon. secretary of tho D.A.A.C.''was able to bo present at his club's sports, to ilie joy of his many friends, who join with me in wishing 'him a speedy return to health.

The mail vote,taken by the A.A.U. of Australasia, at the request of Tasmania, on the question that the Australasian crosscountry championship should be hold over a five or ,ten miles course, at the option of the' State or dominion holding it, resulted iii the proposal being carried by three votes to two. New Zealand, Victoria, and Tasmania voted in favour,' and New South Wales and Queensland against. The rule which laid it down that the distanw should bo live miles has therefore been altered.

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

Bv Sroitt.

•FIXTURES. March 17.—Now Zealand Athletic Union's championship meeting nt Greymouth; March 17—Si. Patrick's Sports. St. Bathans. March 26.—Cromwell Caledonian Society, March 28.—Bitteskin Caledonian Society's Sports. ' March K—Clyde Sports Meeting. April 13.—Oia'uiau Athletic Society. W. F. Trembath, of Gore, passed through Dunedin a few days ago, on route for the West Coast, to take part in tho N.Z.A.A. championship meeting at Greymouth. The New Zealand 'Athletic Union's championship meeting will be continued today (Thursday), in conjunction with the Greymouth Hibernian Society's sports at Greymouth. A good run at Hastings was W. C. Woodjger's win in the 120' Yards Sheffield Handicap, in which lie ran from the 3yds mark in- 11 3-ssec. This makes Woodger out to be Iyd bettor than an even-timer for the 120 yards, which is .good, going. The 440 Yards and 220 Yards wore-'''won in 48 3-ssoc and 21 2-£ sec respectively, but in each case the winner had a big start. Tho Mile was clocked at, 4min-20sec.--- In the sprints, W."C,'.,\Vqodgcr is probably just about a yard or so better than his : brother, the crack amateur, oyer the 120 yards distance.' ' ' ... *■'.•' t The Victorian' distance runner' Norman Conway has-won .another great .race,-.in South Africa. At\Johannesburg,,recently he mot Charles''Heßeron in, a,race';over a mile and a-half, and the. Australian won by eight yards in Tmiti Bsec. The previous South African record was 7min 20 2-sseo by Hefferon. .

The Rand Daily Mail, in a report of a sports- meeting' at Port Elizabeth, on January 4, states-that Donaldson, who is referred to as tho world's champion, put up a new record for 120 yards, covering the distanco from etiralch in 11 l-Ssec, beating his own record of 11-kiec, ■ made at Pretoria last October.

Arthur Shrubb, the English long-dUtanee champion, has been beaten again in Canada. In a recent match at Toronto, he met the Canadian crack, A. Meadows, in what was to have been a race over 10 miles. lie twisted his ankle on a banked bend (tho race was run on a rink) at 6J miles, and, although he persevered to tho seventh mile, he had then to retire, leaving Meadows to finish alone. The latter's time for tho full distance was 53min 31scc. The track was undoubtedly short.

FOOTBALL.

By I'ull Back

Our old friend, 13. E. Booth, of All Black fame, who has been installed on the border of New South Wales and Victoria for many months, returned to Dunedin for a brief holiday last week. "The General" is looking remarkably well, and, as his football days arc not yot over, talks of playing in Sydney again during the corking season. There will be quite a football, carnival in Sydney this year, A New Zealand.team will be going over in July or August to play a series of matches against the N.S. Welshmen j an American team from the universities, the Queenslanders' visit, and a Northern Union team from England. No doubt the amateur authorities in New South Wales are alive to the necessity of keeping tho Rugby code in the van in the face of the threatened invasion of the .English Northern Unionists. I do not anticipate that it will be a very great fight between the two codes—the New'Zealanders and the Americans should hold up the big end of the amateur game. A Wellington writer says there is the best of authority for stating that 'P. Roberts, the famous All Black half-back, will not be seen in tho football arena again, at least in a playing capacity. That France has improved is beyond tho shadow of a doubt (says R. T. Gabe, the Welsh international three-quarter, in the .Athletic News), and their display against Wales, at Swr.nsea, was infinitely* superior to that given at Cardiff two years ago. They possess most of the attribute:; essential to success in footballers. They are speedy, gritty, and plucky;.they play with rare abandon, both in defending and attacking, but yet lack that, most important asset, football aptitude, which, by the way,' time and experience only can produce. Walts wore distinctly better in resource, opportunism and. finesse,, as well as in fielding and kicking.

The Northern Rugby Union's team of footballers, it is expected, will 'be captained during their tour of Australia and New Zealand by Lo.mas, of the Solford Club; He is a. three-quarter, and is a great goalkicker. The matches Wilt include three tests, two of which will be played at Sydney, and one at Brisbane. The Englishmen will possibly be opposed in these games by Australians and Now Zealanders, so that if that arrangement is made it will be tho first occasion on which Australasia, has been represented in a football field in Sydney. The games in Sydney v ill end in July, and then will follow the trip to New Zealand, after which, more cont...-is may be played at Sydney.

BOWLIKG. Notes _bv .Tack. The Dunediu Centre, at ils meeting' on Monday, put mi end to nil idea of holding a small local tournament this .year at Faster, but deuided that the question of holding one in future years at that date should be submitted to a full meeting of delegates. It is safe to say that no bowler in the Dunediu Centre desires to interfere with the success of the Oamani or Invcrcai'gill lournanionte. Did circumstances permit, they would ho taking part in one or the other of these enjoyable gathering!;. Nor do they believe the holding of a small tournament in. Dunediu ivould keep even one rink from travelling. Those who can get away will go away for the change, and because they like to meet bowlers and friends. at a. distance N*o doubt each club will, as usual, have its little' informal tournament at Easter for the' stay-at-hoiiKs but. as the play is generally confined to members of each particular green, there is net the ..same enjoyment ill. it, as there would be in one. organised" so that' 'n'omber* of the' various greens could compete against each other. The Dunediu . Centre's Ohampion-of-championa Singles'will be played on Saturday on.the Dunediu Club's Green. So far the following are the champions of their respective clubs:—Balmticeuen. C. A. ■Wilson; Cavereham, D, 'Robertson; Dim- 1 edin, W. S. Young; J. M'Gratli; Green Island, D. Walters, jun.; Kaituita, F. Smith; Otago. C. R. Smith; Pnrt Chalmers. J.T. Wylie; St. Hilda, J. M'Curdy;' Taieri, W." :A. Tuinbnll.' 'One or: two games have yet-to'ho played in the'case of some other clubs.to decide who is to be their rcpresentalivo. ' Saturday's inter-club nialeiies in tJie Dunediu Centro provided iv.n mild surprises— St.. Kilda went down before Caledonian and Green Island was lisaton by'---Port Chalmers. . The form of the Caledonian's lias been in tuid out. and but for this their, win would hav? been ?'jsi»lly looked for.

But. they made no mistake on Saturday, six out, of the ejght .rinks having a win, while the seventh tied and the eighth was down 22 points, that being the advantage .White's rink lta<l over thai skipped by Capstick. The veteran Caledonian skip has evidently gone off since he skipped itis rink to victory in the club championship lies. Two of lite St. Kilda skips were as disastrously button, M'Farlano -jnly scoring 5 to Weir's 31. while Carter, only scored 8 to ..Kea.ic's .27. .lor the Caledonians Smith had a lead of 8 over Irvine. Scott was 3 up against Jaeobsen. and Deckinghad a'similar advantage over Kwiug. Collins got home by 1 point from D. C. Cameron, ijnn.. while Connaek and M'Curdy tied with 21 each.

In the Port v. Green Island match Walker, for the seaside men, had ;,n advantage of 5 over Buchanan, while Gray beat'Smcllie by 2 points and M'laehlau defeated M'Mulleii by 1 point. Murray and Young tied with 20 each, and this left Port winners by 4 points.

_Fairfield got within .10 points cf tho North-East Valley _ total in a .'.-yen rink aside mali-li—a highly creditable perforins nee.

St. Clair came to light again on Saturday, and in a four-rink match against Ki.ituna won in three of the rinks. But T. Sanders proved to be too slrong for Colo, whom ho defeated by 18 points, wiping out the deficit of 7 points of the other rinks and giving Kaitttna a win by 11 points. Bainiaccwan had a 10-poinl> win over Otago in an eight rink aside • match, but .honours were easy otherwise, as four rinks of each- side hail wins and four asids losses.

Taieri, minus iis'strongest skips, hf.d rn 8-poml wiu over Morningfon. One Mornington rink, that skipped by Cottll, finished with an advantage of 5 points, while Dougherty tied with Crawford.

The Green Island Club ties are nearly, completed,. tho doubles only remaining to be decided. D. Walters, j'un., tho worthy son of an old bowler who has still to be reckoned with, won the championship singles. The rink games were conclud.'d on Saturday, when the rink skipped by J. Lindsay * defeated tho rink skipped by D. Watters, jun., by a substantial majority. The Iloslyn Club, which heads the list with tho number of mulches won in interclub games, having'so "far'icst' but one, scored-,a win ag'aiihf 'Caversham, although five of .the latter club's rinks wore in a majority. The heavy score put up by D. Scott against Walker.(3l to 6) and Gregory against Tillie-.(29-to 15) more, than counterbalanced the deficit; as Ihe'hiil men had a surplus of W points. . At- a [meeting of the Xcrth End Centre. kid last week, Mr Huiu reported tliat tlie Bluff Grc;n was in good condilioii, quite good enough for use in Ihe tournament if wanted. As an alternative to using this green the centre decided that if the entries from Malaura and Gore were sufficient. to form < a 'section they could play on the Gore Green, and as the entries,, which close.on.Saturday next, are not expected .to exceed 60, the Bluff Green will not then be required. How the Gore and Mataurii men will regard the decision is another story.

The Wakatipu correspondent of ilic Witness writes:—"Two rinks from the Tapnnui Club arrived in Quecnstown on Saturday, sth inst. On -Monday they played two rinks from the Quecnstown Club, and' after a most keenly-contested game victory rested with the Queenstown players by 1 points. On Tuesday th© Tapatuti players journeyed *to Arrowtown. and played with rinks from the Arrow Club, the latter suffering defeat by the ; narrow margin ;of 3 points. _ The visitors thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the district, so 'much so that they intend returning next season. : "Skip," writing in the Southland Times, takes exception to the proposal that the bowls of winners in the association tournament should bo re-tested, and draws the following alarming picture:-"A bowler, to be on safe ground, sends; his wood to" the officer in charge and gets the stamp placed thereon. In all good faith he plays and wins the final match. Then the ofiicial tester 'comes .along, ,takes.,his howls, and submits them afresh to the vagaries of the playing surface, the weather, and his precious machine, and mayb» .his bovls puss, anil--maybe they don't. Can there bo anything more ridiculous than to make a player who has had his bowls passed one day submit them, to a furihor test, after winning his way to the. top in a .tournament, ,It may. be' argued that -a'bowler can tamper with his bowls after thev have been stamped. Well, we mav have wii bowlers; anioimsl; us, but I don't "think f n : anyhow I would suggest that,wo : do not pass legislation that would credit a p-r----centflg© of bowlers wiih bcin* ro'-ues" tcrnaps bowlers may not cam to" have their gamo ' compared with -'the sport of' kings, but it might be'pointed out. that he jockey who rides [of King Edward has la weigh out before the race and wcHi in after it,, and yet the King does not resent this precaution as. an insult to his honour. But the ioea miderlying the council's proposal is copied from our Volunteers. None of-our: shooting men in the past have over tl ought.that the authorities considered most of them cheats bocanse every winner had L i.'fJ" 6 nf, ° aflpr wi,min S <» we* am that there was. the regulation pull on the trigger. Notwithstanding " Skip's" good opinion of bowlers in general, the fact remains" that the number of pokers in S hassteauily merged year by year, and to nit, f?' neri ; ° f continued to plaj; them knowing that by doing so tlev were breaking the letter and the spirit of the l„ s of th Th t4 «v ?nP ast sh f V hoir ?: C 6; hcnce th ° »fin J / 01 , a rule wh eh the bowls wdl have to he tested automalieallv. ?kip goes on to write of the testing appliance*, having presumably only IZI he ,-ough test made with the bowls ckb «tg*l during the recent tournament. 0 Ho ieier a - to the possibility of surface impcr.ections causing bowls lo run almost alraight. and contends that the tester shoiim have three standard bowls, with different" ciowns, so that a player's bowls could be tested •against a standard bowl with a similar kind of crown. "Skip" can rest assured that what he saw was only a ron«h test and that on it the official tester would neither-absolutely-condemn nor stamp the bowls. because of lh© state of the green ihe rough test was merely to ascertain if there were- goad grounds for the challenge, i-nc official test afterwards on a true and keen green mora than confirmed the rough test, for it. was found that live out of the eight bowls would not como up to (ho standard. Had "Skip" seen the official tester at work when testing prior to stamping .bowls, ho would have found that ho earned ol ,t i,j s c | ut j cs so a$ <() eliminate the possibility of surface inequalities affecting a bowl. There would be something in the argument about the difference in the crowns of bowls- if the testing was conducted on a heavy green. But. the objection is really met, and more than met, by the fact thai: the standard bowl is not a big drawing bowl. It is the minimum required, and not the maximum to be aimed lit, and after numerous reliable tests it may bo safely asserted that, a bowl with any pretension to being a No. 3 will draw more than, the standard, no matter what the crown may be,- provided the testing green is in anything'like decent condition. No bowler who has seen the official tester at work would have the slightest hesitation, in putting his bowls to the test provided; they had a fair draw. The fear that an injustice might be done toau noncst bowler after a fair win may be dismissed. It may safely be affirmed'that "Skip's" No. 3's would draw several inches more than the standard on a dull green, and a foot or more on. a real testing green.

SOUTHLAND BOWLING. The long-expected Pennant match Northend v. Gore was played last Wednesday in luvercurgill. Each club wus strongly represented, and a keen fig-lit was anticipated. This anticipation was realised in two out of the four championship rinks, but in the other two cases the ■ Noithend teams had easy passages right from the start. T. A. Wallace met T. Brown, and with five or six heads to go it looked like a. win for the _ former, but Goto scored at all thiT remaining ends except one, and finished 2 up. Ingram, as third, playei - , was of great assistance to Brown, and oftenleft Wallace difficult ends to negotiate. W. P..Craig, generally considered to be Gore's strongest player, was drawn against C. E. Hannah, who was assisted by the recent Dunodin -rink champion, A. Service. This was a remarkably good contest. The Gore players went oIY with a, lead of 10—5, but then Norfhend crept slowly up. and at. the eighteenth head wvre leading by 2 points. At the nineteenth head Craig scored 3, and then, without having given any previous warning, and in spile of the fact that his elubmates went on finishing the game, declared that.there was no time to finish withcut losing the twin, and took his lonely departure. The wo-3 was: Gore 18, North.end 17. Main and Allan, with fairly good support from their partners, had easy wins from Dewar and "Fisher respectively, the former winning by 27—11, and the latter by 28—13. Cor,> wn.u the other two games that wc-nt to make up the six-rink inUrdub contest, lock's rink winning from .JM'C'urdy's by v 2 points" and Day beating Bread by 5. Northeitdfhus won the fovrrink Pennant match by .87 to 59, and- chc 'interdub match by 121 to 101.

For the Easter tournament. 43 rinks had | enteral on Saturday. 12th inst,. with Balk's I and M'Laren's rinks doubtful.

ROWING,

Bi Sip.oks.

' FIXTURES. Easter Saturday—QvtucnsUmn regatta.

The shortening days and the sharpness in the air warn the rowing man that his time is nearly over for another season. Last week practically saw the last tit those members who only Lake part in club races, and only those who are in training for the Queenstowtt regatta are to be seen at tho sheds'now. From all accounts the Dunedin. boys seem to bo entering .well for this popular regatta. I hear that 'Quean's Drive. North Mud, Duncdiii Amateur, and Otago arc all sending crews, hut I have not heard whether the Port boys are going tin. The latter have had a rather quiet season, and it is unlikely that any crews from that shed will mako the trip. By the way. President Platts gave the members and their friends a- picnic down the harbour last Saturday, which proved a. great success. It, would not, lx> a bad scheme for other presidents to follow in his footsteps. The Otago Club lias entered for- all-' the senior events at Qucenstown. also for the Maiden Double Sculls. Jtt tho latter race it has a strong pair who do not know much abctufc sculling, perhaps, but they are strong awl in good fettle, and 1 should not, be surprised to see them give a good account' of themselves. M'Grath's crow, which has started work again after a. little spell, may be depended on to (ill a position in the big race, whilst the veteran should also secure places in the Sculls and Pairs. The racing at the lake should be good. Inv'crcargill (Basstian) and Railway: (Barry) will both bo represented, and the senior events should bo keenly fought out. It is understood that the committee is, as usual, working with a, will, and Hint it has arranrements well in hand for the regatta, Which, given fine weather, should be oite of the most successful ever held.

Tho confidence which the. English oarsmen place in Ernest Barry, who will row Richard Arnst on the Zambesi on August 18 for the worldV championship, is surprising. One thing to be admired is Die sunport given by tlie English public and others to Barry. He has now been able to resign from his usual employment and devote his time to training and looking after himself. English admirers stale that ho.is one of tho-most graceful scullers:, yet seen, 'and that- he sculls with extraordinary- ease. So even are liis movements, and so equally is Itis 'work applied, (hat he scarcely looks jo bo more ■llian middling, even when lie is''making his most desperate spurts. His style is strongly reminiscent of F.' S. Kelly's, and,' like the latter, bis nneo -is as good at the end of a course as it is at the beginning, _ and the longer tlie course the potter lie likes it. Motilities he .won't want imieh inoro of it after ho has had Arnst alongside him for three miles. No doubt. Barry is a good and graceful sculler, but so was Webb. Yet grace and ease went down badly before muscle and grit; and I think the latter will prevail again'. The English writer states that Arnst must be indeed a very good man if he is to beat Barry. I think if ever he sees the big follow racing that he will agree that ho is very good. With all duo. respect to IW'ry's abilities, we at this end of th» world and our English iriends also should remember that, Barry has not had a ' great experience in racing, and that when he beat Geo. Towns he boat o. man nearly 40 years of age and who was, then a. 'long' way past his best. Again, tho opinions of exclwmpion scullers agree 'bat Arnst i* the pi cutest of them all." Beach (and it is the opinion as an unbeaten champion and a. follower of tho sport) states that if Arnst; had been rowing in his day k-j (Beach) would most likely Jiavo gone under to the present holder of the title. That is'-indeed saviwr a. lot. It is to lie howl that noMiino-Vill prevent.Avnst ninkins the trip to Africa, and tlnf, ho will lm" nl; Ws. 'best. wh«n b« riiels the" Englislimmau. If'he is, then I prophesy that tho: latter's supporters will got an eye-owner.

HOOKI'iY

Br Buut.

Towards the close of last season I had many hard things to say about the condition of local hockey grounds, - It is a treat to bo able to sing a. different song at tho beginning of; a new 'season.. : The grounds at Forbury: Park have ' been improved greatly during the off season, and the Trotting Cliib,lias showira very obvious intention ' to; 'provide nothing but tho best of grounds. .After, five'years' experience on surfaces resembling that of a choppy soa, our players should appreciate the capital, grounds that are now at tlic-iu disposal, l.'orbur.y Park looks; its. best just, now, with its spick and span .buildings, new fences, well-lrininied lawns, and, above .all, nicely turfed-playing area. At present the grass on the enclosure is pretty,long, but.a mob of sheep is to be put on to. tho. job of cutting it down, and another touch of the roller will leavo everything in first-class order for the opening of the'season. An opinion I have held for some time, and have aired mora than once in these notes, is that our hockey suffered considerably by reason of the lack of level grounds, and that this-disability prevented our best players acquiring tho style of play necessary to bsat such provinces •as Auckland, Caiir torbury, or Wellington. We will now have an opportunity of-seeing what improvement can be effected by a season's play on. a really good ground.

The executive of the Otago Hockey Association has circulated tho annual report. When all the difficulties ofjlast season aro taken into account the review of the year's transactions must bo considered very satisfactory. The financial position'has been greatly strengthened in the past two years. The balance sheet of 1907 snowed the association to bo .slightly in debit, whereas, after .meeting. rather heavy oxpensca last year, there is now a. very respectable credit balance for an association which started six years ago with a membership of two clubs. In club matches a very fair standard of play was. reached in both grades, and in matches against other provinces Otago's representatives were only onco defeated iri four;games, by,, Canterbury, which, in my. opinion, ; was the strongest of the provinces hist year. The Auckland match may fairly be regarded as a drawn game, though tho t official score was given as 4 to 3 again6t Otago, and Southland and Wanganui were both'"well settled" by the local representatives. The number of players increased materially'-over those- of previous ysar*, and would have still further increased but for lack of 'sufficient grounds. Taken altogether, the association has good reason to be satisfied with the events of the past year. ' Some hockey enthusiasts in local hardware houses have been on tho warpath lately with a view to forming a " Hard : ware " club. I understand the' idea has taken on well, and that Briscoe's, the winners of tho junior championship during the last two years, are sinking their individuality in the new club. There is talk also of a club representing B Battery, and still another representing tho warehouses, from which it would appear that.hockey is going to take a big strkje forward this year. Advices from Christchurch indicate that the visit of, an English team in- 1911 is pretty well assured. International matches between England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and between Great Britain and France, Denmark, Holland, and other Continental nations, hive been, played for some years past, and, of course, the time was bound to arrive when arrangements, for a meeting between the representatives of tho Old Land and the oversea dominions would be made. Such meetings have been productive of much benefit in other branchs of sport, and hooky wants just such a lift as the projected tour would be almost certain to give it. : The greatest want in New Zealand hockey is public interest, and there is nothing more likely to stir up that interest than the visit of a team representative of Great" Britain. Though the game'offers to the onlooker all the excitement and spectacular features which make outdoor sport wcth witnessing, the public cannot bo made to appreciate the fact unless they find it out for themselves by attending one or two good matches. They would turn up to see on English touring team, and would 'the» probably decide that they had been missing a. thing for years. Apart from the oenefit of increased public support, our players would,-of course, expect 1 to learn a. good deal from the pla.T of the visitors, and this would have the effect of greatly improving the local standard of hockey. If nothing occurs to upset the arrangements already made, next season should mark the beginning of a new era for the game in New. Zealand.

The committee controlling the art union, promoted for the purpose of establishing a ground improvement fund, has decided to close the eaie of tickets on April 30. Players therefore have about six.wcske left in which to make the elfort the success it should be.. Tiiouili the grounds at.Forbnry arc at present in very good condition there are a. number of evpenses recurring every year for marking and'equipping the grounds, as wvsJl as maintaining them in good order, and the ground fund is likely to be drawn' on pretty extensively during tlie next couple of seasons. With a fairly liberal use. of the roller during the coming season-Forbury Park will provide hockey grounds eq.'iii

to the best in the Dominion, and if players like the prospect they can make il a certainty by working .for the success of the art union, and providing the committee with the fundi necessary for this work. With the large number of .hockey players belonging to clubs in Duhcdin," it should only require half nn olfort to raise sufficient to provide for the ground requirements of the next live years, •'■mil as, the pla;;ers v.-iil themsertes reap any bcnuHt. they should, for once at least, shake off that iuv.i fooling .which seems to affect them so. badly on the few occasion* that they are asked to assist in financing.the necessary expense of the game.

LAWN TENNIS.

Bj Racquct. .

Ot.igo has again become entitled to have its name engraved on tlw 1$ Grade banner as tne winner for the season 1909-10. It was generally thought at /the outset that Kaitunu )vould win comtovlably, but I think the margin ol' 12 games in Otagq's favour indicates th.e difference in strength, bstween the two teams.

The winner's 'success .on Saturday over the Kailumi B team was to :i large extent due to the excellent play, of the ladies. The men in the Nival teanis were on tho average, fairly evenly matched, but the Kaitnna- ladies., contrary to expectations were no match for the Otago ladies.

Mrs-Colin played . her - best game this season, and in the Indies' doubles gave Miss Lning no chance at the net, almost invariably passing her down ;the side line. Miss Jackson ably supported her partner, her pretty back-hand cut- stroke being very effective. Tho Kaitumi ladies, however, cannot be said to have played up to their usual standard. The second ladies' double was a w.alk over for Olugo (6-0), and reflects great credit on such young players as Miss Reading and-Miss N. Salmon. • '

Coming to the men's events, perhaps, tho most interesting match of the day was that, between Mirains- and Sise'. The play of the latter player has improved out. of sight sine; the beginning of the season. 'Realising' that lus. net work in the pa6t has materially reduced the standard of his play, he has wisely adopted the'back line passing game. . Most of. his winning shots were made by cntic'ng his opponent up to tho' net and. then passing him. .. • .. Mii-ahw played it very steady uphill game all through, but was inclined-in the latter stages of the. game to'.play-too softly instead of attempting.winning-shots. Browning' 'was no match for Reading, who was fiiv- too steady"; a- player for his more erratic opponent. .•• ' . -. ;

■ The score 9 —7 in 'Wiikio's. favour was' about an indication of'the,relative merit's of that player. and' Jones. ■.Willrio. is another player .who has improved by leaps |and' rounds'since'tho'beginning of. the season.' Ho now- iiits and smashes 'much harder; while,his low cress drive is a very difficult, shot to volley, Jones did not show good judgment by attoinpting'to take balls thatwere going out. ... . . . . .

I In the men's doubles Kaituna easily held the advantage, winning both events'. The. hrst Otago double are hot a happy pair, and stood no chance against.their opponents, who were, right on> their game and took adruntageof every loose bull.- Nicholson and Purchas in the ' singles had-a meteoric ganu; both were.hittingl-ard and coming up to ths'ii'etj so'that: the volleys' were not of long duration.' The rKaituna player well desoryed. his win., ;' • ■ A -large number.of -visitors assembled at the North-East'Valley- courts to witness the deciding match for the, CGrade banner, and they wore entertained by tennis much above- the C Grade- standard. '■' North-East Valley won comfortably - with -23 games to spare. One-of':the St. Kilda ladies unfortunately had a'slight accident just before the match, which prevented her from playing;, and, although, a substitute was found, this must have slightly weakened the losing team. ' ■"' ' '■ ; ' .'"

Both tennis teams wero very keen, but. the Valley proved the stronger in all except the cphibineds, on which St; Kilda managed' tip pull up a little. liaurenson had a hard fight to btat Taylor, as the- score U—s shows. Pollock scored a • good win of 8 games against Wood, but most of' these were: only won-after a. very hard'struggle.: Somb of'the Valley'ladies in this grade shewed a decided improvement,'especially Miss Fen, who. won her. single', (6-0),. j Entries for llio 'Easter tournament close on 'Saturday next,, and. from, report's:re ; .' ceived very largo l '«ntr«s may bo'expected. Olivier and -F. Wilding,'troni'Christclinrcn,' 'haw entered : for- all:'events. ; With such players as Olivier,,.Wilding,; Ecarsc, R. S; and S. N. B'vowii; Sinclair, Tucker,' and Hamilton, the phy in the men's championship,singles should:'bs, \>«ll,up to llio usual high standard. "v ' '. : ; ' ' It is understood that Miss.Campbell docs not intend entering. If that is setae .-adies' championship singles should be very open, and at tins stage.it would be very difficult to pick,the winner. . ' • iThe schools tournament is now drawing near its closing stages, and next Saturdayshould see the 6emi-fmals and finals iplayed. The standard of play this year has been much ahead of that in, past .tournaments, and some of the player's-are' rapidly coming .on. The-game .between Black and MacDoiigail' in the championship, was most exciting. MacDougall is a.dogged player,' , and does not, allow ; the fact that hjs opponent' is 'ahead to in' any' way affect his' play. At one stago' Black , led B—6 and '40—30, but MacDougall,'by rare determination,.pulled off "t-hp match. ) .