A MIXED BAG.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 5

A MIXED BAG.

By The Gleaner.

Reports from Australia state that the “Hally ' company broke all previous records in Now Zealand. The report presented at a meeting of the Marylebone Cricket (Tub showed that the New Zealand tour of 1922-23 had resulted in a financial loss of £IOOO. The Three St, Leons put over one of the best aerobatic turns seen round this way for quite a big while past. Miss Maud Fane is receiving appreciative comment on her work in “Leap Year” from tne London critics. The boxing benefit mil. on at the Sydney Stadium for the widow and children of the late George Mendios attracted an audience of about 10,000 people and realised around 1400sovs, The Musgrove Celebrity Vaudeville Company, which has just concluded u successful season here, well maintained (he standard established by (he show previously sent along by the same management. There would seem to be a possibility that the mantle of the old firm Williamson. Garner, and Musgrove, whiyh supplied Australia and New Zealand with so many great attractions in the old days, has fallen on a bearer of the final name of a famous theatrical triumvirate. One of the scenes in “The Garden of Allah,” in which Muriel Starr and Frank Harvey will shortly appear in Melbourne, is a storm in the desert, in which the whirling sand blots out (he light o 7 day, and (lie lent in which Boris Androvsky shelters is torn to shreds. This is one of the most realistic scenes ever staged. Charles: Paddock manges to keep well in (he limelight. No sooner (says an exchange) was his dispute over with the American A.A.U. than he entered upon a series of sterling (rack performances. At Des Moines he ran 125yds in 12sec flat, which is 2-ssce better (ban the former world's record, made by C. H. Hherrill, of Yale University, way back in 1889. At (he same meeting Paddock ran ICOyds in. 9 9-10 sec. according to the tale of the watches. Home sensational performances were achieved at the meeting. De Hart Hubbard, negro athlete, did - the hop, step, and jump in 46ft Itin, and in a preliminary did 24ft 2Jin in the broad jump. Then Earl MTvown. in the pole vault, cleared (he bar .at 13ft. The Australasian reports that Thursday night. June 19, is (he dale fixed definitely tor the last night of the WilHimson-Melba grand opera season at His Majesty's, Melbourne—a season that has broken all records for Australia, and. taking into comparison the size of (he population of Melbourne, has put up a record that will compare more than favourably with the greatest cities of (he world. Originally limited to a period of eight weeks, when tne company departs from Melbourne its stay will have extended to nearly 12 weeks. Amateur ‘ boxing in England was never mo’ - e popular. This was exemplified in the recent amateur championships. which (says Fugono C'orri in Ihe Referee of June 4) have brought to light six new champions, who will he seen in action as representing Great Britain at the Olvmpie Games in Paris. In view of the success of the gnnd opera, season in Melbourne, with width several Australian artists are associated. Mr Alaheny. M.H.R.. recently asked (ho Prime Minister, in the House of Representatives, whether he would consider the encouragement of opera from an Australian standpoint. Mr Bruce promised to think over the request. The New York .State Athletic Commission is nothing if not thorough. It periodically issues bulletins to all boxing clubs and promoters informing them of action taken concerning boxers and people connected with the game, and emphatically warning all persons and organisations against engaging men under suspension for different reasons. A rather drastic clause in the bulletin reads: “Every person debarred or suspended by. vote of this commission will refrain from participating in any way or manner whatsoever in boxing exhibitions or matches during the period stated and must not be allowed to enter any licensed club nor loiler around the premises.” The double-barrelled bill which the Otago Boxing Association is staging this month will form one of the best fistic attractions over offered to a Dunedin sporting public. Arthur Prince is making a lug hit at the Sydney Tivoli with his ventriloquial act. At the conclusion of his act he drinks a glass of water whilst his dummy “Jim” shouts: “Going, going, gone!” Albert Whelan is coming back to Australia after an absence of many years in England. It will bo remembered that ho was around here when the Pollard Opera Company first staged the “Belle ' of New York.” At the inquest on the late George Mendies. who most unfortunately took "the last count’' in his brittle with Harry Gordon at. the Sydney Stadium, it was stated that the ring' was covered with, four layers of felt and three canvas sheets. One would think that such an amount of padding would break the jar of a fall. Recently a number of Melbourne motorists. among ether classes of travellers interested. were the guests of Mr Oscar Asche at lunch; but he not only acted as host, but chef as well. The function was the occasion to demonstrate the practicability and advantages of the dm < 'bin Chow combined cooker and ice chest, a portable affair that ran easily be placed on- the running hoard of a car. The cooker, as used, measured 38in x 14in x 14in—the largest of three size? made—and Air Asche. who designed and patented it, showed that it consisted of a galvanised range or oven in a framework of cedar. There are- two compartments, one for cooking and one for ice. In two cookers the host prepared five-course dinner for 16 persons, served piping hot. . . All sportsmen will snpport»tho Exhibition, if for no other reason than a sense of duty, but others in whom tho right spirit is not so strong will often find in potty restrictions a .sufficient excuse for withholding their patronage, and certainly visitors from tile Continent will be deterred from spending week-ends in London, because the Exhibition will not be open on Sundays. As a Frenchman put it to me: “You English are impossible. You open your museums and picture galleries on Sundays, yon have bands in your parks, and allow tho Salvation Army lo make hideous noises at street corners on the day of rest, yet you keep closed the most instructive and educative show that the world has oyer heard of. and decline to let the people listen at Wembley to better music (ban they could hear in a L.C.C. open space.” Within his view my French friend is light enough, blit I would go (says “Vigilant” in the S-ortsman) further and urge that Sunday closing is a definite injustice to the workers and a complete departure from democratic principles. Sunday is the day of all days whicn the workers have at their disposal for visit 10 the Exhibition, yet the opportunity is denied them. ... , , Some of the highest breaks m billiards made in Australia are; Walter Lindrum 1417 (world’s record), Fred Lindrum 1239, C. Menimott 1238, George Gray 1193. Newman’s highest break is 1274. The highest is not necessarily the best, break. There does not seem to he anythiny liae the interest taken now-a-days in sculling as when Beach, Hanlon, and Scarle were in the limelight. At the 500-milcs' motor car race held in Indianopolis the winner averaged 93 miles per hour. Air Henry Ford was the referee and insured the lives of 22 drivers for 10. COO dollars each. No serious accidents, oecured during the teat. Strong efforts are being made tp revive cycling racing in Australia which was ruined yen’s ago by the public neglecting to remember that one should never back anvthing that talks. Air Rov Cook, who is now associated with the Ada Reeve Pantomime Company, was formerly proprietor and one of tho principal performers in tho English Pierrot Company. , • , Oscar Asche seems to have turned nght-aboul-faco in his opinions of the J. C, Williamson (Ltd.) firm. When here he lauded the. firm (o the skies and said that no other firm in the world would have sent such a costly show as “Cairo" from Australia to New Zealuad. <)s:-ar Asche and ihe firm are booked to cross legal swords iin the near future. In his match for the championship of English billiards which concluded just before Ihe last mail to hand left England, Newman put, down his cue at tho conclusion of one session with a break of 913. On resumption of play he added another 108 and so made it break of 1021. Tho last 117 of this monumental break was scored off the red ball. One would think that snob a long scries, of winning shots would tiro a player and it must require remarkable concentration of mind to compile such a score. “.Sailor” Firth, formerly bn the Chatham, and light-heavyweight champion at the 1923 New Zealand amateur gathering, has turned lo the money ranks, and is very keen for a match. Owing to the prevalent hitting with open gloves in boxing, a scheme has been proposed to introduce a new glove which cannot be opened. Some form of strap will keep the glove clo>sod, and the “flapper” will attempt to “flap” in vain.