LAND & WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 23

LAND & WATER.

The swamp-hen (pukeko or pakuru) is now declared to be native game, and can therefore only be killed legally during the proclaimed season. Mr E. E. Jones has received a cable message from the champion sculler, William Beach. Amongst other information. Beach states that he is grand health, and doing a great amount of work, and rowing better than ever he did before. The pavilion in the People's Park at Launceston, has been secured for a six days' walk for £200 between Harriraan, the American champion, and Scott, the Australian champion. The race is to start a few minutes past midnight on the 22nd inst., and close at 11 o'clock, the 28th inst. The gate money is to be equally divided. Harriman has taken up his quarters at the Globe Hotel. From the indications he " reckons the walk will be a .success." Scott is accompanied by M'Grath, his trainer. A committee of 12 Launceston gentlemen is to be formed, six to act on Harriman's behalf, and six on Scott's. Care will be taken, too, with the scoring, as an Australian record is likely to be made. The pavilion, it is reckoned, will hold between 2000 and 3000 spectators, even when a decent track is laid out. That luck is everything was verified at Home recently in the case of the young man Hudson. He is now the recipient of £5000 for rescuing a lady (since deceased) from drowning at Southend. J. B. Johnson, the celebrated swimmer, dived from London bridge for an advertisement ; hundreds of persons annually go diving for and saving would-be suicides ; but few have the luck to take ( such a prize from the water as the Southend gold-fish. A wrestling match for the championship of New Zealand took place on Saturday night at New Plymouth, between Hudson (the present champion) and Dunn (champion of Westland, Telson, an^ Marlborough.) The stakes were £25 a-side. In the first match, Cornish style, Dunn was the victor ; for the others, Cumberland and Gr«eco-Romau styles, Hudson was the successful man, this being his 133 rd match. In two months the champion belt will become Hudson's property if he is not beaten before that time. Dunn left for Auckland, and Hudson went to Wellington. THE SYDNEY FOOTBALL TEAM. Auckland, August 17. The SelectionCornmittee of the Southern Rugby Union (Sydney) have selected the following team to represent them in New Zealand : — Walker, M'Arthur, Caird, Cameron, Shaw, Bell, Bridge, Carr, Weaver, P. .Allen, Shortus, Woolnonga, Colquhouon, Blackland, Beck, Austin, Pearson, Warren, and Wiseheart. Walker is the only member of the team who visited these shores with the team in 1882. If possible, Mr M. A. Arnold, secretary, accompanies the team as manager. The iirst seven of the above players took part in the last match against Queensland. Only two of the famous Gordon team, Messrs Walker and Warren (secretary), are among the team. The New South Welshmen should be pretty fast, as no fewer than nine of them play half-back for their respective clubs in Sydney.