ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1936, 2 April 1891, Page 27

ATHLETICS.

FIXTURES.

May 6, 7— South Canterbury A.A. Club's Annual Meeting, at Timaru.

ENTBIES CLOSE

For South Canterbury A. A. Club's meeting on the 2nd May, with Mr F. W. Jones, hon. secretary, box 51, Post Office, Timara.

NOTES BY SPRINTER.

As will be noticed from the above, the date of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's annual sports is definitely fixed. This club is the oldest amateur athletic club in the colony, and one of the most powerful. The fact of this being the club's twenty-first annual gathering shows the length of time it haß been in existence. As usual, a splendid programme of events has been provided, and will no doubt draw competitors from a good many of the clubs in the South Island. The Timaru sports have always attracted the attention of the athletes from Christchurch and Dunedin, and I hear on good authority that the Oamaru Club intend being strongly represented this year. I have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the programme, for which I have to thank Mr T. Kerr (the hon. secretary of the Dunedin Amateur Club). The principal is, of oourse, the Champion Challenge Cnp, now held by Mr P. Morrison, value about 80gs, to remain the property of the club, and to be held by the champion for the year only in which it is won. In addition, the champion is presented with a gold medal each year. Mr A. TurnbulPs Challenge Cup, -now held by Mr Mendelsohn, for most points in the following events : — Putting Stone. Running High Jump, Pole Jump, Running High Jump, Throwing Cricket Ball, Vaulting. To become the property of this competitor winning it two consecutive years.

I paid a flying visit to Christchurch last week, and when there had a long interview with Mr L. A Cuff (the honorary secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association,). He is still in great hopes of being able next year to have a team of New Zealand amateur athletes sent to England. He speaks very hopefully of the affairs of the New Zealand Amateur Athfetic Association. I regretted to learn from Mr Cuff that the Autumn meeting of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club had fallen through and will not now be held. This is on account of some difficulty arising at the last moment in connection with the football tournament. I also learned that the Canterbury AA C. have at last managed to get a very nice suite of club rooms, and Mr Cuff kindly promised to show me over them, but I had no time. From what I was told the rooms appeared to be very nice indeed. I thought to myself what a pity the O.R.F.U. could not have seen their way to have kept open their rooms in Dunedin.

" There is a hitch over the Autumn meeting of the C.A.A.C. A contemporary pointed out last week thab the English Rugby Union had passed a role forbidding all tournaments of less than 15 men a side, where gate money is charged, and as the C.R.U. is affiliated to the English union the rule applies in the present case. The matter was referred to the Canterbury Rugby Union by the C.A.A.C., but the - outgoing committee of that body refused to give an opinion, as no official intimation had been received from England with reference to the rule. At the general meeting the matter was referred to the incoming committee for their opinion. The C.A.A.C. were to have held a committee meeting last night to decide whether they intend going on with the matter or not. As the football matches start on April 18, 1 hardly think that there is sufficient time between thia and April 11 to work up a meeting successfully. " Some little feeling has been shown over the C A.A.C. confining the tournament to amateurs, as by so doing several prominent members of one or two clubs would not be able to compete. I would like to point out that the C.A.A.C. had no option in the matter, as the N.Z.A.A.A. had in case of the Napier tournament decided that according to the present rales the professionals and amateurs could not compete together. The English Amateur Athletic Association's rule was also taken as a guide, it reads as follows: — •That amateur athletes shall not lose their amateur status by competing with or against professional football players in ordinary club matches, for which no prizes are given, or in cup competitions permitted by the National Football Associations or Rugby Unions of England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, providing that such competion on matches form no part of, nor have any connection with any athletic meeting."'

The above is token from the Christchurch Weekly Press, and I think fully explains the difficulty which has caused the C.A.A.C.'s Autumn meeting to fall through, to which I previously referred.

F. W. Mitchell, a prominent member of the Dunedin Amateur Afchletio Club, stroked the crew of the Obago Rowing Club to victory against the Timaru crew last Saturday. I saw Pat Morrison as I passed through Timaru on my way to Christchurch. He is looking exceedingly well; and seems to have become a great deal stouter. He is going to have another go in at the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic sports. I hear on good authority thab P. Morrison (of Timaru), D. Wood (of Christchurch), P. J. Ness (of Dunedin), and Musker (of Oamaru) will all be found comneting in the half-mile race at the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Sports in May. If so I auticipate a grand race. The High School sports come off next Saturday at the Carisbrook grounds, and great interest is being taken by the boys' parents and friends of the school. Great rivalry exists between the admirers of J. Taiaroa and S. Batohelor who are each thought to have a big say in the school championship.

As a Sollet article, Ayer'a Hair Vigor etanda unrivalled. It cleanses the acalpand removes dandruff, cures itching humours, restores the original colou to faded and grey hair, and promotes its growth.

—"The average stipend of curates of the Church of England who have been 25 years in holy orders is only £118 a year." So it is stated in the report of the Oarates' Augmentation Fund.

— In 1886, wben a census of public worship was taken in London, the figures showed that of 983,000 persons attending places of worship, 534 000 were present at services of the church of England.

— England has eight Jewish missionary eocieti6s, Scotland five, and Ireland one, the entiie 14 societies employing 312 agents. There are also 27 societies on the Continent of Europe.

—London pays every voav €4,400 000 for gas, which cost* only £2,900,000 to produce. Th"3 gas companies make a profit of £1,500,000 upon a total capital outlay of less than £14.000,000.

ASTHMA.— Hugh Patterson's celebrated Asthma and Bronchitis Cure. It seldom fails to give iustant rtlit-f. It has stood the test for 12 years in and around Dunedin. Testimonials can be seen, and samples sent free by post on application to J. Cirrighan, Chemist, Princes street, Dunedin, Sole Agent. Price, 2s 6d.

Dunedin, March 24.