WELLINGTON AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 40

WELLINGTON AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB.

Wellington, November 23. The Amateur Athletic Club's sports, which were postponed, from last Saturday on account of rain, were held this afternoon under favourable circumstances as regards weather, although the track was very heavy. There was a large attendance of the public. J. M'Guire won the 100 yds Maiden in lleec, and with 18yds start also won the 250 yds Handicap in 28seo. The 100 yds Handioap was won by A. M. Stuart (syds), with F. Galloway (syds) second and A. J. Abbott (Bvds) third ; time, 10 3 ssec. H. D&vies with 15yds start won the Half-milo Handicap in 2min 6 3-saec, M. R. Herbert (30 yds) second. A. J. Abbott with 3yds won the 100 yds Junior Handicap in 10 4-sseo. The One-mile Walk was won by J. Perrott (200 yds) in 6min 49 4-sseo. The One mile Flat H*ndicap resulted: S. P. Hawthorne (20yds) 1, C. H. Gordon (100 yds) 2, C. W. Palmer (30yds) 3 ; lime, 4min 44 2-5 co. A. W. Bell, Manawatu A.C.C. (scr), finished fourth. F. Pownall (owes 4yds) won the 120 yds Hurdles in 18 4 s*ec, with C. Gore (owes lOyda) second. The Three-mile Flat Handicap resulted : S. P. Hawthorne (scr) 1, A. W. Bell (of ManawAtu. fecr) 2, C. W. Palmer (100 yds) 3 ; time, 16tnin 3 3-saec, which beat the club's standard time by 6 2-ssec. W R&nkin (Watifcanui) and F. C. Angell also started, but gave up. M. R Herbert with 18jds won the 440 yds Ladies' Bracelet in 54 l-ssec, with A. J. Abbott (20yd») second. F. S Broomp won the Long Jump, covering 19 ft 7in (including allowance of lft 6in). W. C. Rhodes (Auckland A.AC.) put the 161b weight 35ft lin, and besides winning the event broke the club's standard by lin. F. B. Muir (15yds) wou the Half-mile Bicycle Handicap in lmiu 29 3-ssec, with A. H. Hunt (25yds) second. G. Jtfl'rey (40sec) won the Two-mile Event (Roadster*) in 6<nin 24sec, and with 50yds start also carried off the Three-mile Event in 9min 29 2-ssec. Muir was second in both races.

The Waipahi and Otaraia Streams have been in capital order lately, several good baskets having been made. On that good little Btream the'Otnraia Mr G. Steele, from Gore, made 381b one day lately, and fhhing two days in succession Mr A. Quertier made 211b and* 241b respecbivtly. This was Mr Quettier's first venture this season with the rod. May hie luck continue. Mr O. A. Putvis was out last Saturday afternoon and killed four flsh, weighing 14£lb. At the recent competitions the Waipahi proved itself to be a oapital river for fiih, as some really first-class baskets were made, and I am informed that this river is to be well stocked this summer with fry from- the Clinton hatchery. lam pleased to report that on the upper waters it is a rare thing to Bee a shag on the river. — The gentleman who forwards the foregoiag writes on the 18th inst. I owe him my best thanka for his information. Mr J. R. Smith, writing on the 25th, says : — " The past week ha? been, generally speaking, rough, with cold winds, and not good angling weather. I have not heard of any takes gf trout lately. I was oat for a day on the 23rd and got 231b weight, one fish being s£lb and one 4ilb, taken with bare fly. I tried the maggot, but; they would not touch it. The Waipahi is st'll in excallent trim for fly-fishing, as it has bien raiuing about two or three dsys a week for the last six weeks. A cold sou-wester is blowing while I write. I made the above catch with the Pomahaka and governor. In my last I mentioned that I had nob seen any eels this season, which was quite correct, but they had bjen there all the same. I was told by one of a party of six who were eeling last Saturday evening from dusk till about 11 o'clock that they secured the almost incredible number of 59 eels, weighing over 1501b. One of the pa"fey, fishing with a big bob made up of worm?, threw out two eels at a time four t'mas in iiticce-sion. The bast flies I know of for th* Waipahi are the governor (yellow and red tip), Pomahaka (gold tip), Samuel (red body), Jesoie (plain body, with dark or grey wings), red spinner, the Leith, the March brown, the Turkey brown (I have killed a lot of fish with this fly this season), the hare lug, Thompson's fancy, dark quill, and Anderson." The Matauba Riveb is reported to be in splendid trim for fUhing, and several good baskets have been secured during the week. The following are a few of the takes :— T. Greenall, 13 and 5 ; H. Dowse, 13 ; F. Unsworth, 11 ; R. Low, 5. Several other anglers have had very fair luck. The bait used haß invariably been the worm. From an exchange I learn that Mr Colin M'Callum, with the minnow; landed six fish, averaging 3lb, on Friday la&t, at the Island. Mr M. Lawrie, tho same day, caught five with the miunow. Mr J. A. Dodd, same day, fishing in company with Mr M'Callum, had good luck — taking six fish, averaging 3lb. Mr Crauston also tried down on | the Island last week, and returned home with a nice basket of 11 trout. Mr Liwrie, who accompanied Mr Cranston, caught seven, oue being a nobla 7-pounder. Mr Joseph Tough fished at Metzies Ferry on Saturday hsfc, using the minnow, and was rewarded with a nice basket of nine fish, weighing 301b. The Otamete. — " Trootie," in the Waimea Plaius Review, says the Otamete has been rather low, but should be in good trim after Wednesday's rain. Mr J Gteeo, jun., lauded seven nice trout from thia stream the other day. Thb Waikaia.— The some authority states that Waikaia anglers have not done anything much lately, with the exception of Mr T. Blachley, who landed eight beautiful trout for a day's fishing, the smallest; we'ghing 3!b. This river is now fast getting into form, and should soon yield some fine sport. The Waimka.— The Waimea stream was visited by a local angler, who reports it to be rather low and clear. Any quautity of full were to be seen, but they >would nob take. The etream is very full of weeds. The Waiiiekiki and Wyndham. — An exchange says :—": — " We hear of a number of anglers having had good luck on bath of these streams, but have no authentic information concerning either of them at our disposal. The waters of the several streams are in grand trim now, and we expect to chronicle some heavy baskets *oon. Up to date Bflr Matthew Lawrie, one of Wyndham's veteran fishew, has landed 61 firth this season, all caught with ihe minnow, in the Mataora aud Mimibau. Mr Dodd caught his fiftieth fish on Wedneeday evening. It is probable that the first compe.titiou of the newly-formed Wyndham Anglers' Society will be held on Christmas Day. Given favourable weather, a large entry is assured. At the meeting on Wednesday evening the chairman announced that a lady had intimated to him her intention of entering the lists if a competition were arranged. The announcement was recfivfd with loud applause." The Waitaki.— There are plenty fish in the Waibaki at the present lime, and large numbers are takiug advantage of the capital condition of the river to indu'ge in their favourite pastime. The Mimiiiau. — Mr John Greenshields, fishing in the upper Mimihau on Tuesdiy week from 1 30 o'clock to 5 o'clock, caught 10 beauties, 251b. His luce was the fly. On the s«ne d*y Mr A M'liito^h caught six, averaging 2ilb. Mr W. P. Smith gob a nice basket on Tuesday week evening in the upper part. In the lower Mimitiau (says a south paper) Mr D. F. Bremner last week, using both fly and minnow, caughb six, weighing 141b, and on Wednesday last, with the miunow, he landed four more, weighing 91b. Mr J. A Dodd had three afUrucoua' god fishing last week. Oa Monday, between 2 30 aud 6 o'clock, he caught nine, weighing close on 20 b. On Tuesday five fell to his skill, including a five-pounder, and on Wednesday three more, averaging 21b— caught in le3B than half an hour. Mr Gorton (Ihvercargill), whipped the pools on Mr Honnan'a property on Friday and Saturday weeV, baiting with both fly and minnow. The flretday he caught eight, and the Becond four— ■> all nice fish. Mrs T. E. Jefcoate had some good sport on Tuesday last. The lady whipped the water for two hours, using a March-brown lure, and caught five fine fish, weighing 121b, the heaviest being nearly 41b in weight. Mrs Jefconte was out again on two occasions, and was rewarded with good baskets each time. The Redan. — Mr John Haward, using the fly, caught 16 fish on this tributory of the Oware stream, weighing 17lb, Canterbury Doings. — Mr W. J. Alpe records the following takes, in a north exchange : — November 11, Mr John Kiesanowski, 1 fish, 61b, and November 13, 1 flsh. 6£lb, Avon ; November 11, Mr F. Watemburg, 1 fish, 71b, and November 12, 1 flih, 111b, Avon ; November 12, Mr W. J. Alpe, 3 fish, 111b, Selwyn; November 11, Mr A. Andrews, 1 fish, 6|lb, and November 12, 1 fish, lOJlb, Heathc in ; Mr W. Huruer, in four rights, 21 fish, Avon ; November 15, Mr W. Harder, 9 fish, Avon ; November 15, Mr A. Pateman, 2 fish, 41b and 31b, W&ioaakariri, November 15, R«ngiteta angler, 26 fish in five hours;— total, 1041b, largest fish 9£lb. An Ireweil correspondent states that during last week the following takes had been made : — Mr R. Coe, 7 fi«b, 281b ; Mr T. Reevo3, 9 fi»h, 421b, largest fish 6£lb ; Mr R. Maddock, 4 fish, 181b, largest 61b ; Me F. Welstead, 3 fish, 9^lo, all from tho Selwyn, Two fine trout, one weighing

141b and the other 51b, were recently caught by Messrs F. H. Amyes and P. Strain in tbe Selwyn and Avon respectively. ' . * Mr Daacs, manager for the Oiago Acclimatisation Society, informs the Conner that 5000 Loch Leven, 5000 Scotch born trout, and 6000 brown trout fry are available for tho Tapanui district ; also some porch. The latter will be liberated in the lagoon near the coal pit on Tapanui Flat. An Anglers' Socistx. — An exchange itatcs that a meeting of anglers favourable to the formation of an Anglers' Society for Wyndham was held at the Railway Hotel on Wednesday evening, 20th. Mr W. P. Smith was voted to the chsir, "and in the course of a few remarks expressed the opinion that it would be a good thing to form a society, in view of the fact that there wm such a large number of anglers in the district. He called on Mr D. F. Bremner to further explain tbe proposals. Mr Bremner said the meeting had bsen convened in consequence of conversations he hud had with a number of leading local anglers, who ware favourably inclined. He had also had a letter from" the secretary of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, who would like to see a local anglers' society formed as it would tend to benefit both parties. The expense n«ed nob be great. He though*; a membership feo of 2s 6d would sofuce. Some of the work a society could do would be to keep tke river banks clear, remove enags, crecb stiles over fences, and conduct competitions. If competitions were carried oat fairly aud squarely, there would be no trouble in holding two competitions each year. Aa a beginning, ho would give a medal or a fishing rod for the Bret competition. It was decided to form a society (the membership fee being fixed at 2s 6d), and the following were elected office-bearers : — Mr John BTKay, pivstdenb; Mc^rvi J. A. Dood and W. P. Smith, v!co-preei(lent3 ; and Mr D.F. Bremner, secretary. The following were elected the committee: — Messrs M. Laurie, J. Greenshields, A. M'lntosb, and A. Simpson. Mr Bremner'B offer was accepted, the arranging of the competition to be left iv the hands of the committee. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting. Distinctions of Smolt and Tooth 1 — I take the following from the Field of July 13 under the belief that its reproduction will prove of value to anglers, especially thote resident in the country, who have not the opportunity of determining to what specie* a fish may belong that a person living in the town has :— "Although no amount of explanation^ oft repeated, of tho distinguishing rohrlti of joang salmon aud brown trout seems to have lanting effect, we venture once more to try and save correspondents from the trouble of making perennial inquiries on the subject, and our 'Answers to Correspondents' space from the burdon of replies, by quoting the instruction! on the matter formulated in Me Sandeman'a recently published book : " 'In trout the spots are distributed over th« flanks wi'hout regard to the medial line. " • In smolt there are few, if »ny, spots on the body below the medial line, with tha exception of a few immediately behind the gill covers. •"In smolt the gill covers are spotted wihoub regard to the medial line on tho body. " ' In trout (ha adipose fin ia marked at tho tip with a spot ranging from orange to pink. " ' In smolt the adipose tin is of slate colour and unspotted. " ' In trout the dorsal fin is spotted ojj blotched. * 41 'In smolt the dorsal fla is pUia cslour. •• ' In trout tbe lowest ray of the anal fin is marked with a white line. " ' In smolt there is no whitd line. " ' In trout the pectoral and ventral fins are of orange colour, and brightest at the tips. " ' In smolt the pectoral and ventral tins are yellowish in colour. " ' Id. trout the outline of the gill cover is angular and irregular. ' " 'In smolt the outline of the gill cover is oval and regular. " ' Iv trout the scales are firmly attached. " ' Iv sm'lt the scales ara easily detached, and will come cft'in handling ' " A word of explanation with regard to some of the terms used above may be of beocflli to those not up in anatomical expressions :— Dorsal, the back fins ; pectoral, aX tbe side?, near the gills ; ventral, under the belly ; and anal, underneath, but nearer tho tail. The adipose is a small, fat flu found on the back, and near the tail ; and by raya is meant the sections of the (Ids formed by the delicate skin covering the spines.