NOTES BY DEMON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 41

NOTES BY DEMON.

For the second time the Otago Cycling Club officials were disappointed in the weather, and the club's road race to Waihola is yet a fixture for the future. Last Saturday the rain was very heavy aud the roads in an unfit ttate for riding, and all thoughts of having the race were at an end at midday, when the rain was heavier than ever. There is now a perplexity regarding the date upon which the race can be held, for this Saturday and next are engaged, and it has been suggested that the race take place some even- * ing. Fur my part I would like to see it so arranged ; next week there should be a good moon, and the run out could be made in daylight, aud a pleasant run made home in the *moonlight. The euggestion to hold the race on Thursday afternoon (show day) was a good one, but the heavy riding on the roads would be sure to unfit to a certain extent the Otago Club's riders who are competing in the team race, aud render them less capable of upholding the honour of their club against the Invercargill Club's team. The fixing of a suitable date for the race is to be before the committee of the Otago Club this week. The second of the series of races for Mr W. Melville's trophies, run at Carisbrook grounds on Wednesday evening last, was a"fine race. The night was very calm, and the track was in splendid order. Soon after starting the field were pretty well together, and as lap after lap was covered favourable comcnent3 on the raciug were heard on all sides— for there were spectators in abundance — and I must say that a prettier race I have never teen. The cilmness of the night, the peculiar swish of the wheels, and the changing in and out of the riders combined to make a pleating race, and the finish gave that daih of excitement that was wanted to give action to the spectators and to relieve the pleasing sameness of a well-run race.

— The final of the races is to be run off on Saturday at the C&lfidnnian ground. Bksce ft

team of six riders from the InvercargilL Cycling Club meet a similar number of ciders picked from the ranks of the Ot»go Club, The points scored for the trophies are as follows : —

The team race between the Otago Cycling Club and the Invercargill Cycling Club is exciting a lot of comment, and on Saturday afternoon there should be a good crowd assembled at the Caledonian ground to see the struggle for supremacy. The Otago Club's team is a pretty representative one, and stiong in many ways, but from what I have heart! the Invercargill team is likely, if all that is said is true, to be of superior calibre, and a bit faster than the local team. So far I have cot been able to get the names of the Invercargill representatives, but notwithstanding the reports that have been sent vp — and reports on good authority, too — I pin my faith to our local men, and look ,for their proving at the end of the race to be the vietora.

There is some doubt regarding the scoring in these team racep, and for the beuefit of my readers I give the method of scoring. The points are counted against the riders. For instance, if a rider drops out duriag the race 12 points are registered against him, aud those finishing last have the larger figures marked against their names, while the actual individual winners of the race — that is, those finishing firafc —have one, two, and three points registered, so that the team with the least points scored wins the race.

Jame3 Canliffe, a compositor, was thrown eff his bicycle in London street on the 19th, and received injuries causing his removal to the hospital, where it was ascertained that he had sustained a dislocation of the right wrist and bruises about the face and back of the head.

A youth named Rcberb NelfiOD, residing in King street, was thrown from his bicycle on the 20th and fractured his collarbone. He was

riding along King street when the machine he was on came into eoi.ta.cfc, it is alleged, with j one of the Qic plugs, which was above the street level. The check was co sudden that Ne'son j was shot out of the saddle and fell on his shoulder, which be fractured. He was taken to the hospital, and after receiving medical attention returned to his home. I would remind racirjg men that entries for the three bicycle races to be run in conntction with the annual sports meeting of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club on Saturday, Dect mber 7, close with the hon. secretary (Mv J. Howlhon) thfs coming Saturday evening at 8 o'clock. MrT. Whelan, a member of the Timaru Tonristu'Cyclhg Club, is down in Dunedin at present. He had the nmfortuLe to meet with an accident to his arm, and is now incapacitated from riding. He tells me that any Otego riders going up to the Timaru Club'u meeting on December 16 will meet with a welcome, and will also have the pleasure of riding on win the considers to be the finest track in New Zealand. Entries for the races close on December 8. Last Sunday a little girl named Nellie Mecbaldki was playing on the Riccarton road when a cyclist came swiftly by, and one of the pedfel? of the bicycle struck the girl on the knee and hflicted a deep gash. The child was attended to by Dr M'Caw, and it will be some little time before she is better. The cyclist, doubtless unaware ot the injury iuflicted, rode on and did not give the child that attention that he would have given had he known of the injury. The matter ha 3 been reported to the police, who are making inquiries. A committee met) ing of the Otago Cycling Club, held on the 18th, was attended by I JAafßiß R. Jay (in the chair), Munro, Black, M'Phee, Mason, Gibson, Begg, M'Ktnley, Wivtts, and Hait. A letter was received from his Excellency the Governor stating that he is pleased to accord his patronage to the Team Race and sports of the club on the 30th inst., and that he would be present if his engagements in Dunedin permitted. The following will represent the club in the Team Race : — L. Barclay, J. H. Howell, J. Whi'e, K. Lewis, W. Begg, and T. Maw ; emergency, H. Cameron. It was decided to provide black-and-white jerseys for the team. ' Kosrs Jay, Munro, Watts, Hart, and M'Kinlty were appointed a committee to supervise the arrangements as to entertaining the luverc»rgill team. The Balclutha Cycling Club hold a spcrta meeting at Balclutha on Anniversary Day, 23rd March, Christmas Day, previously decided upon, being found to be an unsuitable day for racing. The draft programme submitted was adopted and officials appointed. Tbe Mataura Cycling Club's road race came off on Wedi.esday last, the run being from Mataura to Charlton and back. The following are the results :— C. Shanks (lroin start), time, 24min lOsec, 1 ; P. Shauks (scratch), time, 23min 20sec, 2 ; O. Arnett (lmin start), time, 24min 35sec, 3. It was a very good race. C. Shanks was first to Charlton, and was never headed. P. Shanks, who was fourth at CharltoD, had no trouble in getting sffcond place. R. M'Giliivary rode a very good race from scratch considering he only had the machine for four days, and should prove to be a very fast rider. Dixon and M'Gillivary rode a very good finish. Thorn, Smitb, and Henderson were outpaced. Messrs J. Hamilton and G. Demp3ter acted as starter and timekeeper respectively. Dr Muskett, who has recsutly taken to cycling, examined Jlegson on the 6th inst., and pronounced him to be a splendid specimen of muscular development. The doctor found that Megson stands sft 6£in, weighs lOst 121b, and has a chest measurement, uninflated, of 34in, with an expansion to 37in. His biceps measure 13in, forearm ll^iu, calf 15ii>, and thigh 22in. His heart is exceptionally strong. An Oamaru cyclUt, Mr Grant, has ridden through Dansey's Pass, in the Waitaki district. He is credited with being the first cyclist to ride through the pass, and he reports the road in a forward state, but not yet suitable for cycling. Mr J. L. Murdoch, of Saddle Hill, has just returned from a bicycling lour in tbe Southland district, atter having ridden over 500 mile 3 on his Humber machine. He met with a number of difficulties in his trip, having frequently to carry his machine on his shoulders in places where the bicycle could not even be pushed. — — The following little anecdote will serve to show how fast the senseless prejudice against ladies cycling is disappearing — in New Zealand, at all events. In one of the large towns not far removed from Dunedin a lady cyclist was in the habit of riding daily to her business down a street in I which lived a horrid little cur that caused her mnuh annoyance. Said cur was evidently the property of two little boys, who were generally sitting on the sidewalk munching bread and treacle, and the only response the lady's reneonfetrances met with was a broad grin. As there was not much satisfaction to be got oub of that, and time being precious, the cyclist was fain to leave them to their sweet repast ; and go on her way — not rejoicing en that : occasioa ; but tbe next day, gassing tbe house

as usual, the beast rushed out and proceeded to closely investigate the material of which the cyclist's skirt was composed by putting his teeth in, and cauiing the lady to dismount in a hurried manner, and not calculated to inspire lookers-on with an infatuation for cycling, at least if they had any regard for grace and dignity. A slim, genteel figure of a weman weighing about 16st was in the garden, and to her our friend addressed herself, inquiring if that was her dog. " I suppose it is," was the sullen answer. "Well, do you know that it m'ght have caused a very serious accident ? " "Well," was the reply, given with arms akimbo and a general air of defiance, " he ain't used to seeing women on them things. " The cyclist B&id, "Well, I have been at a little trouble to learn to ride, my machine has cost a considerable sum of money, and the cxer-> cisc, recommended by my medical man atter a seTere illness, has done me more good than all his preemptions put together, and if you think I am going to give up cycling because your dog does not like it, you are very much mistaken. He must get used to it, like everyone else." While the lady was speaking a change passed over the woman's countenance, and with a smile she said, " Go along with ycu ; the dog shan't t-ouble you no more." And neither it has, for the eje'ist rides pant that house day after day in safety from the dog, exchanging a kindly greeting with its owner, who, like the beaut itself, has become quite reconciled now tD •• seeing womeu on them things " ; and it would not be a very great surprise to me to see tbe genteel figure of 16st yet mounting a cycle, if one could be found strong enough to support her. Certainly she would not be a heavy weight like that for long if she once took to the pleasantest sport of the nineteenth century.

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