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Otago Witness, Issue 224, 28 May 1896, Page 35

HOIES BX SLIP. * . * The last test match between A. B. Stoddarfs team and the Australians was played in Melbourne. * . * The Sydney oriokeb pretuiarsbip for the - reason has fallen to £he Glebe Gtab, which, includes among its members L. Poidevin and [ L. T. Coboroft, of ths New Bouth Wales team that vUited New Zealand during the season. Foidevin heads the clnb's batting averages with 65 16 and'Cobcroft is fourth on the list with 312 as bis average. I * . ' The so long familiar form of Maurice Read, the popular Surrey oricketer, will no longer be seen in county matches, for he has. retired from active .participation in them, in favour of a private engagement vvith a nobleman. No man, by hia conduct both on and off the field, has (the Field says) done more than Maurice Read to bring credit upon the calling of the professional cricketer, and, whilst all-will regret bin loss from the arena, they will congratulate him upon the favourable opportunity , for retirement that has b*en presented. I * . * The correspondent of the Melbourne Age who is accompanying the ninth Australian team wri'es : — " For the first time in my life I have come across a genuine cricket enthusiast. He is of oourse on the Cuzco, and hails from Quorn, South Australia. This ie how he puts ! it : ' 'Yer tea, it's me one'obby, and always 'as j been. I've been 14 years a' enginedriver on South Australian railways, but'l've always follored up cricketiu'. So me cix months' leave beia' due, and hayiu' & bit of cash saved op, I made up me mind to travel 'ome with the cricketers. "I don't know as I shall stop at the same hotels, but I shan't be far off.' This gentleman has managed to get picked in all the games that have been played on board, and he umpired for tbe Australians at Colombo. With a tropical eon streaming down on his black narrow-brimmed hat, he had stood in the field all day. Everyone else wore a huge helmet, , yet> as he ordered a whisky and coda after the match he remarked, and smiled exultantly, ' I don't think I was ever better treated or 'ad a better time in . me life.' His eoorohed face streamed with perspiration, hia clothes clung to him as though he had just been ih&uled out of ifche water, but surrounded fey the Australian ■cricketers (' almost one of 'em,' he said), he was extremely happy."