NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 40

NOTES BY FORWARD.

• . • The following shows the position of the senior Rugby clubs in the inter-clab matches to date : —

♦ . J Mr Moss Jonas, president of the South Canterbury Union, speaking one n'ght last week at the Waihi Club's banquet at Winobester, "referring to the choice of men by the New Zealand Rugby Union, expressed his surprise and disgust at the shabby manner in which the smaller unions had been treated. They had loyally supported the head union, and this was all the thanks they got for giving their moral and financial support to the Now Zealand Union. Even if none of the players were quite so rootl as the North Island men chosen, they should be given a chanca to see what they could do, and at least they (the players) would learn a wrinkle or two in such a trip." Mr Jonas probably recollects the selection of the former team sent to Australia by the New Zealand Union, when, in pursuance of the policy of "sop "that was instituted to keep the unions together and to coerce the Osago Union into joining the central body, places were given in the New Zealand team to two South Canterbury players who would with difficulty have got into » senior tea.ni in Auckland, Wellington, Chri«tehurch, or Dunedin. • . • The Taranaki News refers in a caustic manner to the notorious weakness of Wellington people for beslobbering their own players. The News flays: — "There can be liHle doubt that the WelliDg'on people are nob blest with modesty. In the Press A«sccialion report of the inter-ieland match, the name of Roberts appearod about one hundred times. Ib was Roberts this and Roberts that. ' This was the flrßt game in which he (Roberts) showed hia true form.' 'On resuming Roberts made a fine run,' and would have scored if he hadn't slipped. • Then Roberts got possession of the ball at half-way and, evading the nearer men, passed to Allen, and, following up, he [Roberts, presumably, and not Allen] received the ball again, and ended a brilliant run by scoring a try. This was the best piece of play in the game, and was deservedly cheered.' 'Roberts played the best back game on the ground.' The Times is oven more in love with Roberts than ia the Press Association agent. Roberts appears to have played tha vrhoie game, except ocjasionally, when Off-side M'K r :szie f Hardcastle, Pauling, Calnan, and Laws did something. ' Roberts was the best back on the ground, and Duncan was the next.' How the mighty have fallen. Robertt, at his best, was never a circumstance by comparison with Duncan. The Times then profoundly remarks that Priest and M'Laren (the southern wing focwards) hadn't a chanca against the wily M'Kenzia and Mills (it is not clear if our con- , temporary considers Mills wily), and then says ' Priest played the most dashing forward game of the day. Q'he Wellingtonians always did swear j by • Cooky ' Roberts (as they love to call him). ; In 1894 Roberts mes with an accident in Auckland, «nd could not play againsb Taranaki, and i when the nutnbprs went vp — Taranaki 6, Wei- { lington o—the0 — the Wellingtonians said the tale j would have beeu a different one if |Cocky' Robarts had played. And it was further stated, on repntable authority, that when Roberts j found he was unable to don the jersey and vanquish Taranaki he sab down on a rock and wept. In 1896 he played against Taranaki, but he didn't do touch vanquishing, the score j being again — Taranaki 6, Wellington 0." j • . • The Auckland papers accepted the result j of the North v. South Island match as demon- j strating a decided superisrity of the northern team. "Lynx" writes in the New Zealand Herald : " The southern papers were exceed- i ingly anxious to know the why and the wherefore of the preponderance of Northerners over Southerners in the selection, and no better or more convincing reply could be given than the result of tha late match. It was conclusive " Curiously enough, Southerners do no^look at it at all in the Fame light, and, by the way, the papers in the south had no anxiety to know the why and the wherefore of the preponderance of North Island playera in tho New Zealand team — the explanation of that was transparent. The Auckland writers overlook the fact that tho j South Island team that played was anything but as strong ss that which was selected, and the refusal of the Southland players to take part in tho match made the original selection weaker than' it would, under ordinary circumstances, have been. The great weakness of the South Island team consisted, however, in the fact that it did not include a scrum half back who could get the ball out, and consequently the threequarter backs stood idle for the greater part of the afternoon ; and it was the New Zealand Union's selectors who were responsible for that. They picked Glennie as one of the New Zealand team, and that player had in consequence to play in tho South Island Fifteen, excluding from ifc better playera whose presence in the team would have made a great difference in the play. ■ . •It is expected that the Otago Rugby Union's trial matches will commence on the 7th August. In that event there will be three more Saturdays of interclub matches. • . The matches between the Canterbury j College and Otago University students, which | were interrupted last year by the inability or the former institution to raise a team, will be revived this month, when the University will j send to Christchurch the strongest team it has yet had to represent it in -these contests. As Canterbury Coliege has no team regularly playing for it, so that it will necessarily be represented by a somewhat scratch combination, the Ofcago team should be able to win comfortably. • . •D. Gage has forwarded the money on account of which he was disqualified to the New Zealand Union, and haa applied for reinstatement. The Wellington Rugby Union has, however, refused to accede to Gage's request to remove tho duaualificafcion on the

grounds thab he has not forwarded any explanation of his conduct. • . • Speculation is already turning to the composition of the Otago representative team for this season's matches, and the members of the match committee have, it is understood, already commenced their systematic peregrinations on the look-out for likely players. So far as the forwards are concerned the committee are likely to have some trouble in distinguishing between the claims of a number of candidates for representatives' caps, but in the end they will probably be able to make a choice of a stronger forward division than Obago had to represent it last season. Behind the scrum the difficulty ab j half back and full back will be to find players who will uphold the traditions of Obago back play. It is, of course, unknown whether the injuries which Duncan has sustained in Sydney will prevenb him from representing his province, but the general impression — an impression for which no reasonable grounds can be given — is that he will be found playing. That there is no one who can adequately fill his place ie, however, certain, and all who have the interest of Obago football ab heart hope, therefore, for the best. • . • As to the other half backs, however, the play in the interclub matches has not suggested that there are any who are not mediocrities. If Davis were available he would almost certainly be chosen as the scrum halt' back, bub unfortunately his teaching duties will claim his attention in the country at tho time the iuterprovincial matches will come on for decision. Mason has lost the form he displayed last year and in the season before. Fordyce is playing out from the scrum, or he might come into i account. The choicafor that position must lie, I should think, on presenb appearances, between J. B Macdonald, of the Universiby, and Armstrong, of the Union ; and I should i hsve a decided preference for the former, who wes, however, unable to play for Irs club last Saturday owing to indisposition. So far as the other half backs are concerned, I am inclined to think that the Match Committee may have to try players who at present fill other positions, such as Wood, of the Kaikorai, and Macassey, of the Pirates. Ib may be argued that Wood will be required as centre threequarter back, but it is questionable whebher he . is indispensable there, and on his recent play O'Shea, of the University, has claims that cannot be lightly ignored. | • . • With reference to the selection of full i back, the only players in that position who can < be said to have any claims for consideration | are Lawry (Caversham) and Lumb (Union). It may be that the Match Committee may have to utilise a three-quarter back as the custodian of the goal, and the name of Mackenzie (Dunedin) ab once suggests itself. Certain it is that Mackenzie will be unable, so far as present indications go, to j secure a place an three-quarter back. Tae one i certainty for a place as wing three-quarter back , | appears to be Fell, the University player, whoße j strength in attack is supplemented by not a ', little ability also as a defensive player. The i Nelson College boy promises to be the most J dangerous attacking three-quarter back Otago has had for some years. For .the other place | on the wing there will be a hosb of conopebifcors, ' including Armit, Stephenson, and J. Q. Macdonald, and it will not surprise some people if the NBW Zealand representative should fail to j > get a place. Much will depend, however, on i the trial matches, which should this year prove | 1 very interesting. ! \ '.• At a meeting of the New Zealand j Rugby Union last nighb further conj eideration was given to the quest'on ' whether Mr Hoben, late secretary of the ' New Zealand Union, had ever promised the i Obago Union that if they paid a levy on account j i of the deficit connected with the New South i J Wales team's tour the Otago Union would not j j be cilled upon to pay the expanses of their repreI fentatives in the noxb New Zealand team from ! i Dunedin to Wellington and back. On the J motion of Mr Campbell, seconded by Mr Wesney, ib wa3 decided that a copy of Mr Hoben's letter, denying haviug made the alleged promise, should be forwarded to the Otago Union, with an explanation to the effect that the New Zealand Union, in passing the resolution to pay the ONgo men's expenses in New Zealand, j were under a misapprehension, and that there can be little doubt that Mr Hoben'a letter referred to expenses in 'Australia. However, the New Zealand Union do not propose to rescind their , previous resolution. A letter was read from the j j Otago Union suggesting that unions should be furniebsd with grounds of disqualification of players. The committee considered it inadvisable to furnish details of such cases. A letter , was received from the Ofcago Union endorsing a ! | complaint that the treasurer of the New Zaa- \ I land Union had written to the Taranaki Union i I soliciting the support of a certain gentleman in ! the election of bhe Selection Committee ror the j New Zealand team. A resolution was carried ! that the action of Taranaki in communicat : ng j with affiliated unions while the matter was sub Judice was most improper and calculated to hamper the unioa in dealing with the matter. It was furbher resolved that an immediate i explanation ba demanded from the secretary of , ! the Taranaki Union. ( • . • The Wellington correspondent of the ! Obago Daily Times wired on Friday last: — ! •« That the management of the Nsw Zealand J Rugby Union ia nob all ib should be has bean ] apparent to southern writers for some time j past, and ifc is now beginning to b9 evident to northern writers and soma of the unions in this island. Just ab present, too, the executive does not appear to be altogether a happy ' family, and at a meeting held last evening the hon. secretary was hauled over the coals because of bis acbion in i-ending Roberts over to join the New Zealand team in place of tlje j i disabled Duncan. Reporters are not allowed j ' to be present ab the meetings of the Manage- : meat Committee, and the reports of the meetings are supplied to the newspapers, presumi ably by the secretary or some other official. The result is thab discussions of considerable interest to the great majority of footballers throughout the colony do not see the light of day. For instance, the report published of | last night's meeting simply says :—": — " Some of ' the delegates expressed dissatisfaction at the ' fact that Roberts had been sent over to Australia without the whole of the committee being called 1 together. Ottier delegates thought that the | secretary should have consulted the committee. | The secretary made an explanation, and the ; ! subject then dropped." As a matter of fact ( I there was considerable discussion on this matter, j I and the action of the secretary was severely condemned. It appears that Mr" Hyams, the j manager of the team, cabled pn Monday from i Sydney to the secretary stating that Duncan j was disabled, and asking him to " send Roberts in the Monowai certain." The eecretary at once communicated with Robsrts. The necessary leave was' obtained from his employers, and he ' was despatched for Sydney on Wednesday, i [ An announcement to that effect appeared in • i the evening paper, and this was the first intimation that the majority of the committee had that an additional man was required to strengthen the team. The members of the committee wsre almost unanimous that the secretary had usurped their function, and the opinion was even expressed that Mr Hyami , tbe

[ manager of the team, should nob hare gone a» ■ far as to ask that Roberts in particular should be sent over. Besides, as has been very truly pointed out, Roberts will nob ba able to take Duncan's placa as he is used to playing in a different position. Further than this, ib mart ba remembered that Roberts was not thought: good enough by the Selection Committee to ocoupy a place in the beam, and his claims bo a place in the North Island team were overlooked. Tho seorebary ab flrsb defended hit action, and contended that ha should hart liberty to act in such matters, but, after discussion, he admitted thab ib was only righb that he should have called the committee together. These facts, though they have nob been published in Wellington, I have gleaned from two independent louroes, and they may be regarded as quite reliable. They will no doubt interest a large number of footballers in ' the South. At the same 'meeting ths treasurer's conduot in writing to the Taranaki Union soliciting its supporb to the election of a certain gentleman on the New Zealand Selection Committee was under discussion. Tha Secretary stated that Mr Hymns, the treasurer, had promised to explain his action when ha returned from Australia. Most of the delegates expressed strong disapprobation of the T*ranaki Union's action in communicating with tha Otago Union about Mr Hyams's oonduiib when the matter was under the lonsider&tion of the New Zealand Union. Surprise was expressed by coma of the delegates at the large amount of expenses in connection with the selection of the South Is 1 and team." • . " Ib is as well to draw special attention bo some of the business that was transacted at the meeting of the New Zealand Union's committee last week. It is now sought to make oub thab the promise that was made to the Obago Union in 1895 was that, in the event of its paying tho levy to tha New Zealand Union, ib would not be c tiled upon to pay thfe expenses in Australia of the Olago representatives in the New Zealand team. It is perfectly ridiculous to suggest that that is the interpretation to place on the letter, for tha very simple reason that the expenses of the New Zealand players in Australia are nob paid at all by the New Zealand Union, but are defrayed by bhe Aus- . tralian unions. The New Zealand Union must recognise thab this is so, or else the ruling splits in it are greater fool* than they are j generally assumed to be ; and^it ii significant i that the committee in Wellington have nob 1 dared to back up the opinion to which they | now profess to iucline by rescinding the resolution they passed some time ago when they accepted the interpretation the Otago Union put on the letter from the former secretary of the New Zealand Uuioo — the only interpretation that reasonable and reasoning people could "pub on it — and when they agreed to pay the expenses between Dunedin and Wellington of the threo Otago players who are at the present , time with the New Ztaland team on the other j side. ! ' . 'In this connection it is worth while i referring to the report of the annual meeting of ! the New Zealand Union in 1895, when the question of the levy came up. I quote from I the Evening Post's report which w»s afterwards 1 circulated by the N«w Zealand Union as its official report : — " Some discussion followed, during which it was pointed out thab ib wonld 1 not be fair to unions just affiliabed to refuse to admit them to the full membership of the I union, and to insist on their paying the ex- ! penses of their representatives in any team going to Australia next year, as would be the case if they were not permitted to contribute to the levy. The levy was practically the final payment on a policy of £500 or £600, which assured the New Zealand Union of t.he expenses I of its team to Nrw South Wales next year, and I any newly- affiliated union would prefer paying ! the few p mnds or shillings of its share to having to find £25 for each man it might have in the ! representative team next; year." That is | unintelligible enough, bub Mr Mark Cohen, who was at that time the lending apologist in Otago for the Now ZeaUnd Union — I do not know if ib ha» any apologist in Obago now — supplied the following interpretation in a letter written by him to this paper :—": — " It has to be born in mind that the central union say that our payment I towards the liquidation of tbe deficit will entitle U4 to draw £25 per man towards the expenses of Otago's representatives in any team sent to Australia next year. Ib will be for our executive ,to see that that bargain is carried out." That [ interpretation was never challenged by any one connected with the New Zealand Union. • . * Then the New Zealand Union seems to have taken terrible umbrage ab the section of bhe i Tarauaki Union in letting some light in upon 1 the peculiar conduct of one of its officers, and has ceusured the latter union for communicating with other unions while the matter was sicb judice. What are tbe facts as I have gathered them from northern papers ? When, as will be remembered was the case, affiliated unions were asked to nominate gentlemen from whom a choice might be made of a committee to aelecb the New Zealand team, the Taranabi Union nominated Mr W. J. Crawsbaw. Mr Hyams, the treasurer oi the New Zealand Union, however, wrote to the secretary of the Taranaki Union, in unwarrantable excess of his duty, canvassing its support for Mr Coutts, who himsslf resides in Taran&ki and was nominated by the Wanganui Union — the union which Mr Hyams represents on the New Zealand Union. I invite readers of these notes to believe that ib was by Mr Hyams thab the Wanganui Union was induced to nominate Mr Coufcts, who, as I have said, resides outside of the Wanganui district Mr Coutts was elected and Mr Crawshaw was not. The Taranaki Union thereupon complained of Mr Crawshaw being passed over in favour of Mr Coutts, and m^de public the facb bhat the New Zealand Union's treasurer had interfered in the election by touting for supporb for Mr Coutts. • . ' Now I have no sympathy with the position taken up by the Taranaki Union in ( claiming that it was its right — for thab is whab its claim amounbed to — that Mr Crawshaw should have been appointed. Mr Crawshaw would have mide a first-class member of the Selection Committee, but he had to take hi* chance with the rest, and when he was defeated — by underhand means, very likely — there was an end of it. The interference in the election of Mr Hyams was another thing. The Taranaki Union was quite justified in drawing attention to thab, and would nob have done righb if ib had nob drawn attention to ib. The New Zealand Union apparently suggests that the Taranaki Union should have contented itself by making its complaint to Wellington. I trust that unions throughout bhe colony will have sufficient backbone to supporb the Taranaki Union in the stand ib has taken in exposing an attempt — however successful — to perpetrate a piece of hole-and-corner work. This is a matter that affects all the unions throughout the colony. A thing thab has been brought to light on this occasion has probably been done before without being made public, and will be done again nnless a firmness is shown by the various unions in vindicating the right of any of their number to communicate with others when an impropriety is discovered. Had the Taranaki Union no 6 taken the step of communicating with the Otago Union on this subject bhe chances are that th» New Zealand Union would simplj have pused

one of its characteristically flabby resolutions on the subject, and that resolution might never have been made public, for, as will be seen from the message from the Daily Times' Wellington correspondent, the published reports or the NZ. Union's committee meetings are officially inspired. • . • It .may be pointed out also that the New Zealand Union is inconsistent in pouncing upon the Taranaki Union when the latter exercised its undoubted light in directing the attention of another union to an abuse of his position by a person who is really an executive officer for the Taranaki Union and all other affiliated unions. In 1894, when the Canterbury Union sought permission from the New Zealand Union to play Otago it communicated with all the unions then belonging to the New Zealand Union with a view to securing, if possible, that its application should ba granted, and the Canterbury Union was nob censured for its action on that occasion. Can it be that the reason the Taranaki Union was censured was because it bad the temerity to communicate with the Otago Union, which is notoriously hated by the ma j ferity of the members of the New Zealand Union's committee ? Be that as it may, any person possessed of ordinary intelligence musb | see that the Taranaki Union was quite within j its rights in directing the attention of the ; Otago Union, or any other union, to the improper interference of an officer of the New Zealand Union in the selection in question. Had the Taranaki Union not acted as it has done, but simply communicated with the New Zealand Union on the subject, it may be taken for granted* that the occurrence would have been hushed up, and there would have been as much improper wire-pulling in the future as there has been in the past. • . • When other writers, generally favourable to the New Zealand Union, feel it incumbent on them to criticise that body's extraordinary methods I am quite content to look on, and therefore I do x propose to lend a hand in the pulverisation of the unfortunate individuals who are responsible for the egregious blunders that culminated last Saturday iv the defeat of the New Zealand team at Sydney. Other writers, who have in the past assisted to bolster up the central body, are compelled to condemn the ridiculous mismanagement that has once more brought about injury to the reputation of New Zealand football. There is some excuse for the part which those members of the New Zealand Union's executive who have not travelled beyond Wellington took ia condemning the members of the team now in Australia to play four matches in eight days, with 400 miles of travelling thrown in, but come few of the managing committee have been on the other side and should have known better. I leave it, however, for others to " rub ib in." • . * The Wellington correspondent of the Daily Times wired on Monday the views expressed by the Wellington papers, and he added that the arrangements for the tour are | generally condemned. The New Zealand i Time#iin its leading columns says : " The idea of playing four matches in eight days, including three in five, is simply preposterous, : and certainly does not reflect much credit on the sapient individuals who arranged such a programme. Why, the idea of playing so many matches in New Zealand, where the grounds are soft, would be scoffed j at, yet the New Zealand team is asked to under- : take such & task on the concrete fields of New ] South Wales, and then in the face of such a j programme only 20 men are sent." The Poet ■ .says: "The lesson of 1893 was lost on the j Management Committee of the New Zealand i Rugby Union, who, with a plentiful lack of judgment, decided that the present team should consist of only 20 players. This mistake was ,' the more injurious because of tho fact; that two bye matches were arranged with B&thurst and Orange with a week's interval between the first and second test matches. Tbe team should have consisted of not less than 25 men, for the probabilities of being • knocked out' on the bard fields of Australia should not have been ignored. By way of illustration, in the firsb match, Duncan (of Otago), upou whom New Zealand's hopes in the back division were centred, was injured, and the defensive capabili- ] ties of the team were in consequence seriously crippled." • . • A correspondent whose remarks are voiced by others wrote in the following strain to a Wellington paper regarding the selection of Roberts : — " What precedent is this that manager Hyams has formed ? Why is ib that he has selected ? In my opinion all that he was justified in doing was merely to ask for a man for a position. It is tbe function of the Selection Committee to select the team, aud not his. However, I don't suppose the Selection Committee would have sent any other player if the matter was referred to them in the proper way." The correspondent seems to overlook thab Mr Hyams selected the Selection Committee and, having done that, he would naturally consider himself entitled to usurp some of the functions of the creatures of his own creation. • . • In the Cup matches at Wellington on Saturday the Melrose beat the Wellington by 27 to nothing, and the Athletic defeated the Poneke by 3 to nothing. • . • The second round of the Senior Cup matches was continued at Christcburch on Saturday. The various grounds, though heavy through the previous night'B rain, were nevertheless in fair order. At Lancaster Park Christchurch had an easy victory by 24 points to 4 over Albion, but the match betwean Meri■vale and Sydenham proved an exceedingly interesting one, the former winning by 9 points to 4. At Kaiapoi a close match between Linwood and the local team resulted in favour of Linwood by 4 points to nothing. The position of the clubs is now : — Linwood and Merivale, 7-% points each ; Christchurch, 6 points ; Kaiapoi, 5 / points ; Sydenham and Albion, 1 point each. • . • The weekly meeting of the committee of the Otago Rugby Union, held on Monday, was attended by Messrs Gallaway (president), Wilson, Campbell, Duncan, M'Laren, Strong, Torrance, and Hutchison. A letter was read from the Taieri Club denying that there was any truth in the report of the referee in the match Taieri v. Pacific on the 3rd inst. that the members of the former tfeam were guilty of insulting conduct towards him and refused to accept his decioions. A further report was received from the referee (Mr J. West) on the subject. The committee decided to ask the referee, the captain, and deputycaptain of the Ttieri Club, and also the captain and deputy-captain of the Pacific Club, to attend and give evidence on the matter. The report of the referee in the match Upper Clutha v. St. Bathtns, played on the 22nd Juno, not baying yet been received, consideration of the former club's appeal was further deferred. A letter was received from the Southland Rugby Union inquiring what date would be suitable for the first match of the season between the two unions. The secretary was instructed to-reply that it was not possible yet to suggest a date, and also to state that the committee of the Otago Union were of opinion that the home and home matches should be discontinued, but left it to the option of the Southland Union to say whether they should be discontinued this year or next year. A letter from the Otago Referees' Asiocia-

fcion, tv reply L> o complaint from the Kaikorai Club with reference to the disallowance of claims under law 12c, wag received. An application from Robert Robertson, of Clyde, for a removal of the disqualification imposed on him iv 1892 was granted. It was resolved to direcb the attention of clubs to the provisions of law 18, it having been brought under the notice of the committee that players were in the habib of wearing projecting brads in their beobs. * . * The heavy rain that fell in the early part of Saturday afternoon made the Bishopscourb ground, where tha Kaikorai and Caversham Clubs met, very greasy and the ball somewhat difficult to hold. The good collaring on the part of the Caversham prevented the Kaikorai backs getting on the good passing which is characteristic of the team, aud though the Blues had somewhat the best of the first spelJ, this cannot be said of the second. In the last 20 minutes, indeed, the Kaikorai were defending. For the Caversham, Lawry, full back, did not seem at home in the first spell, but played well in the second. Urquharb was the pick of the three-quarter backs^ his fielding being espec'ally good. The half backs played well, Burgess being perhaps th® more effective. The forwards played a hard game, Whelan, Spence, Olsou, and Cavanagh being the most noticeable. For the Kaikorai, Jackson, at full back, played a safe game all through, while Cunningham, at centre bhree-quirter back, pub in a lob of useful work. Wood seemed oub of place at half back, though his defence was sound. The forwards played a hard game from beginning to end, and showed little consideration for their opponents, who in weight were not to be compared with them. Torrance, Davie, Canning, and M'Laren were the most oouspiuuou3 of them. • . ' Considering the state of the ground, play in the match between the Dunedin and University was very fast, both sides using their backs well. The superior pacß of the University wing three-quarters gave tbeir'side a decided advantage, and lo this musb be attributed the somewhat large score the Light Blues made, the forwards being fairiy evenly matched. On the Dunedin side Fish, who played as substitute full back, was more than once of great servire to his side. Mackenzie kicked well, but his tackling was very poor. Stephenson and Eagles both played a good game. Mason was, as usual, tricky, bub his tendency to hang to the ball was more than ever apparenc. Of the forwards Williams and Martin were perhaps the pick. For the winners, Neil had very little to do at full back. O'Shea at centre threequarter back played a flue unselfish game, handling the ball well and timing his passes to a nicety. J. G. Macdonald played well, ss did Fell. The latter beat Mackenzie time after time, his play being better than in auy previous match he has played here. He received an ovation on leaving the ground. M'Ara wan tricky and of great service, while Turjbon and Shand, each of whom left the forward ranks to fill a half-back's position, played a fine game. As a whole, the University backs have never played .better. The forwards, of whom M'Farland and Gregg were especially prominent, generally obtained the ball, bub they were not as a whole superior to the Dark Blues. • . ' The match between the Pirates and Zin-gari-Richrntmd teams attracted a considerable number of spectators at Montecillo on S&' urday, and a good deal of interest was taken in the game. The match resulted, as was generally expected, in a win for the visitors, who exhibited a decided superiority in their play. The ground was in a very slippery state owing to the rain, and consequently, while the game was pretty fast throughout, there was nothing very brilliant done in the way of passing. Lawrence, who played as full back for the Pirates, gave a very fair account of himself, while Macltau, Burb, M'Leod, Matheson, and Gregg also battled well on the same side. The moat prominent players for the ZingariRichmond were Smith, Gregory, Caradus, and R. Ferdyce. ' . * What is the matter with the Union and Alhambra Clubs ? Their firsb fixture for this season was abandoned on a day when all the other three ssnior interclub fixtures were played, and the same thing occurred on Saturday. The senior matches were played ou the Caledonian, Montecillo. and Bishopscourb grounds, bub the fixture Alhambra v. Union was not fulfilled, the captains deciding that the North ground | was not in a fib state to play on last Saturday. j The referee had previously decided that the | ground was fib for play. \ '. • The Northern 'Association Club began their match against Mornington with only eight men, and they finished with nine. They exhibited more combination in the second spell than in the first — Morrison, Williams", Bolton, and M'Lachlan being prominent ; while, ou the defence, Henderson, Irvine, and H. Clarke did ! good service. The Mornington's goalkeeper saved splendidly, and J. Sparrow and Lainch- ; bury also did goad work. Their forwards made a mistake iv keeping the ball on the wrong winer, several chances being thu* thrown away. Mr G. Pollock gave every satisfaction with the whistle.

Matches.. J'out.*. Club. Kaikorai Pirates ... ,„ ... University .., Dunedin Zingari-Richmond „ Alhambra Union ... ... Cavcrshatu. •a & T 9 10 11 8 9 7 10 a o 8 8 6 5 3 1 o 1 3 4 4 6 4 9 a I 1 2 1 2 3 1 JL 85 77 76 74 33 25 13 j 18 I q 6* ■< IF 27 43 92 38 43 38 118 - -