CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 37

CYCLING.

NOTES BY DEMON.

As I write these notes cyclists are returning from their Easter tours, and they report a very good outing, ,bub beyond this nothing of special importance. A balance sheet in connection with the Invercargill sports meeting, submitted last ■week, shows a surplus of receipts over expenditure of £55. I hear that Messrs Ralph Eininerson, Jack Bell, and Robert Duthie had a very pleasant holiday tour at Easter time, dui'ing which tour a somewhat novel experience fell to their lot. Milea away from anywhere they fell hungry, and in sheer desperation looked around for something solid, to be washed down by, means of their ample supply of the "mountain dew." After a lengthened survey, a field of turnips crossed the vision, and the hungry trio soon sat down to and enjoyed a hearty repast of turnips and whisky. "Various were the methods of taking the mixture, and the palm was awarded to one who drille.l holes in the vegetable, and pouring the liquid therein soaked the fruit and -declared the combination made an excellent flavour.

— — One of the best attended cycling meetings of the year was that held at the St. Kilda ground on Saturday, March 19. The principal attraction was the meeting of Walne and Body in the Brassard Championship, Body having challenged the holder (Walne) to defen I his title of " Champion of Victoria." This contest was expected by the thousands present to produce close and exciting racing ; but contrary to all expectations Walne defeated Body in the hollowest fashion imaginable. Only two of the three distances were ridden — viz., the one and ten-mile events, loth of which Walne won in the easiest manner possible. In the mile event Body lost what chance he had ty a bad bungle in his pace. A lap and a half from home lie dropped back from Walne, and getting a jump on him, passed the Queenslander like a ilash and made for his pacemaker, some 130 yds ahead ; but imforfcunately the pacer did not get going quickly enough, and Body's effort and his only chance were losb, as the bad pickup compelled him to go on his own, and when overtaken by Walne and his pacemaker he was "all out," and retired. In the next event, the ten miles, Body was better served with, pace, and, taking the lead, set the pace a cracker, his intention evidently being to run iWalne off his feet. Walne and his pacer were quite content to drop in behind Body and 'take advantage of the extra shelter caused by the two front men.^ Lap after lap was reeled off in this fashion in fast time, the pacers being exchanged ~with clock-like precision.- In the 15th lap when leaving the straight, Walne repeated Body's tactics in the one mile event, and catching the Maorilander, slightly distressed with the fast pace, made a jump past him, and being neatly picked up by Ralph, was- quickly paced away from Body. From this out Body seemed to lose heart, and after riding round a lap or so rode off, the track, leaving Walne to finish the race by himself. Upon seeing Walno jump out in the manner in which" he did, Bodj' seemed to £@U&B£ej ausb io feet, seemed. '.to make «.o

effort to fallow. Had he known that Walne was almost as distressed as himself, perhaps he would" have- everted "himself 1 , more". At this juncture of the race, Walne was partly " baked," - and 'did not make his run a second too' soon. In facs, he was heard to remark to one of his pacers who had been instrumental vin' gaining the break on Body, that '• Is was a good "thing that he (Body) gave up when he did." The- Australian j champion on 'his Dunlop-tyred Swift having now secured the first two events, the remain- • ing-" one, the five miles," was abandoned, and" V?alne was again the holder of the Brassard Badge and its accompanying £5 a week. The Brassard contests expire at the end of May next, and it is more than probable that Walne will now remain the holder of the badge until its expiration.

A ChmtiJburch telegram stateslthab afcthe League of Wheelman's meeting a nommunicatioa was received from the Naticnal Cyclists' Union, the governing body oE cycling in England, euelcsing an agreement by which ifc undertakes to recognise all riders holding a license uuder the league.

Several of the large American tramway companies are now fixing bicycle carriers on the rear of the cars. This has been quickly appreciated by the American cyclists, no less than 1800 machines being carried by one company in a month. The holder is made of steel covered with rubber tubing, something on the lines of a lamp bracket, open on the top ; into this the bicj-cle handle is fitted, and is held perfectly rigid; the saddle of the machine rests against the back of the car, and the back wheel runs on the ground. Three or four machined can be easily accommodated at the rear of the car, and can be fixed tip at a moments notice, there being no screws or bolts.

The whole of the -'9B Australasian championships are now over, and have resulted as follows : — One mile, E . "Walne ; five miles, M. Porta ; .ten miles, K. Lewis.' „ The | whole tliv«e events' being" won upon Dunlop 'tyres. • Both Porta and Lewis figured upon «: championship list last- year, Porla.winig the ten -miles, and Lewis the five miles, is is the .first time that Walne has secured ! an Australasian championship. A petroleum motor tricycle has' just recently been unpacked by the Austral Cycle Agency, Melbourne. Its design is tipon the i lines of the ordinary tricycle, fitted with 26in : wheels, but the driving mechanism is far in ; advance in motor structure of anything yet I seen in Australia. The tricycle is built by | the Ariel Co., and the motor by the De Dion Co., of Paris, the whole having a compact and neat appearance. The driving power is game 1 by means of petroleum explosions, the spark for igniting the ga r i being obtained from a dry battery which is enclosed in a small case and carried in the centre of the tricycle frame j like an ordinary valise. This battery is manii pulate-1 by screwing the left handle, thereby j setting the battery in motion, which generates j an electric spark in the fire-box, and at the j same time sets an air-pump in motion, . which ! allows the gas to escape fro.m a small tank | (fixed in the angle made by the centre and . back stays of the frame) into the fire-box, j when an explosion ensues. This drives a cylinder connected with a large driving wheel on the back axle, which in turn drives the two back wheels. Strong safety valves are provided to prevent the flame from .the explosion finding its way back into the gas reservoir. To set the machine in motion a small plug is inserted in the battery case, thus connecting i the current with. -the handlebar, when the simple turning of the left hand will stop or set the tricycle going. To prevent accidents the ' plug i j removed and carried about by the rider when the machine is left standing, thus rendering the machine useless for the time being. To regulate the speed a small lever is provided, by means of .vhich the speed can be easily and immediately regulated from 7 to 20 ■ miles per hour. The petroleum is carried in a fixed reservoir, .which holds a gallon of liquid, sufficient to enable the rider to traVel 100 miles, which can be accomplished on a> fair road in five hours. An extra two gallons of petroleum or gasoline can be carried in a spare reservoir, which fastens in imder the saddle, and is connected by means of a tube with the permanent reservoir. This will enable the rider to cover 300 miles without rej charging. The noise of, the explosion is i deadened by means of a small exhaust box. The machine is fitted with the latest Dunlop motor tyres and rims, and the weight of the whole turnout is some 1301b. In the several trial spins the tricycle has proved both fast and easily steered, 20 miles an hour being accomplished without trouble. The ordinary I pedals and cranks are fitted, they being used as an auxiliary in starting the machine, after which they are thrown out of gear and used simply as foot-rests. The machine is now being- ridden round the Melbourne streets, and can be handled with perfect safety in the thickest of traffic.

The Orthobaton is the newest bicycle to be patented. It has been designed, we are told, "to meet the long-felt want of a bicycle ensuring a more elegant, comfortable, and safe position in the saddle." There is no front handlebar — the handles being at the sides — the front wheel is only little more than half the size of the rear wheel ; the steering ca.i be done by either one or both hands, and the machine is in many ways especially adapted to the needs of ladies. " Let go thy hold when a great wheel .runs down hill, lest it break thy neck with following it." — Shakespeara. Carbonate of lime rubbed on the tyres before starting out on a ride in wet weather is said to prevent side-slip. It is a remarkable fact that the financial aspect of things cycling, should be in a state of continued depression, whilst the sport and pastime goes on flourishing and increasing. Nearly all the cycling companies, of this country pay 10 per cent, dividends, and baldly a sfryda. ahaxe jg gjwied, m, th§ neigb^

bourhoocl of par, yet it is a common remark ■that riders are more numerous than ever. In one mop.i.h (January) the English Cyclists' Touring- Club received applications for membership from over l£oo persons; besides renewals from the previous year ; and the number applying to the kindred French institution fell very little short of the same total.

Ordinary cycling shoes lined with cork soles are very good for winter riding.

When riding on a snowy day it is best to have the tyres blown up to their fullest extent.

Mud and dirt may be easily removed from the hub of a cycle by the aid of a spoke brush.

In adjusting the chain af a bicycle take care to see that the wheel is central between the stays. < ' ' « ll ub a little vaseline on the reflector of your lamp. This will prevent the nickel from being burnt off. If your lamp won't burn, though wick and oil are all right, soak all the working parts in boiling water arid soda.

To replace balls in a bearing with little trouble, a useful tip is to make a paper funnel, by which means they may be easily placed in the bearing. Should your chain be slack, although the adjusting screw is as, far out as it will ■ come, the only plan is to v have one or two links taken out of the chain. - The springs of a cycle lamp should be oiled occasionally in damp weather. They are very apt to become stiff, which of course induces jolting of the lamp. A few weeks ago a Birmingham firm— the New Hudson Company— received orders by one post for nearly 600 machines '; and the same makers have 50 per cent, more orders on their books than at any period last year. This augurs well, for the cycling industry. Two straw bottle cov-ers telescoped one into the other and fixed by thrusting the tapor end between the springs of the saddle make a useful, if not ornamental, temporary mudguard for the back wheel.

Never ride too close to your companion. One man's wheel is often another man's woe.

Though cycling has been claimed by its friends as physical improver quite as staunchly as it has been decried by its detractors as a physical degenerator, neither side has inclined to declare itself regarding its influence upon the rider's eyesight. At this juncture a doctor steps forth and explains in this wise the benefits of cycling to weak-eyed town dwellers: — "In the city the range of vision is confined even to those who are much out of doors — blank walls and/huge buildings circumscribing the view; in the country the eye has an almost unlimited range, and this explains the common occurrence of the eyesight of country people being usually better than that of townsmen. Cycling, by taking the city dweller 'Out into the broad views of country, gives that re^t to the eyes which brings strength and hardihood together. The matter has a persona] interest to many an unfortunate individual burdened by debilitated optics, who has had to fall back upon art as an assistant to Nature." The doctor's favourable report seems at least a feasible doctrine, and sufferers from visual weaknesses — one of the most common disoiraers of to-rtaj* — may perhaps find some relief in this 'direction. At any rate the medicine is not unpleasant to take. — :—: — It 5s interesting to know that the gears on ,all the pacing" machines at the Crystal Palace track, the great world's record-holding track, are uniform. The quads aro geared to 112 and the quints to 135. These gears have been found the most suitable after a great deal of experimenting with both higher and. lower combinations.

"When a tyre comes in for repairs 'don't inflate and stick in the tyre-tank the first thing. Take a few moments after you have pumped the air in to find the leak with the tyre dry. Passing the tyre near the cheek will often detect the hole. By this plan yoxi Jon't have to wait until the tyre lias dried before proceeding with the repair. If you don't find it you've only lost a few minutes; and if you do you have saved quite a number — a good deal like gambling, but with the odds in your favour. Don't pull an inner tube out as soon as you get the lacing cut. Inflate it gently and look for a hole in the ends near the lacing. A casing with rough canvas surface will sometimes chafe in its place on an inner tube where the oncls tuck by one another, usually on the end toward which the air is driven. If you find the hole there you've saved the time and trouble of pulling out and replacing the tube. Don't, don't, don't oil valves to " make 'em go easy," as one repairer known to the writer did. He always squirted oil in the valve, and his customers were kept guessing afterwards why they couldn't push push any wind into the tyres, or why the air wouldn't come out when the valve was tripped. Oil rots the rtibber and swells it, and the best combination of the two is as far apart as good is from evil. If an inner tube is too short for a tyre don't do as an amateur recently did. He had 'a tube about an inch too short, and he XDulled it in just the same. The two ends wouldn't lap by, but that made no difference. He just rolled up a piece of oil tubing and stuck that in between the ends. There was a little hole in the centre of the roll. The air found it, and the result was a blown-out inner tube. A temporary repair in which a tube was telescoped and became too short was once fixed by using the above criticised rubber roll, but the ends of the roll were plugged with a couple of patchiag plugs of the largest size. Of course there was a loss of resiliency where the roll was, but the crippled tyre carried its rider 40 miles all right, and was still good for something. — r— It is an erroneoxis idea that bicycling develops only the legs. Of course, where the rider will persist in using a low handlebar and will insist upon cultivating a narrow chest and bent shoulders/by gripping the bar at the junction with the head of the machine instead of by the handles, it Is but a natural consequence that most of the development induced by riding the bicycle will go into the legs. When, however, the bicycle is ridden in a sensible way, and after the fashion for which it is constructed, healthy development is spread all over the body. The exercise under such circumstances affects the mu&cles of almost the entire physical system. It develops the arms because of their exercise in steering, it develops the lungs because it causes deep breathing. Cycling develops the stomach by giving its devotees a hearty appetite; it develops the heart by setting it beating; it develops wrists and -hands as they manipulate the handlebar. Outside of all this there is the development of the mind thvough the ability to reach and see and pass through new scenes, and to become acquainted with sections of the country which without the bicycle would be a closed lx>ok to most of the busy workers in towns and cities. On no account decry the bicycle as being a minis trant purely and simply to the development of the legs. ri An excellent way to -tosb the value of a tyre before staring out on a run is to take a glass of water and hold it between the spokes coverinp; the valve. Any leak will be readily ,4t£ssissL ia: ate &il?bie§ ia tt% wteh. tJis

valve should be kept in the water at least one ! minute. In screwing on the cap of the valve be sure there is no dust or grit in the joint. Do you want to put a secret mark upon I your machine, so that in case of necessity you j ca.i ever afterwards identify it?, If so, go i jat it in this way. Sec that a portion of the j enamel, about lin square, be scraped from ; the frame in some obscure part thereof. After j all trace of the .enamel has been removed ! apply a coating of grease, and with a pointed j piece of steel, dipped in carbolic acid, draw the initials or private mark, through the i gr^he. The acid follows the marking of the • steel point, while the grease keeps it from \ spreading. After allowing the acid to eat [ into the tubing the grease can be rubbed off, J cut into the steel framework. One coat of j „and the. mark or. initial shows as plainly as if \ '■ enamel will completely hide all trace" of the i mark, Should any, question as to the owner- ; ; ship of the wheel arise -the owner can, by ■ ! ©imply scratching off the enamel which ( : covered his mark, at once prove his claim. j

A writer in a French electrical paper states that he recently visited a large electrical establishment in Switzerland, where 600 workmen are employed. One of the features which struck him at the works was the cycle room for the use of the workmen, which at the time of "his visit contained no less than 580 machines, showing that over 96 per cent, of the employees were practical cyclists.

A good rub down after one's initial ride will work much good. "

- — A broken . ball, can generally be detected whilst riding by a grating sound in the bearings.

If your lamp wick be immersed in a strong solution of ; salt, allowed to dry, then dipped into a second salt-water bath containing a quantity of oil, and afterwards put into the lamp, .it wil 1 give a very brilliant light. There will also be less smoke, and it will be less liable lo go out.

When pedals are made to screw into the crank the right-hand pedal is often furnished — if it is not it should be — with a lefthand thread, so that the tendency of bho revolution of the pedal on the pedal pin is to tijrhten up the screw instead of to loosen it. When such is the case the rider must of course be careful not to exchange the cranks if he has occasion to take them off in cleaning or repairing.

Many saddles are made out of terribly hard leather. A good way to soften them is to detach from the L pir, turn upside down, and sprinkle the under surface with a fair amount of unboiled linseed oil, to be bought at any colour shop.

It will generally be found that after a spill the pedals have suffered in a greater or less degree. Remember that you can much easier bend the pedal straight with your foot than your hand, as the leg is more powerful than the arm. In case, after bending the pedal as straight as you can, it still does not spin easily, just slack away the cone a little, Mvhen the wliolp thing will probably work properly.

The laipleasant tendency experienced hy novices to ride straight at and into objects which they are most anxious to. avoid, is defined by a medical authority as the "hypnotic influence of concentrated attention, rendering the movements inco-ordißate, . so chat the rider becomes the victim of perverted reflexes of purposeless effort, and the abiect eubject of an optical delusion." Every stu L dent of cycle phenomena should be glad to know this." -Hitherto 'the unfortunate thing has been termed the "blind wobbles." one ever heard, however, of the novice who irresponsibly charged a coal cart tinder the impression that it was a feather bed. , Do not neglect y.our tyres. The luxury of easy riding- is almost entirely dependent upon them. A tyre that is continually ami3s in some little details robs cycling of all its pleasure. A good tyre is a thing to be prized. This is a fact that is not always recognised at its true value. How often does the average rider look after his tyres? The nickel parts of a machine, the pedals, the cranks, and the bearings are kept free from dust, but the tyres are often sadly neglected. It is impossible to ride upon roads, no matter how good they may be, without the tyres becoming at times slightly cut or grazed. A small, sharp stone may become embedded in it almost out of sight. Little by litile it works its way in with each revolution of the wheel, and at length comes the puncture. Slight cuts get deeper and deeper, dirt and wet penetrate the rubber, and, almost before the rider is aware of it, the whole fabric is beyond redemption. Tyres should'be carefully examined every few days. The bicycle should be turned upside down, being allowed to rest upon the handlebar and the saddle, and, as each wheel is slowly revolved, every inch of the fibre should be carefully looked over. In order to extract a sharp stone any instrument with a cutting edge should be tabooed. A pair of tweezers or the blade of an ivory or bone paper knife is all that is necessary. Cuts should be : carefully cleaned out and a little solution 1 piessed into them and allowed to dry, if they : are small. For larger 'ones a small piece of ; cotton wool or lint should be saturated with solution and pressed firmly into position.

A cyclist in Glenville, U.S.A., met with a queer accident recently. Some matches in his pocket became' ignited while he was -descending a hill so rapidly that he could not stop. The blaze grew larger and laiger until, when he reached the bottom, he was scorching in more senses than one. Happily there was a pond near by, into winch the cyclist splashed — fire, wheel, and all, being ultimately little the worse for his excitingadventure.

The French cyclists have an advantage over English riders. They make use of the State pawnshops for storing their machines hi winter, thus keeping the State responsible for the safe keeping of their machines. As the charge is only a small one, and the cycles are well protected, it is a capital way of saving oneself the worry of looking after the bicycle in the winter. There is, besides, the feeling of absolute security. Belgium has introduced a new kind of bicycle race. The competitors are taken to a place unknown to them, and are then left to find their way back to a fixed point. The first man to arrive is the winner.

Here is a story of a little girl who is very fond of cycling with her father. One day he went farther than usual, and she naturally began to grow tired. However, she did all she could to conceal the fact, lest it shoiild make her parent indisposed to take her with him on future occasions. At last her weariness betrayed itself to her father's eye. Even then she parried his questions, and could not be made to admit her weariness until drawn into a trap. " Well, L ,if you don't feel tired, tell me just how you do feel." " Oh, I'm not much tired, papa,"" answered the diplomatic little girl ; " but I feel as if I should like to take my legs off and carry 'eui for a little." PEARCE MACHINE No. 3

. Cork handles which have become loose may easily be fastened by the aid of a little tyre cement and a hot poker. Take off the loose handles, then apply a light to a piece of cement, which smear on the handle-bar. You can also drop a little cement inside the handle, iiSftt iUe p_Qke£ or a pic.cc of iron A and push the

end into ,the handle-bar for about 6fn, holding it there until the bar is hot enough to niaka the cement melt, so that you can easily push in the handle. Leave for half ah hour to cool, and you wwilyl y find the handle firmly, fixed. It may be that there isalready enough' cement in the handle, and it only requires heating to make it run.

Nearly a quarter of a million cyclists run out from New York for . their weekly afternoon run.

Zola — who has come to be recognised for the real good in his work rather than] for the bald viciousness of the low life he seemed pleased to portray — is no novice at wheeling. He says it is good fun, and one should -get) much healthful pleasure out of it. This is strong testimony, for Zola, although he may have a great imagination, is not given to idealising things. He describes as he sees the naked truth or deceit/ as it may be. Zola's testimony ought to drive home the statement that cycling is good, for literary workers. A. bicycle may yet be" reckoned a necessary part of every author's equipment, for an imaginative , brain is an important part of a romancer's machinery, and nothing beats ' a rapid whirl in pure air for stirring the sensibilities

CHRISTCHURCH CYCLING CLUB.

Christchurch, April 8." Tfce Christchurch Cycliug Club held theis Eester races at Lancaster Park to-day undjsi the mes-j favourable' auspices; The-weafcher was perfect,, and over6Qoo. were present.- The rafcing was extremely good, with 'several exciting finishes, and ' numerous records were broken. The lesgue expects to net tbout £150 by the naeetiiig. The . fields were large in all the events. Results: — ' p ■ Maiden Handicap.— T. Boaynes, 30yds, 1 ; C. Jones; 100 yds, 2; R. Walker, 10yds, 3. Time, 2min 18 4-s?ec. Sixteen started. Flying Stakes. Half mile.— First heat : C. M. Gray, 40yds, 1 ; L. J. Lloyd, 30yds, 2. Time, lmin 2 4-ssec. Twelve started. Second heat : G. Sutherland.scr, 1 ; O. Peake, 35yds. 2 ; A. Ralston, ] syds, 3 Time, lmiu. 3 4-53ec. Twelve started. Third heat : W. Robertson, COyds, 1 ; T. Clarkson, tor, 2; R. CampbeU, 45yds, 3. Time, lmin 3sec. Twelve started. Fourth heat : A. R. Barker, scr, 1 ; H. Guntliorpe, 50yds, 2 ; J. Chalmers, 30yds, 3. Time, Imin 2 4-ssee. Twelve started. Final : J-'utherland 1, Barker 2, Ciawfoid 3. Time, lmin 1 2£ sec. This was a grand race, and a "splendid | finish. Sutherland secured the lead when enterF ing on the last lap and-held it. Barker cam® through in the last 30yds, but could not catch Sutherland, who won by a wheel ; Crawford very 3lose up.- • Great Easter Wheel Race. Two miles. First prize 40sovs, second 7sova, »hird 3sovs.~ First heat : E. A. Archer, 160 yds, 1 ; H. GunIhorpe, -ZOOyds, 2: W. Tieruey, 6yds, 3. Time, 4tnin 48sec. Eight started. Second heat : J. Chalmers, ;i2oyds, 1 ; D. Price, 160 yds, 2 ; E. •Scr'mshaw, 240 yds, 3. Time, 4min 48 4-ssec. Twelve started, Third heat : G. Sutherland, scr» ; 1 ; T. Clarkson, scr, 2 ; W. Robertton, 240 yds, 3. Time, 4mi» 33 3-ssec. Fourteen started. includitiK JDon Walker scr, A. -It. Barker scr, IS. A, Wall 20yi?s, A. ttalston £oyds. Final : Sutherland 1, CHrkson 2, Gunthorpe 3. Time, 4min This was a most exciting finish - Amidst great enthusiasm Sutherland- and Clarkaoa gradually wore the others down, pacing in turn, and Clarkson sprinted 300 yards from the tape and passed Sutherland, who, however, responded gamely, and passed him almost on the tape, tritiviing by .•about three inches. • -- - ; , -> - Good ITripay Handicap, One .mile.— First heat : J.-StantoD, 20yds, 1 ; JK. A. Archer, 70yds, 2;' L.J. Lloy'd,«-50yd3,' 3. Time, 2mm 15sec. Five • r started: Second heat : C. ,M.- Gray;- 80yds, 1 ; ». I Walker, 80yds, 2;-A^ Doan, '6oyds, 3. Time, ' 2min 10 3-ssec. Eleveri"s»tarted. Third heat : (J."JS. Peake, 70yds, 1; W.. Humphreys,^ 45yds, 2;R. , Campbell,- 90yds, 3.' Time, 2min lljslc: Eight 1 started. Fourth heat : A. R. Barker, scr, 1; S~ '■ Potter, 60yd?, 2 ; W. H. Gibson;"9ovds, 3. . Time, '; 2min 14 4-sscc. Five started. Final ; Gray- 7» Stanton 2, Doun 3. Time, 2min 13 3-sse% A splendid finish and a close race. | Multicycle Handicap. - Won by a quad (IIen« ( wood, Robertson, Preece, and Ritchie), with i Walls and Roger, on a tandem, second. Time,' j 6min 18sec, which is a record for three miles. [Two triplets and another tandem also' started. i Consolation. One mile. — A. Holmes 1, E. j Crawford 2, A. Craigie 3, Peake 4. Holmes and j Craigie were disqualified for not having started j in the previous races uu the same day. Time, ; 2m in 11 4-sse c.

Provincial Championship of Canterbury (Paced). 'Three miles.-~A. R. Barker J, A. Ralston 2, T. Clatkson 3. Time, 6m"in 4Ssec. Barker and Ralston rode a dingdong finish. Clarkson, who was completely done, was the only other man to finish out of seven.

Don Walker, who was paced by two triplets and a quad, rode a mile m lmin 57§aec from a flying (start. The previous record for New Zealand was 2min If sec from a standing start;.

INVERCARGILL CASH CYCLING.

Tnvercakgili,, April 11.

The Invercargill Cash Cycling Club had a cold, windy day for their race meeting, and the attendance was small. Results :—: —

Half-mile. — V. Ekensteeu, 25yds, 1 ; A. H. Thompson, 30yds, 2 ; E. Wallis, scr, 3. Tims lmiu 11 3kec.

Mile (open).— R. L. Begg, llssc behind, 1 ; H. Edwards, Bsec behind, 2 ; V. Ekensteen, llsec I behind, 3. Time, 2min 42fses. I Invercargill Wheel It ace. Two milss. — F. rWallis, scr, 1; E. Matthews, limit, 2; F. Duff, ! 14sec behind, 3. Time, smin 65 3-ssec. Club Championship. Three miles.— W. Jordan ],-T. Double 2, F. Duff 3. Time, Binin 32 ! 3-ssecT

The strong wind ms.de the times slow and caused many riders to drop out.

DRUIDS' GALA.

Wellington, April 11.

The attendance at fcbe Basin Reserve to witness . the Druids' a»nual gala is generally believed i to be a record for the ground. The cycling STentu created the greatest interest, and the grass tracks being in capital condition there were no accidents. The appearance of Sutherland, who had been riding with phenomenal success in the south, wp.s an attraction in himself, and ho fully justified his reputation, riding with great judgment, and winning all but one event in which he started. Barker, too, was well received, and there were m&ny who would have been glad to see Clarkson score a winning bracket. Following sre the results of the chief events :—: —

Half-mile Bicycle.— Butland (50yds) beat ■Ralston (25yds) and Barker (scr). Time, lniin Ssec.

Mile Bicycle Handicap.— Humphreys (45yds) defeated Chalmers (GOyds) and H. Lyon (50yd3). Time, 2tnin 27|sec. Easter Haj.dicap 100 yds Flat.— J. Milae (10yds) won from Emery (l]yds) and Taylor (Syds). Time, Ilj3ec. 220 yds Flat.— Miltie (16'yde) and Taylor (15yds), dead heat. Time, 22 3-ssec. Three-mile Bicyole Handicap.— A great race, Sutherland and Barker, each at scratch, fighting out a fine finish, in which the former won by half a wheel, and Lyon (J6oyds) only another half« wheel behind. Time, 7min 55sec.

440 yds Flat.— J. Milne (27yds) won-in 51fsee. Wells (30yds) won th&,Mile Flat in 4min 40£ sec. Two-mils Bicycle Handicap.— Auother excifi« ing race, Sutherland (scratch) winning on the post from Chalmer (110 yds) with Lyon (160 yds) & Time, smin 15sec. Provincial Mile Championship.— Sutherland won in 2min 51 4-ssec ; Humphreys 2, and RalstorC

I Five-mile Handicap.— Ralston (scratch) woti . in 13m iv 50£ sec, after, a-^ood finish with Clarksorf I from same, mark. Theavvrere capital ft?Mg_*Uk -vthe.daso ' ~ ~~~