ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 42

ATHLETICS.

SOTES BY AMA.TfcTJR.

Stanley Rowley, the amateur champion sprinter of Au&lralasia, will figure as a senior footballer at Rugby this season. A Brisbane telegram states that the Amateur Athletic Association diFcuss-ed the New South Wales objection to the dates of the Brisbane meeting, but in view of the heavy financial risks incurred it was decided that it was inadvisable to change the original dates. The dates fixed by the Queensland Union for the Australasian championships referred to in the foregoing paragraph are the sth and 12th August. Upon this point " The Prodigal" writes in the Sydney Referee: "At the conference in 1897. and at the express wish of the Queensland A. A. A. delegates (the Q.A.A.A. had come in. the agreement by virtue of being in the union), the months during which the games could be held were made from September (instead of October as heretofore) until March — both inclusive. October had all along been considered too^early by the New Zealand A. A. A., and in admeasure by the Victorian A.A.A., but the point of even an earlier month was conceded, so as to endeavour to meet the Quecnslanders owing- to the peculiar nature of their climate. The Queensland authorities, as time went on, suggested that it would suit them even better if August could be tapped. The New Zealand A.A.A. pointed out that August was extremely tinsuilable to them, but that they would stretch a point and concede dates at the end of August. The Queensland A.A.A. now comes along and fixes upon -August 5 and 12, and asks the consent of the union to the dates. Here we have (1) the agreement violated to the extent of almost •four weeks, and (2) a whole week between the first and concluding days of the

meeting. This arrangement is, doubtless, eminently satisfactory to our northern friends, both from the standpoint of weather and attendance, but it is wholly unsatisfactory to the other associations. I have advocated, and still advocate, that every consideration should be shown the Queensland A.A.A. .but the other colonies must be studied, and, doubtless unthinkingly, the Queensland A.A.A., in doing all in its power to have a really successful meeting, has overlooked the other associations altogether. I say this because I am certain they ara not trying to obtain an unfair advantage. I believe I am correct in saying that the New Zealand A.A.A. and Victorian A.A.A. have notified the union officials that they cannot agree to a week intervening between the two days of sport — it practically means that they will be unable to send' teams of representative strength, even if teams at all — and the New Zealand A.A.A. has further notified its disapproval of the dates being early in August."

It seems to me that if the dates proposed by the Queensland Association are adhered to the effect may be to prevent New Zealand being represented at all. On the assumption that a more reasonable view will be taken by the Brisbane people, I observe that "Lynx" in the New Zealand Herald expects to see the wearers ,qf the New Zealand colours account for at least five championships — viz., the one mile walk' (D. Wilson), 120 yds hurdles (G. Smith), 440 yds flat (W. V. Kingston), threemile walk (D. Wilson), andY-pole vault (JamesTe Paa or Hori Eruera) ; while more than one of them will be very hard to beat in other of the events, notably R. Brownlee in the high jump and W. H. Madill in tha weights. There is, however, not the slightest atom of a probability of Kingston being able to represent the colony, and the fact that Brownlee is a meniber of the police force, the heads of which discourage in every possible way the efforts of their officers to achieve proficiency in athletics, may be regarded as, an effectual bar to his getting away. Fulmen has been scratched for the Birthday Handicap, and Nihilist for the Tradesmen's.

An Auckland telegram states that a New Zealand Athletic League has been formed. It was decided to co-operate with other societies that cater for professional athletes, and make provision for holding a, Sheffield handicap for £100, and a mile handicap for £50, early next season, if satisfactory arrangements can be made.