LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 42

LAND AND WATER.

A match has been arranged between Fitzsiimnons, of New Zealand, ex-champion of the world, and Tom Sharkev, who recently foaght Ruhlin, for 25,000d01. The contest was to have taken place at Coney Island, under the auspices of the Now York Athletic Club, on August 24. The trout-fishing season is to open shortly, and although the various plandard streams of the district (the Waipahi, Otpmete, Mimihau, and others) are reported to be well stocked with promising ii&h, not much is expected from either tho Mataura ur "Waikaka. Owing to dredging tho laltcr stream is lost for ever to the angler. The trout have practically disappeared and eels only reiu;ii]i. — Ensign. The Queensland Government; some time ago ordered £000 rifles, and 2,000- MartiniEnfield have arrived. Of the remainder, 2000 will be of the same_ pattern, and 4000 of the latest pattern magazine, the tamo as used by the British Army. These latter will not reach Queensland before December. The big guns ordered by the Government are also of the most improved pattern. This probably is the cause of the delay that has taken place in fulfilling the order. Sergeant-majoi M'Pherson, on retiring from the position of drill instructor at Oamaru, a post he has occupied for 30 j^oars, was on Tuesday night presented with an .illuminated address and a handsome clock, suitably engraved. It wps urgpd by Sir James Hector ir> a lecture in Wellington the other evening, that every effort should be made to preserve the New Zealand snipe, which was becoming very rare indeed. This bird, he said, was one of the smaa'te&t game birds that could be gofc.

It retained all the characteristics of the English snipe, flew in a zigzag manner, was difficult to shoot, and afforded capital sport. A boxing match took place at Calcutta some little time ago, the contestants being Harry Brophy, a New Zealander, and Jack M'Auliffe, champion of Australia. The contest was supposed to be for 20 rounds, -but Brophy was quite unable to stand up to his formidable opponent, and was knocked out of time in the first round. The demand in Sydney for rabbits and hares for export is said to be increasing, while the supply is falling off. At the billiard match in Sydney recently Roberts, the world's champion, made a break of 500, the record for Australia. A Wellington telegram says : — In tha hockey match Wellington v. Christchurch, the drizzling weather spoiled the game, as the players could not keep their feet in the mud. The game ended in a win for the "Wellington men, for whom Hickson- and Cooper scored a goal each against one by Jacobs for the visitors. A Sydney cablegram states that in the baseball match between New South Wales and Victoria the former won by an innings and 2 runs.

THE DUNEDIN HAKRIEKS. •

For the third time this season, the Dunedin Harriers' Club had chosen Normanby as their " happy lvunting ground," and Saturday's run proved to be as pleasurable as it's predecessor?. Starting from the tram ter- *.^ minus, the hill was' almost immediately taken, and , the pack, keeping well together, ' gradually made their way in a semi-circular route along the top, via the Upper Junction; School. Before talcing Ihe road again for a. final sprint, a considerable stretch of bush ' country was negotiated, and this helped to j greatly diversify the afternoon's outing. Tha i lwealc for " home " was keenly contested, and l-Mo^rs Callan, Matheson, Cannon, Spenco, t and Jackson finished ver*- closely together. j Members are reminded that next Satui-day \ they ara to be the quests of Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, at his residence, Grant's Braes. -^