NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 56

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

The following table shows the position of the various senior clubs in the First Grade competitions for the season just ended : —

The bat Clem Hill made all his runs in New Zealand with remains in Duncd'n as a souvenir of a memorable visit. The youngSouth Australian presented the bat to Harry Graham after the second '"test" match in Wellington. In recognition of a pleasant engagement as coach of the Boys' High Sfohool, Graham has, at tho termination of that engagement, presented the bat to F. H. Campbell, in whose possession it now remains.

By defeating! Carisbrook B on Saturday thai club's A Eleven drew level with Dunedin in the run-up for the First Grade championship.

The match concluded on Saturday between these elevens was not wildly exciting. The A team had set the B Eleven an almost mii-ossible tack by compiling 287 in the first innings. The mainstays of the B team, Siedeberg- and Austin, were dismissed -ariv in the innings. The former was out lbw and the latter bowled before they had o-yt going. Mills and Thomson made a v.sel"ul st&nd, the former hitting up 30 and 1 the latter 25. The ex-Aucklander appeared to be. well set when h& fell a victim to misplacing a full toss. He intenJed to get it round to the square leg boundary, but it went, sweetly off his bat into the hands of Harraway in the outfield.

If using a bat belonging- to a famous Australian c-rieketer has anything to do with making runs — which it hasn't— F. H. Cjynpbcll should have got over a century on Saturday, for lie was playing with a bat which had at one time belonged to Clem ! Hill — in fact, the one that cricket worthy made his runs with in that memorable innings in Wellington a few 1 weeks ago. Had the A team accepted all the chances that came their way in the shape of catches, the B side would have scored, fewer rur>s than they did. The lofty fielding was at times wretched, several simple catches being dropped during the innings. Harry Graham, coach of the Otago Boys' High School, whose engagement; expired on the 31st ult., left for liivercargill en route to Melbourne on Monday. Graham will spend a few days in the south before joining the Moeraki at tha Bluff on the 9th in^t. During his sojourn in Dunedin Graham Las endeared himself to all with whom he ha§ come into contact, and iv& '

departure is received on all sides vt'.th genuine expressions of regret. As coach of i-he Boys' High School for the past two> seasons, Graham has indeed done excellent work. By strict attention to duty and his assiduous efforts on behalf of the schoolboys, Graham has left an impression which will long lhe to his credit. *■

In view of the opinions so recently expressed by Noble and Layer, of the Australian Eleven, in respect to the improvement of cricket in New Zealand, it is pat all understanding why a man of Graham';, abilities should be allowed to go from amongst \is without a bold bid being made to retain his services. If Graham could obtain employment in the city to tide him over the winter months, he would be available next cricket season. Efforts in this direction have, so far, been unsuccessful. Unlike other cities, there does not appear to be anyone in our midst who has the interests of the game sufficiently at heart to make provision for retaining a cricketer and coach like the ex-international, who would be as conscientious in the discharge of his duties in the office or the storeroom as he has proved to be in tho ci-icket field. Once back in Melbourne, Graham is not likely to return to Dunedin, and the prospects of again securing a coach who will give such satisfaction as the popular little "Victorian are remote indeed. While other centres

purpose experimenting with "Bulli soil — an

uncertain quantity in an uncertain climate — this centre should endeavour to improve the standard of cricket by judicious coaching-. The benefits to be derived from such are

well known and recognised the world over. Of course, the whole question, is one of finance: but the fact should noo be lost sight of that the finances' will never improve until cricket reaches a higher standard, and the games made more interesting to the general public than is at present the case. The comparative weakness of our cricket is tho primary cause -why the public stay away in such large numbers. Improve, the game and the finances improve with it. Tho loason the Otajro Cricket Association sustained a loss of £50 over " the Australian match was because the- representatives of the province were unable^ to make a reasonable stand against the visitors. Had they been able to do so a profit, and not a loss, would have been the outcome. In this connection I understand that had there j been a profit over the Australian match. I Graham's services would have been retained hy the Otago Association. While lack of funds prevents the association doing anything in. the matter, there are three clubs in this 'city who might well arrange foV Graham's services, and if these put their heads together I have no doubt they would find a means of doing so. The Albion and Dunedin Clubs had the matter placed before them last week, but" decided j against the pvoposition. Some 18 months ago these two clubs appealed to the public for fund 9 through a cricketers' carnival, and so generous was the response that they were ,able to divide £500 "between them — a matter of £250 each Portion of its share the Albion Club intends expending on ground improvements, and I understand this is to be done with the assistance of the corporation next year. The Dunodin Club has already expended a portion of its £250 j in a, ooach, but whatever may have been their experience in the past the balance* of that sum still remains for the purposes for which it iwas intended, and for that purpose it should be i.sed. What better opportunity than the present, when Graham's services at its disposal. I do not propose that Dunedin should take the whole responsibility, but should share ib with the Albion Club, which will have a balance after improvements to its ground have bes-n effected. These two clubs, together with the OJrl Boys of the High School, and perhaps Oarisbrook CO., might enter into an arrangement whereby Graham's services would be retained at a minimum ooet to each. The Dunedin and Albion Clubs might well reconsider their decisions ere it is too late, and keep Graham amongst us so that the good work he has done in the past will not be thrown away, but will be still further developed next season.

The Canterbury Cricket Association has decided to import a quantity of Bulli soil for the wickets in Lancaster Park, and has set up a sub-committee to inquire into the question of substituting district competitions for grade matches.

Joe Darling was " farewelled " in Adelaide prior to his departure for England to join the Australian Eleven. One speaker referred to Darling as the finest captain m the world, and if he controlled the 1905 team they were almost certain to be successful.

A South Australian writer, commenting on the appearance of G&hrs with the Australians in New Zealand, states that he must have given Maorilanders a taste of his fielding qualities. In one match he arrested the ball in the air four times. "'Arrested"' is good.

That cricket runs in families- is demonstrated by the success of the Hill family with bat and ball. Playing for an Adelaide Club the other day, Roy Hill, brother of Clem, of international fame, played a faultless 95 ; while another brother in Frank scored 4-8 by good! cricket. "The Australians wound up their splendidly successful New Zealand tour in a veritable blaze of triumph," says a Melbourne writer, "when they won the return match against New Zealand by an inning? and 358 runs, and they have since sailed for America en route to England. The New Zealand matches have afforded the Australians useful practice, and the trip, of course, enabled them to thoroughly enjoy the magnificent and varied beauties of that wonderland, which many experienced globe-trotters have declared to bo 'the finest country under the sun.' " The New Zealand matches nave afforded the Australians useful practice !

It is interesting to know, in making a comparison between Australian and Xow Zealand cricket, that on the recentlv-con-oluded tour the Australian Eleven lent 61 wickets for 2608 run«, or an average of 43 runs per wicket, while the New Zea landers "cored 1575 runs for 131 wickets, oi an average of 12 runs per man. J. Darling has left Adelaide for London. He will arrive in the metropolis about the same time a« the orher members of the Australian Eleven, who are journeying by way of America.

A remarkable batting average has been recorded in Adelaide by C. E. Dolling. Hi, latest score was 135 not out against Linden Park, while his best entry was 311, made in December. Includinar Collegiate cricket. Dolling's runs total 915 for twice out, griving the extraordinary a\cra<je of 457,5 per inninafu

I J. H. Stuckey has so far recovered from, the accident which befell him in the match against South Australia as to be able to walk with tho aid of one stick. The public subscription, which was limited to one shilling-, resulted in the presentation to the famous Victorian of a diamond ring. Dr Moore, Stuckey's medical attendant, bound | the fractured kneecap with wires, which 1 will always remain in the bone, and he is i confident that his patient will be able to i play cricket again. ! The South Australian Association suggests several important amendments of the i seh-emo submitted by the Victorian body in i respect to the Board of Control. They may i be epitomised thus : — Excision of the power to finaoee the visits of Australian teams ito England ; the addition of a rule invest- ! ing tho board with authority to arrange, control, and regulate inter-State matches, ' and providing for the exchange with competing associations of one-third of the gross takings in home matches ; and a rearrange- ' uient of the suggested test match teams. The amendments include also re-presentation 1 on the board of both Australian and interState elevens. The suggestions are of a nature so important that the whole matter must necessarily be reconsidered both in South Australia and in New South Wales. A remarkable record : O. H. Dean, the New South Wales schoolboy cricketer, hasnow batted 33 times for 2117 runs in all matches this season, and, with the aid. of one not out innings, has an average of 64-.15. In school competition matches | this season he has aggregated 1117 runs for | 10 innings, which gives him an average of : 111.77. He has made nine century scores, five in school matches (4-12, 126, 104, 174, and 106) and four in other matches (111, 106, 142. and 146). Prince Alfred College has turned out some rai-e cricketers in its time (writes my Melbourne correspondent), and this year's captain of the team has certainly achieved a unique record so far as the season has gone. Last Saturday ho piled up 135 (not out) againt Lindon Park, on his college ground. This is tbe third century he has amassed since the inter-collegiate match in December, in which contest he was responsible for no less than 311 runs. Including the inter-collegiate match, Polling has compiled 915 runs for twion out — or an average of 457.5 per innings. Sportsmen generally — but cricketers and footballers more especially — will be gra-ti-fied to hear that Mr "Dave" Scott ("The Almanac'") has completely recovered the effects of the two perilous operations Dr Moore had recently to perform on him for rupture. I met "the übikitus" in Elizabeth street the other day. just as he came out of the clever specialist's private hospital, and he informed me that he in- ' tended to rusticate for a few weeks in the country, prior to returning to Goy and Fibson's. Tut ! Tut ! I meant to write Foy and Gibson's. In response to an inquiry from the Wei- .' lington Cricket Association, the directors of the Athletic Park Company have intimated that the grounds are not for sale. The directorate has under consideration proposals for the improvement of the park, particularly for the benefit of cricketers. Bulli soil is to be used for the improvement of the pitches. i

ciub. p: laiisbrook B )unetJin Isurisbiook A Jbion I- range . . tpoho . . 'layed 10 10 10 10 10 10 a. ■ Won. ] 7 5 5 3 4 3 Lost 1 4 4 6 5 6 t. I Drawn. I Points. 8 6 6 5 4 3