CASH ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 58

CASH ATHLETICS.

Delegates to athletic clubs and societies are reminded of tha meeting which is to be held for the purpose of eleoting an executive council of the ' Otago Athletic Association.

Mr G. W. Woods, president of the N.Z Athletic Union, returned on Thursday last, after his organising ' tour ef the North Island. After leaving Christchurch, Mi Woods journeyed to Hawke's Bay, where he attended a meeting of delegates from societies held at Waipawa. It was stated that the Gisborne Caledonian Society wwhod to affiliate, and would do- so through the a-sociation. After hearing Mt Woods. it was decided "to form a Hawke's Bay Afc-.ociation, the following officers being eVcted:— President. Mr R. W. D. M'Lean ; i ice-pre-sideute, Messrs S. Hunter and S. Johnston ; secretary anc 1 treasurer, Mr W. S. Callender. The electron of the Executive Committee was left in abeyance till the next meeting. The Exhibition programme was dealt with, and it was decided to recommend the authorities to increase the prize money to £500. Mr Woods was thanked heartily for his attendance. Mr Woods returned to Wellington, and in company with Mr Alie Shannon, well known in athletic up north, left for "Xew Plymouth, wheie t-he president conferred with the officials of the Taranaki Athletic AsM^riation. He next attended -a. meeting of directors of the N.Z. Axemen's Association at Kltham, with a \ie\v to .arriving nt a reciprocal sigreement ; but an alarm of fire in the vicinity somewhat abruptly broke up the mooting. An understanding, however, will be arrived at shortly. After forming a centre at Wanganui. Mr Woods np\£ journeyed to Feildiug, where he met representatives from the yarioiis athletic societies, 'including the Feiiding Athletic Society. The latter organkation is <»neidered the most conservative athletic society in the colony, and in t<he past has eucceEbfully run its meetings without any outfoide heri). Several attempts had been made to form -governing bodies, of which 4ho Feiiding Athletic Society should form a majority on any committee, but the feociety always declined. Mr Woods, however, took the matter in hand, end was siicce«feful Jn forming a centre at Feiiding. It was explained at the meeting that the centre would include cluhs on the Mana•watu line north of Ota<ki, F-oxton, Palincruton. Marton to Taihape, Bulls. s_nd all

clubs in the Feiiding district. — about 26 iB all.

A meeting of the Feiiding Athletic Club will be held shortly, when delegates from athletic clubs will be invited to attend a n?eeting to elect officers for the centre of the union.

Enthusiasts throughout the colony are in. debted to Mr Woods for the energy and tact he ha* displayed in furthering the intorests of pure sport. Hie latest effort has been a grand one, a nd include* the further strengthening of the union by close on 50 athletic clubs and societies, which brings the total of the union's strength to 250 societies. As showing their interest in the ainion, Mr Woods and Mr Gilfeddcr ar« bearing ail costs of organisation. " Waikouaiti Caledonian Society hold a meeting on Wednesday evening to consider with other matters, -the question of affiliating wita tire Otago -Centre of the "N Z. .Athletic Union. The society is at present forming a cycling track, the surfaoe of which wi'l be -of cinder formation. £ trust this progressive athletic body will have the assistance of the public and competitors in its effort to provide a good day* sjrort. *"?hampion A. "B. Postle has issued a challenge to the world to run any man over a short sprint course for any sum up to £300. Mr Rufe iSlaylor. on the conditions mentioned by Postle. is willing tfli deposit £200, in good faith, the race to he Tun at Kalgoorlie.

The Waimate Caledonian Society is en« deavouring to purchase a piece of land," farvouiably situated, as a recreation ground. TSieir present ground. although well vtuated, requires putting in order, and "the* society wisely thinks of purchasing 1 for themselves, rather than improving their present leasehold.

I notice that terms of an agreement between the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association and the N.Z. Athletic Union -were drawn up. and agreed upon by fche former body at a. meeting on Friday evening last. Until hearing more on the matter I will refrain from commenting on the pros and! cona ef ±he terms set out in the proposed agreement. «One of the features of the lengthy proframme submitted At the Partick Police ports on a recent .Saturday at Glasgow was a match over two miles between Alfred Shrubb, the ex-amateur long-distance champion runner, and 'G. B. Tinclcr and Stewart Duffus, the latter being a Scottish amateur champion who some time ago went over to professional ranks. In the first mile the pace set was not a fast one. Duffus leading all the time until the fourth ciiouir, where Shrubb crossed the line first. Hera fche Dubliner joined in, and, setting out at top speed, placed a gap of 100 yards between himself and his opponent. The task of recovering lost ground was a hopeless one for Shrubb, who finally was beaten by a considerable margin. The contest was in no wise interesting, and is nafc likely to be repeated. The time was 9miu 12 3-ssec.

The Imports for the same period m« valued at £Z,853,702, against £z,2<*&,&4& for the corresponding quarter of last year. The imports at the leading ports were: — Wellington, £1,014.621; Auckland, £625,769; Lyttelton, £488.405; Dunedin, £454.203. -

During the hearing of a case at the Maivern Court (Victoria) recently, in -vrfiich a woman proceeded against her husband on a suit for maintenance, the complainant said they were marrieel on 4s a week. The defendant had had a rise in wages lately, and she thought 7s 6d a week would be a fair order for the bench to make. The case was adjourned for further particulars. The changing rose is a utant to-the cultivation of which the Japanese devote much attention. It produces a tiny, but beauti-fully-formed flower. On being taken suddenly out of a dark place into -a sunny room it slowly assumes a pale pink hue. which gradually grows m intensity -until it becomes of the -deepest ped shade. Thecolour vanishes again at night, or when the rose is replaced in a dark room.

The Midhurst correspondent of the Stratford Post necDrdA the dteath of the oldest Afidhurst resident. Mr Thomas Robertson. Born in Edinburgh in 1813 he unlisted in the Spanish axmv in WSI. Five years later he returned "to 'Ensrlanxl, -and enlisted in fhe "Rritio'h army, -joining a corps then known as the Uoval Bappcrs and Miners. With this famous cores tbe deceased eenred hi« country until July. l p 6t. and w«s disrharered with a wnKion. -which he cFrow *o* ♦2 years. Mr Robertson sa-w service _;r; r various parts of the world, including Nev Zealand.