THE PLAYGROUND.

Southland Times, Issue 14577, 18 November 1910, Page 2

THE PLAYGROUND.

BY " ONLOOKER." The Tuatapere A.S. fully intended holding their bnshcraft competition sports on Ktw Year's Day, but, muling that the Clifden Racing Club were first Jn the Held in the district, it was wisely iecided to conduct the sports on Dec. JTth.

The crack '• All Rlack" forward, C. Seeling, now a Northern Unionist, was Only chosen as an emergency for the 'Midland Counties football team. Iho «sx-Aucklander is said to be playing as V/ell as ever. It is stated that the race over -14 0 "'yards at ttie Orepuki S.C's meeting on ■'jkov. 9, in which McQueen iaii yards) ■ defeated \V. F. Trcmbath (scr) by .inches after a great struggle, was the first occasion on which ttie New Zealand champion has been beaten over a ■similar course in a handicap .since he joined the ranks of the professionals. The winner is a better man than the average runner over middle distances, ■which makes Trernbath's sliowins all the more meritorious. The Cliixlon and U'alau A.L. have applied for affiliation to the South and Centre of the New Zealand Athletic .Union, and purpojje holding their annual sports gathering during the las -week of January. A well endowed ■programme will be submitted. • , ■ The Lutnsdeti Caledonian Society s »me schedule for their annum sports fixture is in the hands of the printer, and will be available to the public ■within a few da vs. The sports will'be "held on Monday, Dee. -'(ltli. _ The draughts champion ol Fnglaud arrived in Melbourne recently, before -completing his engagements in New South Walt's, as he was determined to see the Melbourne Cup. Ihi hail just xeturned from a most suecesstul tour 'through New Zealand, where lie- played ■1!)(57 games, of which he won ludl. lost E, arid 401 were drawn. During the three AVeeks Mr Jordan was in New South Wales lie played a:',l sanies, winning 241, losing U, and drawing Set. lie left Melbourne on November IS, en route for America, where arrangements are being made by leading players tor a tour through the United Status and Canada. On Saturdav of last week five young ladies, who had decided upon holding a Whitebait supper, set out on cycles to capture from the Oreti the wherewithal to furnish the main feature of their banquet. Four billy-cans were taken 4 along to hold their fish, and, after a strenuous ride, an experience* of winch ,;;was a clash of many miles in the wrong direction, they arrived at the streamJaide. An exhausting time was spent -In pursuit of the tiny fish required, and, 'as the shades of evening gathered, a halt was called to partake of refreshments and count the catch of a very warm and trying afternoon. The total capture was five diminutive whitebait. one for each billy-can and one over. and. after disgustedly feeding them out td the voracious "11111110.4" of the river in their -vicinity, the fair lisherwomen wearily pedalled home to Invercargill to purchase from a smiling fishmonger the material for their projected repast. „ . , , A ... Young George Grey is undoubtedly the most interesting figure in the English billiard world to-day. Nothing like his losing hazard play has been seen •there. It is noted that his great "breaks are the result of a marvellous ■knowledge of strength. His mainstay Is the centre pocket, made with a. halt -run through. If he fails to secure for this shot by an inch or two ne can nearly always recover it by nothing more sensational than a thin loser, or by playing into one of the, top pockets. His peculiar style is remarked on the crouch which brings his «hin almost on to his cue, and the fact that he stands at the table with both knees bent. This may not be orthodox, "but it is admitted that his balance is very good. It is more than likely that Gray and Inman will presently be "brought together in a match, but there is little chance of Stevenson and Gray meeting. Stevenson has announced that he will only match with the Australian tinder -championship conditions, which ■would necessitate; ivory balls being •used, and herein lies the bar to the players meeting. Gray is under contract not to play with . anything but jcrystalate balls, and Stevenson is well aware of this fact. Inman, on the other hand, is quite willing to play .Gray with composition balls. Australian sculling experts are of opinion that W. Fogwell lias improved to a very great extent since he was debated by Whelch, and hold high hopes of'him turning the tables on the Akaroa oarsman when a return match is brought- off. During the recent river "regatta season in N.S.W. Fogwell rowed "better than at any previous time in his career. In England wrestler Yussiff Mahmout is out.with a challenge to the world to compete for a stake of from £10:) to iooo aside, the best of three falls in catch-as-catch-can style. The man speciallv sought is George Ilackenschmidt, if he is still in the business. "Mahmout, a native of Turkey, weighs about 1-tst Tibs in competition condition, -and is said to be a very fast and "Vigorous athlete, in addition to ranking as a scientific wrestler of the first •water. English experts class the Turk as a man fully entitled to claim recognition With the world's best mat performers. The Indian wrestler, Gama. about whom so much has been heard of late, was recently challenged by Mahmout for the British championship, but refused to entertain the idea. 11. T. Gabe, who visited New Zealand ■with Bedell-Slv Wright's Rugby team. has definitely retired from playing football, and has been enrolled among the Welsh Union referees. if he proves as great a success with the whistle as he ■was as a player he will be in great request.

There is some trouble over a iwent big cycle race which Was held under the auspices 0 4 the League in Sydney, ami which may lead to an inquiry. The "Winner, it is alleged, "saved" a portion of his prize with another competitor, and the latter was handed the prize to convey to the winner, who had departed from Sydney. •He offered the prize to the winner, less the amount—a small sum which was due to him through the " save." which way really for services rendered in the shape of pacing. The winner refused to accept his prize, less the sum he had "saved." He wanted tiie lot, tout the man who had assisted him to victory hung on to his share—a paltry £7 —and now there is trouble.

A northern scribe has recently been gibing at the gathering of speedy professional runners in Australia and ineinuating all kinds of nasty things. It would toe very interesting to look up his laudatory notices of the tour of two so-called amateur pedestrians through New Zealand. There were no remarks made at that time about " crows gathering to the feast, etc.," but most of us remember one of the visitors in particular, an American sprinter of world-wide reputation, lie was a veryWarm member, indeed, in every sense of the expression, tout- not a word was said. The Australian public are not likely to wager much .on contests between the cracks now in their midst. but they will certainly, pay to see men like C. H. llolwuy. .J. Oonahlsoti, A. I',. Postle, Reg. Walker, and "Major" Taylor display their exceptional pace. Midway, by the'way. is at the present time In "Tasmania appearing at. a round of neetings. lie will arrive in Duneiliu on December 2IJ. The programme for the annual sports gathering of the >Balfonr and Bongridge Caledonian Society',"to- he held on Tuesday, Dee. 27,. is, to hand. The prize money is well distributed, .to the amount of £BS, and .spe'cuiL trophies ami donations are promised'-'in'connection with a number of contests. Tiie principal athletic items comprise : Bongridge Sheffield Handicap |l»s yards;, £lO, i;i, £2, £1 ; mile, £3, £l, 10s; BaU'otu handicap race (220 yards), C 3, £l. Ids; Pahiwi Handicap (4-10 yards). V.\. i\, 10s; half mile, £3, £l, 10s: while wrestling, .lumping, cycling, and othetvenmpetitions find a place on the list. A special feature will be the dancing and piping events, of. which no less than thirteen are scheduled. Entries for tiie. pedestrian events enumerated above close on December 16th (Friday.), with the secretary, Mr J. .1-1. McMath. . A London correspondent, writing on October 7, states, : —Mr A. P. Wilding (Christchurch)," tiie'English lawn tennis champion. Is now bade in England, and intends to compete in the .singles and doubles events at the autumn covered court meeting, which is to begin almost immediately at Queen's Club. Mr Ritchie will partner him in tiie doubles. It in said that the New Zenlartder contemplates a motor-cycle journey from to Constantinople. At Kingston recently he was lined £l. and 15s costs for having exceeded the speed limit, on his motor cycle on July Kith. his .speed being given as "1 miles an hour on the main Portsmouth road. Comparing -Mouth African Rugby football with English. Mr llees (the manager of the English team which recent!v visited South Africa) said he did not think the colonials were at present as strong as they were when the Springboks visited England a few years ago. lie characterised the statements regarding the conduct of the team as pure Bunkum. Air Rees declined to discuss the merits of the dispute with the South African Union. According to ft Sou tit African correspondent of a Sydney paper, the South African Rugby Board appears lo recognise that South Africa's next international contests will be Willi New Zealand or Australia. He further says :

Would not au African team's appearance in Sydney and Brisbane next season give considerable impel ns to Die "Union game ? T have no doubt it would be a great success. The South Africans play brilliant football, and are a great attraction to the public. Three matches between them and Australia and three between them and New Zealand would be among the finest games of Rugby ever seen. The directors of the Regent Theatre, Salford (England), made u presentation to James Lomas, the captain of the "English Northern Union (online; team •ti(i Of Uip Sallord Club, in recoeui'toii

of his victory over Messenger in the competition for the goal-kicking championship of the world at Sydney on J uno • 'O. Two well-known Fastern district athletes, Messrs J. Forbes and Walker Turiibull intend making an onslaught on their own walking record trom Gore to lnvert-argill. They intend leaving the inland centre at - a.m. on the morning of a favourable immediate date and will probably reach this city about 11 a.m.

It is estimated that the YVinton Jockey Club reaped a profit of Is.M) ill connection with their annual two days meeting. At tne comuieiicciuoiu of the season 1!>l)| (savs the YVinton Record) the Winloii Jockey Club had a debit balance of C'Ji'.i, whereas now it ha-; an approximale credit balance of Li TOO, which shows the verv marked nd\ ancemfciil the club has made during the pat Hi years, when Ihe cost of maintaining and improving tracks, grounds, and buildings is taken into consideration. We understand thai the Club intends to make further extensive improvements during this season. I'litortuuately, as the racecourse is a reserve, vested in trustees, any improvements made thereon by the club cannot he counted by it as an asset: otlu-rwise there would have- been very few luce grounds in die province to ei|i:a! the local racecourse.

PIG2OIT IMiYTWG.

AN Ai'STKAUAX MILITARY' it AC!

I'liOil -\!l LDI'RA TO SVH.VKV

The second race for the Federal Grant prize, for the year 11'10, given bv the i.'ommoiiwealth Government to eiicuura :.'.e the breeding arid training of homiii; pigeons lor military use in en as of emergency, was flown trom Alihlura. Victoria. ."i'lit miles air-line, by the ;■■ .'ew South Wales Pigeon . I Joining As-oeia-lioii. -Mr G. Itarrop, the official liberator, was in charge of the birds. which numbered about 1000. The lime oi" liberation was set down for 0 a.m.. but owing to an unavoidable delay, the race was lud started until a qunrler of an hour later. The weather being calm ami Clear at the race point, the birds got well awav. but as Ihej made eastward encountered strong head winds and heat. The first bird, owned by Mill. Moon (Ai ".rrickville- Society) was timed in at (i. 1". p.m.. and was the only bird to reach its loft on the day of liberation. 11 was proved, however, that -erne were cot far away when ilat-KiH s-. compelled them to perch, for Die night, for soon after daybreak the next morning they made their appearance at .-hurt Intervals. It is obvious that had the liberation been effected pimctuailv, there would have been n good return on the first, day. In addition to winning the l-'edorai Granl prixr, Mr Moon also secures a prize tor first place in his socielj, and a gold medal for fastest time. Tile following are the results :—II. "Moon iMarrickville). lIS-I vartls per mil!.. "1 : K. Murray i Alarrirk\ iliej. 10;",;'.. -1 ; Senator K. J). Milieu (Sydney No. 1), 101:!. :j.

s os ins-

til a letter to the Sydney.. "Referee" Jim Grilim .-luies thai be e.'.pocl.s to return to ..ustraiia ..bout March next, when he hopes in have recovered the robust slate of in :Ith which stood him in good stiad during the days of his ranking as a liist liighiei in the Commoiu'. eatlh. lie slate.-, that his illness was eau.se.l by overtraining in a warm climate after spending the winter months in .-<... .!..._ ■: Ac..' Zealand.

It has been announced in London thai .Mr 11. l>. Aiciiito-,h inl'-iul.-; importing Victoria'.- crack light-weight, It. Afehegau, lo Great RriUiin to t'r.v conclusions Willi the best .ji' ills eias.-. in" that part of the world. '

Jim Griitii: has written to the Northern 8.A., Auckland, horn Nelson, asking for a match. la me course of bis letter ho say.i he would like to meet Billy I'apke, the American crack, now in Australia. ,

Abe Attt-il, the deposed light-weight world's champion, has tor some time past been enileas utiring to arrange a match wilh hi., conqueror, Ad. Wdlgast, but without success, owing to the prohibitive leims demanded by the latter. Private advice lecently received in Sydney was to the effect that the champion nils suffering rrom a broken arm, sustained in a minor contest. Jem Goo:'!', jif one time well-known as an Kngiish ring pertormer, but who has been laid aside tor many years jxist as a sufferer fiom paralysis, recently came by his death in an unusual manner. While smoking in bed he became the victim of a burning accident and died from shock, sustained while in a weak state or" health. At late-t advice. Air H. l.>. Mcl.nto.--h was still in America, endeavouring to arrange a suitable match or matches for the Australian crack". Bill Lang.

A.n important professional contest has been arranged. The contestants are Itud'd, champion heavy-weight of New /.'•ahtiid. and Mitchell, the ex-'cham-pion. -The amount; of the purse is £7.",. Hudd will enter■■■the ring tit list -III), and .Mitchell fit Ri-.t Nib. .Rtidd, wiio i 4 being trained by N. AdeLeod. is confident that he will .again emerge the winner. After the contest Rv.O.H leaves for Sydney to meet the ■winner of the match between Land and '.At -* Andrews. The date fixed for the kilter bat'tle'vis Christmas week. , • •

CUICKZJT. (By "Cover Point."; The first points in the season's race for the .Mercantile Shield so to Appleby, the holders-. Bluff has not yet had an official stroke this season, but the members appear lo he keeping their eye in toy- prac.li.sing on the ship's clews (hat vNil (lie port. ,\'e;ct Wednesday i'.ii;:!" meets Invercar- : i!i ;■:;>.>.i u at uiui'f. I ;.- y\>:', v. : -.; e e:w!m.-in in for the nia-lies, v.-a : a k. eniy interested spcelalor of the Appleby-!.C.C. match. The doelar is itching lo ha\e a same, and an endeavour v.-ill he made to accommodate liiin by an anging a match for next Wednesday on the I.C.C. ground between an old Buffers' team and Hie AppleV,y el"\eii. Mil fie would be a large amount of public interest in that game. The heennes.s of ('oniuil Uce-man Doig is evidently infecting the Western District teams with a de-sire to get the proposed competition in that district under way. Coiac I.Jay. Uiverton, Otautau, Scott's Cap amV (possibly) Xighteaps are centres in which playing residents are apparently ready to have a Western District Sub-Association formed, and a di-strict competition instituted. .\(hv that interest has been awakened th\' clubs hi these places shouH get at. once ill it> touch, either personally or by idler, and get the mailer placed on a definite footing. 11. M. Doig. of Riverton. ha-i, on behalf of the Uiverlon Club, shown svme interest in the scheme, "i'over point' would .suggest. Dial in order to gel lite scheme, going each club si-crdary (or interested and responsible person) in i'olae. (Ha u tan. Nightcaps and Scull's (lap should write at once to Milling, stating Ihe position of cricket in I In- township ; ability to raise a club and take pail in a district compel i I inn ; mint .suitable and inexpensive way (to players) of having the matches arranged ia regard to place-: of playing; and, finally. Humiliating a person to act on behalf of the writer's club on the pro-po.-.ed Sub-As-'ucialiun. Such communications should be math' to cover as fully as -possible local feeling on the matter generally and on sucn practical particulars as dates and places of play, etc. Armed with such data .\lr Doig, who has a knowledge of vVestern District conditions generally, and knows' .the Kiverlon Club's wishes, could formulate a practical scheme, and present it complete (with tiie nominated Western Distiiet Snb-Associal ion. and a scheme of mulches) to the Southland Cricket Associal ion for approval. This proposal is no doubt crude in particulars, but to follow it would result in a definite move being made, and even a. bad beginning is better than no start at. all. So enthusiasts of the Western District town-

ships consider yourselves introduced to Mr 11. M. Doig, of Riverton, and state your case.

Wyridknm. ha.\ing got lhe best cricket ground in Southland, proposes to erect en it a. pavilion costing something like £1(10. That enthusiastic sportsman, Mr D'A. Uayniond, ha-: donated 150 to lhe fund.

11l Wednesday's inn U:li. invereargill v. Applebv, Invercargill started the chiy witii Hie advantage of a lead in the first innings, anil the game for them was to play unlet eaiel'nl cricket, to keep the score mounting and occupy as much of the plaving time a-; possible. Trouble, however, eame in the bowling of Banneiman and tin- lemporaiy disablement of Do iff. lva'.ana:.;h and Woods looked like steadying tilings till the latter batsman, in turning away from a high bumping ball, allow it lo touch bis bal and was caught. Then ICavanngh failed lo reach far enough oyer a straight ball from Poole (in the endeavour to play ii .piieilv) ami returned il in Die air lo tinhowler. On the boot; this was lour wickets down for :!!) runs; in reality, owing to the ab'ellce oi two men. i| was 0 for '■'.'', an.l 11> \ el -earn Ill's ebanres looked mas-1 i. i 11-r but rosy. Imi-' returned lo Ibe bailing cn-a-e, !,ut had not regained hi-; confidence when Ward beal him. Then .las. »; i I - bertsou and WhitaUer entered on a lon.'; partnership. The cricket ua ; lad exhilarating, but nin-i cam.' consistently. Cilberlson refused to be drawn into inking risks, hut occasionally he punished a 'ball off the wicket. Whilaker also played defensively though lie scored regularly in -ingles by driving anything' pitched well up. Kvcut ually Gilbertson plaved all round a. straight ball from Scott, pitched right Up to the batting crease. It was his only error of the u «>ft in bis iuuinii'.s, but it was fatal.

Jno. Giibertson started away promisingly, and then made a bad stroke similar to that of his brother to a ball on almost the same spot. -Turner came in last man and had the vexatious experience of getting only one ball which he hit lieftily over the hedge, and then seeing his partner run himselt out m the most careless manner. Appleby set out with heart to the i task of getting 117 runs to win. i Coekroft and Wesnoy were looking as if set. when liannerman got past the former's defence with a fast one thai kept low: and immediately afterwards VVesnev was well caught from a hard high cut to point, Jas Gilkison being' the fieldsman. Then Washer who had been doing the bulk of the scoring from the start, plaving excellent cricket, was beaten bv Haunernian. Three for thirty was not encouraging for Appleby, but Irwin and tiiehards made a change. The former showed strong defence, but lost no scoring chance, while Richards went for the bowling and rattled on 13 in short order, and then touched a bumping ball and was caught. Irwin kept playing strongly and the high drive to deepfield which caused his retirement-at 9,->. was the only chance he gave. This was the seventh wicket down, and Invercargill had hopes of snatching a win, but Walker ( who was unwell) came to light, unexpected!-,'. Four times in .succession he swung the ball to the leg-side boundarv. giving the victory to Appleby. It is a pitv that i.C.C. did not bat full-handed, because all the indications are that I'.ad thc-v done .so the finish might probably have been as close and eveiiing as anv spectator could have de-.h-ed : . To sav that I.C.C. would have won is, of course, rubbish, because it has to he remembered that Appleby still had three wickets in hand. A "AIUXG 'l'll tf JU N 101 IS. Kxcepl in the case of Y.M.C.A. "A" eleven junior ; cores were of an improved nature all round on Wednesday last on those recorded on the opening day of the seii-on. Hut there is much room for improvement ill all directions, anil on every side there has been a neglect of systematic prat-lice. The ceiilurv was not topped (in the aggregate) by any of the elevens in the three games which were played, although' Inveieurgill, with a total of !>0 aeair'ist W'aikiwi got very close to the mark. This game was, by the way, Wnikiwi's first appearance this season, and a score of 88 runs was a reasonable onenimr performance. If kept up. the North Readers' claims on the IfilO championship will have to he strongly considered bv opposing elevens. MeDougall rattled u'p 27 in good stylo and Bourehier and W. Forde placed U and 12 respectively to their credit. Y.M.C.A. "A" who could only assemble •17 runs against Appleby A's. (is, were quit" at sea against' the bowling of Itvau (late of Wvndham). who secured the excellent average of 0 for 19.. The i><-Wvndk>rmile showed a particular liking for "vorking" most of his vicand kept, a line length all through Mie innings Giove-; was inclined to become erralie at times, and his juice made the balls bump considerably. Vevertl.ele.s.s his two wickets . cost only a lit tie more than X runs apiece. R. Wesuev who, on many previous, occasions, lias proved a successful truncller _ for the sonthend club, again came to Ugh! anil notched 'J for S. as a medium pace left-harder, with a slight break, he proved ji useful change on Wednesday.^ Both the Appleby and Y.M.C.A. "R" teams are decidedly weak from a balling and bowling point of view, but they were also at fault numerically on Wednesdav last. Y.M.C.A. had only ten players in attendance, while Appleby mi'slere-l but eight. That under these difficulties Appleby should win by the handsome margin of 40 runs must redound to ttie credit of Pellowe and Hide. Pellowe had not previously displayed much j>romise as a batsman (although as a howler he is a decided acquisition to anv iuiiim- team), but against Y.M.C.A. he notched 40 in smart style. Hide's total stood at IS runs, when Batten got one past. him. Rea was the only member of the losing learn to show much tu-omi.se, and he had a neatly gathered 17 to his credit, (out. of a total of fl for his side), when he placed his leg in front: to TVUowe. 'Out or Appleby's total of CS runs in the Y.M.C.A. "A" game on Wednesday. Rvan was toj) scorer wilh 1 - r >. and was shaping attractively until Richards ]>ut a shooter past him. The ex-\Yyndham-ite was the top-notcher with both bat and hail in the first innings of the game. Donald-ion (11 not out) pasted everything that, came his way and was going stronglv when the last wicket oartner-hip was dissolved. The olher Applebv double-figure scorer (Dingwall 10) has a peculiar stroke on the leg side and pulls his halls, in that direction with remarkable effect. Tt has been described as the "hockey scoop' and the bailsman's familiarily Willi the winter pastime has no doubt been re--oousible for the cultivation of iho stroke. Although not in conformity with orthodox cricket, the stroke referred to is very effective fin Dingwall's use), and any ball pitched to leg runs a risk of immediate dismissal to the boundary. ...,,. T Groves, of Appleby, has tailed to get going yet. On the three occasions he has taken strike he has been dismissed for practically insignificant totals. A']though a halsman with good a'l-rotind knowledge and a strong liking for anvthing nltched on the off. the lefthander is inclined to lake risks before he has got fairly into his scoring stride. ' , _ . , T MeDougall (V.'aikiwi) and Doogm (lnverearriU) Inve to he credited with the top score- on Wednesday, when each put on ''~ runs. It is significant that these highest scorers of the day should be opponents in the same match—the fnverefirtrill-Waikiwi fixture. The Y.M.C A. Club is one ol: the most promising of the junior cricketing instil utions. r.nd although its "A' team did not ■•■'iccciMl in defeating the Applebv "A's" on Wedne-d-jv there were (, i, o ree.: ~, (hoi" ;:"; ro-l-iiar,re

s' .'ieiis'ds are three of the best of the (''lull's hatsni«n. aed once settled to their work will permit- of no risks toeing taken bv the other side. The firstnnmed i't the brand of batsmen to test (he opposition's al tacking powers and against the App'.ebyites lie was at the wickets some considerable time, al-tho-.fli he onlv totalled 7 runs in the opening innings. Of the stonewalling varietv he does not dike any chances, ~ener:<llv nicks his halls and punishes all loose stuff. Of the Richards toroihers "Stan" had IT. to his credit and was'' b-iilii-u' cleanlv when Ryan "vorki-d" him: while "Col," although lie failed to get going in the first essay, demonstrated his usefulness in the second innimrs when he put on 23 runs. \s a bow!"i- tiie last-named is of the iirole.-s order and hi: delivery is very doceivimr at times. He bagged several of iii-: 'Wednesday victims with an un'cxpeetcd off-break. A left-hander in C. Dykes must also be reckoned amongst tiie best of VM '' A'- bowlers. In Appleby s first, innine-s Dvkes put down four overs, three beint' maidens, and his average was one wicket for 4 runs. Stanwriy. -f for "0. was vprv successful, but. like Hamilton, hj" cannot trouble a batsman so much as either of lhe two previously mentioned (Richards and Dykes).

WYNDIIAM 012) v. RIVERTON (92)

l-'ine weather prevailed for this match, played at Uiverton on Wednesday. Play be.'an -it I o'clock. Winning the toss. Wvmlbam elected to bat, Porter and Ooiding opening lhe innings. Lite side was dismissed for a total of <J2 nin.s--ICoberlson IN (not out). H. Hunter 10. T Bug-lie i:t and .J. IJ. -Marsh 12 being tiie most successful batsmen. Doig C! for ni) and Hill (7 for 2:i) bowled well and wi've responsible tor all the wickets. Rivet-ton's innings was opened bv Ciarlte and Agnew. !■'. Hill (17) and li Doig (11) were the only two to reach double figures. Riverton, making ')•' runs, the game was a drawn one. Marsh (with r> for :10) and Raymond (-1 for 311) were Wvndliam's best howlers. Tiie fielding of Wyndham was very poor. Appended are scores: —

AVYNDHAM. ff K. Porter, c Hill, b Doig 6 .1. Gokiing, c Payne, b Dots 0 T Rogue, c Doig, b Hill B> II Hunter, c Payne, hj I fill If! K. Maguire, b Hill ' '- K Robertson, not out jS D'\ Raymond, 1.b.w., 1) Hill 'I J. Marsh, c Hill, I) Doig 12 K. Prunimond, b Hill ~ Pearson, b Hill >■ .1. Knapp '- Extras !•» Total y - Bowling Analysis: —Doig. '■'< for "I; Hill, 7 for T.\; Sims, 0 for -'0; C. Brie'e. 0 for :i. RIVKUTOX. Clarke, <• Hunter, b Raymond -S A.-new, c Golding, b Maguire 11 P. Hill, c Knapp, 1) -Marsh 17 11. Doig, st Golding, 1) Marsh 11 Payne, b Raymond £• Brice. b Raymond & Hannah, c Maguire, b Kaymond . . 0 Collinqion. c Maguire, b Marsh .... R Sims, not out 8 Mills, b Marsh '.I Scollon. c I'earson, 1) Marsh 7 Bxlra* !> Total 9:8 Cowling Analysis:-- Kaymond, -I for :::;; Alnguiie. ! for -l>: Marsh, r. for 30. Tin: googbv in apstratja. A C'oAIKI'V POK Sl'Kl'T.Vl'illiS. Tin- first innings of ilie South Australian Slate Kleven against Hie South Africans is thus described in the Adelaide Register :-- Kverv one was agog to see the googly bowling. The Adelaide crieUet-loviim public iiad seen B. J. T. Rosaiuiuet, tie Oxford and Middlesex amateur, who wi.s out here witlt P. !•'■ Warner's team, bnvl googlies. and they had hoard and rend thai the Springnok-; had taken hold of his idea and developed it beyond recogni-

lion. In England in 1907 their skill had been demonstrated. Schwarz. indeed, with 137 wickets, with an average of 11.80 had headed the first-class bowling averages, with Gordon "White, Vogler, and Faulkner high up on the list. An old local cricketer has asked the question : " What are googlies ?" Simply described, the bowler delivers the ball apparently- intended to break one way, but by finger manipulation he imparts a spin to it which makes it break in the opposite direction, or merely loses the leg spin, so that the ball goes straight on from the pitch. Hence the term " wrong 'uns," now so familiar to cricketers. Most of the googly artists are naturally leg break bowlers, and the wrong 'uns come back from the off. South Australians found out a good deal about them on Saturday. —Batsmen Perplexed.—

Two wickets those of Zschorn and Clem Hill had gone before Schwarz got thoroughly into his stride. Mayne and Gehrs were together. Schwarz bowls little more than slow, medium pace, and it seemed from the pavilion that the batsmen should have no difficulty in watching him. He, however, hnd Mayne in a knot. The batsman plaved back, but could not get the face of "the bat against the ball. Then he ran out, missed, and should have been stumped, but Sherwell fumbled. Evidently the googlies sometimes beat the wicketkeeper as well as the batsman. Again Mayne jumped, only to turn the ball gently into the wicket. ' The enthusiastic East Torrens player has probably been theorising ever since as to how he shall play, the googlies in the second innings. Gehrs, too, failed. The dashing hitter was as a simple babe, and was easily stumped. Crawford, who had had experience in South Africa against the googlies, was never in trouble with them. When he played back he guarded the stumps with his legs, and plumped li is bat down square in front of them. Occasionally at an overpitched ball he reached out and smote. S. Hill shaped fairly until he let go at a ball that was so much faster than usual that it did not travel in the way he had meant. —Laughter Uncontrolled. —

Following Crawford's example, Con Chamberlain used his' pads as well as his bat for defensive - purposes. Sometimes, however, he was mystified as completely as an audience by the trick of the vanishing lady. He would pose and wait for an off break, only to see the ball go off the other way. Anon he would feel for a leg break, and the ball would come back from the off and. hit his pads. At length one that was straight did not break at all, and he was out leg-before. Campbell is a determined young man, and, like Chamberlain, he had made up his mind that he would stay in, and not bother about the runs. He did stay. All the time he ! played back to Schwarz. Some balls I struck the bat, others his pads ; many he missed altogether: The spectators screamed with laughter. They thought it was a rare joke, even though it was at the expense of their fellow-country-man. As Schwarz ran up to bowl one would hear a murmur of expectation. Campbell, with the handle tightly gripped, would step in front of his wicket and plant his bat where he reckoned the ball would-come. Off it would go at a tangent, and the startled "Ohs" of the ladies were merely the prelude to a burst of laughtVr from, all around the ground. The South Australian batsmen may find solace in the fact that a from Africa stated on Saturday that their efforts against the googlies were artistic compared with those of the Englishmen on the matting wickets last season. One of the visitors contributed an effective " turn " to the entertainment on Saturday. Pegler was given a trial with the ball. He had one over. There is something distinctive about his prance up to the wicket, but the final kick of his left leg just before he bowled sent the spectators into convulsions. —Another Side to the, Picture. — Googly bowling makes for entertaining cricket. The watchful batsman mav be fooled, to the amusement of the onlookers. The more venturesome man who attacks the wrong 'uns and tries to kill them before they can pitch and break is always apt to make a mistake. If his strokes be clean and hard he keeps the outfield busy. Sherwell had five men around the boundary when Schwarz was bowling, yet Crawford found several openings. The . people were just in the humour to appreciate his hard knocks, and they cheered vigorously-. They applauded to the echo a little later when Whitty set to work. He is not classed among the batsmen, but when he was in the dressing-room before he went in he was smiting at imaginary googlies. South Australians who had changed from cricket costume into mufti suggested that he should stonewall, 'so that they should not need to go into the field again. " Not me, I'm going to have a ' windy-wiff"" were Whitty's last words as he left them. •He walked out, played two or three balls warily enough, then lashed out at Schwarz, and hit the ball to square leg high over the entrance gate. The idea of Whitty knocking a six tickled the crowd. But to show that it was no fluke he did it again in Schwarz's next over. Vogler was put on to trap this bold David. The batsman, with a; slashing swing, landed the ball amonj? the ladies in the members' stand. '•>, The spectators roared their delight, and cheered when in the same over Snooke utterly misjudged the (light of a skier. As a fitting termination to a day's cricket that had been chock full of incident Whittv cracked Vogler to the boundary. In big cricket Whitty has not made many runs, but as a schoolboy lie was barred on account of his big hitting, which sent the ball into a neighbouring garden, whose owner did not like cricket, and to ensure a game he had to take an extra ball or two in his pocket.

—The Problem of Googlies.— Schwarz's striking debut on Australian soil will put our batsmen more on their mettle than ever. It was not difficult to turn the ball on Saturday, and it still remains to. be seen whether the Africans can do it when the ground is drier and faster. It is not likely that Hill, Armstrong, Bardsley,; and Ransford will emulate the methods of Whitty, but seeing that Hobbs mastered the googlies on African matting wickets it is not unreasonable to expect that the Australian champions will find a way to play them. , ROWING. (By " Blazer.") The Otago Regatta Committee, the representative body of rowing, yachting, and motor launch men which controls the Port Chalmers Regatta on Boxing Day, has got its arrangements well in hand or the regatta. His Excellency the Governor, His Honour Mr Justice Williams, His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, His Worship the Mayor of Port Chalmers, Mr J. F. M. Fraser, K.C., and Mr E. H. Clark, M.P., have accepted the office of patrons (and have forwarded donations.) The Prime ! Minister will be asked to arrange for a man-o'-war to be at Port Chalmers on that day, and the usual permission to have a submarine explosion will be sought. With all these heavy doings afoot it seems a dreadful come down to remark that if the weather is fine there will be a successful regatta.

They have decided to row the Senior Fours at the Port Chalmers regatta in heat boats. This is a question that is always discussed with interest. The general feeling of the Otago Rowing Association has always been in favour of best boat rowing for senior events. But the O.R:A. has the direct administration of only one regatta during the year, that which has usually been held on Otago Anniversary Bay (March '3rd) and at Lake Wailiola. There is not the same unanimity of opinion about the desirability of best boat rowing when the scene of the regatta is Port Chalmers, as when the course is at Lake Waihola. The Port Chalmers men have always been more or less against best boat rowing for the senior (or any) events at their regatta. They have always had a desire to make their meeting as interesting as possible to the general public, and would gladly revert to the old methods of having all races with a turn half-mile eacli way so that both start and finish would be in full view of the spectators on the wharves and the flagship. Competing oarsmen, however, don't like a race with a turn in it, and the method has not been adopted for some years. It is clear that best boats could hot be subjected to the strain of a turn in a race, and with the idea that the there-and-back races might yet be introduced, the Port Chalmers men have boon consistent advocates of clinker boat racing. Then the Port Chalmers course is a strong tidal one, and the steering of a best pair-oar boat would be a matter of some difficulty. The decision, however, this year applies apparently only to the senior fours. Still the unsuitability of the course for every kind of best boat has retarded the general use of the lighter tvpe of racing craft. Another very serious objection to the P.C. course for'best boats is the frequent litter of harbour odds and ends floating tins, boxes, and pieces of timber that makes the going very risky for a flimsy racing shell. It is this aspect of the question that, from the competitor's point of view, makes that tiresome submarine explosion such a cordially disliked incident. There is one bright side to the big hang ; one of these days it will catch and send to a coroner's jurv a boat load of that thoughtless class of people who persistently worry tbo coxswains of the racing boats by cruising aimlessly all over the regatta course. All rowing men will regret to hear of the untimely end «'f G!en -McLean, who met his death at Otini by falling over an embankment on Thursday week, while on a visit to his fat her, .Mr Murdoch McLean. The late Mr McLean alwavs took an active interest in rowing, and was a member of the Auckland Club. About four years ago ho occupied the position of treasurer to the club, and the following year was stroke of the heavy-weight maiden crew. Among rowers lie had many friends, ami was highly respected. With the growth of its membership list the Invercargill Railway Club has

for the past few seasons been considerably handicapped by the lack of sufficient dressing-room accommodation. In view of the proposed work of estuary reclamation, and the project of having to shift the boathouse from its present position, the committee has properly limited its building operations to bare necessities until some definite idea can be obtained of the full expenditure to be met in this connection. Last season the installation of an adequate water service ■ was greatly appreciated by members, and this season it has been decided to add another wing to the boathouse in order to give more space for lockers and dressing-room. The sound financial position of the club justifies the expenditure, and the possibly necessary removal of the enlarged building will not be a more serious undertaking than the removal of the boathouse as it stands at present. A new departure in Auckland rowing circles will be the use of a tub pair by the St. George Club. This boat, which will be ordered immediately, is intended for the purpose of initiating new members in the correct style of oarsmanship. It will be the first of its kind in Auckland. Dr Stuart Reed, at the annual, meeting of the Auckland Rowing Association, advocated the use of tub pairs for teaching new members correct style. He stated that they were used at the English Universities. Thus "Stroke" in the O.D.T. :—"Basstian, the well-known Invercargill oarsman, is captain of the club this year. This will not, I hope, interfere with his again taking his place on the stroke seat—a position he has so ably filled during the last seven or eight years. I hear Tom Brown and "Walter Johnston, of the same club's senior fours, have decided to give the sport up. Their record is a splendid one, , and their places will be hard to fill. Local oarsmen are looking forward to seeing Basstian and his crew at the local regattas again this year, and their: presence will without doubt make more interesting racing."

The following ..Railway Rowing Club regatta crews have been selected to go into training for Riverton on Boxing Day, and Bluff on 3rd January : Senior Four: H. Walker (stroke), A. Clarke (3), A. G. Cockroft (2), W. Robison (bow). Senior Pair : Walker and Clarke ; and Cockroft and Robison.? Youths' Four : A. Grant (stroke), R. Barry, A. Glennie, and H.- Aitken ; S. Webb (stroke), H. Folley, R. Forrester, and Les. T. Padgett. The only crews selected so far by the Railway Club are the Senior Fours and Pairs, and Youths' Fours. It will be seen that only two of last year's seniors are rowing,. as Barry (last year's stroke) has left Invercargill, and Haslemore will riot be available, as he expects to be absent from Invercargill at Regatta time. Walker has shaped very well as stroke in' club races and should be able to fill the position satisfactorily, while, Clarke showed fair promise in the Maiden crew last year. Cockroft and Robison are rowing in the same seats as they occupied in the Junior crew of the season before last. Clarke is at present working in the country, but expects to return to ■'town in a few days. Besides the loss of Barry, the services of Geo. Wilson as stroke of the Juniors will be greatly missed, and Grant's Youths have also suffered through Sutherland dropping out, through passing the Youths' age limit, and Kelly wall be unable to devote the time to training. -He and several- of the members of the Club belong to the local fire brigades, and intend competing at the West. Coast demonstrations early next year, and this will take up their time. A. "C. McKillop is also among the number, but he may be able to get a enough training for pair-oar or doublescull work. Sutherland is also likely to be an absentee, as he has gone out on the road and does not know whether he can get in the necessary training. With two new men- rowing three and bow it is hard to predict how Grant's youths' crew will shape this season, as the loss of Sutherland and Kelly will make a big difference. ■' •' The second Youths' crew is stroked by a last year's member and three new seasonis men.

The placing of Maiden and Junior men in Senior crews does not always appeal to club members, as some of them think that the men nearest senior rank should be selected and so give the lower status men a chance of working their way up through all the classes, but this is scarcely a sporting way to look at the matter. Selectors have to select the best crews in the different classes if the men are willing- to row, even though it makes some men skip a class. At the present time there are several dangers to navigation of skiffs on the estuary. The first one is a sunken flatty down past the jetty over by the western wall, and at half-tide or so is very dangerous. The second is the obstruction caused by the ropes of the craft moored to the tramway bridge, one of the two wide spans being practically blocked. This might easily be the cause of an accident through an 'oar becoming entangled with the rope. The last one. of which oarsmen and coxswains should take particular notice, is the pegs opposite Victoria Avenue on the eastern bank of the estuary. The sticks are not visible at high tide and are a danger to skiffs, but as they appear to be necessary to mark the line of the proposed new bridge they should at least show clear above the water or be removed altogether.

During the week several heats of the Invercargill Club's President's Four* have been rowed off. Yesterday morning L. Mair, W. Rodie, A. Rodie, and Nolan (stroke) beat Cochrane, H.. Ritchie, Carswell and Sutherland (stroke) by half-a-length after ahard race. In the evening two heats were got off. Matthews. Wellbrock, Williams, and J. Ritchie (stroke) beat Bonnor, Hoist, Allan and Eastwood by about two lengths. The winners showed much the better combination. Darcy, Woods, Rae, ' and Broad (stroke) beat Stewart, McEachran. Splllman and Foster (stroke) by a little over a clear length. The steering of the winning boat was bad. . The rule of boat-racing is perfectly explicit : Each shall keep its own water throughout a race..

There are now four crews left in the semi-final and some keen racing should be seen at the jetty to-night, when the heats will be rowed. Broad's crew meets Ritchie's crew, and Steele's crew (with Grant, Gill and Ardagh) meets Nolan's crew. It; was Steele's crew, stroked by Ritchie as substitute, that beat Campbell's crew the other night (including Stout, Robertson and Meikle), a crew that has so far shown the best combination during the races. This remark is not made to belittle the performance of the winning crew, who rowed strongly and pluckily, but just as a timely reminder to young oarsmen that they might admire the right sort of model.

RIVERTON NOTES,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

•The first heat of tho President's Fours was rowed on Monday evening last, when Ross Robertson's crew defeated T. Bulman's crew.. Robertson's crew also secured a win by defeating Armstead's crew after a rattling good race. On Thursday. Steven's crew will meet Trail's sawmill crew, and the winner of this heat will meet Pope's crew on Friday evening. The final will be rowed on Saturday between Robertson's crew and Friday night's winner. Crews for the regatta will be selected on Saturday evening. •The Club is fairly strong this season in both youths' and maiden crews. BOWLING. MATAURA"EAST v. WEST. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Mataura Bowling Green presented a gay and lively appearance on Wednesday afternoon when a match was played amongst the members, those living on the East side of the river being pitted against those on the West. For such an important occasion the lady friends of the bowlers turned out in large numbers, with their smiling faces and beautiful costumes. They in conjunction with the bright and warm afternoon made quite a gay and festive scene. At a later stage "of the proceedings they very generously put more heart into the fatigued bowlers by handing round the cup that cheers, and a bountiful supply of appetising dainties. This club is to be congratulated, nay envied, in the possession of such enthusiasts, who seem only too pleased in this and many other ways to help on the good old game. The selectors had got together four strong rinks from each side of the river. As will be seen from the scores the East proved to be the victors, with a lead of 5 points. Although in three rinks the West had the majority, In No. 3 rink the President went down to the veteran Easton. The outstanding feature of the match, in fact of all the play so far this year, was the consistent good form shown bv the colts. It is very seldom that first year players do much, . but this year the young players evidently are an exception for they are showing by their regular attendance at practice and their splendid play that they are heart and soul in the game. The following are the scores: —

East. West. W. B. Scott, W. Hayles, W. B. Reid senr. W. W. King (s). 12 J. C. Ericson, E. Edwards, J. „ Hamilton, G. A. Watson (s.) 17 D Mowat, J. Aitken, J. Park, J. C. Easton (s.) 27 Dr Shore, P. McCubbin, C. Finlav, J. J. Sherwood (s.) 9 D M. Barr, F. W. Brown, W. McAndrew, W. P. Thorn (s.) is P. Clark, 11. Brown, A. Balnea ves. A. Grierson (.5.).... 04 A Anderson, A. Milne, .1. Mitchell, o. Holmes (s.) ar. G Braxton, 11. .). Greenwood, A. Reid, J. C. Abernethy (s.) 17 . 72 C 7 At a suitable interval Mr Greenwood took a couple of photographs of the grouped bowlers, after which the President (Mr Sherwood). thanked the ladies for their presence and the valuable aid they had rendered the club At his call three hearty enthusiastic cheers were given them.

WYNDHAM v. RIVERTON. A team consisting of four rinks went to Riverton on "Wednesday to play a friendly game with the latter club. The result was rather an easy win for Riverton by 31 points. This was the first match played by the newly-formed "Wyndham Club, who were no match for their more experienced opponents. The only "Wyndham rink to win was Mr H. McKerrow's. The keenness of the green upset the calculations of the visitors. The game was greatly enjoyed by participants. Following are the scores:— R'tn.Wy'm. J. Winton, -T. King, T. Moore, H. E. Philp (s.) 24 R. S. Drummond, A. W. Crosbie, R. Hamilton, H. McCall (s.) 14 A. E. Ward, H. Matheson, R. R. Acheson; W. Robinson(s.) 27 F. W. Robinson, R. Wilson, H. J. Murphy, C. J. Johnston (s.) 19 W. R. Pankhurst; W. J. Pankhurst, A. Cavill, S. L. Beer (s.) 24 J. Walker, F. Williams, W. S. Irving, E. C. W. Porter (s.) 10 W. Saunders, C. Johnston, E. Traill, A. E. WillettXs.) .. 21 A. A. Aitken, A. Smith, J. Gold, H. McKerrow (s.) .. 22

■BC 65 THE TXJBF. (Notes By "Sir Modred.") At Mr W. Kennedy's Drummond stud Stepback, by Stepniak (dam of Colbert) has foaled a colt to Canrobert, while May Queen (May King—Maymorn) has produced a filly to the same sire. Reports from Riverton are to the effect that the two-year-old half-brother to Waiju, known as, Speybank (Signalman—Julia), has made great progress since competing with others of his age at the D.J.C. spring meeting. The trotting matron Micro, wellknown as the dam of Myrtle Bell, last week produced a very nice colt foal to Sir Hector. Quite a number of owners of novice gallopers and trotters have decided to test the capabilities of their horses at the Heddon Bush H.R.C. meeting on December 3rd, a fact which should lend added interest to what is likely to be the last gathering of a club which has done a good deal for the Southland turf. By his victory in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket Lemberg on September 29 brought his winning account up to £30,580 for the two seasons he has been racing, this representing ten wins. It may be interesting to note the • earnings of some other celebrated English thoroughbreds. Isinglass (four seasons) won £57,454; Donovan (two seasons), £55,153; Flying Fox Ttwo seasons), £40,096; Sceptre won £38,233; and Pretty Polly, £37,297. Bayardo has won £44,533, while others earned as follows:—Ayrshire, £35,915; Persimmon, £34,706; La Fleche, £34,703; Orme, £34,626; St. Frusquin. £32,960; and Ormonde, £28,265. The class for ladies' hacks at the Wallace A. and P. Agricultural Show on Wednesday attracted quite a number of well-known turf performers, including the winner. Queen's Prize, and Landlord, Sarsfield, and Lady Wildwood (trotter). The steeplechaser Honest Tom was an absentee entrant, while The Widower and a handsome mare, Bell d'Or, by trotting sire Bellman, were also in evidence. The Maoriland mare Artillerie, who has just completed a strenuous campaign in New South Wales and Victoria, is not to be brought home. She is to be turned out for a spell in the vicinity of Melbourne, and will probably be found playing a leading part at the autumn fixtures in the two leading Commonwealth racing .stakes. The fact that they have to carry out their annual racing fixture without the aid of a totalisator permit, and also that the 'ring has been wiped out of existence by the new Gaming Act has not in anv way damped the enthusiasm of the Clifden Racing Club. Their meeting will be held as usual on the day equivalent to January Ist (Sunday), which will mean Monday, 2nd inst, and everything points to a very successful outing. One of the leading attractions will be the steeplechase for which a large entry is expected. _ The patent weighing-machine designed bv Mr. G. Hutchinson, of Christchurch, was received with every token of approval on being placed before the racing public of Victoria during the Cup period, particularly at Ascot and other courses controlled by Mr J. Wren, when its uses were disclosed in actual operation. It does away with all mental calculation on the part of the clerk of the scales, and the weight of the riders is shown on an overhead beam in plain figures in stones and pounds. Mr Hutchinson is now oh his way to England for the purpose of submitting his invention to the leading racing clubs in Europe. . , „ ~ Sparkling Bells, the winner of the £SOO Trotting Handicap at Richmond, Melbourne, recently, is a son of the American importation Abbey Bells. He was recently purchased at the Avondale Stock Farm's sale of trotting stock and yearlings by a Queensland stationowner, Mr Smith, for 325 guineas. Mr Smith decided to leave the youngster in the charge of Maorilander L. Robertson, who watches over the welfare of the above famous Victorian trotting stud property, and it can thus be easily understood that the colt reached maturity with every advantage afforded him to become a notable track performer. He has been sent home to his owner's station, and will commence stud life with a full list. The son of Abbey Bells stepped out the mile and a half of his racing distance at a 2.25% gait off the limit mark. The Christchurch mare Sal Tasker did not start in the £SOO event, but the Australian crack Denver Huon took par,t in the event and finished well in the rear, the pace set being far too fast for the backmarkers. A well-known Melbourne hurdle and steeplechase rider, W. P. Curtin, met his deatli recently under tragic circumstances. He took the hurdleracer Gerah, out for gentle exercise at an early hour in the morning. While proceeding along a street at East St. Kilda the horse shied and charged into a tree, Curtin was thrown heavily against the kerbstone, and within a few minutes expired from the injuries sustained. Deceased was a single man, and 21 years of age. The procedure adopted by Southland totalisator clubs and their machine contractor, Mr W. F. James, would never give use to disclosures such as those laid before Parliament on Wednesday in connection with a claim for totalisator dividends. It appears that in many parts of the North Island if investors in the totalisator on winning horses do not present their tickets and collect their money within an hour of the decision of the last race of the day they forfeit all right to do so at any future time. It will be understood that many circumstances may arise during a day's racing to prevent investors claiming the money due to them within a short and stipulated time, hence it is a ridiculous thing that it should be forfeited to the totalisator owners or clubs as represented above. In Southland it is quite a common thing for backers to retain their tickets for some days and even longer, and then receive their dues on application to Mr James. A decently preserved winning machine ticket should hold good just as a bank-note does for a reasonable period, and racing clubs should make some arrangement to this effect. However, we can congratulate ourelves in this direction that we have nothing to learn in the South from our friendly rivals in the North, even if ihey have conducted racing fixtures for i a longer period and more extensively. The November number of "The Lone Hand" contains an interesting article bv Mr H. C. Coghlan, entitled: "The First Melbourne Cup," wherein some interesting particulars are furnished with regard to the establishment of the famous handicap. The article concludes with an explanation of how the celebrated equine convincing ground whereon the big race is decided came to be known under the name now familiar to followers of the turf the world over:— The origin of the name "Flemington" is not generally known; but, once heard, there is an easy way to remember it. Think of horses" that are started witli the intention of losing. They are colloquially described as "dead meat." That suggests a butcher. Among the scattered settlements along the road from Melbourne to Mount Macedon a hamlet slowly blossomed in the neighbourhood of "The Racecourse." In it settled an early colonist one "Bob" Fleming, butcher, who won his way to the hearts of the people with good meat and a gracious manner grace before and after meat. So as a slight token of esteem and regard, the name "Flemington" was, in course of time, bestowed upon the hamlet. That in itself was a nice and appropriate local compliment; but the Melbourne Cup has long since made the beloved butcher's name familiar all over the world. !

TUAPEKA J.C. RACES. (Special to the Times.) LAWRENCE. November 17. The Tuapeka meeting was concluded in fine weather, and there was again a moderate attendance. During the day £60:5 was put through the totalisator, making £1356 for the meeting, or a <-hortage of £1247 on last year's total. The bookmakers' fees amounted to £54. Details: — VALLEY HACK HANDICAP of 25 sovs; second 2% sovs, five furious*. \Y, Orossan's br m Pure Gold, by Gold Reef —Awapahi, 4yrs, 8.5 (J. JlcCombo) 1 McDonald's Multlfoil, 7.9 (D. King) 1! Reid's Firebell, 9.7 (Jellings) :j Also started — Otakehi (7.0), Gold Plate (7.0). The race was run from a false start and Pure Gold beat Kirebi-11 bv a length. At the second attempt Pure Gold beat Multifoil by two lengths, with Firebell close up third. Time, lmin 5 3-ssec. The starter imposed a fine of 5 sovs on the rider of Pure Gold and 1 sov on each of the other riders for breaking away. .

FLYING HANDICAP of 30 sovs, Six furlongs.

G. Ruthven's eh m Redmorn, aged, 7.12 (Jellings) w.o. Redmond was unopposed and walked over.

SPRING TROT HANDICAP of 27% sovs. Second horse 5 sovs. One and a-half

miles. G. Ruthven's ch g Frisco, by Burlington'Junr., aged, 9sec (Owner) .. 1 Fraser's First Attempt, 21sec(Tilson) 2 Pollock's Chevron, 27sec (Owner) J. 3 Also started —The Hobo (scr), Clyde (24sec), Arab Queen (27sec), Toko (27 sec). Brown Tom (27sec), W.D. (27sec). Brown Tom led for half the distance and then First Attempt took charge. Once in the straight Frisco ran to the front and won by four lengths from First Attempt, who beat Chevron by three lengths. Brown Tom close up third. Time, 3min 57 2-ssec. LAWRENCE HANDICAP of 35 sovs; second 5 sovs. One mile.

T. Waters's b g King Post, by.Seaton Delaval—St. Edith, aged, 9.9 (F. Douglas) 1 •T. Waters's Sacha, 6.11, including 4lbs over (F. Beale) 2

Also and Redmond showed the way to King Post, until reaching the straight, where the last-named drew up and joined Redmond in the lead. King Post and Redmond were racing stride for stride under punishment a few strides from the post, where the latter swerved off the track, and this left King Post to go on and win by a length, Sacha close up third. Time, Imin 43 2-usec. After the race a protest was lodged against King Post on the grounds of bumping Redmond.—After a lengthy sitting the stewards dismissed the protest, and, as Redmond ran inside a post, second money went to Sacha.

ELECTRIC HACK HANDICAP of 25 sovs; second, 2 ¥> sovs. Four furlongs. F. Griffins b g Yeodel, by Formosan —Eidelweiss, 4yi;s, 8.6 (J. Mc-r Combe) - 1 J. Biggins' Little Medallist, 5.6 (A. Wilson) 2 McDonald's Tangi Boy, 7.10, including lOlbs over (D. King) 3

Also started—Vale (7.0), Oblige (7.12), including 12 over. Little Medallist was smartest out and led Yeodel a couple of lengths along the back. The pair were on terms in the straight and in a good finish Yeodel won by a head, Tangi Boy four lengths away. Time, 50 4-ssec. FINAL TROT of 22% sovs; second, 2 1 /- sovs. One mile. G. Hore's br m Operator, by Duncan Abdallah, aged, 13 sec (Sinclair) 1 T. E. Wilkins' Kit Kelly, i)sec(Owner) 2 W. Marshall's Evening Star, 3sec (T. Tilson) 3 Also started —Bloemfontein (scr), The Hobo (3sec), Clyde (19sec), Bon Accord (19sec), W.D. (19sec), Dolly N (21sec). Operator was supplanted in the lead by Evening Star as they turned for home, but the latter tired and the former went on to win by four lengths from Kit Kelly, who put in a very late - run and beat Evening Star. Time, 2min 41sec. FAREWELL HANDICAP of 25 sovs; , second horse, 5 sovs. Six furlongs. F. E. McLean's b g Erskine, by Lord Rosslyn—Tiara, aged, 7.13 (A. Wilson) :•"••• I C. Clark's Officious, 9.9 (D. King) .. 2 The pair ran together to the straight, where Officious was beaten and Erskine drew away to win by ojer. three lengths. Time, lmin IS 2-ssec. AUCKLAND B.C. WEIGHTS. AUCKLAND CUP, RAILWAY HANDICAP. (Per United Press Association). WANGANUI, November 17. ■The following weights 1 were declared to-dav for the Summer meeting of the Auckland R.C.: — AUCKLAND CUP of 2000 sovs (two miles)— Master Soult 9.1, Diabolo 8.13, Bridge 8.11, Oiyoi S.lO, Maori King 8.4, Sedition and Salute 7.13, Husbandman 7.12, Kopu 7.10, Waimangu 7.9, North East 7.8, Roosevelt 7.7, Polymoranthus 7.6, King Soult Santa Rosa and I-ormby 7 5 Sir Prize 7.3, Wimmera and l<ormeden 7.2, Paisano 7.1, John and Advocate 7.0, Mendip, Shuja, Tribulation, Wairi, Chief Lochiel, Sea Elf, Merriwa, and Birkdale 6.12, Cullinan 6.11, The Lark, Parable and Master Theory 6.10, Domino, Manapouri, Apellon, Regain, and Prophet 6.9, Rangikapua and Vice-Aa-miral 6.8, Poictiers, Waitapu, Golden Loop, Royal News, Cheddar, Michaeloff, Scotch, Duma, Dunborve, Coromandel, Goldfields, Monolope, Bully, Uhlando, Virtue, Lawn Rose and Gold Circle 6.i. GRAFTON HURDLES (two miles)— Prophet 12.7, Tauira 11.7, Continuance 11.2, Lady Patrician and Dunborve 10.4, Black Northern 10.0, Hautapu and Octon 9.13, Swagsman 9.10, Tui Cakobau 9.i, Reservoir and Hoahga 9.4, Delegate 9.0, Omati, Spectre, Don Quex, Nuihs, Royal Day, Bismarck and Nape Nape 9.0. RAILWAY HANDICAP of 650 sovs (six furlongs)— Armlet 9.4, Salute 9.1, Penates, and Provocation 8.13, Nyland 8.11, Theodore 8.6, Gipsy Belle 8.3, King Souit S.l, Turbine 7.12 Miss Winnie, Faunus and Madam Madcap 7.11, Kakama and Wauchope 7.10, Chief Lochiel 7 8 Birkdale 7:7, Perle d'Or 7.6, Kohinoor and Waiari 7:5, War Song, Tribulation, and Taimanupo 7.4, Emblem i.a, atTony,' Kaluga. Shuja and 'Tenterhook 7.2 Countermine and Taneka Winning Post, Sea E1f.7.0, All Guns t.O, Master Vheory 7.0. Scotch Plaid 6.13, Jney and Ashby 6.12, Vice-Admiral 6.11, Apellon Tattoo, General Soult, Dazzling and Hoiiungatahi 6.10, Blue Garment and Inspection ,6,9, Mahmga and Genius 6 8, Urukehu, Gold Circle.-Kithara, Big Blast, Mary Ann, Julian,' Muskewai, Peacemaker, Poictiers, Monolope, Elegance, Duart Glenspring, Lareina and Mapwell 6.7.

BX&X.XAKSS,

GRAY v. COOK,

LONDON, November 17. Play was continued in the match between Gray, the young Australian champion and record-break holoer, and Cook to whom Gray is conceding 2aoo points in a game of 9000 up. The scores now stand:—Gray 3002, including an kbl break; Cook, 3174. Received November 1 i, 5.45 p.m. Gray has now made 4501, including a break of 427. Cook's score stands at 4373.

ATHLETICS. A MATCH ARRANGED. (By Telegraph—Press Associatlon-Copyvlght). AUCKLAND, November 17. In response to the invitation extended to Harding, of Napier, by the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club to meet G. H. Hill, of Auckland, over a distance of 100 vards at the Club Carnival on Dec. 3, Harding wired that he did not think he could obtain the necessary leave. The matter was taken in hand by the club and representations were made by Mr M J. Sheahan, one of the vice-presi-dents, to the Minister of Lands with the result that the leave has now been granted. Harding states that he is in splendid form and as Hill is doing a thorough preparation the meeting of the two cracks should be a memorable one.