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Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 13128, 9 November 1906, Page 7

The origin of croquet, writes a correspondent of the London " Daily Chronicle," is certainly involved in mystery. Some authorities are of opinion that it is founded on the old game of "pale maille," or pellmell, from; -which we have the street PallmalL This is described by Cptgrave in his dictionary as "a game wherein a round box bowle is with a mallet struck through a high arch of iron,". and a picture of this in Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes" shows, that these had a strong resemblance to the croquet - implements of to-day. The modern era of the game undoubtedly commenced in Ireland in the first half of the nineteenth century, where it was introduced by the eldest daughter of Sir Edward Macnaghten, who is said to have brought it from -France. The introduction or reintroduction of the game into England took place in 1852, whenihe same Miss Macnaghten played the first game on the lawn of the late Lord Lonsdale. And then it spread like wildfire until tennis for a time checked its progress.