In the Open Air.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13840, 27 February 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

In the Open Air.

SFORTS AND PASTIMES. A new arrival from the Old Country a doctor, with all the polish of the 'varsity upon him, arrived in West Australia recently, and presented his letters of introduction to friends, who, to do him well, took-Medicus out to a race meeting which fortunately happened to be on. Taking a fancy to one noble steed, the new arrival enquired its price from a leather-lunged vendor of the odds. "Three to one, to you, sir," was the bookie's reply, given with a for-your-sake-I'll-bet-over-the-odds air that in nine cases out of ten was taken and the "brief" handed over. Home rolled a gallant winner, but when the overseas visitor presented his ticket for payment he was, proffered apologies for a terribly bad race and his tenner back. In the vernacular, he was " balanced." After the race his friends met him and enquired how he was getting on. "Oh, I'm bavin' a.rippin' time; have broke one bookie already."-

The publication of Mr Hasscll's records on Saturday last showed what capital sport can be had in South Canterburv "in the open air." It is a pity that more sportsmen do not keep records. If this were done, Mr Hassell would be Jound by no means the onlv angler who had in his time taken tons of fish. One would like to know what the veteran, Mr Chas. Nicholas, grasses from year to year. Mr Frank Palliser's record, also, would'be another on the big side. And vet. again, ike Messrs P°ll°ck, i* their records were kept, could, it ail reports are true, top any individual or two-man basket in the Middle Island. Other good men who carry home big baskets are Messrs Mannenng Foster, Wliitlev. Allen, Scaly, Randrup. and Robertson, all of whom should certainlv keep records. The latter are interesting for companion «•* reflection, and are, also, texts con versation; at gatherings ot fcllouspbrtsmen. * * »■

Some, very fine tennis can be seen at the Timara courts just now of an atternoon and evening, as several very tournaments are being Saved off. This week has witnessed Fome firlt-ilass play. hotl. in singles and dories. The Tim.™ CHub are verv fortunate this year, in that they ran pot three grades of players into matches and dub play, and though thev occasionally lose a match the> have thi satisfaction of knowing that all classes are gaining experience and confidence. The pooling of the doubles in which the grades meet on a common footing, is one of the best things the Club have ever done, for strong and weak men and women meet as and playing *° wm strengthen play all round. Then, pairs can talk matters over afterwards, and praise or blame one another for good or bad points shown. It is only in this way that the standard of plav can be raised. V tennis plaver in Sydney has, assured "Huka," (of the Wellington 'Evening Post") that the New South Wales Association has resolved to asK the New Zealand Association to send a team of ladies over to Sydney m April, and that arrangements can be made to accommodate the team for a fortnight. The New Zealand Association some little time back could not see its wav clear to send the team, as it could not pay the bare travelling expenses. Now all difficulties are overcome, and it is safe to say that a team of six ladies will be sent to. byclnev to compete against the New boutli Wales team. A tournament will also be on about that time, so the. Aw Zealand ladies will be able-to take part in that also. If the bast can be sent a strong team will represent the Dominion. Who wfll be chosen? That rests with the Selection Committee, but there were seven players competing in the tournament held in Nelson at' Christinas time who will catch the committee's eye. Only six can go; it will not be hard to select five, but the trouble wUI he with the selection of the sixth.

"Bowls is one of the oldest and most popular of our English pastimes, the origin of which can be traced back to the 12th century." So says a standard work. How proud bowlers sjiouid be to know that William Fitzstcphen, in his "Survey of London," written during the last "quarter of the twelfth century, states that in the summer holidays, vouths took exercise amongst other'pastimes in jactu lapidum —"in throwing of stones." This might be taken as referring to throwing stones bv slings or other artificial means, were it not that the next pastime mentioned is "slinging of missiles to be delivered bevond a certain mark (amentatis missilibus. ultra metani expediendis.") Fitzstephen, on the authority of the Encyclopaedia Britannica," was both an accurate observer and a careful writer, and he clearly alludes to two distinct exercises. In early days s-tone spheres are known, to have been used for howling, and the like thing and name were in vogue for the next S centuries: in fact, till 1408. The earliest delineation extant of the game shows two players with a ball each, but no jack or mark to bowl at. It is presumed fro mthis that the first cast his howl to constitute a mark tor the second to play at and knock from its position. We do things better now. ~ I met, once upon a time, a bowler who iraf quite surprised when told something on the lines of the foregoing. I fcdew howls was a pretty old game he said, "because I remember when 1 was a kiddy heanng a song called ' Tom Bowling.' " # # f It is curious to note how <K»™£ tented some anglers are, ami fco* quick thev are in voicing complaints when t'other chap is a common target Week-end after week-end the growls at camion the river W loyj ™d acrid "There are no fasli Jii the rivers? at" least not so many as years "To,"' "the mouth (ofthenw) » rotten, and the Society should be shook *£*J- who wants Boiirke's to hta£df» "this is no anglers rest now, f ' ~„.- picnic parties and too abort," tW» a - nomula'uits that arc printable, lucre , ,rc others that would make ink crimson and our machines would not print them It would be great Junto call *;„„ nf anglers to publicly air thf Society see Setter around all the sulphurous and \io.V fumes there is any fire. Hie that no member of the CounJa T takes a personal interest in these t r4 he Pleases, and is dumped at the it Section. Many sportsmen are utterly elfish, and so there is no union statTofSnS that will be the better •W all Some complaints arc certainly well founded, and now that there is talk of approaching the Tourist-De-partment by petition to take over the fishing and sporting (as is done at Rotorua) in South Canterbury, the Society might do well to make, some enquiry as to what is; really : needed in the "way of improvement. . There is •=ome talk that the local Society is dead: at anv rate, it has not had a meetin°- for months: it is tirno :it came state of torpor and' took a more livelv interest in matters pertain---ifig *o : hath, shooting-aiid -

ROWING NOTES. (By Sliding Seat.) lii my last notes I mentioned that Mr G. Mansford had not vet done anything to the Waitui. At the committee meeting held on Wednesday night the matter was brought up again. The secretary reported tliat Mr Mans? ford had not replied to his letter. The captain also informed the committee that he (Mansford) had spoken to him about the boat, saying that he Was not going to repair it. Under these circumstances the committee had no option but to fine the man, and this has been done. For the committee's sake, and also Mansford's, I hope the matter will end here. The final heat of the President Fours took place after my last notes went to press. The sea was perfect for. rowing in just enough Devil in it not to make it too hard work. Nicholls having choice of courses, took the centre, Mayo having the north, and Millichariip the south courses. There was a little manoeuvring about at the start, Nicholls trying to get a flying start, but the starter was not to be caught, eventually he sent them off to a very even start. The three boats kept very close together all the way; at the entrance Nicholls had a lead of Millichamp by about 3 feet, and nearly a length of Mayo. Mayo here started to creep up, and at the end of the'. Moody wharf, called on to his men in such a way that no crew would go on a stroke. Nicholls and Millicbamp ■were also going at top, and a hard and very pretty race to the finishing post took place, Mayo winning by about two feet from Nichols. Milliehamp about a foot behind Nicholls. It was a splendid race, and it will be sometime before another like it will be seen. The committee have taken up the work of revising the rules, which are to be submitted to a general meeting to be held about the 15th March. As at present constituted the rules are obsolete, and if any member likes to take the trouble he can pull any rule to pieces he likes. If any member lias any suggestions to make or a -new. rule to add tbp coninu'ttee will be only too pleased if he will interview them.' Mr Christie, of George Davis Company, has presented a medal to be presented to the stroke of the winning crew in the committee fours., I have seen the .medal and it is a very neat little article, and should be well worth winning. __^_^__^^^___