CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1927, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)' CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. TEST MATCH RECORDS. Cricket patrons were rewarded to-day for their attendance at Lancaster Park, when Blunt and Pago established a record of 257 runs for a New Zealand partnership. The previous record was 244 by Patrick and Alcotb in Sydney last year. Blunt’s individual score of 187 is also a record for a batsman for Now Zealand, the previous best being 148 by Dan Reese against South Australia in Adelaide in 1914. Blunt played a splendid clianceless innings, showing a partiality for the on side, where lie was very strong, but he also scored well with off drives and lato cuts. Ho was accorded a wonderful ovation, in which the visitors joined, and much to the amusement of the >rowd two hearty peals of thunder joined the applause as he was leaving the grounds.

Page had ricked his knee on tho previous day. This hampered his footwork. He was dropped behind tho wickets when ho had scored five, and again at 23, otherwise he gave a sound exhibitirm, maintaining a ron arkablo run of good scores for representative cricket. James batted muck better than on the first day, and gave n. glimpMo of Ids real form. Tic and Oliver ran smartly between the wickets. Daere and Oliver also gave a fine exhibition of running short singles. Daere batted brightly for his 29. Ho went out in an attempt to force tho pace. Oliver was going strongly with 30 to his credit, when stumps were drawn. The Melbourne bowling held no terrors, Ebeling’s two wickets costing 127 runs. Page and Blunt took tho sting out of the fast man’s deliveries. LATE LEN. JOHNSON.

The late Leonard Johnson, whoso tragic death is reported, was horn m Nelson on December 12th, 1575, and began his career as a journalist on tho “Temuka Leader.” Later ho was on tho “Timaru Post.” While on this paper, 21 years ago, he was appointed private secretary to Sir William HallJones, Minister of Public Wcirks, with whom he served for some years. Ho then joined tho late Robert McNab, Minister of Lands, and next went as private secretary to lion. Sir Thomas McKenzie, who was Minister of Agriculture, and for a time Prime F 'Aster. The late lion. Sir William J jerries then claimed Mr Johnson’s services. While with him Mr Johnson went to the Great War. Later he was with Sir William Berries. When .Sir William died Mr Johnson established himself with the Hon. W. Iwvnie Stewart, nnd after returning from an American health tour with the Minister of Finance, ho went as private secretary to tho Hon. 0. J. Hawken, with whom ho was till the time of his death.

COUNT CAVOUR

Having already von £13,525 for Ins owner, Count Cavour will leave for Sydney next week to .compete a.t the autumn meeting of the Australian Jockey Club. Mr J. S. Barrett has had the Sydney trip in mind for some time, but a final decision was only arrived at on Saturday after his win in the Trentham Gold Cup. Australia did not see the best of the Count when he was at Ilandwick last spring, but with average luck he should enhaneo his reputation at the autumn meeting of tho Australian Jockey Club next month. T. H. Gillctt will go in charge, and F. Porter will do the ridiitg.