ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 160, 6 October 1883, Page 8

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

IT. T. Elms : 1. Frank Hewitt has the best halfmile record for the whole world up to date. In. a match against time, run at Lyttelton, N.Z, on the 21st September, 1871, Hewitt covered the half-mile in limn. 53|secs. Authentic. 2. lam aware that the Yankees pretend to pooh-pooh this record ; but don't pay any attention to that, as that nation is given to thinking itself the only record-maker in creat ion. On the occasion of the run, two firstclass tested stop-watches were held by opposing men (one being in the hands of one of the. Kohn Bros., the well-known watchmaking firm), and they agreed to a tick ; while they in turn corresponded with several unofficial time takers who " put the clock on it." So whatever the Spirit of the Times, or any other Yankee sporting print, niny see fit to publish, I rather reckon they would like to see the time beafcen by an American ped. And. the rest of the world accepts it as authentic.

— Bob Biggslis^ going in for a swell Rob Roy, vice the J.-J^ga^ashiered. ._ —The wet on Saturday put the " comether " on all the matches projected by the junior football clubs. • — Alf Warbrick is to build a whaleboat for entry in the race for those craft at the Auckland Regatta, to the order of a private crowd. Is this a " dark horse " ? ; —The half-caste wrestler, Roberteon, defeated his challenger, Strong, in the wrestling match for the championship on Saturday last, throwing Strong the two first falls and winning easily. — Scott and Edwards (Aust.) are, bar accident, competing in their great 24 hours' walk to-day and to-morrow (Friday and Saturday). lam afraid the wiry Edwards will prove too much for the clever boy Scott. '■■ -4Thb "well-known clipper yacht, Rita, will be in the water as soon as Mr Henderson returns from Australia, probably before the end of the month, Bailey's men being now at work preparing her for the season '83-4. — The whaleboat, built for the N.S. Regatta, by Mr Bailey, will this year be rowed by the following crew:— F. Finlay, McDonnell, G. McKay, R. Moore, and W.Scott. Steer- oar has riot yet been decided upon. - — Mr Bailey has also in hand a steam launch and a barge for the Sugar Co. The former, judging if rom model, will be a smart little (frafk Her dimensions are: — Beam, Oft Sin; length on keel, 53ft Gin ,• depth amidships, sft ; overall, 60ft. — The mile champion walk at Bow Grounds . (Eng.) on July 3rd, resolved itself into a match between Raby and Bostock, who outpaced eight other starters. Bostock won by 30 yards in 6 j minutes 40£secs. • I can remember when 8 minutes wa9 thought a grand record. . — Danny Holland is having a new fishing- | smack built by Mr Bailey. She is to be 23 feet on the keel, and 7ft 2in beam. Judging from the j numerous specimens of this builder's work we have hitherto seen, this craft should give a lot of trouble in the race for her class at the Auckland Regatta. , — Warbrick has also the order for the whaleboat for the Ponsonby Rowing Club, and, judging from the model he has on view, she will be s " snorter." In addition to these orders, Mr Warbrick has in band a 16-foot racer, to the order of two young men (nameless), and a pleasure JjQat, ■-^rMrSnedgrasSjjpaanagerof theJSanlTof N.zf at Tauranga. - - /~ - oat-come of my par. re Auckland bicycling championship and Mr Service, in last week's issue, is a challenge from that gentleman to ride anyone^in Auckland for the championship and — eh, what? I did not see any amount of *' Bponduh'x " mentioned, and don't therefore expect to : -see much more about it. Probably, s Mr S. will be allowed to walk over for the championship of Auckland. Of course, having won his Club championship, should his challenge be unanswered, it will leave him in the proud position of champion of the province. — Mr C. Bailey is engaged in tho construction ■of a pleasure yacht to the order of Mr E. Mitcheleon, M.H.R., which, from present appearances, bids fair to rival anything of her length and tonnage (5 tons) yet afloat. Her dimensions are as follows : — Length on keel, 2-ift ; overall, 27ft 9in ; beam, Bft ; depth, 3ft Gin. She is diagonal built, copper-fastened throughout, and very strongly put together. One remarkable f eature of the craft is the length of floor she ■ shows, running fair fore and aft. She is being - built oh the model of tho well-known open boat Toy, with modifications to suit the decked yacht. . Should Mr Mitchelson decide to rig her for racing purposes, I have little doubt but that she will .give a first-class record. .—I had a look over the Seagull, as new fishing smack Mr J. Waymoufch, jum\, has in hand for Knox is, to be called, on one day this wfeek. The craft is to measure abeut 6 tons, and the following are her dimensions : — Overall, 33 feefc ; keel, 26 feet ; beam, 8 feet ; depth midships, 3 feet 7 inches. She has a counter 4 feet 6 inches in length, and is built with a curved stein, shaped like a whaleboat's. This latter item "is far from being a beauty, but it will have one : good effect — that of rendering her dry and buoyant forward. She will have a centre-board 8 feet long, the bor being very scrongly built and leadlined. The whole of her midship section is to be open, the decking only extending a few feet at bow a,rfdlstern. The frameo are of pohutukawa,

and she is copper-fastened throughout. .As "she :lie3 -in ■yPaymouth's- r ßhed,.;she does ■"not by ,any nWris impress 68e '-ad* a beauty,' but a close inspection, shows an ease and. fine gradation of lines that indicate a powerful vessel in a seaway, and a fast "one in any weather. The new Bicycle Club, the Waitemata, has decided to open the summer season with a parade, or opening run, on Saturday (to-morrow), the 6th instant. Starting at 230 p.m., the following route will be followed. In addition to the Club, all Auckland bicyclists are invited to take part, and fully sixty wheelers are expected lo form in procession. Course: Start from the junction of Queen and Grrey-streets, down Queen-street to Custom House-street, and along the reclaimed road towards Freeman's Bay, and up College Hill Road to the junction of the three lamps ; along Ponsonby and Karangahupe Roads, upSymondsstreet into Kyber Pass, to Qrafton Boad, and down, turning into Park Road, crossing Kyber Pass at Seccombe's Brewery, up the Mount Eden Road, passing Mr Firth's, and along past Owen's corner into the Epsom Road, up to Browning's corner, there turning into Market Road to Remuera, Newmarket, and Parnell ; down Manukau Road to Custom House-street; up Queen-street to starting-place.

' ''" — The Auckland College and Grammar School boys held their annual sports on the Cricket Ground on Friday last. The racing wa3 fairly good throughout. Graham Tawhai, son of the Maori member of Parliament of that name, won the School Cup, after a spirited contest with H. Owen in the two first distances — Owen winning the 100 yds. and running second in the 200 yds., while Tawhai ran second in the 100 yds. and won the 200 and 440 yds. But that the times as taken, or, I should say, given by that oracle, the Star, are so manifestly absurd in nearly all the events, I should be inclined to remark upon the funereal pace at which the i-mile must have been run, wbeu we are told it occupied 63sec, and remember that the Maori athlete is perpetually " fit " and a full grown man, with a good reputation for speed. Mr W. Tomlinson acted as timekeeper, and the following will show how cleverly he did it. (The times I give are taken from the Star report.): — Throwing the Cricket Ball — G\ Tawhai, 2min. 33£ sec .!!! distance, 89 feet 6in. Half-mile, under fourteen (no time given), won

\by. H>iGh "Vjf&tts from • scratch. Gh Tawhai "won the long jump, clearing 15ft.. 9in. Wonder the Star didn't say yards in this case. The ' 100 yds., for boys under llyrs., was won by B. Darby from scratch in. lOJsecs. ! ! 1 wish I had that boy in England 5 I could win thousands on him, if he can do that time. Note the dif. of this lOOjds. for the big boys or young men — H. Owen (4<yds) beat Gr. Tawhai (scratch) in nineteen and a half sees.! l Did they walk it ? A. Calvert won the Hurdles for boys under 15, 120 yds, owing seven, aud giving six yards to H. Black, who ran second. The invincible Maori got second to W. Winks, to whom he gave 30yds. start, in the half-mile ; but he can't be a good stayer, or he would never have let 2. 18£.! with 30yds. short, beat him. W. Meldrum, the well-known cricket colt, won the Football Kick. Gk Tawhai went from the mark again in the 200 yds. of the School Cup, and got to the tape in 22secs., H. Owen (7yds.) being second. Taking a line through the time given for the 100 yds., he *vas only 2|secs. doing the second 100 of this event ! ! The same irrepressible youth then pulled out for the High Jump, which he won with a 4ft. 6in. record. [Here, you Star man, you are not at all consistent, or you would have put this "yards" instead of "feet," and . established a " best on record."] Then Mr

Graham Tawhai again weighed out for the third distance of the School Gup, 440 yds., and sailed in an easy winner from W. Meldruni, who had 10yds. start. Siamese Race won by H. Batgeiand W. Meldrum. 200 yds. (under 16)— H. Owen (scratch), Ist. High Jump (under 15) — A. Calvert, 4ft. 2£in. Mile Handicap (open)— W. Ball, 50yds, Ist, in 5 23£. 440yds,- for boys under 13, was won by T. Wright -in eleven and two-thirds sees ! That beats " a mile a minute on a bicycle" all to fits. Something wrong with that watch, or else Mr W. Tomlinson was " getting at " the verdant Star reporter. H. Batger won the 120 yds. Hurdles (open) in 18sec, owing 4yds. Bit too good yet. The " old boy," Wood, took 60£secs. to get a i-mile. 1 have a strong idea that I know several who could have beaten that if they had had notice of such an event being programmed. Twenty-four young speelers 'started for the under 14yrs'. 200yd5.,. »and J. Lusk kept going longest, and won. Cfraham Tawhai is the proper sort of fellow to wear the blue ribbon. He nasgotA^it of mueole

and grit to show on the side of abstinence. There js : : ;np ianternVjawed, -.cadaverous Ranter about the Maori teetotaller. Joking aside, he. is a good, sterling all-round athlete. On ; this occasion, it will be seen, he started in seven events in oner day, winning five, and getting second twice. Then we all know that he is no slouch at fcotball, and he can play a bit of cricket, swim well, pulls a fair oar, and can manage a sailing-boat— -a good record that for a chap that can preach the Gospel and lecture against alcohol in the bargain. Pity more Maoris were not like him j we would hear no more of the extinction of the finest race of aboriginals on the face of tbe earth, and we would soon cease to remember the words " native difficulty."