THE TEA KIOSK AT THE TROTTING GROUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17188, 3 November 1923, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE TEA KIOSK AT THE TROTTING GROUND.

New Zealand patrons of boxing will have read with sincere regret the cable message announcing the death of Mr \V. F- Corbett, who for so many years , conducted the boxing columns of the , Sydney “ Referee.” ?rie deceased gentleman was recognised the world over as an authority on the sport, and liis views and opinions were quoted wherever boxing is known- A patron from New Zealand visiting Sydney did not consider the trip complete until lie had called upon “Bill ” Corbett, who always had a warm welcome and who was always pleased to spare time from his many duties—-for his work on the well-known Sydney sporting paper war not confined solely to boxing - to have a chat about the sport in the Dominion. His sanctum was the resort of boxers, and it was an education to a visitor if he happened in on a reception day. Then would be hoard opinions on the conduct of the spott, anecdotes of past and present-dnv boxers, and general views on boxers and boxing from men who were qualified to speak, and who were listened to with respect. Air Corbett was firm in the belief that the greatest boxer of his day, if not the greatest known in the annals of the sport, was Peter Jackson, a large-sized framed portrait of whom stood out in bold relief from the numerous portraits

Of ring celebrities which covered the ' walls of his “ den.'’ He was an outj spoken critic of men and methods, but being only human his judgment of a I boxer sometimes was at fault in estimating the possibility of development with experience. This, however, was a small thing compared with the influence lie exerted for the well-being of the sport, and the powerful pen he wielded so fearlessly w ithout respect to individuals. He had great personality, and his place will be difficult to fill. To oblige the English Rugby Union, the New Zealand organisation has derided to discontinue the “ amateur allowance ” of 3s per day to touring footballers (writes a Sydney “ Bulle-

tin ” correspondent). Though this allowance is quite in train with the rules ot the Amateur Sporting Federation, which permits a os per day allowance to swimmers and others when on tour, it is utterly opposed to the principles < i amateurism. The custom, as far as l nion looter was concerned, originated in New South "Wales about twenty years ago. Before that touring teams wore found in everything, including washing, but they had to provide their 1 own pocket-money. This sometimes led to friction, as in the case of a famous Maorilnnd player, who once threatened to strike in Brisbane if the manager didn’t “ lend ” him 10 bob. Still, it kept alight the sacred fire of ama- « teurism. The original All Blacks and Wallabies come under the ban of the purists in Britain because they drew the pocket-money. The Scots always lilvwliite, were betrayed into giving the All Blacks a game, but they drew the line at the Wallabies, as did Ireland. In a letter to the sports editor of the “ Herald,” Air I*. F. Warner, who captained Lord Hawke’s team on a New Zealand and Australian tour in j 1902, says he is anxious to know some- >

thing of New Zealand cricket. He is solicitous regarding the standard of play since liis tour twenty-one years ago, when a team of dashing batsmen and good bowlers assisted materially to raise the standard of play throughout the Dominon. Like. Air A. C. Alar Daren, the old JCnglish captain is of opinion that New Zealand’s best team, as he knew it. would put up good games against- England. Air Warner is looking forward to the advent of a New Zealand team in the near future. Warner lias captained several English teams on tour during his career, including teams to New Zealand. South Africa.. India and America. “ If there were any occasion at the moment to choose a cricket eleven re- , presentative of the world, there is no i doubt that the claims of George (fiial ! tenor, of the West Indies, would have | to be very seriously considered.” Thus ' j wrote London “Sporting Life” two or three months back. “ Certainly few , finer batsmen' have been seen this seai son, and the Surrey team would be j.the first to testify both as to his aggressive and defensive powers. So far I Chalienor has. during the present tour, ! registered seven centuries, with 155 not out as his best. His most recent three- ■ figure innings was that in the match j against Glamorgan, which ended in a ! victory for the AVelshmen. in which ! Challenor's contribution was 110.” Challenor, who is a right-hander, made : eight centuries for liis team. The “ find ” of Sydney public »ls sports was ( . A . Walker (Church of England Grafnmar), a tall, well-set-up youth with rare pace. He collected a treble -the 220yds, in 23 1 -ssec : the 440yds, in 54 3-ssec; and the 120yds hurdles in 17sec—and was fifth in the broad jump (says the Sydney “ Bulletin.”) There are 1 possibilities in the youngster, but he was asked to do too much in one day. So was E. L. AlacDonald (Sydney Grammar), who, after winning a strenuous halfmile in 2min 6sec, was allowed to contest the mile. The overtasked youth led most of the way, o.;t was beaten in a rattling finish by v!. T. Lyne (Church of England Grammar) in 4niin 47 4-ssec. It is a foolish and risky business, this overworking of willing young colts. A. N. Finiay (Sydney Grammar) annexed the 100yds in 10 3-o.sec. and A. Cun ningham established a broad jump j retord of 21 It 11 in -the previous best ! ...... - Slip Carr'.-; i'lii 4tin. s'jriTo.l pci '-.efore '.'air left for -lie j'.il.-imr • ;il.ll>ilign >ll 191, .

Edwin AV. Carr is a young Australian who has made good in the world of sport, under conditions exceptional as a test of speed, stamina and moral grip (says the ‘ Sydney Referee ’’) Cabled from London that lie “ has returned after a most successful tour of the Continent. He ran at Copenhagen, Berlin, Prague (and other towns in Czecho-Slovakia), Vienna and Budapest. He won 13 finals on the Continent, and for the whole tour out of fifty races lie finished first in 31 finals out of 32 starts. Ho intends waiting here to participate in the Olympic Games at Paris in 1924. Thirty-one victories in thirty-two starts is not -only a tribute to liis remarkable speed, but to his physical soundness, self-control, temperate living and judgment. Travelling in strange countries, with varying climates and food, and no doubt with troubles in training, provide a severe test for the athlete. In tlio light of these matters, and with the ever-pressing inclination to get about and see sights aii« people wfien success on the running track might j call for sleep and rest, the young Sydj ney athlete lias achieved something

bordering on the phenomenal. Edwin Carr’s athletic ability is a clear case of heredity. His father, T. P. Carr, played Rugby Union football for New South Wales and Queensland as far back ns 18S6. To-nay, tTiougn in the vicinity of sixty years old, and close on 16 stone, ho plays lawn tennis with the zest of the boy of twenty. He will attend a country tournament, play all day on a bard court, and foot it it n ight with the best of the young men in the ballroom. No wonder tho son is a doer on the athletic -track. Tt- is to be hoped lie will now take well-won rest from the track, so that he shall come forth later in the full command of his striking form to uphold the prestige of Australia in the Olympic Games, and later of the Empire agajnst the trans-Atlantic rivals. The high jumping at Wesley College deserves a special line (writes “Harrier” in “The Australasian”). L. H. Kelly, the Australasian high jump record holder, is a master, and was no doubt proud of his pupils. The winner, Seabrook. two years ago won the under fifteen event at sft—a Wesley record. Last year, under sixteen, he again established a. school record for liis age at sft s|in. This year he cleared oft Uin with so much to spare that- had the bar been at Oft he would still have cleared it and tied L. 11. Kelly’s school record. The improvement shown is remarkable, as is the performance itself for a lad only sixteen years old. In the same event a sturdy youth. A". Baker., cleared oft 7in, and incidentally took off Bft in front of the jump and ; landed Bft the other side. This gave I him only third place, as R. At. Crockett pushed Seabrook liaifd and actually cleared sft 10m. The cabled report of the death of A. P. Lucas, a famous amateur batsman as far back as 1878. when the ; first team of white Australians visited England, has revived memories of the ; past (‘says a Melbourne writer). He j was a Cambridge man. . played with ; Surrey, Middlesex, and Essex, and ! was born on February 20. 1857. Ho , was a member of Lord Harris’s team that visited Australia in the years ; 1877-5. Lucas was one of the best j and most stylish batsmen of his clay ; when such giants as AV. 0. Grace, A. ! G. Steel. C. ]’>. Studd A J. YVcbbe. il. W Walker. A. ami K LvtteJton, jA. N Hornb> and 1 SI ter were in the land. Ho plav.-d for England

in the test matches and for the Gentlemen against Australia. Yet another veteran has to be congratulated on a personal success, and this time one. it. is safe to say. whose name will always be remembered as long as cricket is played (says “The Cricketer”). AVe refer to Wilfrid Rhodes, who for the fourteenth time in his career has made over a thousand runs and obtained more tlian a. hundred has thus equalled the record previously monopolised by liis great fellow-player, George Hirst. The latter performed the feat eleven years running—l9o3 to 1913 inclusive ; and in 1906 credited himself with 2385 runs and 208 wickets. The seasons in which Rhodes accomplished “ the double event’’ were 1903 to 1909. 1911, 1914. and 1919 to 1923. Frank Tarrant did it eight seasons in succession—l9o7 to 1914. The luck of Jack Kaufman, a Hobart civil servant, should surely become proverbial (writes a “ Bulletin ” correspondent). Passing along Road a few weeks ago lie noticed something thrown from a passing tram.

Gn approaching, and kicking the object lightlv, he discovered a homemade bomb. The kick had disconnected the fuse, and thereby, it- seems probable, saved his life. The- first constable, on the scene jocularly advised him, as people always will when one lias been miraculously saved from accident, to take a ticket in Tatt.’s. The- youth had previously been in the habit of sharing his tickets with a pal, but he decided, on the strength of the bomb that hadn’t killed him, to have a go on his own. His ticket drew Sir Andrew for the Metropolitan. Still trusting in his star, he refused a handsome offer for a half share, and the next day drew £4300 first money. All Hobart is now looking anxiously in the roadway for stray bombs thrown by some tram-riding lunatic. The South Africans will be here nextsummer (writes the- London correspondent of the “Star”), and the great consideration is the England team to meet them. AA'ho will be captain? If the public were to decide this im. port ant question there is no doubt that P. G. H. Fender would be the choice. In the first place he is perhaps the finest all-round player of the presenttime. and as the captain of Surrey he. shows more imagination than any other skipper. The authorities at Lords in the past have api»arently been afraid to trust him, fearing him too daring, but the one thing greatly in his favour is that lie is always scheming to win. The doubt is about the batting. An old player remarked to me- the other dav : “ I don’t feel happy about the bowling when Rhodes at the age of forty-four can head the averages with eleven odd runs a wicket.” This fact, it- is true, is a little significant, because I do not think anyone pretends that the A'orkshireman is bowling quirt* as well as. say, fifteen years ago. At the same time, it lias been notable that he has got most of his wickets in each match towards the tail of the innings, for no one can get rid of a moderate batsman quicker.