DR ADAMS IS NEW N.Z. PRESIDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19043, 11 April 1930, Page 4

DR ADAMS IS NEW N.Z. PRESIDENT.

HAS GIVEN VALUABLE SERVICE TO RUGBY. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, April 11. For the second year in succession the ballot for the office of president of the New Zealand Rugby Union caused a raising of eyebrows. Last year it was bruited about Wellington the week before the meeting that Mr C. H. Mills, of Marlborough, would win the honour. Mr Mills then failed to get a nomination at the meeting and Mr Alan Adams, the popular West Coaster, won the honour unopposed. This year everything pointed to Dr P. M’Evedy being raised to the position, and once again the forecasters made a mistake. Dr M’Evedy was nominated, and after Mr S. S, Dean had declined to stand, Dr Adams, of Wanganui, was proposed.

Both went to the ballot, and Dr Adams was successful. Dr Adams has given good service ' to Rugby in New Zealand without being one of its prominent players.:. He learned the game at Otago University and played in the senior fifteen.

After talcing his M.D. degree, Dr Adams went to Wanganui to enter practice. He linked himself with various sporting bodies in the river city and took a prominent part in the administration of the game. Besides being the Union surgeon, ,Dr Adams acted successively as chairman of the Wanganui Metropolitan SubUnion, selector to the same sub-union, chairman of the executive of the Wanganui Rugby’- Union and president of the Wanganui Union. Lately he has been a selector.

Socially Dr Adams is bound to be a great success with the visiting Englishmen, and from an administrative point of view, though his duties will be light, he will carry them out efficientlv with the experience he has behind him. For once there was no street corner criticism of the work of the New Zealand Rugby* Union Management Committee. The body which acted over the past season was returned to office. The only competitor for a position, on the management committee was Mr E. Perry, better known as a former referee. He was defeated.

Jack Hobbs Confident. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, February 27. Jack Hobbs will play cricket again during the coming season. “My friends tell me I will get 200 centuries. I doubt it. I still want thirty,” he said to an interviewer. “ I am forty-seven years of age, whereas forty used to see cricketers playing their last first-class

matches. Nevertheless. I hope that in 1930 I will pass Dr W. G. Grace’s record of 54,896 runs in first-class cricket. At present I am about 1500 behind. “ My sight is still good, but my legs are unequal to my general fitness. I am having special treatment to get them into trim.”

Hobbs recalled that in 1911 he gave up staidness for hitting owing to his determination to check criticisms regarding the slowness of cricket. That was one turning point. Now he was getting rather sewn up again. He was proud of the day when he equalled Graces 126 centuries, but prouder when his century ensured the winning of the “ ashes ” in 192 G. “ J was also proud,” he said, “ when Rhodes and myself made 323 for the first wicket in Melbourne before the war, regaining the “ ashes.” There will be no option but to play in the forthcoming tests if asked.” 55 Queer Incidents. Two strange incidents were recorded in cricket matches in Sydney recently. M’lntyre, fast bowler for St Joseph’s College, delivering to Webb, of Sydney High School, by strange mischance dropped the ball in front of himself. As he made to recover it, the umpire stopped him, and told Webb to come and hit the ball where it lay. The batsman obeyed, the ball was fielded quickly, returned to the wicket-keeper, and Webb was stumped before he could return to his crease. ITe was given out. The secon contretemps happened in the G.P.S. match between Newington and Sydney Grammar. Price (Newington) hit a ball and attempted two runs. A smart return saw the wicket-keeper appeal for a run out. The umpire supported him. Price was returning to the pavilion when it was noticed that the wicket-keeper had not broken the wicket. Price was recalled, and helped to compile 119.