Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1122, 25 February 1885, Page 5

Correspondence.

o LAWRENCE V. BRUCE & DUNEDIN

OKIrKET WATCH. ( To the Editor.) Sir,— ln glancing down the columns of the " Bruce Herald on Saturday last, I noticed a letter to the editor giving it rather hot to the captain of the Bruce team on his conduct in the above match in Lawrence on the 4th inst. (whioh letter I should like all cricketers to read) ; and in a foot-note to the above letter by the editor of the " Brure Herald," I also notice thai he states that the report in the Tuapbka. Times was incorrect, as it wa» Bruce, not Bruce and Dunedjn, that our local Club played, and that such "oarping oriticism" was'not conducive to that good feeling which should exist between the above Clubs. Now, I should like to ask the editor of the " Bruce Herald " what he reckons as the Bruce Club— if members of the Carisbrook and Exceleior C.C.s (Dunedin) are Bupposed to belong to Milton ? Whenever the latter place sends a team to Lawrence there are always players from Dunedin in the team — Christmas twelve months ago there being five, and this year two, players from that place. In my opinion, and, I should imagine, in the opinion of every right-thinking perscn, if these are not mixed teams from Danedin and Bruce I don't know what are. I don't know whether Milton is afr&id to come to Lawrence without the assistance of Dunedin, or what ; but it looks very strange that such is always' the case, and I still maintain thnt I was right in calling the team a combined one, which the editor of the '• Herald " ought to see if he knows anything about the matter at all, which I very much doubt, esperially as the Dunedin players did most of the batting and bowling for Milton, both in this and laßt year's matches in Lawrence, which assertion is proved by looking up the reports of these matches. When the Lawrence Club received the challenge from Bruce it was understood to be the return mutch belwn«n the two Clubs; and Lawrenoe," with this understanding, only put a junior team in the fiald. I again repeat the woidaof my .repo t— that the match was one between Lawrence and a combined team from Milton and Dunedin, and also that the former Club would have come off victorious had the Bruce captain acted" f uirlj and played proper cricket, and it would not have heen a piltry victory either, but by a matter of wiokets, as they had only ten runs to make to win and seven wickets to fall when time was" called. , I m y also state that if anything would cause bad feeling between the Clubs, it would be the way in which the Bruce captain acted, and not in publishing a correct report, which, I may say, was done with the intention of putting a stop, if possible, to the miserable practice of getting assistance from other Clubs when coming to Lawrence. I should like to have had this letter published ! last issue, but I did not notice the foot-note until too late._* Trusting this will convince the " Herald " editor of the .correctness of my report. — J am, &0., , CONTEIBTJIOE. Lawrence, JJlst February.

The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Korti writing to that journal sayß : — An Arab messenger baa arrived here from Khartouna, bringing a Btnall Blip of thin paper Jeaa than 2in square, upon which "was written in ink : — "Khartoum all right. £laoember 14th.— 0. G. Gordqn." .The. messenger left Khartoum on the dafe named, and he bad bnt little difficulty in passing through the rebel lines. He states that the Mahdi is still near Khartoum and has a large force, amounting, according to the smallest estimate, to 20,000, and to the largest, 80 000 men. In one of the latest skirmishes always taking .place,- Gordon succeeded in disabling one of the Mahdi's gu.no used in the siege. Gordon, the messenger says, looks well, and h,is men are in good spirits now that they know of Lord Wolseley's advance with the English troops. Gordon still appears to, have a supply of tobacco, .as he smokes cigarettes, one of which he. offered to the messenger, X have myself seen .Gordon's note. It is about as 'large as a penny' postage stamp., The man had it rolled ,up to the size of a pin, and it was •ewn iftto tlje sg%nj of the wrist of hia garment,