MARTON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19768, 16 February 1927, Page 2

MARTON

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. [ From the “ Chronicle’s ” Special Correspondent. ] At P-.e general committee meeting of the A. and P. Association on Mondaynight the Auckland Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Association forwarded the following resolution, which ,was carried at a conference held in Auckland on November 16 last: “That this meeting considers that a Board of Enquiry with tho powers to call evidence should be set up forthwith to ascertain the conditions which are preventing the profitable working of the land already in occupation and retarding the settlement and utilisation of the undeveloped land of New Zealand with a view, to their removal.” Mr. F. R. H. Brice spoke in favour of the resolution, and on his motion it was decided to approve of the resolution and to convey same to the Hon. Minister of Lands. “WILD HORSE MESA.” Jack Holt is the hero of the Zane Grey Western thriller, “Wild Horse Alesa, ” which, comes to the Marton Town Hall this (Wednesday) evening. It is a stirring romance of Arizona and of hunting bands of wild horses that roam the plains there. Billie Dove is Ihe heroine, while also in the cast are Noah Beery and Douglas Fairbanks Junr. Seats may be booked at Mogridge ’s. CRICKET. NOTES BY “SHORT-LEG.” A feature of this year’s cricket season is the exciting games which marked the competition matches. On Saturday* Marton and Porewa played a hard-fought draw and Porewa required four runs for victory when the last man went in. Afarton made 119, of which. I A. S. Staples, J. H. C. Broad and R. D. Kerr made an even hundred between them. What is wanted in Rangitikei is better match and practice wickets, and until tho Association takes steps to supply these, cricket in this district will never reach a high standard. Captains and managers of teams visiting New Zealand always complain about the wickets and they say that New Zealand cricket will never reach an international plane so long as the wickets remain unimproved. The middle wicket on the sports ground would only be considered a fair practice wicket in a larger centre, while the side wickets would not oven be good enough for a part of an outfield. Admitting that cricket is fairly weak in Rangitikei and that this minor Association is so much , weaker than others like Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Wanganui, these wickets must be very bad, for to,date there are only three players in Rangitikei with ' an average of over 20. They are L. Smith, who has now left this district, with an average of 29, T. Lyon with 23, and D. A. Cameron with 21. The bowlers of nearly all the clubs have good averages, several having under six rung per wicket. OiT Saturday Taihape and Rangitikei meet at the sports ground, and with a player like G. A. Rotherham, the exOxford and Warwickshire County eleven cricketer in their midst, Taihape are bound to give a good account of themselves. GENERAL NEWS. The Putorino Settlement Sports Club will hold their annual athletic and equestrian sports on Airs. Herbert I Pryce’s p | •erty at Putorino (Rata) on Wednesday, Alarch 2. At the Alarton Borough Council meeting on Alonday evening, Messrs Bachelar and Afclndoe’s tender for £l7OO was accepted for building the Rest and Plunket Rooms and dental clinic at Afarton. CYCLING MEETING TO-DAY At the Marton Park this afternoon R. Spears, J. Henderson and H. Nesbitt will appear in numerous cycling events and will be seen in action against the local cyclists. Special match races have been arranged between Spears and Nesbitt, and Henderson and R. Bland (Afarton). These include the one-mile open handicap, half-mile handicap, and two miles scratch race. The first event will be gin at 2 p.m.