SPORTS JOTTINGS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 12 April 1927, Page 3

SPORTS JOTTINGS.

For several years past it has been a reproach against the responsible authorities that, while they brought the snjall fry of the gambling fraternity before the courts fairly regularly, they have allowed the big fish to slip through the meshes of their net without let or hindrance. At last, however, they have laid their hands on two of the big bookmakers of the Dominion, and recently one of those made his appearance before the court in Wellington and the other in Christchurch. The Wellington culprit had (writes our own correspondent) been practising his “profession” here for years and yet was so good a sport and so gracious a gentleman, that no one really grudged him his immunity from interference. The Chief Detective, who conducted the prosecution, gave the defendant a very good character, apart frim his disregard for the provisions of the Gaming Act, and any number of highly respectable citizens would have been glad to bear the same testimony without qualification of any kind. The magistrate, however, was obdurate, and, in spite of all counsel had to urge in mitigation of the offence, inflicted the maximum fine of £2O on. each of the six charges. Whether the penalty will act as a deterrent or merely as an advertisement remains to be seen. Meanwhile the law seems to have done its best at the moment.

The civic farewelling of the New Zealand cricketers (says our Wellington err,respondent) .was by common consent, one of the most impresssive. functions of the kind ever witnessed in Wellington. The big hall was well filled, largely by active followers 01 the “best oi all games,” ami the audience gave a rousing reception to the members of the team and punctuated with discretion and warmth the points made by the various speakers. The Mayor was a little official, as a man might be who had not tested at first hand the joys of the game, and the Hon. William Nosworthy, representing the Government, perhaps was a trifle more weighty than the occasion demanded. But Sir Francis Bell struck exactly the right note, reminding the pioneers of New Zealand cricket m England that the result of the battle was of less consequence than was the manner in which they fought. Mr Dan Reese followed in the same strain with all inspiring fluency, and Mr Warwick Armstrong, the captain of the Australian visiting team, when applause allowed him to speak, bore generous testimony to the skill and sportsmanship of the' Dominion’s representatives. “As good as we are” was the assertion with which he clinched his appreciation Finally Mr Lowry, the Captain of the team, said exactly the things his friends would have had him say under his burden of responsibility. It was a great send-off for the missionaries of New Zealand cricket.