LAWNS & LINKS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XI, 12 September 1896, Page 333

LAWNS & LINKS.

OTAGO V. AUCKLAND FOOTBALL.. ABOUT 6,000 people were present at Potter’s Paddock, Auckland, on Saturday last to witness the football match between Otago and Auckland. From the start public favour was on the side of the visitors, the fact that the home team had been weakened bv the absence of several of its best players being much against Auckland. Still, it was fully expected that there would be a stiff contest, and that the play would be well worth witnessing. Before the game had proceeded very far it was evident even to spectators little familiar with football that the play of the Otago men was in advance of that of Auckland. They were smarter, surer, and worked better together. At the end of the first spell Otago had scored 5 points and Auckland had not made one, and this contrast was still further heightened when at the close of the game the visitors had raised their score to 8, and the home team had still nothing to their credit. The two teams dined together at the Metropolitan Hotel in the evening, and on the following day (Sunday) the visitors were taken round the harbour by steamer. We give a photogravure of the winning team in this number. GOLF. Golf in Auckland has not been indulged during the past week on account of the wet weather. The ladies’ Club days are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF MEETING IN WELLINGTON. There was naturally great excitement in Wellington among Golf players over the championship meeting held last week. The tournament was opened on Monday by a handicap match, which was won gloriously by Miss Wynn-Williams (Christchurch), Miss Shand (Dunedin) making a very strong runner up. The first rounds for the championship were also played off, and we in Wellington were somewhat saddened by the defeat of our local champion, Mrs Lees, who was beaten, after a very

close contest, by Mrs Wilder (Christchurch). The whole game was most evenly played, and as at the end of the round the players had an even score, another hole had therefore to be played, and was won by one stroke by the Christchurch visitor. There has been great interest in the match the whole way through, and the tournament remarkable for the uniform display of friendly feeling and good humour. On Thursday Mrs Lees won the bogey match, beating a bogey of 106 by 4 holes up, Miss Bodmin (Hutt) coming in well as second. Lunch and afternoon tea was provided daily in a most sumptuous manner by the members of the Miramar Club, who have in every way done their utmost to make their visitors comfortable and feel their welcome. The members of Miramar and Hutt who are not playing have joined in the fray in guise of scorers and caddies, and thus made themselves very useful. We see on the Links first Wellington’s bright yellow blouse and bands ; then the white blouse and tricoloured tie and band (green, red, and white) from the Hutt; the bright red blouse and bands from Te Mata (Hawke’s Bay) ; the unmistakeable black and white stripe from Dunedin ; the black blouse and tie and bands of black, red, and yellow which denote Christchurch ; and Timaru, singly represented by Mrs Smithson, with the triple’lights of white, cerise, and black in tie and hat band. The Links showed up very gaily in its varied colouring, and if only the weather had been a little warmer, it would have proved a most attractive resort even to uninterested spectators. The interest of the meeting centred, of course, in the final round, when Miss Wilford, of Hutt, won the championship by beating Mrs Wilder, of Christchurch, by right holes up and seven to play. The result was unexpected, and caused a good deal of surprise. Christchurch golfers welcomed the arrival of the Dunedin ladies’ golf team, who stayed a few days in Christchurch before proceeding to Wellington, where the Championship was held. The visitors played the home team on Monday morning in the Park and came off victorious. Among the Dunedin players were Mesdames

Ogston, Lindo Ferguson, Melland, Woodhouse,Tbeomin, Misses Webster, Rattray and Butterworth. There was no time to get up much in the way of entertainment for the visitors, but they were driven out to the Hunt Club Sports on Saturday at Plumpton Park in a drag with four beautiful grey horses, and had luncheon out there provided by the local lady golfers, Mr and Mrs H. Cotterill giving an afternoon tea. Amongst other spectators on the ground were Mr and Mrs Stead, Mr and Mrs A. Rhodes, Mr and Mrs I. Gibbs and Mrs McNeill (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs G. Gould, Mr and Mrs H. Wood, Mr and Mrs Lascelles, Misses Palmer, Buckley, Ovenden, Martin, Cowlishaw, Helmore and others. On Sunday evening Dr. and Mrs Jennings, O’Takaro, invited a number of golf folk and a few others to supper, and in the afternoon a number walked or drove out to Mrs Denniston's, Fendalton. The visiting team, with Mrs Ogle, Misses Cowlishaw, Bowen, Wynn-Williams, Mesdames Campbell Wilder, and Vernon, of the Christchurch team, left for Wellington on Tuesday. TENNIS IN CHRISTCHURCH. On Friday there were a number of players at the Cranmer Square courts. Miss Anderson gave a greatly appreciated afternoon tea, and cake and all sorts of nice things. Now that the days are getting longer and warmer, the courts are kept going till a fairly late hour. Among the players were Mesdames Way, Wood, Seager. Ollivier, Misses Lean, Marchant, Bullock, Fulton, Russell, Van Asch, and Messrs Ross, Garsia, Seager, Atkinson, Wood, etc.