Anything and Everything

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 59, 10 September 1891, Page 1

Anything and Everything

Our rifle-range is threatened with an injunction, and doubtless the recent incident —it can scarcely be magnified into an accident —of a spent ball striking the occupier of a dwelling behind the mountain will be adduced in support of the motion. The Government state that a rent of £lOO a year would be given for a new range; but where can a suitable one be found within anything like a reasonable distance ? If volunteers are compelled to waste time in a long journey, practice will become more honoured in the breach than in the muzzle —observance, we mean. In truth, with a few additions, a better, safer, or more convenient range than the existing one could hardly be found. The bullet complained of, doubtless owing to a defective cartridge, struck the earth or a rock before reaching the target and ricochetted. All that is necessary to prevent a recurrence of the incident is the building of a high wall behind the target, which, at a far less expense than would be occasioned by removing the range, would render everybody and everything perfectly secure.

Very sad and distressing is the death of Mr. Thos. G. Sibbin, which occurred in the course of an Association practice game at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday last, and we sincerely lament the loss of an amiable and blameless citizen, as well as a popular and distinguished athlete. Of course the occasion will be improved by homilies on the dangers of football, but it should not be forgotten that every year presents its sad scroll of deaths due to amusements in some shape. Still, unless we are to degenerate into a nation of milk-sops, manly pursuits will continue to be followed, notwithstanding that risks must be run and occasional fatalities occur. If we reckon through past years the fatal accidents that have occurred in New Zealand from rowing, sailing, swimming:, riding, driving, shooting, and football, it will be found that, notwithstanding players of the game largely outnumber participators in any one of the other pursuits cited, fewer fatal accidents have occurred in football than in any one of the abovenamed recreations. If, then, the danger to life incurred by playing football is so great as to compel us to abandon the game at once and for ever, much more should the other recreations, which can be shown to be responsible for a far greater number of fatal accidents, be placed on the index exput - gaiorious.

Just now the air we breathe seems filled with the germs of suicidal mania. It is difficult to account otherwise for the abnormal number of cases. One coincidence is very peculiar—that two unsuccessful candidates for Eden, who opposed Mr. Mitchelson and were in turn defeated, should die by their own hands in precisely the same manner. He will indeed be a brave and unsuperstitious man who ventures to contest that constituency against the present member, lest, being defeated, it should also be said of him that “ mortem sibi cons civil T

Or Mr. A. E. Stoddart, the famous cricketer and three-quarter back, Dr. W. G. Grace, in “ Cricket,” after highly praising his powers as a batsman, says “Heis a brilliant out-field and a very safe catch. I take credit for having introduced him as a bowler, but I have been rather amused by his remarks when he gets hit: “ All right I hit away,” said he,” but it’s your fault, W. G., and I wish I had never bowled a ball in my life ! ” Mr. Stoddart is a member of Lord Sheffield’s team, which we are all so anxious to see performing in New Zealand.

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Quoiting and Bowling Club was held in the Waikato Hotel, Hamilton, on Tuesday, 2nd inst. There was (says the Waikato Times'] a good attendance, and considerable interest was displayed in the matter by those present. Mr. LeQuesne offered the use of a green, and Mr. Hope was appointed hon. sec. It was agreed to write to Auckland and endeavour to to obtain a set of second-hand bowls. The Club will meet on the 9th inst. The subscription was fixed at 10s. 6d., and the entrance fee at ss.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton, on the 2nd inst., the troubles of a newspaper with the would-be professional element were ventilated, and as we think the general public ought to be acquainted with the unscrupulous manner in which newspapers, and probably others, are victimised by this class of professional “ travellers,” we give it publicity in our columns, in the hope that some of our exchanges will “ pass it along.” We have more than reciprocal sympathy with our Wai kato contemporary, as we have been victimised in a similar manner to a very considerable extent. The Waikato Times says :—“ In the case of Geo. Edgecumbe v. Michael Lewis, for an account for printing and advertising, the defendant, in company with a Mr. Holtom, has lately been ‘ doing ’ the district giving entertainments, Lewis giving whistling selections and Holtom doing the specialty artist to fill in between. They arrived in Hamilton on Friday, 21st August, and inserted an advertisement in the Waikato Times, and. at the same time ordered some job printing. Before delivering the goods, however, payment was asked for, as they had before had dealings with this class of people, and experience had taught them that when they supplied goods without the money they could ‘ whistle ’ for it. The gentry in question made out that they were deeply insulted, and after indulging in a considerable amount of abuse they left hurriedly for Te Awamutu, forgetting to pay their account. This we know, from personal experience, is a habit of the class. As the Magistrate said, there is very little chance of recovering the amount of a debt from these people, even when a judgment is obtained against them, but by giving publicity to the action of this young man we hope to protect ourselves and others in the future.”

The family of the late Mr. Thomas Sibbin being left in anything but easy circumstances, it has been decided by the Rugby Union to hold a benefit match this month on their behalf. The date is fixed for the 19th, and tickets have been printed and are now being sold.

It is almost needless to urge footballers and the charitable public to use their influence in so good a cause, One is reminded of the story of the good quaker, who, when a number of bystanders were loudly expressing their sorrow for a widow and her children, said, Friends! I am sorry five pounds ; how much are you sorry ? The effect of his words was to raise a large sum on the spot.

A very large number of gentlemen assembled on board the p.s. Eagle, at the Ferry Tee, Auckland, for the purpose of accompanying the remains of Mr. T. G. Sibbin to their last resting place, at the North Shore cemetery. The hearse containing the coffin was drawn on board the steamer. A large concourse of people assembled on the wharf and waited until the steamer slowly glided away on her sorrowful journey with her flag half mast high.