ATHLETICS, Etc.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 269, 19 September 1895, Page 2

ATHLETICS, Etc.

C. McCarthy, who annexed the 100 yards Handicap at the last November Meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club from the 74 yard mark in 9 3-ssec, when he was followed home by such good men as Jones and Cheshire, will, I hear, join Hutton’s string this year. It must not be forgotten that “ Mac.” got away with a flying start on that occasion, which must naturally have interfered with the time; but allowing for all deductions t his sprinter should in good hands become one of our fastest men over the distance mentioned.

The date of the general annual meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club (Thursday, September 26th) is growing on apace, and it behoves club-men to give the matter of selecting next year’s management committee due and weighty consideration in order that their actions at the ballot might result in only the. most suitable men obtainable being chosen as their representatives, foi- to their discretion on election night the future welfare of the club depends. Rumours are afloat that two or three changes will be made in the existing regime, and it is understood that new contestants are already in the field, amongst whom will in all probability be found a couple of ex-committee-men in Messrs F. W. Edwards and “ Hal.” Cotter. Next week, when matters have more fully developed, I shall endeavour to deal with the various candidates and their prospects. “ Wag ” Harding, who again downed the New Zealander, Tommy Sullivan, in last week’s sculling match, is a great believer in the blood purifying and wind sustaining virtues of watercress. He was never known to have “ bellows to mend,” and declares that it is because he eats as much watercress as ever he can at each meal.

An English contemporary, speaking of the proposed visit of the Australian cricketers to the Old Country next year, says : —“ It is good news to learn that the leading counties are in favour of a visit from the Australians next season. The Cornstalks behaved splendidly to Mr Stoddart’s team ‘ down under,’ and it is only a graceful act of reciprocity for the Mother Country to extend an invitation to the Australians.”

F. W. Chinn, a Birmingham (England) cyclist, paced by a triplet manned by A. A. Chase, F. Chase, and A. S. Ingram, carved out a half mile in the record time of 58 4-ssec. Thus do the cycling records cone and go, the previous best being Platt-Bott’s starting half mile of Imin.The annual report and balance sheet of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club should reach members on the 23rd instant.

The natatorial Dutchman, H. Placke, who.’ recently swam across the Rangitoto Channel, has been matched to fight Diek Barker, of Queensland. A Sydney contemporary says Placke is shaping well and should give a good account of himself when he meets the Queensland giant, who, by the way, stands some five inches taller than the Hollander. In point of size this pairare the biggest pugilists in the world. The Auckland Cricket Association hold their annual meeting on Friday (September 27.) of next week. It is understood, and at the same time to be much regretted, that Mr McKinney' will resign the secret arial duties of the Association, which have been for years past so ably ; carried out by him, and I hope the Association will do all within their power to retain the duties of so popular and courteous an officer. A member of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club writing me re the forthcoming annual meeting makes an excellent suggestion by which the clubmen may become acquainted with the diligence of their committee, and which should give them a line to work upon at the election. He says : — “ One thing that might, I think, prove to our advantage would be the issue of a card or statement to members prior to their going to the ballot box, containing the number of committee meetings held during the closing year and the number of times each and every committeeman lias attended the same, then we would know exactly what to do.” Of course it must not be forgotten that unfbrseen circumstances at times prevent the attendance of a.i committeeman, and it would be hard indeed that such unavoidable absence should be recorded against him when an exolanation would, no doubt, set matters right, though, of course, it is not very often that such cases occur. Therefore on the whole the suggestion should meet the approval of all who have the interests of the club at heart and would nt least have the effect of causing committeemen to attend regularly if they wished to hold their position. Messrs J. Megson and R. W. Lewis (New South Wales) and A. K. Middleton (Victoria) have written Mr W. G. Wiliams, Hon. Secretary of the Christchurch Cycling Club, that they will compete at the Club’s next meeting, providing suitable dates are arranged. The Club intends holding a two day’s meeting at the end of'Decern- ' ber or early in January and will invite riders from all parts of the colony to take part in the championships and other first-class events. Hurdler E. T. Laurie, who some time back injured his leg at football, still suffers from the ‘ effects of the accident, and I should not be surprised to find that it prevents his making an appearance over the sticks at the November meeting of the local Amateur Athletic Club; There are no less than 1100 members on the roll of the New South Wales League of wheel* men.

The great Yankee cyclist, Zimmerman, did not pass through in the mail steamer last week as had been anticipated by some of our local wheelmen. The speed king has gone across to England with his wife and will spend five or six weeks in the Old Country and France before sailing for the Antipodes. The Auckland United C.C. will miss the services of Stemson this year. The club’s loss is Wanganui’s gain.

Not only are our knights of the willow bestirring themselves thus early, but lovers of yachting and rowing are also to be found on the move, as may be gathered from the fact that the Auckland Rowing Club held their annual meeting in the Club-room of the British Hotel on Friday evening last, Mr T. Henderson presiding. Unfortunately the report hardly presented as bright an outlook as one might have wished for, the principal cause being the loss of the Club’s outrigged and inrigged fours, and sculling boat which were smashed during a gale at the Picton Championship Regatta. The thanks of the Club were tendered to the Pictonites and visiting crews for their sympathy and financial assistance, and several other matters discussed, including the necessity of replacing the inrigged gig lost South. However, the accounts showed the Club to be in sound financial position. Officers for the ensuing were elected as follows: —President, Mr John Marshall; Vice-presidents, Messrs J. J. Holland, W. S. Wilson, H. Brett, J. J. Craig, W. Ledingham, A. H. Nathan, L. Ehrenfried, Moss Davis, B. Kent, W. Weston, W. J. T. Bell, J. W. Tibbs, C. Ranson, C. C. Dacre; Captain, Mr Thomas Henderson ; Deputy Captain, Mr F. J. O’Meara; Secretary, Mr T. L. Wallace ; Treasurer, Mr E. F. E. Wright; Committee, Messrs A. Dacre, F. M. Brodie, A. H. Busby, F. W. Thomas, G. A. Creeth; Auditors, Messrs Mangay and Tovey; Delegate to New Zealand Rowing Association, Mr G. F. C. Campbell.

The Auckland-United Cricket Club held their annual general meeting at the Metropolitan Hotel on Friday evening last, a large attendance being present, Mr C. 8. H. McKinney, occupying the chair. The report, read by Mr McCormick, stated t> at the senior team had made but a poor shewing year, they having won only two of the eleven matches played, a third-resulting in a draw, though the performances of the second and third elevens proved considerably better. The statement of accounts showed that the receipts duri ■ g the year had been £3B 8s 4d, and the expenditure £3B Is sd, leaving a small credit balance of lid. The subscriptions in arrears amounted to £6 14s. The liabilities were £2 Ils 6d. Mr A. E. Whitaker was re elected president, and Messrs C. 8. H. McKinney, H. Rees George, Captain Lambert, L. E*'renf ied, R. J. Yates, James Stewart, and A. S. Bankhart vice-presi-dents of the club. Messrs E. B. Gilfillan, D. Clayton, W Smith, and R. Dacre were elected members of the club. Mr E. Dunningham was elected secretary, Mr C. Hay treasurer, and Messrs C. E. MacCormick.C E. Harvie, E. Lees, E. Gilfillan, and C. Gunthorpe members of committee. , Messrs C. Hay and E. Gilfillan were appointed delegates, and Messrs D. Hay, MacCormick, and S. McPherson were elected a selection committee. A vote of thanks was

accorded the retiring Secretary, Mr MaeCormick, who had (as the chairman pointed out) so ably fulfilled the duties for the past fourteen years. The very latest says that “ Referee” Ohlson will stand for the committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club. He should make an excellent committee-man.

The weekly meeting of delegates of the committee of the Eight Hours’ Demonstration was held on Friday evening last, when it was decided to appoint a paid canvasser to collect trohies and money. An excellent sports’ programme is promised this year. “ A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse,” therefore I would ask the members of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club not to elect competitors as committeemen, for though they may not have ends of their own to serve they are nevertheless useless to the management committee on sports day, when the body requires its whole strength to attend to the details connected with the gathering. The interest of golfers throughout New Zealand is at present centred on the approaching championship meeting, to be held at Wellington early in October. The fixtures will be played on the links of the Hutt Club, who recently obtained a lease of the centre of the racecourse from the Wellington Racing Club for the purpose, and a most excellent ground it should prove, too, for report says no pains will be spared in getting everything in order in time for the cham-

pionship. However, the links in question are looked upon by those who should know as inferior to *he Miramar links, and it has been suggested that the contests be played upon the latter, though the proposal has been scouted, owing to the fact that the Miramar Club is but in its infancy and the links not sufficiently old to play the championships on. In time it is anticipated that the Miramar links will be the finest in the Southern Hemisphere, the turf being of true golfing quality. Several members of the Auckland Club will make the journey to Wellington, and as the new club-house on the Hutt grounds is rapidly approaching completion, everything will be ready for the visitors long ere the deciding day arrives. The Rothwell ’cycle to be ridden by Mr E. Reynolds at the New South Wales' hampion«hip Meeting is on view in the window of Mr Geo. Fowld’s clothing establishment, Queen Street.