WELLINGTON NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 282, 19 December 1895, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[from our own correspondent.] December 17. Frank Galloway and E. B. Lusk, well-known, in football and amateur athletic circles, left on Friday last for Sydney on a holiday trip. Mr E. D. Hoben, who has acted as hon. sec. tothe New Zealand Rugby Union since irs formation, and a member of the Evening Post reporting staff for four years, leaves for Sydney shortly, where he has accepted a position on the Daily Telegraph. A meeting convened for Tuesday last, to consider the proposal of forming a General SportsClub, was fairly well attended. Mr C. H. Izard was voted to the chair, and Mr A. Henderson, the convener of the meeting, explained the scheme proposed. It has been estimated that a club of 100 members, paying a subscription of £1 per head, with the receipts for billiard table, &c., would bring in an income of £2,100 per annum. The expenses of maintenance, &c., would amount to £l,lOO. This was a fair estimate, based on the balance-sheet of a club already in existence. To meet the naturally heavy initial expense, it was proposed to form a Limited Liability Company, with a guarantee of £1 per share. The chairman, in supporting the proposal, said the necessity for a club had been long felt. It was not always satisfactory to meet in an hotel, whereas a club would be of the greatest convenience, and there ought to be no difficulty in forming an excellent club from amongst the combined athletic bodies. Its privileges, at it became strengthened, might be made to include a gymnasium and, later on, a swimming bath. It would probably require £3OO for furnishing, and outfit, and there might not be any difficulty in obtaining a guarantee for this sum. - He suggested the forma* ion of a provisional committee. On the chairman’s motion, it was resolved that a club, to be called “ The Wellington Athletic Sports Club,” should be formed. The following were appointed a provisional committee with power to add to their number Messrs C. H. Izard, A. E. Gibbes, Geo. Rache, Stevens, Woolridge, E. Davy, C. Trmgham, R. G. Hallamore,. R. Hood, and J. Doyle. The committee were empowered to draw up a prospectus and take other necessary steps to form the club, obtain premises, &c., and report at another general meeting, to be held a month hence. Mr Henderson was appointed to act as secretary pro tem. The Wellington Amateur Athletic Clubbrought off a couple of test races on Saturday, when A. M Stuart ran a half-mile; He is not fit yet. and against a head-wind occupied 2min llsec. S. P. Hawthorne acted as pacemaker and very nearly won. Pownall did not put in an appearance and the quarter-mile hurdles was not run. Perrett, Poll, and Smith started in the mile walk, but not Talbut, who was thought good enough to send to Napier last February. Poll retired after the first lap. Perret managed to beat Smith after a great race in 6min 58sec. They both mixed it and would be called off at Christchurch in the first lap. Neither is, however, likely to be sent. Messrs G. .Humphries and H. McCardell acted as time-keepers, Messrs Donaldson and J. M. King as judges, and J. H. Hempton starter. W. Fisher, who fought a draw with Harry Placke here a couple of months back, was among the spectators at the latter’s benefit at Sydney on the 22nd inst. Fisher has been matched to box eight rounds with Jack Valentine, amateur champion of New South Wales, for a £5O trophy at Larry Foley’s Hall on the 21st inst. Fisher is very game, but has not, I fear, the ring experience of his opponent. The Wellington Cycling Club’s Twenly-mile Championship was raced on the road on Saturday, Wellington to Blackbridge and back being the course, and saw T. M. Lucy score for thesecond time, thus securing the 'Swinton Company’s Cup, also a gold medal. Of the seven entries F. B. Muir was the only non-starter.. Herbert Smith made the pace nearly all the way, with Jeffrey next. Lucky caught Smith when a hundred yards from home, and won by a couple of yards, Jeffrey a good third. The other starters were Herbert Fabian and Nicholl. Time, Ihr3min 52 2-ssec. Starter, Mr W. F. Christie; Mr M. C. Izard, judge; Mr D. Brand, timekeeper. Lucy rode a 281 b Imperial Rover. The Wellington Cycling Club has at present a membership of 96, and has become entitled to a second delegate on the New Zealand Cyclists’ Alliance; Mr G. Rankin, of Christchurch has been appointed to represent the club. A race meeting is to be held on the last Saturday in January, if the Basin Reserve is available. The following names have been added to the general committee to act as a sports committee : —Messrs Lynch, Lucy, W. Castle, Beckingsale, J. B. Grove, Brodie, Sinclair, Rowe, Coombs, Bridge, Walker, and Wright,. A piano is to be obtained for the club-room. The articles for tile adornment of the room have been presented by MessrsD. Brand and L. Herbert.

In a private letter, received from Sydney, I learn (writes our Wellington correspondent) that Mr Richard Coombes, president of the N.9.W.A.A.A., will be unable to make the trip across to New Zealand this month. The team will' come in charge of Mr E. S. Marks, hon. secretary of the Association ; W. Cartwright, the sprinter, and W. L. Kerr, the popular wheel rider, left on the 13th ult. The remainder of the team leave by the Mararoa on the 21st inst. Mr Coombes was present at the last Australasian Championship Meeting, held in Dunedin, and, owing to his inability to get across, New Zealanders will miss an opportunity of returning the many kindnesses extended by him to athletes visiting Sydney from this colony. The same writer informs us that W. F. Liarkin, the ex-Aucklander, is in training for the amateur events at the Caledonian Society’s sports on New Year’s Day. Also, that the erst champion sprinter, J. H. Hempton is at present in training, and may be among the starters at Christchurch this month.