BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 313, 23 July 1896, Page 9

BILLIARDS.

Mr F. Weiss has been down in the goldfields district the last wgek, and although not expecting to find the best of tables up country, he was agreeably surprised, and found that all the tables he playod on were just as well kept and as good as any in Auckland, in fact he showed tip-top form down amongst the mud and gold. At Waihi he played two men who were considered by the local men to be V pretty fair players.” Any way, the champion ventured to give the twain 700 points start in 1000 up. Remarkable as it may appear, the two players between them only scored 33 (thirty.three), but the champion was fairly on the job, and this may be inferred from the fact that he scored the 1000 in one hour and fifty-five minutes, so that little time was left for the two local players to score. In this game, after the man from Kangarooland had made breaks of 92, 60, 57, 201, and 70 (spot-barred), the audience asked to see a few spot shots, and the champion quickly ran up 135 (spot-in), and then finished the game spot barred, making breaks of 113 and 42 unfinished.

On Monday night at the Thames, Mr F. Weiss had a friendly match with Mr Dave Stewart, conceding the latter 700 in 1000, spot-in. Mr Stewart only succeeded in making 110 (810, including a start of 700) Mr Weiss wanted 349 to win this game, and these he knocked together in one break, and going on, ran the total of the break up to 387. In this game the champion got on the spot, and before he left the position, sue.needed in potting the red 129 (one hundred and twenty-nine) consecutive times. Mr Weiss admits he has not been in such form for many a day. Messrs Taylor and Noble of Christchurch have indented and patented a contrivance for holding on the tips of billiard cues. The arrangement is a very simple one, and consists of a split ferrule, which is fitted on to the point < f the cue. The tip, which is rather thicker than those generally in use, is fitted into the point of the ferrule and held fast there by means of a clamp screw. The invention should prove a most useful adjunct to billiarn-rooms. Its chief advantages are that the tips can be changed in a few seconds, whilst the annoyance of a tip filing off a favourite cue is avoided. It is well-known that cues, after being tipped a number of times, become worn and thin at the point, and will only take very small tips. The present contrivance allows the cue to remain always the same thickness, and also prevents the stick splitting at the end. The cues play extremely well the thickness of the tips allowing of the required elasticity so desirable in making a good stroke. On Thursday evening last Mr F. Weiss had a friendly match with Mr Walker, which was played at the Nortern Club, the latter receiving 700 points start in 1000 up, spot-barred. Mr Weiss won by 150. His largest breaks were 137 and 113, and three over 80. On Saturday night, at the Metropolitan Hotel billiard-room, a friendly match was played between Mr James Cook a well-known local player, and Mr F. Weiss, the latter conceding 650 p >ints start in 10q0 up (spot-barred). Mr Cook was in very fair form, but the champion did not seem to get going in the first part of the game; in ■fact Weiss only gained 10 points on his opponent jin the first two hundred. Towards the finish he pulled himself together, but was uuable to avert defeat, Mr Cook winning by 228 points, his largest breaks being 66, 34, 29, 19, and 18, while the champion put on 159, 110, 86, 68, and 52. The annual billiard tournament in connection with the Auckland Tattersall’s Club commenced .on Monday evening at the rooms of the club. There were twenty nominations and twelve acceptors. The following are the handicaps : —F. Machattie, 60 points behind; W. Davis, 40 behind ; T. Neil, scratch ; J. F. Cruickshank scratch; W. J. Russell, 50 start; L. McDermott, 50 start; -C. Godwin, 60 start; H. Hayr, 60 start ; C. Philpott, 80 start; R. Blaikie, 80 start; R. Duder, 80 start; M. Moore, 155 start. Ihe following is the result of a portion of the. first round up to Tuesday night; —R. Blaikie beat J. F. Cruickshank by 128 points ; C Philpott beat J. Bussell by 28 ; M. Moore beat L. McDermott by 86. The others to meet in the first round are H. Hayr meets C. Godwin, R. Duder meets W. Davis, and F. Machattie meets T. Neil.