Our Illustrations

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 441, 5 January 1899, Page 11

Our Illustrations

We are unfortunately unable to reproduce a picture of the late Mr G. Tracey Hall except in the costume of the role he was last seen in at the Opera House, namely, that of Guiseppe in the Gondoliers. His death by drowning at Lake Takapuna on Tuesday morning last has come as a shock to the community at large, and has been the cause of profound grief among his many intimate friends and admirers. Mr Hall, who was in the employ of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, was popular both as a man and a vocalist, and has taken part in a number of operatic per formances in Auckland. He was ever ready to give his services gratuitously for religious or charitable purposes, and numbered his friends in Auckland by the score. Previous to coming to New Zealand he was an amateur of considerable repute in Melbourne. He was a young man and ■unmarried. The sad accident took place while he was spending his holidays at Lake Takapuna in company with his family. Amongst the other illustrations in this issue four are devoted to bicycling, and are descriptive of the great Austral Wheel Race. An excellent picture is given of the Metropolitan and part of the Grand Stand on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the crowds of people who were present. The finish of the Austral with Finnegan winning, the Austral start, and a portrait of Finnegan after the race surrounded by his admirers, and backers are also vividly portrayed. Most of our readers have seen photos of Tod Sloane, the famous American jockey, in racing costume, but few, if any, have seen him reproduced in ordinary costume. James Todhnnter Sloane is in receipt of an income in excess of any that has been,received by a jockey heretofore, and lives in a style befitting a millionaire. He stops at the Hotel Cecil when in England, and-employs a yalet and private secretary. His peculiar style of riding has excited considerable comment, as he

crouches down on the horses neck, bending over much as a cyclist does when riding in a race. He claims that by so doing he takes considerable weight off his mount, and at the same time lessens the resistance of the wind. The illustration which is given on the page devoted to theatrical matters represents a scene in “ The French Maid,” the new musical comedy which will be staged by the Pollard Company, at the Opera House, on Monday next. An excellent picture is also given of the steeplechaser Magpie (by Betrayer), who won the Summer Steeplechase at the A.B.C. meeting on Tuesday last. This horse has been before the public for many years and still appears evergreen. A picture is given of Mr C. Bailey s 1-rater Laurel, a competitor in the intercolonial championship race. At the time this was going to press the final of the three races was being contested. In the first round Mercia had a good lead, with Laurel second, and if this position is kept to the finish, Laurel wins the championship with 11 points (one first and two seconds), Mercia being second with 10 points (two firsts). As the picture will show, Laurel is a handsome little craft, built of kauri and varnished, and is a credit to her designer and builder, Mr C. Bailey, -junior.