Our Sports Summary

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 5, 1 February 1923, Page 33

Our Sports Summary

ASHBURTON. A The other Saturday (writes our own correspondent) a team representing St. Mary’s Tennis Club played the local Ashburton Club’s B team, and proved victors by ill games to 105. The following were the scores (St. Mary’s being mentioned first) Men’s singles —F. Lennon 5 lost to G. Bonnington 6; H. Lennon 6 beat F. Lindop o; D. Fitzgerald 6 beat S. Hunter 3; J. Crowe 3 lost to A. L. ircssider 6; E. Brophy 4 lost to E. C. Rawnsley 6; W. Rapley 0 lost to E. Gabites 6. Ladies’ singles—Mrs. Fawkc 6 beat Miss Dunlop 1; Miss F. McSherry 6 beat Aliss Hunter 1; Airs Dunkley 6 beat Mrs. Kennedy 3; Airs. alls 6 beat Aliss Lang 1; Aliss Lennon 4 lost to Aliss Orbell G; Aliss Dalton 6 beat Aliss Ruddiek 1. Combined doubles Airs, hawke and F. Lennon 6 beat Aliss Dunlop and G. Bonnington 2; Aliss AlcSherry and H. Lennon 5 lost to Aliss Hunter and F. N Lindop 6 Airs. Dunkley and D. Fitzgerald 2 lost to Airs. Kennedy and S. Hunter 6; Airs. Walls and J. Crowe 6 beat Aliss Lang and A. L. Tressider 3; Aliss Lennon and E. Brophy 3 lost to Aliss Orhell and E. C. Rawnsley 6; Aliss Dalton and W. Rapley 1 lost to Aliss Ruddiek and E. Gabites 6. Alen’s doubles—F. Lennon and H. Lennon 5 lost to G. Bonnington and F. Lindop 6; D. Fitzgerald and J. Crowe 5 lost to R. Hunter and A. L. Tressider 6; E. Brophy and W. Rapley 3 lost to E. C. Rawnsley and E. Gabites G. Ladies’ doubles — Airs. Fawke and F. AleSherry 6 beat Afisses Dunlop and Hunter 4; Airs. Dunkley and AValls 6 beat Aliss Kennedy and Aliss Lang 3; Alisses

Lennon and Dalton 5 lost to Misses Orbell and Ruddick 6. Complimentary references by the captain of the respective clubs ended a very pleasant afternoon.

RACING AS A FINANCIAL ENTERPRISE. A Lithgow message (reports the Freeman's Journal,

Sydney) says that Father Casey, of .Portland, has solved the problem of how to raise money tor church purposes with a. minimum of effort. On New dear’s Day he launched the second of his series of race meetings, put on a good programme, and, as this was the only attraction in the district, succeeded in enticing over a thousand persons on to the pretty course at Piper's Flat. The racing was good, and the financial result from the promoter's point of view so good that the reverend gentleman will probably be able to immediately secure his parochial motor car, which was the object of the effort. GARDENING NOTES (By Me. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.) WORK FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. The Vegetable Garden. The present is a suitable time to plant out a square of autumn giant cauliflowers to mature before the winter brocoli ; also a square of early, medium, and late brocoli. Borecole or kale is a very desirable vegetable, and should be planted now to provide for a supply of greens during late winter and early spring. Sow for a supply of lettuce, spinach, and turnips; together with a line of French beans, and, if required, broad beans and peas, although it is somewhat late now for the profitable culture of the latter. A bed of silver beet, if sown now and thinned out to about Gin apart, will provide a good substitute for winter spinach. Where a good 'supply of water is available the hose should be used frequently on the vegetable crop; plenty of water and well-manured soil are essential to successful vegetable growing. Give a good supply of liquid manure to vegetable marrows, cucumbers, and pumpkins, and also to rhubarb. Keep the Dutch hoe constantly employed amongst growing vegetables. Plant celery

and leeks in well-manured trenches and water them occasionally to encourage sturdy growth.

The Flower Garden.— require to be mown at least once a week, and during dry weather water frequently to ensure a green sward; roll after each watering. Cut back herbaceous plants that have finished flowering. Dig up bulbs, sort them, and plant back sufficient of the largest; the remainder can be planted out later. Stake and tic up

dahlias and chrysanthemums, sow seeds of herbaceous plants, and put in cuttings of carnations, pinks, and picotees. With regard to the latter, pull them' off the parent plant by the heel and insert firmly in a bed prepared in a shady spot, using plenty of sand and watering well. Now is a good time to cut roses, which should be done on a cool day if possible. Amateurs would be well advised to take lessons from a professional gardener on the process of budding, as it is not an easy matter to explain it fully by writing. Cut hack old foliage of violas and pansies which have finished flowering and thus encourage a new growth on the old plants. The many seedlings to be observed growing in the bed will be useful for planting out later on. Gather the seeds of sweet peas for future sowing. The Fruit Garden.— Continue the summer pruning away of all superfluous growth from apple and pear trees. Prune back young growth on currant and gooseberry bushes. Dig away all useless shoots from the raspberry plantations, leaving about six strong shoots for hearing the next year’s crop; the old canes which have finished bearing should be cleaned away and burned. Spray with helibore powder to destroy the leech which attacks the foliage of cherry, pear, and many other fruit trees. ■ , The Famous Diggers Showing at Waipukurau on February 9 and at Dannevirke on the 10th, the “Famous Diggers” will conclude their tour of the Hawke’s Bay districts. Opening at Palmerston North on February 12, and at Wanganui on the 14th the “Diggers” will tour the Taranaki district according to the dates published in our advertising columns, and concluding their February itinerary at Feilding on the 28th inst. The “Diggers” deserve well of theatre-goers, as, apart from their bright, clean, and artistic performances invariably given, this talented company make it possible for country audiences to enjoy in its entirety the same great show as is presented in the large cities.

‘•lhe Land of Saints and Scholars” In these days of struggle in Ireland (says an exchange), it is instructive to recall the great record made by the Ireland of old in one branch of human enlightenment—that of books and libraries.

In the Middle Ages Ireland had the richest libraries of any country in Europe. Not only did she use them for her own purposes, but she generously gave them out to every country in Europe. Every group of Irish missionaries and scholars that left her shores for other lands carried what might be termed “hand libraries” with them.

Famous Irish Libraries.

At that time the Irish were the greatest scribes in Europe, and, with the nucleus of works brought out of Ireland, they founded such famous libraries as those of Bobbio, St. Gall, Rebais, and Fleury. The libraries of Bobbin and St. Gall, both of which were purely Irish foundations, for centuries surpassed the other libraries of Europe. The libraries of Bobbin and St. Gall furnished some of the most valued treasures of the libraries of Milan and Turin.

Valuable Manuscripts.

It has been commented upon as somewhat peculiar that, in spite of the Irish wealth in mediaeval libraries, comparatively few references to them are found iii ancient manuscripts. This, however, is largely due to their destruction by the Danes and the English.

\ It should be recalled in this connection that the famous Bodleian Library at Oxford was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley, who was a native of Co. Down. It contains a notable group of valuable ancient manuscripts. Alcuin has an interesting poem on the library of York, which was either an Irish foundation or offshoot of one.

He enumerates the Latin authors who were represented there. The poem is also valuable as showing the number of Greek and Latin manuscripts that found their way in the early mediaeval ages across the sea to England, Scotland, and Ireland. There they were to be copied by famous Irish scholars who at that time wielded undisputed intellectual sway, not only over what are now called the British Isles, but also over all Western Europe.