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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1905, Page 2

•Last nigh-t B>b. Joseph's Branch of the Hibernian Society at Waihi received a visit from the district officers, Bro. C. Little, D.P.; Bro. J. Patterson, D.V.P.; and Hon. W. Beehan, P.D.P. The district ofScers congratulated the branch on the progress it had made during the first twelve months of its existence, and gave much useful information to members. After the meeting the visitors were entertained at a social evening, there being representatives of other Friendly Societies present.

"A person is said to walk one mile during an ordinary game of billiards, but few people"" guess how terribly fatiguing is ,a big ; over several jdays," t said a professional billiard playei'.« :yit feo'*xWenSe '-'id $|tfmuscu.- :- lar exertion in compiling long and continuous breaks, and incessantly plying the cue for hours in one position, that all professionals, unless in full practice, invariably, previous to a several clays' match, go into athletic training with dumbbells or clubs-"

"I've known men who neglected this to be, after the first day of a match, so stiff in the arms and shoulders that play had to be adjourned. The strain on nerves, eye, and brain hi a protracted match, especially when concentrated for long periods on continuous repetitions of one stroke, like the 'spot' hazard, is most exhausting.

"I was acquainted with a player who, through incessantly practising one stroke hour* at a time, and staring continuously at the ball under dazzling electric light, injured and nearly lost his sight. A well-known professional, after matches involving a big stake, has frequently fainted, through the tension of his nerves; and some years ago a promising performer broke down through the strain of practising set strokes, and was for twelve months in a lunatic asylum.

"Not alone are the players affected. In same prolonged professional matches the cloth has become so worn that it had to be changed every day, and it is quite a common incident for the ivory balls to lose evenness and become 'untrue. . All public billiard-room proprietors aye I obliged to periodically send their billiard balls to be re-turned, and balls used in a great number of lengthy matches not infrequently wear comparatively lob-sided. A .well-Known profesjsional has quite a collection of billiard balls thus worn, some of which actually [appea* almost egg-shaped." ■