THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 15, 12 October 1907, Page 9

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

' !". THE TURF. v' . 'i(By "Glencoe.") ■ FIXTURES. Octobor' 17 and 18—North : Otago J.C. V Spring. . : : . . October 17 and,. 19—Wellington 8.C., , £; Spring. Octobor 24 and 25—Masterton B.C. .' Spring. -. ' October. 24 and 25—Poverty, Bay T.C. Spring. . \ ' - j, October 30 and 31-Goro R.C. Spring. ■ Nov. 2, 4, G. arid 9—Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan. _ ■ Nov. 9—Wavcrlcy-Waitotara R.C., An- • • r ' • nual.V '• ' .♦ 1 'Nov. 9, and 11—Taratahi-Cartorton ..V R.C.'s Spring. ' v* 'Nov. 9, 13, and IG—Auckland R.C. s •'*, Spring. T ■ • Nov. 20 and 21-South Canterbury J.C. s, ... >, November.'. , . Not. 21 and 22—Marlborough K.C.s Spring. ' _ „ . Nov. 29 and 30-FeiHinß,:JC. Spring; *- Dec- 26, 28, and Jan. 1 and 2-Auck- ' V- ; land'R.C.V..Suminor.. _.■> Dec. 31 arid Jan.'-l— Greymouth J.Q, ..Summer. • ~ ' I FeV 27—Taurangn/ : : UASTERTON RACING CLUB'S ' SPRING MEETING. . The .following handicaps have been dev ilared' ; by J. .H. Pollock for ..the Masterton 'Racing- Club's /spring meetTlack Hurdle Handicap; one mile and , .three-quarters—lCaipetipeti,:llst. Matakokiri, 10st. lllb.;: To Kanui, lOst. •lllli,j:St.'-Amelia, lOst. 81b.; 'I'aura, lOst. Sib. j Playaiatci 10st. ; 31b.; Te_ Aral, . 121b;j Dulcitiea, 9st; ;i2lb.; Maitoa, 9st.-, 121b; ; Royal Bine; fpst.' 71b.-;. -PopuUir,' Bst. ■ 61b'.; Tilsori, 9st. 51b.; Moeraki, 9st. . lib 1 ,; Variation, 9st; Tattoo/'9st.' Flyinsr- Hack. Handicap; six .furlongs— Maboo; flst.; Clem; Bst. Gib.; daiii, Bst. 41b.; .Warlock, Bst.-2 BCiUajse,-Sst.;: Gaiety, 7st. 121b\ Wailoa, 7st. 11 111b.'; Playmate, 7st. 91b.; Oblivion, . 7stj.9lb.;'Fuiminater, 7st. 01b.; Hinupai, ■ 7sy 91b.;'Somali, 7st. 61b.;,San Julu, 7st. 61b:;v Pytchloy, 7st„ 41b.; Wairarapa,; 7st,: 41b.; Lochiela, 7st; 21b. ; Galahad, • 7sti'2lb.;' ; .Liboccio, 7st. 21b.;'Ransipapa; 7stiV 211).;- Prize Bloom, 7st. 21b.;, Rose ' Xetlie,; Gsti 131b.; Lady.Lethe; .Gst. 131b., Mdsterton Cup; one mile and a quar9st.; Irish Rifle; Sr-t. 71b.; Whafcavetti; Bst. 71b.';" Polyanthus, Bst. 61b.; VWilliam, Bst. ■ 51b.; ;Mat;iari, Bst. ilb.'i Hiro, Bst." Sib.; Waitapu, Sst. 31b-; Sandlx,; Sst. j Hcudrock, 7et. 12lb.Chatterer, t7st. lllb.;,Splendid/Idea, .7st.lllb.'; TheS Staked 7st.' - 71b.; /Abirrahon,'. 7st. 61b. ji Mulo'cn, 7st. 61b.; .Merrio Rose, .7st. 61b. r" Shrapnel, SheU, 7st. - 6tb.; ' Gauze, . Ist. -41b.',;: Naphtha,. 7st. 4%:- '.Makikihi,, 7«t. 41b.-; Rosegrove, . 21b.; Sharkeyne, 7st-."' 21b.;.T^ngimoag,■'6st.;. 121b.,, .. _ •L.\4ieV- Bracelet Ilahdicaip;.'one mile ' ■ . and ifiivquarter—Kaioetopiti,";l2st.Blb.; Lull,t l'Ati; 51b.;Jfielario,(,11st. 131b.; ■ C3mpti4S;'->l'stilOJ6'.; ? St. Amelia, -;llst. 71b.; Oryx'' list.*^Slb.; Maku,'i ; llst; .slb,;' Sylvap.wPirk, list:-''slb.;'",..;St.V Brandon, lOst; ; .Pop«lil ; ; lOst. :111b.; - Narrow •EscapS'.MOst. lllb.'T.Mocassin,'lo'st. lllb.; , Ophir v -106t. 71b. I Oakley," lOst.. 71b.; Tiwha, -lOst." Tfb.V Grand' Circle,- lOst. 71b. j ' SnwtrtelliyljlstjVijlb;"; Eclipse, -10st. : 71b.- 'n - r oetijter ltack "Handicap; one . ;■ Mihoe r . 9st.; /Giuze,. Est'."7lb.; Naphtha; Sst-.olb.Ladj-Disdain, 85t..31b.; Strath- . il^'^'ill^inpass,; Bsfet; Gaiety; 7st; ! 12b|; o»kbnrne,.7st.i. 121b.; White Lie, - 7s 101b , .White Star, 7st.'lolb.; Sen! v'''Sjn, : : jsi.,'.7lb.;'''Hounhnhgm, ,7fit. ,71b.;. Fllminatbfi'7st. 71b.; Scenery, 7st. 41K; '■•1 Gelie, >7<v&: ilb.-; Galahad, 7st: 21b.; San ■ Jlie, 7st.; 21b.;' .Uhlando, 7st.; Alluv'i|il,.j ' ' Tho'Linnet, :7st. , . •. ; " 7 : . !l>Mh„Ha'ck Handicap; > five' furlongs,-7' J lelodea, Sst.;,Clem, Sst. lllb.; Warlock, -. fit.. 71b.; : 'Pearliey, Sst.;'• Oblivion; : Sst.;- > limpioh,;7st. r l3lb.;,St; Killian, 7st. lllb.; ■ • "•'fytchleyi'-Tst. 81b.;'.Flower Girl, 7st. 71b.;, }>' ' /jebaceio',- 7st.. 71b.; jLueretius, ,7st;. 71b. ;■ . Hiimrangi; 7st. 4lb;; Notorious, 7st. •' '. RilMeyi Maid, 7st. 41b. j .'4l R, = 1 .Conqueror gelding,, 78t;,'41b.j v ,Pror' iLethe,■ 7st.'. 41b.; Thiza, 7st. ,41b.; Pro-, • ''nbun, ,'7st;' 41b;;; Formidable'. 75t."; ; .41b;.; j Rose: 41b.; Full' Report; C7st. ./. 41b.; Sans "Lass,->'7st* '41b,K:Royal ullatd, ' /. 7at/ ; A;; l , ' / : Publicans' Handicap; seven furlongs.— • Prill ,Rate,' 9st. 4lb.;' Wh'akaw.ehi,. Bst. j 61b.;''Polyanthus, Bst. 41b.; Mataari,-.Bst. I Sib.;! .Splendid Idea, ,Bst.; Swimming ' Belt,' Bst.; ' Chicane, 7st. 131b.; Rifleman, ! : 7st. ,121b.;'"Moral, 7st. 101b,; The Stake, i 7st; 101b. j.-SUnbonnet, "7st. 101b.; Gawain; I 7gL . 71b.;;: riatypus, 7st. Gib.; Sherlock I Holmes, 7st. .61b.;.' Aboriginal, 7st 51b.;. ■ I 1 SilvershelL. 75t.31b.; Scotch Reel, 7st.• j 31b:;'- Arclight,.;7st.'; Tanginioana', 7st.;; /; Hatley,. 6s'fe'.,l2lb'.; Liberator;-Gst. 121b. ~ 7 • The acceptances are due on October 6.

AUCKLAND ACCEPTANCES. Auckland, October 11. ..; The following are .the'acceptances for the Auckland , Racing Club's Spring , meeting t-M'.':.' ' •••; , . 'Handicap—Waipuna,; Bst. 111b. • Carl . Rosa, Bst. ,101b.; Scptty, Bst. 81b.; Akarana, ,Bst. '41b.; Shrapnel, 7st. 131b.; Uhlandor, 7st. 111b. ;:Syrcn, 6st. ■ 131b. ; > -'Eashionablo J *'6st.A 121b.; Portlight, 6st. 71b. ■' , Manukau!:HuTdles.—Sol,- lOst. 121b-.,* Kiatcre, 'iost.-91b;; iAq'iia Regia, lOst.'. 21b.; Inniskillen,: 9st. 121b. j Ranana, 9st. 111b.; :Qmati,'9Bti. ,51b. , N(j)TES AND COMMENTS. ; By Telegraph—Press Association. , There are! a lot. of smart two-year-olds in Hawke's : Bay. 'formative. St. Aidan, Voetgang; Abortme, and Shannon Lass can all gallop Tho form .displayed by Linkless on the sccond day at Hastings was all wrong, and at Napier she won and paid £6 15s. in a small field. The local sportsman, Mr. ]<\ Martin, won a doubln at Napier with his recent purchase,;. San Fernando.' Turkish . Maid, Golden Eagle, and Supplement- will ;, not be seen out at Trontham, 'having been railed to Ney" Plymouth'at tho conclusipn of. tho Otaki. meeting. In-.thojWainiii.!Handicap at Trontham, Paritlitu has -incurred a penalty by winning the .Welter . Handicap at> Otaki. This will make his. weight list; lib., so probably ho'will not: bo seen out- on trie first day.': ..' , / Up till Thursday last, C.;;. Jenkins had ridden twelve winners Ahc • now season opened. This is more than any other jockey has''ridden in "tho 6amo time. ■ '■,' At the time of.writing the following', horses are sure, starters in the New/ Zealand-Clip, which is run in thrce : weeks' time:— _ ! Maniapoto, 9st., S. Roid. ', Master Doiaval, Bst. 91b., J., Buchanan. -Paritutu, Bst. 31b;, W. Young. >>. Armistice, Bst. 31b.,' W. Pricfi>. • / . Grand Slam, 7st.. 111b., I\ iDavis. Seal Rock, 7st. 111b., J. M'Combe. Mahuta, 7st. :111b., A. Oliver. Harvest, 7st. 101b., E. Cotton. Aeolus, 7st. 91b., W. Ryan. Apa, 7st. 81b.. C. Jenkins.. Seaman, 7st. 61b., G. Price; Elevation, 7st. 61b;. J. M'Clusky. 7st. 41b.." G. Pine. . 'Giazeley, 7st., H. Priea.' Waitapu, 6st. 01b., M'Kay. A hemarkablo case fit suicidal mania in ons family lias ocpurrcrl, at EPPasn, To-sas. Two bi'oHieisy.tif Edward Harvey —who has just drowned himself— committed suicide Inst 'year because they both loved the same (,'irl. A few years apo their father jumped overboard in the Atlantic Ocean, ajul: about a year-ago his brother murdered his own wife and daughter and theii-'cut' lii's own throat. What is believed to be tho smallest shop ill Loudon,''is-situated'■ (it the entrance to the Hank seation of the City .and -South London-Railway. It is kept by Mr. A. Blanclianl, a tobacconist, and it measures scarcely five feet deep and four feet across.

V . CRICKET. 1 V"';.: ' — : — \ (By Breaker.) Fielding is the department of' the game that mostly helps tho Midlands to success. On' Saturday tho side looked liko getting out for. under 70 runs; when O'Sullivau dropped Bruce. This batsman then, with tho plucky assistance, of Upham, helped the seoro on towards respectability. Wellington.started well, but whon Richardson was got rid of, four batsmen made one run between them, and thoy still have 70 runs to mako to lead on "the first innings. I Tho new arrangement of deciding matches in two days should improve local cricket.. It will probably make batsmen cultivate strokes, and the cricket should bo faster and moro in.tcrcsting..ifroin'' a .spoctafor's point of View.' v ' ■ ' , Two teariis-won, tho'toss on Saturday and put ;their opponents in to bat. This .was a mistake,> as tho ..wickets woro . too • slow i"oz' bo'ivlors, and batstnen could watch : the'ball quite easily. ;Thore /are very, few,' occasions • upon which, a' captain should take the field when he has won Take last Saturday for! "instance. ' ;\Petone and l'hoonix both won' tho toss, and caph' .team 1 'tookthe field. ■; .Their opponents. Old 'Boys and Newtown - respectively,, wont in .to /bat ill;.a'' gooci/lislit, and on/a now 'wickot,,which/could: not : improvo during tho; - afternoon.' Then; the- two '.toss-winning teams . had, to .bat on . a worn -.wicket for over an hour in ~very :doubtful 'light ;i; so'; if.is vory' ovident' that 'in these two games tho sides that lost' tho toss had tho advantage for the; afternoon..;',i. ' ' Then again, a score "on tho slato" goes a : long '.way; "it is.easier to save runs than to mako them;" take advantage of tho conditions prevailing at the moment, as "a bird in the hand is worth two iri tho bushif you win the toss, bat, and leave tho state of the wicket the next Saturday to luck. . Petone entoreil' tho senior competition in a match apainst tho Old Boys. Old Boys' score did vnot'look well until ■J. P. Blacklock anil Monaghan got together. Both'batted. safely, Blacklock's innings.-.being pretty, and Jlonaghan's' serviceable.' Tuckor should have been caught behind tlie wickpts off Brice, but for a mistake.'•; Cob-, .croft's' slows: .were • fairly expensive, but Brice bowled bettor th'an ; ' his . figures showed. .s.',: ' The most remarkable .thing''in tho Newtown-Phoenix match was • that the' former., team' had two innings ;:'that ,is to say Phoenix dropped at least ' a dozen chances. How bowlers aro ox-' pected to get , sides ' out under conditions' such-., as', these probably tlie ipombors, of/the. Phoenix team know; certainly tho writer dods, not. The first : wickot' put on. 58 with tho assistanco of five 'chances,... and the eighth wicket added 30. The;- score-book showed four byes, . but every time the writer glanced towards this game byes were happening.. Tho,- bowlers complain that the 'umpires did not signal -byes, and consequently the byes go against tho Sbowjers' averages,' as run's.

Off tho first' throo balls of Hiqkoy's last:; : over three wore missed, 'find itho.bowler, tho,rfield was .so amdcd? tolbowl "shooters," ' and i ; Newtown's. innings 'dlosed - for 129. :;W.hen r all , else fails, bowl "shooters." -' _Tlie Phoenix innings opened with disaster, but' the .Burton. ; diio batted well, and stumps were'drawn with the score at 3 for 58. ' , .Wellington cricketers 1 should . either practise fielding, 'and make up their minds to field well, or else make way for .other players who w - ill. Patrick was the most effective bowler on the Midland side last Saturday. He ■ only .sent down three overs, but secured three wickets for 5 runs: Xfpham had nine overs; but was unable to'secure a wicket.' _ , Bruce and TJpham were tho saviours of the; Midlauders last • Saturday. The first mentioned batted nicely for .34, including five threes and a five, and Upham hit .up 31, including three threes and a four. . Patrick (11) was the only other . Midland batsman to roach doublo figures. The-wickets fell as follows One for 16, two for 17, tliree for 28, four for 33, five for 38, six for 49, seven for 50, eight for 61, nine for. 102, ten for .113. ' Hales was the most successful of the Wellington bowlers, his average, working out five for 37. Fisher also sent down some good balls, and Obtained three wickets for 32. Tucker's tricky bowling nonplussed the Petone batsmen, who were shy of the Old Boys'-coach. Ho secured a wicket in tho first over—a maiden, had threo runs knocked off the next over, and then sent down four maidens. The Old Boys wickets fell as follows: —One for 1, two for 17, three for 24, four .'for 25, five for 75, six for 95, seven for-113, eight for-124, nine for 142, ten for 162. J. B. Blacklock'has started tho season well. His 33 for Old Boys against Peton'e was compiled in good style, although ho gave several chances. The, total,,included five threes and four twos, Monaghan was tho next highest Gild Boy scorer. Petone called oh no less than six •bowlers in dismissing Old Boys. Barbor, of football famo, came out with tho best return, his average being four for 42. Brice also bowled well, securing three wickets for. 27. ' ; A suggestion was niarto at the annual mooting of the Auckland Association that tho club championship should be awarded ; to" the club scoring tho groatcst number-of points', in all grades instead of, as at'present,.'on tho senior, result. " Tho .' "Observer" considers thero is not much doubt'but that tho Management Committee will carry the suggestion into effect this season. Ten runs in the shape of byes woro r.ot off one ball in a club match Hn Sydney recently'..' Tho ball from which tho byes' woro' got was very fast, and when; completing the ■ sixth run an. effort' to run out one of tho batsmen resulted in four runs for the overthrow beiWg'got.'" Tod Callaway, tho Australian comic singer, who formerly played with Parldingtbn, clean bowled five wickets with successive balls ,at Brisbane recently. He. was representing the Theatre Roval against"Jockeys and Trainers. The whole of- the wicket!; were secured in one. over; and a sixth was missed only by a- "coat of varnish." The-Waiwetu Club has given up tho ground it used last season, and will in future play air homo matches on tlie Ilutt; Recreation Ground. • Tho number of teams entered for the various ohsmpionsbins is_ as follows:— Senior. 7 ; junior, 17; third grade, 13; and fourth grade, 7.

Third class matches will be played on tho Johiisonville Club's ground again this season. It is tho intention of tho Club to supply visiting teams with afternoon tea. Mr. P. J. Ohlson has been elected a lifo-,member of tho Auckland Cricket Association. Mr. Ohlson has beon connected with tho gamo in tho North for 13 years, and has been ono of tho hardest' workers the sport has had. A Southern paper states that tho Otago Association intends sending a team on tour as far north as Auckland this season. The team will probably leavo Duncdin during Christmas week playing the annual match against Canterbury during tho Christmas holidays, and visiting Auckland for tho Now i'car, when tho match -against Auckland province will take place. _ A visit will probably bo paid to Napier, arid a f match played against Hawke's Bay, finishing up the tour with a match against. Wellington, at Wellington. The..first English team which visited Australia—in 1 1S62 —was brought out by Messrs. Spiers and Pond, of Victoria, at a cost of £7000. Tho players ,'wcro given £150 cacli, 'and had all their l exponsos paid. They camo cut in tho- Groat Britain. Twenty-five thousand people witnessed tho first match, tho entrance feo being ss. Tho Englishmen won. by an innings and 96 ruris'.

; Tho coming English team will bo tho, seventeenth which' has visited Australia. Tho" previous teams were as follows: —18G2,. H. Stephenson's; 1864, (B. Parr's; 1873, W. G. Graco's; 1876, 'J. Lillywhito's; 1878, Lord Harris's; 1881, Shaw iind Shrewsbury's; 1882, Tvo Bligh's; 1884, Shaw and Shrewsbury's; 1886, Shaw and Shrewsbury's 1887, Lord Hawke's or Vcrn6n's; 1887, Shrewsbury's or Smith's; 1891; Lord Sheffield's; 1894, Stoddart's; 1897, . Stoddart's; 1001, Maclaron's; 1903, Warner's. The members of tho first'team were H. and E. Stephenson, C. Lawrence, W. Caffyn, G. Griffiths, W. Mortlock, W. Miidie, T. Sewell, G. Bennett, T; Hcarne, G. Wells, 11. Iddison. Of, these only C. Lawrence (79 years old) and W. CafFyn! (79) survive. The second team consisted of G. Parr, A.' Clarko, J. Jackson, G. Tarrant, E. M. Grace, G. Anderson, R/G. Tinley,' W. Caffyn, J. Caesar. R. Carpenter,. T. 'Lockyer, and T. Hayward.. Of theso 1 only E. M. Gracc (66) and'Caffyn remain to tell, tho tale. The. toam of 1881, consisting of Slniw,, Shrewsbury, Selby, Seotton, : Bates, Peato, ;Enimett, TJlyett, Barlow, Pilling/Midwinter, J. Lillywhitc, has fared/even worse, for Barlow is the •solo .'survivor.

i Another good old crickct talo is shattered into fragments by A. E. Trott, .who says:—"lt is stated that I'used to stick up an old box and say, '.Now, you're George Gilfen,' and try to bowl round tho box—as if it was a batsman's legs—on to a wicket fixed behind.. I think Goorgo says that in his book 'With Bat and Ball.' It is a'very pretty story—that is, if it only, happened to bo true; but it ain't truo. I never, stuck up any-graven imago or wooden box. , I am not that sort of man. I want something aliife to bowl at." '. • ,

Tho President of the Auckland Cricket Association, Mr. F. Earl, has been connected with Auckland cricket for thirty years. ' ,A very unusual event occurred in a match in England this season. , One of the batsmon, in making a stroko to log, sent • tho ball. into tho umpire's coat, pocket, from whero A it was taken by ono 'of tho fieldsmen. Tho umpire at the bowler's ond; upon being appealed to, ■: gave. 1 the; batsman ."not out,".'explaining that . the ball, was dead. A writer: in cricket .thinks the decision waswrong;'' aiid that; the player should have been given out. The following rather remarkable cable message was published in. Australia on October 1 (says the Sydney "Refereo") — "Wellington, N'.Z.,' -Monday.—At the an-nual-meeting of tho Otago Cricket Association, j Mr. Campbell (vice-president) said tHoy did not want any more English teams on "conditions like those on which they had the last ono.. When the Council were asked to pay tho washing bills and tips, that was going rather too far. Ho thought it was a great disgrace for any team supposed to consist of gentlemen ,to come out and say,,'We'are going to exploit - New Zealand/ They did not want any more of that kidney out here." .Washing, bills and tips for servants, porters,; etc., are usually included in the expenses paid-by Cricket Associations in Australia for travelling players engaged in representative cricket. ( The following arc the terms, which have proved insufficiently alluring to some of tho leading professionals of England for the visit to Australia this year, a perusal of which may be enlightening to some of our New Zealand friends: —(1) .£3OO for each professional's services; (2) first-class faro to Australia and back, and 30s. a week on beard to cover charges for wines, tobacco, etc.; (3) hotel expenses in Australia and 40s. per week to cover charges for wine,' tobacco, cab fares, etc.; (J) "railway fares and travelling expenses in Australia, including -luncheons and drinks, etc.; on such .occasions; (5) washing bills and the "tipping" of servants, etc., both on the ship and on shore." Tho great professional cricketer has been catered for in such a princely way by Australian promoters since, 1891 that his scrvico will soon be beyond reach. Referring to the new signalling system designed by Dr. R. Macdonald (formerly of Queensland, now of London), Mr. W. G. . Grace says" Briefly,' the idea aims at' giving tho spectators and the Press knowledge of the state of , tho wicket before' the match commences, and, immediately at the. fall of each wicket, the technical particulars of the ball which has brought about a batsman's, dismissal. Tho different breaks, .swerves, variations of pace, and all. the subtleties which the art of bowling: has developed would, as occasion arose, bo signalled, and the closest touch with tho game would thereby be maintained. The umpire is, provided with a small adjustable indicator, similar in appearance to a small flat hand camera, and which fits easily into a coat pocket. When a batsman is dismissed he signals a letter, which the scoring-box official, by means of field-glasses, is easily able to decipher. . Bach letter is made to designate a different sort of ball. The umpire has this -tabulated list, > giving all thf: different, balls,, such as: (a).' 'Ball broke,in-from the off,' (b) 'Ball swerved from the leg,' (c)! 'Ball kept low,' (d) 'Ball rose sharply from the, pitch,' etc. Oil the fall of the'wicket tliei umpire refers to this list, and signals the particular letter, which designates the particular sort of ball. which effected the dismissal of tho batsman. Tho scoring-box official then hoists tho signalled letter alongside the batsman's score, and the scoring-board reads, 'Last batsman, 114, B.' The spectator, on seeing this, will refer-to: the back of the official penny scoring card, and -will there see a tabulated printed list corresponding to the one the umpire lias. They will thus be able to interpret the meaning of tho signalled letter 'B,' so that before the batsman reaches the. pavilion tho spectators will .bo in possession of the technical feature of (lie ball with which the bowler effected his dismissal. "This system is silso devised to signal tho .'state' of the wicket.' This will be signalled in the same way, as the result of consultation between the umpires. They would, on forming their opinion, refer to their official tabulated list, which would also givo the different sorts of wickets, such as 'Wioket soft,' 'Wicket hard and true,' 'Wicket crumbling,' 'Wicket very difficult,' 'Wicket likely to improve,' etc. These states of wieket would be designated by (liiTerent letters, such as 'Wicket very difficult' would bo designated by the letter 'N.' The spectators and Press would thus be It-jpt well informed not only as to the condition of the wicket, at .the. start of play in a big match, but of any varying conditions throughout tho dny, a knowledge which must be possesseii jf a right judgment of the piny is tc b-j formed."

Tho Fijian team to visit Australia in December intends playing matches at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The players will bo entirely I'ijians, whose cricketing uniform will be a picturesque kilt-like Fijian costume. Some of the highest Fijian personages are keenly interested in the tour, and, it is said, tho ruling chief will captain the side. Tho players aro reported to be verj clover neldsmen, and fair to good bowlers. Sydney Edward Gregory—the "Little Tich" of cricket—was born on the sito of the Association Crickct Ground in 1870, the same year as F. S. Jackson and J. Darling: first saw light. Hence, on tho score of ago only, lie.should not bo regarded as a hack number, That he is still very much alive as a batsman was (says the "Rclcree") shown by the manner in. which lie scored 91 in his benefit match against New South Wales last season. And that ho is taking his crickct seriously this season was shown by his first-class form at Waverley ou Saturday, whon he ran up 219 against Redfern. He hit 0 sixes and 31 fours, or 160 by strokes to the boundary. Starting quietly, lie played himself in, and then went after the ball, making all his strokes with that ease and power which cause onlookers to marvel how ho does it when ho is at his best. He gave a difficult low chance at short leg at 94. The best batsman in the club last season, S.E.G., is seemingly determined to again shine. Though not included ,in tho New South Wales Eleven last summer, lie was good enough on form for any eleven in the country, and it would appear that it will bo so once more. , WELLINGTON WEDNESDAY CRICKET ASSOCIATION. Tho Committee of the Wellington Wednesday Cricket Association has decided to commence matches on Wednesday next, and the following fixtures were drawn:— Seniors—lst matches: Orientals v. George and George (Basin No. 1), Unions v. Rivals (Basin No. 2); <2nd matches: George and George v. Unions (Basin No. 1), Rivals v. Oris (Basin No. 2); 3rd matches: George and George v. Rivals (Basin No. 1), Oris v. Unions (Basin No. 2). Junior—lst matches: Unions v. Thorndon (Basin No. 3), T.M.C.A. v. Vivians (Basin No. 4), Red Cross v. George and George (Park No. 1), Oris v. Artillery A (Park No. 2), Artillery B v. Pakeha (Park No. 3). At . a special general meeting of the Association, hold last night, the Pakeha Cricket Clubs motion to oxclude Saturday senior players from taking part in Wednesday competitions was lost by 10 votes to 7. Midland v. St. Patrick's, at Athletic Park. Midland team:—Hanson, J. Smith, J. Cunninghame, ■ Clinkard,. Patterson, L. Cording, Wighton,' Rehner, Atkinson, Ferguson.. , ' . Midland v. Victoria College, at Day's Boy. ..'.Midland:—Cook, Mdlwraith, Donovan, O'Neill, M'Grath, M'Girr, Johnston, Thorpo, Horries, E. Cording, Guthrie, Cornfoot. ■ Johnsonville v. Newtown, at .Tohnsonville.. Johnsonville:—lientley, A. Moore, W. Monro, E. Windloy, N. Cook, W. Little, C. Hyland, 13. Coo, R. l'ickin, L. Cording, W. Easson. Emergencies— W. Styles, Latimer, Cherry, Hayward. The following teams will represent Petone in its various fixtures to-day:— , Juniors v. Y.M.C.A., Petone Ground, 2.50 p.m.:—Thomson, Brice, R. Bowman, Cashmaia, Cannon, Sherlock, Rodgers, Green, Collier, Jndd, A. House. Emergencies—W. House and,F. Mason. . ' Third Class v. St. John's, Petone, 2.30 p.m.:—W. House, F. Mason, Wynyard, Arnold, 'Joyce, Reeve, N. Senior, T. Price, Ecnnctt, M'Auliffc, Gore. Emergencies— M'Farlano and Whitchor. . Fourth Class v. Thorndon A, Pctono, 2.30 ■ p.m.:—M'Farlano, Whitcher, Bold, Vincent, Kean, Steinmuller,: Andrews, • Woods, : Nnnkoville,\Boyd,,;Niyen/ Ward, Corson. Emergencies—JDent" and Last.