AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 535, 16 June 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A Veteran's Win. The oldest active racing cyclist in. the world to-day is Veteran T. C. Riley, of tho New South Wales Cyclists' Union, who has seen just on 60 summers. Riley started from 'limit in tho Picton-Ashfield cycle road race : recently, in which there woro 150 competitors; and that was the last the other competitors saw of him, for he was never headed, and'won by 7i minutes. "Tommy," as he is familiarly known, was accorded an ovation on pedalling into Ashiield a winner. He was allotted a start of 47min. in a 45 miles course—rather a liberal handicap—but lis :the-':Veteran':'rode tho 45 miles in 2hr. 50min., ho put up a remarkably fine performance for a man of his years. He showed that he is, far from being, a . back number yet,although most cyclists have retired when 20.years younger than tho winner of tne 6ig amateur road race.. ,There is an old saying in Sporting circles that "Youth will be served,", but Veteran Riley has given it the lie direct. ,-

■ Australian Defence. Files from ' Colombo report : that Rear-. Admiral s Blade, ' commanding the East India station, 'on. May 19 that at' present there fore barely enough ships on the station to do tho work wanted. If things went 'smoothly, it" was not'probable that more ships, would be added, but if war broke out the' station would be strengthened in proas hostilities' tended to gravitate in that.'directioii. ' !iT! A's' to' Australian defence, the Admiral said there seems to 'bo every possibility- .'of ,'an arrangement being worked out'-in''a reasonable ' basis.--. '.'The desire of Australians to, have anavy' of their own is one which, .1, think, is sympathised with in England,", 'said the' Admiral. "An important point is that there should bo no possibility of misunderstanding, , nor a hitch arising at; a critical moment, when relations become .-"strained ' between Britain and some other, country. I think that with, tho exercise of a little tact and commonsense on both sides; we shall soon _be: able to arrive at a workable understanding, which will obviate anything of - the kind. It is no good leaving things .'until the,last moment. It must all be ; worked, out in peace time, otherwise when' 'war. breaks out everything will be chaos."

Commercial Congress. The seventh Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the, British Empire will meet , in Sydney on Soptcmbor 14. This will bo a . notable gathering of leading business men of the British Empire. The commercial community of: Sydney, who will be in tho nosi- . tion of hosts on the occasion, are urged by tho local' "Telegraph',' •to unite and put forward every 'effort to make the congress a .success, and enable the visitors to obtain a thorough insight into the commercial life, of Sydney,-and arrive at a true estimate of tho valuo of the various industries of the State. The proceedings' will/be opened by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Dudley. N . V-V. , Is Sydney Football Mad?

The globe-trotter' who . recently- said that .■. while:-Australians .were an energetic 'people they wore mad on sport might have been in ~ the position of emphasising'bis observation ■ had •ho seen .- the crowds at tho football matches during Saturday and yesterday, says the '.'Telegraph" of June 8. On Saturday the "Wallabies" and New South Wales fought out a stirring engagement on the Crickot Ground beforo over 20,000 spectators, while in the adjoining ground (Agricultural) about 'a like watched the League and All-Black disputing every inch . of football territory in the enclosure. On the hill at tho back of the grounds referred i to, a couple of thousand persons. watched v the games from ."the rocks." On the Sports Ground, the country teams had a following, and away inland touring Vcity teams engaged their country coußins Defore large \ crowds, considering the size of the centres at which the games took place. , That was on Saturday. Yesterday over 30,000 looked in at the: Agricultural Ground again, and at every suburban ground of note, and on the Cricket Ground, many spectators cheered the . players on. "Why," said a visitor to the All-Black match; "Ishould not bo surprised if the very animals did not yet show an in- :. torest in the'game." As he said so, a burly All-Black three-quarter shot from the ruck, and setout for .the line. "A strango sound — not thalt of barracker or playor—arose, and : a terrier,; not bigger than a cat, joined issue with the speedy footballer, at whose heels he • snapped and yelped until a successful tackle. out short his pilgrimage. Then the terrier returned to the touch-lino and yelped no more. ■ . .