ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 8

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY. UNION. THE DOM IXJOX COMMITTIiIi. A mooting ut tin; Management Commit* tee of the .New y.ealand Uugby Union was lit'Ul last night. There .were present : Messrs. X. Ualbraith on Hit 1 chain, K. M. Isaacs, M. .1. Crumijie, V. 0. Wallburton, and Dr. P. J'. M'ivmly. A sum nl* live guinea* was voted to the Olympic Council towards the fund to send iepi(»HMitative> to tNo Oiyritpisu! al: Stockholm. Tho secretary of the Smith Allien Kuyby Football Hoard wrote thai owing to tin 1 tact that the sea*on-> in Xew Zealand and South Africa covered the sumo period, it would always be difficult to arrange a visit to X«w Zealand. In any ca-e it would be well-nigh impossible to arrange a tour in I0I2« and in Hie cimi/iHanec* the Xew Zealand invitation mu>t be declined. Ho stated also that his board had nothing whatever to do with natives' football, and knew'nothing of the proposal to send a coloured team to Xew Zealand.—Tho letter ; was received. The secretary of the Tlawke's Bay luion wrote as follows:—"J am directed to draw the attention of the Xew Zealand Vnion to the urgent necessity of an amendment I to the rules, so a« to provide for the reinstatement of players who hnvo played ; 'Xorthern Leslie.' The large towns may not feel the hardship of the disadvantages of not being able to reinstate players who have broken their amateur status, but I can assure you that: unless something is done, and that very soon, Rugby will be taking a back seat, whereas my union is assured of two teams at least' coming jwck to llugby if given the opportunity. This iis an 'urgent, case'—urgent cases need urgent remedies, and it is to be hoped that the authorities will deal with this matter as the cu'cumst-mces warrant. Tt was' decided to reply that any alteration of the rules wouM have to be referred to the F.nglish luion, ond that the Xew Zealand I nion did not think it advisable to make any recommendation on the matter. .. Tho date of the annual meeting was fixed for Thursday, May'l6. ; BOXING, Al* ST RA'IjIAN ITEMS. Jack Jester defeated Johuny Thompson oil points at the Sydney Stadium on March 20, ' ' ' . , Dillv Klliott. the, ex-Xew Zwlnnd fcather-woight, has now settled in Brisbane. ~ mil Hughie Mehegan and .linuny -Clabljy were to have met at the »Sydnev Stadium last Saturday night for the welter-weight championship of Australia. Gus Devitt, the ex-Xew Zealand boxer, now claims the middle-weight championship of Australia on the ground that ho fought Cripps for the middle-weight championship of Australia, at Adelaide on October 8, 1311, the contest i*oing t !2« rounds, and tho referee declaring it a draw. Cripps has now retired, so Devitt claims tho title on the merits of that particular performance. Ilis defeat by \\ hiving oil .November 23. 1911, at -Melbourne, in no wnv lessens the strength of his claim (ho" cays*, as they boxed catchweights.'■ I-le' is now open to box any list; lib. man in .Australia. Tho promoter of tho National Arena, Adelaide, has arranged a contest between Whiting and Devitt, to take place about Kustor, the winner of this contest to hold the middleweight championship of Australia. GOLF. A golf club—the llontlierlea Golf CI üb— has teen forum! in levin. The links.ure on Mr. .r. I?. M'Uomild'.s Mcntherlea pro l>?rty, tha course is nine-holed, and a very enjoyable and successful season is anticipated. Tho opening was held last .Saturdov when Mrs. J. R. M'Doiuld, the lady patron, drove off the first ball. The club owes its success to Mr. M'Donald for 'allowing them the use of his property for the links, and to Dr. Davies and Mr. Hughts who have worked hard in its interest. HOCKEY. ' WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION. The thirteenth annual general meeting of the Wellington Hockey Association was held in Hannah's fiuildings last evening, Mr. M. 1". J.uekie (vice-president) presiding over a largo attendance of members. The chairman, in moving the adoption of,(he report and balniic-e-shcet (previously published), made some remarks regarding the lack of ground. lie said that something'would have to bo (lone to got good playing areas in closer proximity to the city than the present grounds. It was possible that, in the near future the association would be enabled to obtain suit - able grounds on <r!i a tenure as would justify.the expenditure of the money. The report and, balance-sheet were adopted. The resignation of the Y.M.C.A. Club from Jho as;:>eiaHon , was received. The following clubs were granted affiliation:—St. Aidan's, Kilbirnie Anglican. St. Augustine's, and the Jvilbirnio Young Men's Institute. Tho election of officers for the ensuing season resulted as follows:—President, Mr. H. C. Faulke (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. D. Miller. A. L. Herdman, M.l\ (re-elected), M. F. Ltiekie (re-elected); vice-president, to N.Z. Hockey Association, Mr. W. G. Garrard (re-elected); lion. secretary, Mr. A. A.' Bennett (re-elected); lion, treasurer, Mr. R. L, Thompson (re-elect-ed i; Management Committee. Messrs. .1. W. M'Donald, C. Struck. G. Da vies. If. V. Walton. Tinnoy, .T. Cusack. J. W. Gendall; lion, auditors, Messrs. W. ]?. S. Jliek.son and W. S. Wheeler (re-elected).

It was decided by the committee to commence the championship matches on April 27, entries for which close on April 20. Mr. H. V. AValtnn was re-eletcd sole selector, and .Air. AV. C. Arnold ncording secretary. A very henrly vote of thanks and apprprinticn to Me.-srs. Al'Donald and Arnold for their ra=t services was passed. The srrrclary was instructed lo write to the Hawkc's Bay and Auckland Associations with a view of arranging a visit from Wellington to those centres. PAKEHA CLUB. The fifth annual general meeting of Ihe Pakoha Hockey Club was held in (lie A'.M.C'.A. rooms Jnst evening, Air. Harrop presiding. Eight new members were elected. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring secretary: for his long services to the club. Messrs. PfafT and Clapshaw intimated their desire to present trophies lor competition, during the ensuing season. The following officers were fleeted:— President, Mr. C. Smith (re-elected); vicepresidents. Messrs. H. Smith, L. George, Gregory, Shipton, Nutter, Pfaff; captain, Mr. Gracie; vice-captain, Mr. ,T. Smith; Selection Ccmmittco. Messrs. Gracie, .T. Smith. Clapshaw; Management. Committee. Messrs. Gracie, .1. Smith, Bale, Perry, Paget; delegate to AV.H.A., Mr'. Gracie; secretary-treasurer, Mr. Clapshaw. The report and balance-sheet (adopted) showed the club to he in a healthy position. During Ihe season the club played 13 matches, won 10, and lost 3: . THREATENED STRIFE. AUCKLAND LADIES' ASSOCIATION. tßy I'eleerapli-I'ress Association.) Auckland, April 1. As the sprnrel to trouble which occurred at tlie genera I meeting of Ihe Auckland Ladies' Hockey Association last week, w.ien the president, Mr. T. Gresham, called for a .policeman lo remove a male delegate on the ground that male delegates were not allowed, and delegates from .six clubs left the room, Air. Gresham has been asked to resign. This decision was- arrived at at a meeting to-night of delegates from nine clubs and other members to the number 'of over i'ortv. There was only one dissentient. It" is staled thai if Air. Gresham does not resign a new association will be formed.