ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1695, 11 March 1913, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION. ! The annual report of tho Wellington Rugby Football Union states that 68 teams played under the union last season, ! : as against 61 the previous year. Tho total ; number of players taking part in the various grade games was 1730, exclusive, of course, of the largo number of boys i -taking part in tho schools' competitions. The report further states that:— i "Provision was made at last annual v . meeting for a grade below fifth class, and while the.number of teams entering did not quite come up to expectations, the inauguration of tho grade has met with I considerable success, which will doubtj less bo amplified during the coming season. Your committee holds the opinion that much of the future success of individual clubs depends oil their fostering i the game among the boys in the fifth and bixth grades. "It is fitting that mention be made of tho excellent spirit in which the games in the different grades arc played, and credit is due to tho players in this respect It was noteworthy that referees reported very few. players, and in no case was any offence disclosed of a very serious nnture. Credit is doubtless due to, and this is •ample evidence of, the excellent - control the referees have over, the games committed to their charge. "It will be noted on, reference to the statement of accounts that the amount of i Teoeipts at the Park shows a marked falling off as compared witlMast year. This l ~ does'not in any way indicate a want of interest in the matches, as rather the reverse was the oase. Right through the season a succession of wet and unpleasant Saturdays was experienced, and under I such circumstances the attendance wa3 decidedly 'good. With "a .large falljhg off in gate. receipts, it necessarily , followed that the funds available to,conduct the union's affairs were much 'curtailed. Thanks are duo to the New Zealand Union for consideration in allowing tho postponement of half the annual instalment on loan repayments, by reason,of which ' the union has been enabled to meet its i other liabilities.. It' must, however, be ' borne in mind that this liability to the ; . New Zealand Union remains, and adds a 1 considerable burden to be added to each of the | two last instalments due in SepI , tember, 1913, and September, 1911, and suggests tho necessity of extreme care iii financial matters for the next two seasons.

"A valuable officer. of the association was lost during the season. by the removal from Wellington of' Mr. A. E. Neilson. He had done good work indeed as a referee and as a member of the Appointment Board, and his loss is to bo regretted. "For the coming season the committee has accepted the donation of a. handsome challenge trophy, presented by Messrs. Harvey, M'Nair, and Company, of GlasThe conditions attaching: to competition for this have yet to; be decided on. "For some years past the union has been granted the use of the grounds on the Karori Recreation Grounds. It will be noted with regret that the Borough Council hag. entered into an agreement to let. the ground, which- precludes the probability of the union having their use for some seasons to come." WELLINGTON REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. ... The annual report of the, Wellington Rugby Referees' Association congratulates that body on the good conduct of its members in. all matches-in which they officiated last year. During the past year the membership'increased by 11, and now stands at 37 active and 3-1 non-active. The above active membership total shows a derided falling-off since the last annual report was presented to members.. ' "An appeal should be made (says the report) to. the Wellington Rugby Unioq, with the 'object of increasing the list of active members. If the association is to carry on, and to do''ffill jiistide to itself, there must be a. largo accession of new members, and r should help us out of our difficulty by approaching, the'various, clubs .-to., send along retired players'as member.s-of the-associa-tion.; f-

. The total number of appointments to' local competition matches wore 410, and in very few instances were complaints received from the Rugby Union of games lapsing through the fault of the referees appointed. Messrs. F. Laws, W. J. Mere, dith, L. Simpson, D. M'Ksnzie, C. Atkinson, H. Card, T. H. Jones, A. Neilson, and J. Francis were awarded N.Z.R.A. certificates for officiating.-in representative matches under the auspices of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The following junior members were classified as senior to ferees.by the Classification and Examination Committee: Messrs. S. Standen, A. Ivean, J. F. 0 Sullivan, and J. Slines." athletic parkT : trustees.

i J h ? l W. ua L Te P ort of tll « trustees of the- Athlefcic Park states that "the total receipts from matches and other sources (luring the Mason was, , owing to wet Saturdays, over cCIOOO less than.'that of the previous season, and the lowest siuce the Park was 'acquired bv the union. IV sum of .£IOSO was handed to the Welling(.'uri"o' the'year,'as compared .with, ,£1605 m 1911. Of tho annual instalment ot i!GSO due on loan repayment onlv one-half- has" been paid, the balance being postponed by arrangement, with tho New Zealand Union. It will bo" seen that but tor -this consideration, only some ,£725 could have been handed to the' Wellington. .Union Reference to tho balaiiooRheet'Will show that the'trustees have retained no more' than sufficient to . pay current liabilities and outgoings up to tho opening of the season. The expenditure baa-been/on tho lowest possible basis, )io turnls being available for other-than absolutely-. necessary charges. During the years IM9, 1910, and; 1911 the requirements of, the Wellington Union were such that the trustees were unable to'create any re- € uu' e * or contingencies and improvements, although tho receipts during the years mentioned must b'e considered very satisThe playjn- area bndlv wants imFJ i % nothing can be done at prenf .ff3 nces 1 al i <l ? uiMin K s ar ? 'n need of attention, but .at present the trustees above wfe ' 3U wf'l i n Bl,y ex P en< litnre coming seisin/' m ' eSSary for tll<! Y.M.C.A. BOYS' CLUB..

■trTr?-. ? eT ®J}' ; h annual meeting of' the ■T.M.C.A. Boys Football Club was held at ; the rooms on Iriday evening last, Mr A. \ arney, general secretary, presiding The annual report showed that the rourth .Division A team were, successful in_ winning, tho. Charity Cup,'- ntid occupied a .prominent position for the chainpionship, which, however, was not awarded last season by tho W.F.A. IV the sixth; class A team belongs the honour ot being the most successful team in the club, winning. the championship for tile second time in succession, plaving 13 matches, winning IS, and scoring '65 goals, with only one against them, A fourthclass team journeyed 1 to Auckland last Easter and played'the Y.M.C.A. of that city, the match-being won by Auckland by si* goals to four. A return match is to be played m,-Wellington on Easter i rnT f - fourth-class team also visited Chnstchurch on Labour Day, plavlne a. match against the Celtic junior team, nn 'F°«. r ™ he V as, l; y -, Tl 'o team also played the Burnham School, where a loyal time was epent. Tho match was won by the school A team from tho Chnstchurch i.M.C.A., under tho direction of Mr. P, C. Atkinson, is comin" to-Waikanae to tho'boys' camp, at Easter and will also play a Boys' Institute team in Wellington on Easter .Monday afternoon. 1 The finances of the club' are very satisfactory, there being a balance in hand of JBl 4s. Election of officers for tho coming season resulted as follows:— President, Mr. Worboys (re-elected); vicepresidents, Messrs. Shorney, J, C. Port, M. Matheson, G. M'Kay, R. Cond, W. Ward, Forsyth, 11. Ycoinans, and E. Timperley; hon secretary, Mr. B. Mabin; hon. treasurer, Mr. W. .T. Mears; management committee, Messrs. V. Sinclair, \T. Goer, and T. M'Lcod; fourth-class selection committee, Me-srs. C." Worth, O. Smith, and V. Sinclair; fifth, Messrs. G. Ward, W. Cook, and J. Goer; sixth, Messrs. S. Bod, A. Terry, and C. Shapcott. 'Prospects of tho coming season are considered excellent. Outsido pvactico commences next Saturday, and at least, six teams will be entered for the boys' grades. . HOCKEY. WELLINGTON CLUB'S ANNUAL REPORT. The Wellington Hockey Club's annual report states that although absolutely the

worst season as TCgnrds weather conditions which has been experienced for years, nevertheless it was otherwise the most successful season experienced-by the club for some years. Although only some 15 names were on the roll at the commencement, by steady work ("he membership at the' end of the season was increased to over 50. The financial position of tho club is also highly satisfactory, tho committee being enabled to placo a sum of ,£2O iu the Savings Bank, whilst there is £j Is. lid. in hand. The senior team is to be congratulated upon defeating tho winners of. the championship. Tho senior) team played 11 matches, of which 5 wero won, 3 drawn, and '3 lost for 27, against 30), and finishes third. The large number of goals scored against it reflects no- discredit on tho goal-keeper, but is chiefly tho result of playing a "sporting" gamo. Tho junior team did well for an almost entirely new combination, and finished third out of li teams, with the record of— Hatches played, 13; won, 8; lost, 3; drawn, 2. Goals for, 39; against, 31. Owing to the heavy pull required to bring the membership up to n total to allow of placing three teams in tho field, it was well on ijito tlio season, before the third team could be properly organised. They played 0 matches, winning 3, losing 5, and drawing 1; goals for 24, against 20. The following aro to be congratulated upon obtaining representative honours, vlz - Messrs. Morpeth,' Reed, and Hnrtrj ami iu the junior, Messrs. Haigli, Murrell, and MacDougall. CRICKET. WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATION,. , The following aro the fixtures and grounds for to-morrow: — Seniors, Vivian v, Y.AI.C.A., No. 1 Basin y. .Artillery, No. 2 Basin Reunion v. Rivals, No. 4 Basin Reserve. Juniors. Artillery v. United, No. 1 Newtown v. St. Patrick's College, No. 2 Newtown Park. , ■ , Union v. Chemists, No. 3 . Newtown Park'. Red Cross, a fcye. Tho following will represent the Oriental Club in its matches to-morrow: Seniors v. Artillery: Gourlay, Billman, Alpe, Little, I'ruscott, Osborne, Meston, Masters, Day, Green, Toms, lunnear. Juniors v. St. Patrick's College: Luxford, Marshall, Robinson, Ivemple, inlford, Williamson, _ Clementson, Lane, Bowie, Mummery, Lindsay, Boulton.

SWIMMING, . LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Brisbane, March 10. Tho ladies' hundred yards amateur swimming championship of Australia was won by Miss Fanny Durack in lmin. 19 l-ssec. SWIFTS CLUB MILE. r The Swifts Club decided a mile handicap at the Te Aro Baths-on Saturday afternoon. The event was won by Donovan (13min. 30sec.),' W. &. Morpeth (3min. lflsec.) being second, and E. Vango (7min. 4-Osec.) third. Also started: Jones (ltaiii. 30sec.); Bamfield (7min «sec.); Smith (omin. 20sec.); Collins (tain. 40 sec.); Johnstone (tain. lOsec.); Woodcock (tain. 30sec.); Russell (2mm. 20sec.J; I O'Neill (2min.); and R, Newman (scr.). 300 YARDS BELAY RACE.. A Telay race over 300 yards for teams of six men (each to swim 50 yards), was hold between Old Boys and Thornton representatives on Saturday afternoon, the result being a dead heat. G.P.O. CLUB. A 150 yards teams' race (for teams of three men, each to swim jw VS|™ s HS a l s decided by tie General Post Office Club on Saturday. "R ; esultT r C.--B. Bnrdekin. A. W. Robertson, and F. \V llton (lsee.), 1, G. T. Kellaway, E." G. Pnllar, J. H. J. Geddes (scr.), 2; E- B. Kay, E. C. B. Wilkinson,' and T.' A. - Duffy (scr.), 8. Time, lmin. 53scc. AQUATIC CARNIVAL. The swimmers of the city, through their various Clubs and associations, volunteered to run a gala at Lyall Bay in aid of the Citizens' Carnival funds, which are to be spent on beautifying the city. J-he proposal was readily agreed to bv tho, carnival executive and for some time past the members of the life-saving societies, surf,'and swimming clubs have been working enthusiastically to make the . aquatic carnival, which is to bo held on Saturday afternoon next, a memorable one. The programme is a very ambitious ono and consists of, a number of novel items. The principal - itenis are life-saving land drill for te'ams of five from the various clubs for the championship of Wellington; reel'rescue race, open to-swimming and life-saving clubs; surf relay race, teams of three; inter-club tug-o-war; alarm life-saving reel race. Quite a number of humorous events will also be given. A very fine tableau, portraying the landing of' Captain Cook, will terminate'a varied afternoon's programme. Tn addition, a large number of ladies are at work arranging for afternoon tea, etc., while a number of novel and up-to-dato side shows will attract the attention of those who desire to show their skill.. The whole of the proceeds will go to swell the Easter Carnival fund, and although it is not within the scope of the management. to make a charge on the beach, those who attend will have an opportunity of subscribing as they leave the cars. .Messrs. "J. F. Atkins and H. C. W. Bliek are the principal executive officers of the aquatic carnival. AMATEUR ATHLETICS. ■ N.Z.A.A.A. EXECUTIVE... A' meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association -was held last filing. Those present were Messrs. A. A.Marryatt (chairman), B. Guise, J. C. Cusack, E. L. Chaffey, J. H. Pollock, and A. Davis.

information regarding new clubs being formed was received from Blenheim. Picton, Turakina, and Waikanae. As these clubs anticipate holding meetings during the Easter holidays, the chairman said that a' special meeting of delegates would be necessary before Easter to make final arrangements regarding affiliation, and fixing of dates. Tho Auckland Centre applied for the New Zealand championships next year, coincident, with the Exhibition. The chairman said that the matter would have to stand over until the next annual meeting, in accordanco with the rules the association. Thomas M'Lcod was reinstated to the Hamilton Club. An application for a New Zealand and Australian record was made by M'Holm, who won tho hnmmpr-thron"ing event at tho recent championship meeting, throwing 132 ft. Sin. The matter was left in the liands of the president, who is to forward the application, together willi the measurements of the "throw" to Australia. UPPER HUTT RIFLE CLUB. On Saturday the Upper Hutt Rifle Club continued its competition for trophies presented by Messrs. John Barton and W. GToig, scores also counting for the "Wilford aggregate. I'illeinan A. A\ r eir secured a, leg-in. The following were the best scores (500 and GOO yards):—A. Weir, 46— .19-1-89; ,T. Whiten,an. 41-39-7-87; F. Wilkie. 10—3!>—0—85; W. J. Greig, 37— 41-2-80.