HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 14

HOCKEY.

[By "BcMiT-oFF."]

OLD & NEW FACES IN CLUBB. Operations for tho season begin in corny est at Karori Park this afternoon, ana there looks to bo overy chance of a etirring season. So moto it be; but, whether it bo or not, a glanco at tho strengths of tho rival clubs will givo the hockey man matter of interest. Metropolitan Club. This olub, whioh finished fourth lost year, and extended tho leading teams, promises to bo stronger than over, and It will bo a great surprise, if, at the end of the winter, they do not figure amongst tl'.«' threo leading teams. They have lost Baker (representative full-back) who is in Auckland, while Cleave (a sterling goal-keener) will bo playing for Government Life Insurance. Per contra, through the disbandmont of tho Wesley Club, they have gained ICeys (forward). Smith (forward), and the Cody brothers. With these four the team will be a formidable one. In addition thqy have D. Sherrin, of Palmerston North (a "bully,"), and ' Pullyn (full-back) from Canterbury. All these players are really good men, and the Bed and Blacks aro lucky to get them, Government Life Insurance. ■ Although this club did not figure hleh in last year's competitions, still, with commendable pluck, they held together light till the finish and never disappointed their opponents by defaulting. The team is similar to that of last year, but in addition they havo been materially strengthened by Hunter and Cleave, who both play in the back division. A thirdgrade team will also bo entered, and although it is composed mostly of beginners the material is there for a tip-top edeven. Tho United Club. The senior Unitod team will be full of, new faces. Messrs. Dwyer, Organ, and Smytho, all old representative plavera, have retired, and we shall miss them. Andrews has been transferred to.Oamaru, M'Kay has gone to Auckland, whilst R, Thompson will bo out of' town most of tho time. New members include WElton, Christio (an old representative half), and Cook, from Hawke's Bay, who will fill the full-back position. With Fovernl good juniors to draw upon, tho Red and Whites should mako a good showing. Victoria Collego Club. The prospects of Victoria College this year look promising enough. They hope to enter four teams, ono senior, two., juniors, and ono third. The senior team' romains practically the same aa lost year's, although 60mo rearrangement and change lias been found necessary in the forward division. : With tho - opportunities College had last season it was strange that tho finishing touch could not be applied more often, but it is hoped, with tho alterations suggested, that the defect may now bo remedied. Several promising junior players have been acquired. It was thought at first that tho club would havo been able to enter two eonior teams, but as soveral of last year-a juniora droppod out, this proposal had to be abandoned. , ~ , / Tho club this year loses tho eervlcca of Beere, who has been identified with it since its inception in 1901. In his time Deere was a great goal-getter, heading tho list for Wellington on' mow than ono occasion.

Wellington Club. , Prospects wear a roseate hue for Wellington, only two of last year s team being absentees. Harty is out of town, and Portor has now to think of home air stead of hockey. Fauvell, from tho Wesley Club, has joined tho forward line, and : is a decided acquisition. Otherwise the team is tho same as last year s. lne junior and third grade teams have like\viso boon strengthened, and great things aro expected from them. ... , This club has been very enterprising In securing tho Oriental. Football Clubs gymnasium one night ■ each week tor training, and any hockey player,,by tho payment of ss. per season, oan enjoy this benefit, for such it is. When the curtain rings down, Wellington hopo to bo near tho top ruug of tho ladder.

Karori, Club. ' Winners of last year's eenior oomEstition will bo much weaker than boforo. oader (tho finest wing-forward .in Now Zealand) is in Sydney; Campbell, «. sterling centre-half, has retired after many years of useful service; Aicken, , another representative half, is now married; and L. Davic-s is shortly going to Duncdin. Still, thoy retain the cervices of R. I'arton, G. Davies, and Dr. M'lullop, and, with soveral promising juniors, tho Black flag should wave bravely enough in the hockoy winds of 1918. A Word on Training. Says tho philosopher-essayist, Emoreoni "Strong races and strong individuals rest on natural forces. Physical exuberance, surcharge of nrtorlal blood, a strong heart, and a bounding pulso—thoso aro tho basis of tho powers that make men and nations, great. - In the last analysis, groat human achievement rests on perfect physical ''\vhat a boon it would bo if each and every hockoy player could become imbued with this spirit. And there is no betterway to got tho most out of our hcckey than being in a position to enjoy-it to tho full. Let us all dotermino that our physical fitness will never bo a bar to succors. Tho man who is not fit is a failure. Ho deceives himself, and is not doing, tho best for his club. Ton minutes' practice nigut and morning is oil that is required to keop tho average player fit and well.

For attempting to smugglo a Pomeranian dog in her muff from a Channel steamer at Dover, a London lady was fined .£!) is. Wliilo passing a Stoko NcWiligton butcher's shop a woman was lujirod ana. hor clothing damaged, by a joint of meat falling on her head. Damages were awarded her at Shorediteh County Court of .C 2 7s. and costs. Tho King has given his consent to tho marriago of Prince Ernest C t land 'with Princess Victoria Louise, daughter of the German Emperor lho King's consent is required to legalise in, this country tho marriage of a descondant •i( George 111. II r. John Lawrio, of Whitelcy'e, speaking at ii dinner of the Linen and Woollen Drapers' Institution and Cottage Homes, 1 in London, said that ijl his journeys over the country ho found that the young, thriving drapers were having tho timo of their lives, and, so far from being killed by the great stores as they had been told, were able and willing to put up their five-pound notes to help others. Mr. 11. G. Wells, speaking et a dinner of the Chemical Society, said that chemists had changed war, not by making it impossible, but by making it preposterous, by making the cost of warfare out of all proportion to the benefits to bo derived from it. Assistant inspectors of schools (men) arc to bo appointed by tho British Board of Education at salaries rising from J22()0 to £100 a year, tp fill vacancies arising in tho old clnsses of ana junior inspectors.