AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1820, 5 August 1913, Page 8

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE TOUR OF THE AMERICANS. / A meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held last night. There were present: Messrs. A. Alarryatt, (J. E. Bridge, W. F. Larkin, ]3. A. Guise, W. H. l'ollock, J. H. Pollock, 1!. L. Chaffey, J. C. Ciisack, ami A. Davics. . . 1 The chairman referred to the late W. I'. Simpson, whose death, occurred recently in the South Island. Simpson had been ono of the greatest athletesi in New Zealand. Ho was ono milo champion of tho Dominion in 1901 and 1902; threemile champion in 1899, 1901, 1902, and 1903; anil oiie and three-mile champion of Australia ill 1901, when ho established the existing record of lltnin. Msec, for three miles. Simpson also represented New Zealand with credit in England. A resolution was carried expressing regret at the untimely death oi the champion, and condoling with his widow and rolatives in ,their bereavement. It was reported that, with the exception of Canterbury, all the New Zealand associations concerned had guaranteed their shares of the expense of bringing' the American athletes to New Zealand and Australia. The New. South Wales authorities also cabled that they accepted the terms proposed for tho tour of tlie American team, whose visit to Sydney will correspond with the date of the State championships. A letter from, the' Tasmanian Association stated that it was not possible for that tody to guarantee expenses for tho' Americans, who must therefore miss out Tasmania. Mr. Smyth, secretary of the Victorian Association, cabled that the dates of the Australasian championships in Melbourne were suggested as January 21 and 26. On the motion of Mr. Bridge, it was decided to point out that this would not suit New Zealand, and to request tho Victorian Association to arrange the meeting for 'a. stiitablo date alout the middle of I'ebruary. ■ The approaching marriage of the wellknown athlete H. E. ICerr was mentioned by Mr. J. H. Pollock, and it was decided to congratulate Kerr on the stop he was taking, and to convey to him the association's wishes for his future prosperity. Letters from the Otago Centre stated that at the cross-country ,championship at Wingatui next Saturday three teams (Southland, Otago, and Wellington) would compete. The Wellington team is to leave for the south bji the ferry steamor to-night.