ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

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TUB RESUME OF THE WEEK. Tho Canoellod Sports. I That tho Wellington Rugby Union lias been forced to abandon its sports t meeting to-day, because of insufficient [ entries, is regrettable, but not but- 1 prising. Tho past football season has 1 boen a very heavy one, the averago foot- I bailer who has come through it is long- 1 ing for rest rather than a strenuouu c afternoon on tho track. Next year the i Union, if it intends holding such a £ mooting, should fix it for tho beginning t of the seasou when all and sundry would c seize the opportunity of a day's train- £ ing for the football to follow. £ Wanted—Evenlrig Meetings. Enthusiasm was tho order of the even- ' ing at the annual meeLing of the Sea- r toun A.A.O. Tile seaside club has hosts J of willing workers, and its lengthy con- . mittoo list is a good sign of interest in . tilio club's doings. Mr. O. H. Duck, succeeds Mr. Palmer aB secretary, t'ne * latter taking up office as the club's delegate on the centre. So far this club is the only one which has held its annual meeting, but tho others no doubt are at hand. Tho Athletio Football Sports Club will probably " kick off" ! some timo next weok, and the W.A.A.O. ' should be taking an interest.in things about the same time. _ The first duty of all olubs this season. will be to got their members fit for 1 tho American meeting, and to this end t and further with a view to working up . publio interest in tho gathering, Mer- , cury would suggest that representatives ' of all the City clubs should meet in ' conference for tho purpose of arranging a series of evening meetings that will fill in the two months prior to tho big fixture. The Cood Timo Coming. The following from tho Auokland "Sportsman" gives a good .idea of the ' treat that is in store for Northern amateurs during the coming season: — Just fancy £350 for prize-money for a singlo club to play with in one season. This is really the "on velvet" position of tho Auckland Club in connection with tho Exhibition sports, and it is devoutly to be hoped that not one complaining voice—Exhibitor Commissioner, sports official, or competitor —will be raised at the conclusion of 1013-14. Anxious glances at tho sky and the barometers are disturbing to tlio equilibrium of the competitor, and gall and wormwood to the official, but with two-day meetings carrying £75 each, and four evening carnivals garnished with £50 each in prize-money, where's tho pessimist who denies that now is the appointed time for the runner who runs and tho official who officiates to be up and doing? Vis Uunlta Fortlor. "Mercury's" contention that tho formation of an Australasian Olympic Council is a mattor of pressing necessity is bomo out by the remarks that have fallon from prominent officials in Australia. Witness, for instance, tho following from the "Referee." "It was learnt by Mr. Coombos, and our reprosoutative men at tho Fifth Olympiad, on their return, confirmed the news, that tho International Olym- . pic Committee can only recognise some concrete body representative of tho whole of tho Olympic Councils in the States and the Dominion. To bring this about arrangements are in course of progress which, if successful, will oventuato in a meeting of delegates from the councils of New Zealand, New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria (and such other councils as may bo brought into existence in Queensland, ■ South Australia, and Western Australia), at Melbourne, at the end 'of 'January, 1914. It is not_ now a question of desiro or otherwise—it is an imperative obligation, and it may bo taken for granted an Australasian Council will, bo formed. As a matter of fact, the order, is mandatory. It is a secondary consideration where such council shall sit. It may be in Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, or Wellington (tho headquarters of existing State and Dominion Councils)—that is quito a side issue." Conoral Jottlnss. Amorica has no monopoly of worldbreaking high jumpers, for on August 4 last the Irish champion T. J. Carroll cleared 6ft. sin. at the Kinsalo sports. This is an amateur record for the United Kingdom, displacing the 6ft. 4Jin. registered by P. J. Leahy in 1898. The Sydney Walkers' Club, an institution that might very well bo copied in these parts, is flourishing with a 1 big activo membership and plenty of competition. Through its efforts the sport is going ahead in Now South Wales. On Saturday last the 25 miles State championship was to have taken place. On Kins Pin Sprlntcro. It is stated that Jack Donaldson has received an offor to appear in Auckland during Exhibition timo, and that, his prospective opponents are Reg. Walker and A. B. Postle. Talking of 1 the crack Australian, it is indeed pass- | ing strange that though in these colonies we have produced probably the greatest professional sprinters of all 1 time—and tho best professional sprinters are a class ahead of the best ama--1 tcurs —we havo not, With the exception ' of W. J. Macphcrson, Nigel Barker, Stanley Rowley, and possibly J. H. flompson, produced a first-class amateur 1 sprinter. Though Macpherson holds a ' world's record (24 3-ssec for 250 yds.) ' not one of these exceptions was quite 1 in the same flight as tho crack Ameri--1 cans of his time. Rowley was rffit far ! behind Kranzlcin, Duft'cy, and Co., and ' Barker should possibly have won the ; 400 metres at Athens in 1900, but still' | the fact remains that ho was beaten. A 1 worthy opponent for Donaldson, Postlo, ' and Walker is in sight at last—Victorian E. 'Carter, who has been running at home for a little time has been showing grand form of late. At a meeting " in Manchester in August ho won the ' principal event. It was the 130} us. ' firal and was one of the grandest races over seen in ■ England. Carter cot " up in tho last stride. He had to show 1 scmo great running to win, doins <H ystrds inside evens. This tiio official ' 1 time which is very reliable in Enslnwl. • The 'time for the race 'was 11 7-Bsec., ' which was the fastest 130 yds. handicap ' ever run in Great Britain. ; i > Mr William Sulzer, Governor of New York State, who has been impeached, beron life as an office-boy, educated hinii wlf and became a lawyer. ITe soon had > an 'exefllont practice went m for poli--1 i tics, and has bwi a leading fipuro m the -I United States Congref*. He poyd as ft I. democrat of the democrats, and let it be s known that be prefeired.to hs called 3 "Pliin Bill" Rulswr. of nis erms stitient- in New YoTk'is East End called r him "Billy." Hii sneeew in politics was » due entirely to his jssociation with Tatnc many Hall, bnt when bo became Governor h« stnwlc out an independent line. - ?efn«ed allow the Tammany Ihks t te dicta I# bis nominations, ami bejan a 5 campaign for "purity m polities. Tho b impeachment is Tammany's answer.