ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

[Br Mercijk-t.l "UNCLE SAM'S" STUNT HERB, Wellington Note. There is very Ji.tt.lo afoot locally in tho way of athletics ko fur. A starfc was to havo been made with local, meetings last week, but tho general dislocation caused by the industrial upheaval tailed a halt- This was to have boon tho first of a series of weekly evening meetings promoted by the local clubs to keep tho ball roiling until tho afternoon mootings eamo along. Tho dates allotted to the various clubs are:—November Vl-, Athletic Football Sports Club: November IS), Civil Service A.A.C: November 20, Kami A.A.0.; December .3, Seiitcuii A.A.C. j December 10, 'Wellington A.A.C.; Decomber 17, "Victoriii College A.A.C. "Undle Sam's" Men. Unless something untoward lias iranspiled in the meantime th.e Aiiierioa-ii team sailed from San Francisco en Wednesday last for Wellington, at ivliiph port tho quartet and its; manager <feembark on December 3. The proposal is that the men should stay here for a week and do their training so as to ro' cover their laud legs after the voyage, and then open the torn- at a meeting in Christclnireli on. December 13. It is possible that white in Wellington a picnic meeting will bo arranged for the visitors, und such of our performers as can make the small trip at Waikanae, The idea is to give them a little jauflt in the country a«d the opportunity for a "try out", before starting serious work. The Council is now endeavouring to arraaujo t'ho matter with Me. Parata, and iio doubt it will.be shortly announced that a satisfactory coiiehision has beea come to. - They then go ia Southland, competing at a. "meet" in luveroar.gi.il on Dccember 17; then at Dunedin on December 20; ami so back to Wellington, Where they spend Christmas and join in a two-day carnival under tho auspices of tho New Zealand Council and tho Wellington Centre. On New Year's; Day, at Masterfcon, the Wairarapa Caledonian Society hold its yearly gathering, and on this occasion so as to catch our American cousins a big programme of amateur events has been included. T.liis meeting is a big thing in the Warrarapa., so the prominence given in tho oro--gramme to tho amateur code should do the sport a lot of good in the district. Tho conimittes of the loeal club, and particularly Mr. Secretary Dicksou, nti> tobe highly commended for their good offices in bringing about se satisfactory an arrangement. After tiro Mastertwi meeting, at wh.jfih, as us-u-iil, there should be ji largo entry of Wei- ■ lingtoii athletes, the Amojk'ans work north by easy stages. Nd Mr. Urimack. ■ As was recorded in our report of the proceedings of tho monthly meeting of tho New Zealand Council on Monday last, Mr. tlnmaclc has advised that after all he will not be able to accompany the Americans. This intimation was received with great regret by tho executive, as it is recognised that but lor Mr. Uiimack's energy and onthiisrasfn the tour coold never have hecome an actual fact. He lias put an immense, amount of time and trouble—and must havo been put to no little .expense—iii his offorts to get a -.atisfacto-ry team together, and i-is is very unfortuiiato tiliat he should now be deprived of oven, the- slight return far his labours thai ■ tho , trip' would haw afforded, Even since he became awaro that the team would sail without him, Mi. Unma.ek has iu.iig wa,y relaxed his efforts, and ho hasf found the proposition a lierve-faeft* ing one- owing to the uncertainty right ttp to the Jast moment of the selected .■ fiKsn getting away. Par example, in his ■ letter dated October 14 ho writes:— , ''The mail closes to-niorroW, this being the last prior to the departure of tiie team- . . - The team was completed up to this morning, when another man pulled /rat, so y-ott. can see just what "trouble we are having, x However, we have three high-class men in J. Power, of Boston, for the distances (I'ower is the half and mils champion.of Canada), J. Bosenbergor, of New York, for tho sprints, 0. Caugher, a niaii High School boy, for weights and field events. Templcton had accepted, but this morning resigned from the team. I am now ■endeavouring to get a man named Has* karap> of tha Santa Clara University, for tho hurdles. Ho is an . extremely good lad, but not; /ns' versatile as Templeten. However, , yon can depend that the team will be a first-Kjfass one in every way." His Reason for Not Coming. Mr, Uniaack gives as the reason for his own withdrawal the fact that the newspaper upon which ho is engaged, "The Call," has changed hands, and has been converted from a moniing to an evening paper, and that the consoquent upheaval precludes his getting tho necessary loavi?.. Of bis successor, Mr. Unmack writes:—"ln my placo you will have a member of the Pacific Athletic Association —locn! braneh of the A.A.U-—who will probably make -a better manager than myself, in the , person of Ceorgo James, of tlio Olympic Club. Ho is a real good fellow, and I send him to you with tho highest of recommendations. He is well up in athletics, _ and a roan Well versftd in administration, etc., of the , sport here. He will probably b'e able to help you in many ways." ~ ■ That Deadlock. There is not much change to report as to tho Australasian championships' controversy with Victoria. Ajb one timo since tho last notes appeared it certainly did seem as though tho whole matter had.been satisfactorily settled. A cable message was received from Victoria, asking if two Saturdays hi Feln-ii* ary would suit Now Zealand. A reply in the affirmative was sent. It was known that New South Wales ivould raise no objection, so it appeared that a settlement was sit hand. Since then, however, the local council has teen adVised that, despite earnest eiipWcirrs, February dates could not bo arranged. It is midors-toad that tho sttnnbliugIdock isi tho Queensland Association, but it appears to tho writer that if tho choice lies between tho Queensland and Now Zealand representatives, tho proeont holders of the championship shield as a drawing-card frith tiro public— which consideration appwirs to havo dominated the Victorians throughout— the.ro is still a Chaneb that Now Zealand's wishes will be given ojffiot to, and tho dates of tho meeting put ahead into February as desired. While on this mutter, "Mercury" dosires to removo a very general idea that prevails among lijcal athletic, enthusiasts as to the attitude tho New land council has adopted with regard to Victoria. Tho impression abroad appears to bo that tho council has definitely decided not to send a leain if the January dates aro adhered to by the State Association, anaf that Victoria .has been advised to this e'ffeet , . This is not the. caso. All tho coimc!) has done has been to refuse to guarantee re-* presentation^ This is (jiiit© a different matter, and it is still open to tho council to send a .team in January, should such a course bo deemed fitting and should it bo found possible to got a town toKofTicr. Victoria demanded that "adequste representation" should be "guaranteed" bofere her American guarantee moneys Would be available —a doniand which was, of course, treated .in tho only man* hot possible- by tlio New Zealand Goiiiioil.