BILLIARDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2003, 12 February 1907, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

LONDON, Dee. 23. The match of 1.8,000 up between the Australian billia,rd champion, Fred. Weiss, and Charles Dawson (the latter giving 4000), ended last Saturday night in a very easy victory for the Yorkshireman. Dawson caught and passed his opponent on Thursday, and, at the opening Saturday’s play, held a lead of 2143. Weiss’ position was, of course, quite hopeless, but he continued to struggle gamely, and put up one fine break of 306. Dawson,, however, gave no quarter, and pvermg <9 and 75 at the concluding sessions, as against Weiss’ 49 and 15, he won by the handsome margin of 11 50, the final scores being: Dawson Ip,OUU, Weiss (received 4000) 15,244. The Australian had some sort of revenge at Christmas Eve, when he was the hero of a peculiar tournament held at Thurstons, held by way of a benefit to Sergeant-Major Fitzgerald. It took the form of a flying handicap of 100 up, and the entrants included Stevenson, Dawson, Weiss, Harverson, Inman, Alec. .Taylor, and Willie Cook. Dawson and lus great rival were on scratch, Weiss received 24, Harverson 23, Inman 25 Taylor 33, and Cook 30, hut in such a’ game tho players might just as well all started from scratch. As it was, some funny results were recorded, and Weiss, who won the handicap, had the singular record of not having a single point scqrcd against him, except his own misses, m all his three games. His first victim was Dawson. Losing the toss, Weiss went out the red, and brought both halls behind the baulk line. Dawson went thrice to the table without scoring, and, after giving a couple of safety misses and scoring 16 points, Weiss ran to game with 60 unfinished, tho scores reading: AVeiss 100, Dawson 2. The Australian’s next victim was Stevenson. It was a remarkable game; Stevenson gave the first nnss, and AVeiss followed suit. Then Stevenson failed by a hair’s-hreadth at an awkward' cannon, arid, leaving the balls on, bad the pleasure of seeing his opponent run out with a break of 75. • , In the final heat AAeiss opposed AVillie Cook. Both men were in deadly earnest, and cautious play was the order of the day, hut a capital 61 took the Australian to within 14 of tho game. Cook failed to respond, and AVeiss’ next effort only took him to 92, but he left Cook a couple of double baulks to go at, and finally ran ouj a winner by 68 points. Cook’s score standing at "2; plus, of course, his handicap of 30. thus, whilst AA’eiss scored, all told, 22S points, Iris three opponents could only claim 5 between them, and these were presented to them by their conqueror. AVeiss, on lloxing Day, commenced his fifth money match with Cecil Harverson, the ex-champion of South Africa. Their game is one of 12,000 up, on level terms, for £SO. In tlioir previous games on level terms, AA’eiss proved the conqueror twice, and Harverson won one, the fourth being drawn. On each occasion the finish was close, and their fifth meeting is attracting much attention. At the close'of play last night Harverson held a slight advantage, hut during the two days’ play the men have been constantly passing and repassing each other. AA’eiss, aided by a fine break of 241, was at one time yesterday, 400 points ahead, but, failing to maintain liis form, left off 175 in arrears.

THE EAST COAST LINE. (N.Z. Herald.) Among tho most important of tlio railways projected in tho colony is tho East Coast, which will open more and hotter land and thus contribute more to settlement than any under •construction in tlio South Island. Yet no dotiVininod effort is being made to push it along, tho Minister for Public AVorks having apparently considered it sufficient to place a sum of money on tho Estimates without taking any subsequent pains to see that the sum is economically expanded. The Gisborne Railway Railway Longue is very properly protesting against this state of affairs, urging the more vigorous prosecution of tho work in hand, and the immediate survey of tho future extension. The difficulty is, ot eonrso, that the Administration does not realise in any way the importance of an East Coast line to tlio development of the country. M hen it is considered that its progress will gradually rondor available several million acres of the best land in rsow Zealand, thus maintaining ten thousand additional farmers and their families, with all the dependent trades and occupation which follow in tlio wake of agricultural prospeiity the indifference of the Administration ill the matter must appear very regrettable. For the continued prosperity of the colony depends jiltogotlier upon making tho very best of”tho present excellent opportunity to bring the lands of tho colony into profitable occupation, and it is absurd to squander vast sums in tlie Southern Alps, while neglecting the fertile stretches of East Auckland. This East Coast line, as we have repeatedly pointed out, ought to no pushed from several favorable points until complete connection is finally made. From tlie Gisborne end, from Opotiki, from AVailii, and from the Rotorua line, work can be carried on which will pay its way as it goes, and ultimately lead to the desired result. To pretend to construct tlio lino, and to put no energy into the construction, is worse tluin refusing to touch it at all; but unfortunately indifference in constructing lmes which the Administration dares not altogether neglect is a policy with which tlio North lias boon long familiar. The remedy is to be found in a keen interest by our Northern members in public works which directly concern their constituents, it tlioy displayed this keener interest wo should very soon find that a morq intelligent perception of what is best for tho colony at large would be displayed by tlie Minister for 1 üblic Works.