ATHLETIC SPORTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 744, 10 February 1915, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

From Our Auckland Correspondent. Evidently the notable happenings of the world, and the many calls upon tho purße of one and ell, have not interfered in any way with the sporting affaire of the Auckalnd province. During the holidayn sixteen sports meetings were held, fourteen of which were held under the jurisdiction of the provincial governing body, the Northern Athletic Union, while two were under tho 'iimaru Union rules. A meeting of the executive of the Northern Athletic Union, was held at Auckland recently, and was attended by a full muster of country members.' Reports from all parts, from Mongonui in the far North, to Kotorua in the South, showed athletic sport to be flourishing under tho Northern Union. Since the Union took over' the control of the axemons events, and piping and dancing competitions, these two branches of sport have fairly boomed. To meet the requirements of the bouthorn end of the province, Mr J. Maloney, of Te Awansutu, has been appointed an official handicacper for sawing and chopping events. Club committees and competitors will be interested to hear that the Northern Ahltetic Union has been registered under "Tho Incorporated Sucieties Act, for tho purpose of controlling athletic, cycling, axemenß events, piping and dancing in and throughout the province of Auckland. This gives the Union legal status, and it also gives legal standing to all clubs that affiliate with it. The certificate issued under the ueal of the Registrar at Wellington, in now in the hands of the secretary, Mr W. J. Woodley, Auckland. At tho last meeting of the.executive the echemo providing against loss to clubs on account of wet weather and other causes, was brought forward by Mr T. Hays, chairman of Thames Foreslerß' Bporlß. The scheme is a popular one, and will prevent, losses to clubs. A committee was set up to draft rules. Mr B. W. Hayson, formerly secretary of the Mangapehi Club, gave an account of athletics in the southern part of the province, arid was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation. Mr Hayson, who is a moat enthusiastic sport, has juut returned from the Mangapehi district. Mr J. N. J. McKay, official handicapper and secretary of the Waipu Caledonian Society, brought forward his scheme for keeping an account, like a ledger, of every competitor. This will provpi a boon to club secretaries and to handicappers.

At ths Northern Athletic Executive last ineeting, Mr .). Elliott, secretary of the Labour Day sports, voiced the opinion that great caution should he exercised before removing the disqualifications of competitors who might take part in meetings not registered with the Northern Athletic Union. Several application 3 were received, and various excuses were put forward, the chief beirg' that competitors have been misled. The chairman, Mr Gilfedder, said that many competitors tcok it for pyrantel that every club in the province was under the Northern Athletic Union, ihere were only two or three exceptions. At the general meeting oi: clubs held at Auckland last July, it was decided b.v 57 votes to 5 to throw off the yoke of the New Zeaand Union, Titnnru. Since then four of the above minority have joined the Northeru Athletic Union, Auckland. In the Union's oliicinl gizette this month appears an article of several columns by the official handicapper, Mr Frank Butbush, instructing competitors "How to Nominate. '