Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 30 June 1896, Page 3

Notes and Events.

-» It seems that Roberts the English Champion billiard player is so far ahead of any other player that the custom of holding annual contests for the championship has been given up. It has coma to be recognised as absurd that anybody should play Roberts at billiards without stipulating for a considerable atari;, In the long games of 24,000 up which he plays, he gives seven or eight or nine thousand start to the next best professionals. Second, in the general opinion, comes a north-countryman, Diggles, who takes only 7,200 start from Roberts, instead of the conventional 8,000, in 24,000. Diggle is a tall thin man, of somewhat melancholy aspect ; and he plays in a plain workmanlike style, without the inspired rapidity of Roberts, but yet with eminent accuracy and care. Next to Diggle is Dawaon, a Yorkshiremao of small stature ; he handles his cue in the ino3t finished mannerand has mida many astonishing breaks. There are, of course, many stories about Roberts' play. A writer, in an English paper says : I recollect once seeing the three balls left for him all in a line under the top cushion — first his own, about a couple of feet from the corner pocket, then the red, and ihen tho white. He gave a single glance, and without hesitation screwed back into the corner .pocket, starting to walk dowu to the baulk line before his ball had dropped in. Of course it did drop in, and people applauded and banged their sticks on tha floor, while Roberts, without moving a muscle of his face, continued his break. Another story, well fabricated, is told of a loquacious and self-satisfied habitue", who in some provincial inn challenged any among the company to a game of billiards. At last, with some reluctance, a stalwart, dark-bearded gentleman rose from his corner and consented to try a modest fifty up. The coxcomb played with great suooeaa at first, while his opponent could not do the simplest shot. When however, the score was about 45 — 12, the stranger excused his bad workmanship on the ground of his cue, and said if he could get one of his own he could do better. Retiring to the hall ho returned with an umbrella neatly rolled up, and playing with this unwonted weapon, he ran out with 88 unfinished.