Spotting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 20, 21 July 1911, Page 13

Spotting Sprints.

Mr. Colin B. King has just completed a 7000-mile touring run in a 30 h.p. Cadillac car, shod with Dunlop tyres, journeying from Brisbane, passing through New South Wales to Sydney, over the Blue Mountains to Melbourne, and across tho desert to Adelaide and Broken Hill to Cunnamulla, passing within a few miles of the historic spot on Cooper's Creek where the Burke and Wills expedition perished of thirst and privation, the only survivor, by a strange coincidence, being a man named "King." This is the Australian record long-distance touring run in the one car with the one set of tyres, and is the event of the year in motoring. Walter ilutt, of Germany, won over £1000 in sprint money last season. In company with Stol, he won the six days' race recently, which means another £250 to his year's income. Private advices received in Melbourne from Johannesburg last week stated that Mr G. A. Faulkner, the well-known cricketer, was to leave in a few days for Australia. He has entered into partnership with Mr J. 11. M. Mackay, a former champion New South Wales batsman, who has a farm in the New England district. He -will prove an excellent addition to Australian cricket. An American writer, discussing the question "Why Australians lead in swimming," comes to the conclusion that it is because of the surf bathing which is so largely indulged in in and around Sydney and Melbourne. A pastime which can be indulged in for nearly ten months out of the twelve. The match for the sculling championship of the world between Richard Arnst (holder) and Harry Pearce (challenger) is down for decision on July 24th. The second deposits have been made, and in all probability one of the most exciting contests in the annals of

an historic race will be witnessed. Harry Pearce is champion of Australia, and is said to be at the top of his form. Richard Arnst, the champion, has now been four times successful, having beaten William Webb (twice), George Welch and Ernest Barry (the champion of England). It is stated that Arnst's friends are not at all satisfied with the state of the champion's health at the present time. Bird-lime is the latest addition to football. In the Athletic Park, Wellington, the other. week, St. James' players put bird - lime on the white kid gloves they were wearing, one of the "tricks" introduced on wet days by "Off-side Mac." Bernie Gallagher, who is coaching St. James this season, is passing on a few tricks that he -was taught himself. A colliery football team began a match with two men short. After a while one man turned up and took his place in the team, though he limped painfully and his head had a muchbattered appearance. "What's up, lad?" asked tho referee. "There's bin a fall o' coal in the pit, and Ah've only jist got out," was the reply. "Yes; but where's the other man," continued the referee. "Oh, he'll come if he can, but Ah canna say for sartin wot time—it's him the coal fell onl" The Northern Union team visting Australia may have done all right financially, but they fell short of what had been expected of them. Beating second-rate teams appears to be their limit. Playfair, who won the Grand National at Aintree in 1888, is still alive. He is now thirty years old. At a meeting of the Dunedin Anglican Synod recently a motion: ' 'That it is in tho best interests of the community as a whole that the totalisator be abolished,' -was lost on the voices. Father O'Connor, who officiated at the marriage ceremony of Al. Kaufmann and Annette Seelos, after pronouncing the pair man and wife, turn-

Ed to the bridegroom, and offered him the folio-wing advice: "Go in and thrash the whole crowd of heavyweights, Kaufmann. You have my very best wishes for your future happiness and also for your future success in your ring battles." . Despite the wishes of the sporting priest, Kaufmann himself has been severely thrashed. "Racing is booming in W.A. The gate receipts at Kalgoorlie on Coronation Day amounted to £998 10s 6d; on tho same day last year the receipts were only £363 ss. The amount passed through the tote wa5,£10,345. A team of French pugilists are about to invade Australia. It consists of Carpentier, one of the best welter-weights in France, Marcel Moreau, champion middle-weight of France, and Eustache 10.7, who holds a decision over Johnny Summers. Mons. Leon See is manager. This will be the first French team ever visiting the Antipodes. Hugh Mcintosh says that they are equal to any boxers in the land. Jack Johnson is on the look-out for "snaps." He meets Curran in Dublin at the end of the present month.