THE BILLIARD MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4849, 6 October 1876, Page 2

THE BILLIARD MATCH.

Mr. Roberts, the world-renowned championbilliard player, made his second appearance in Wellington, in the billiard-room of the Post. Office Hotel last night, when he played a match with Mr. Weston, also well known in this and the neighboring colonies, the latter receiving 600 points in 1000. The room had been specially fitted up for the occasion, its appearance beingso changed that the frequenters of the place, who are not small in number, would scarcely have known it. The second table, that is the one which occupied a position nearest the door opening into the passage, was removed to make room for a row of seats,, and chairs were also provided wherever there was available space; and more than ample accommodation . existed for those who attended last evening. There were a good many present,, but it is to be regretted that the attendance was not larger,, and it is a matter of surprise to us also, forasmuch as it is not a common occurrence in the colonies, and indeed anywhere, to see such an exhibition in the art of billiard playing as may be seen by visiting matches in which Mr. Roberts appears as a competitor. It must be borne in mind, too, that this gentleman has travelled a long distance from his home, and might naturally expect that he should receive liberal patronage for his reputation-sake ; and it is quite possible that an exhibition of indifference to his wonderful ability on the part of people out here may induce him to determine on never again returning. It is true Mr. Roberts has only played in Wellington two nights, and no doubt before his departure from, this city it will be made manifest practically that the people here are not less admirers of the game in which as a player he stands preeminent than those elsewhere.

At eight o'clock Mr. Roberts and his opponent, Mr. Weston, entered the room, and the trame was commenced without delay. Weston started and gave a miss in baulk, the game then standing 1 to 500. Roberts then succeeded in making a pretty cannon, and at the same time sent the red ball down thetable to a position, from which he could make a losing hazard, which he accomplished, and then made 49 points off.the spot. The balls then assumed safe positions for a few strokes, and the scores were small until Weston got them together and made a break of 21, when the game stood—Roberts, 172; Weston, 542. Roberts, it was quite evident, was not in good form, that is to say, he did not play nearly so weE as in Dunedin, albeit his strokes were continuously applauded, and called forth expressions of genuine surprise, most of those present, it is-reasonable to presume, not having seen performances of the. kind in connection with billiard playing. Some of the shots made were indeed beautiful, ppxticulsxly the cannons; and in the opinion of m’ost persons who understand more or less of biEiards the cannon game , is unquestionably the beat, but it wiE be-well understood that* Mr. Roberts is “good' in

everything ” connected with the game. Weston made some fine shots, and was frequently applauded. He - plays excellently; and therefore serves to shovy-,to -greater -advantage the brilliancy- of--his opponent. 1 When Weston had reached , 600 Roberts was 194, which he soon made 208, then I executed a beautiful cannon from, the white off the cushion, and afterwards pocketed the red, when he made a break which brought him up to 346, the most of this amount being made by spot strokes. The next long break made by Roberts was when the game stood—-Weston, 652 ; Roberts, 362. He then made a break of 193, executing 17 spot strokes. The scores then stood —Weston, 658; Roberts, 555. It was announced at this stage that there would be an interval o( fifteen minutes. At the expiration of that time play was resumed, and the scores were not high on either side until Roberts made a break of 58, which made his score 640, Weston being 701,' after making some excellent shots. Roberts pulled up rapidly notwithstanding that he missed making some strokes 0 which would have led to his favorite game, namely, potting the red off the spot. As the game approached conclusion the interest in it became intense, but opinion generally was in favor of Roberts winning, although the result was different. The champion made a break on following Weston, who was 938, which brought him into the last hundred, and soon picked up to his opponent, and the scores remained tolerably even. Roberts missed two or three chances of winning the game, and left the balls for his opponent. The result was that the former lost the game, but not by many points. He was 986 when Weston was 981. He then missed a cannon, and Weston went out without difficulty, thus winning by 4 points. Applause followed.

Mr. Roberts then performed some remarkable feats with the balls without the aid of the cue, and was loudly applauded. Ha will play again in the Rost Office Hotel billiardroom to-night, and no doubt he will succeed in beating Mr, Weston, having so nearly come off a winner last evening.