TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4850, 7 October 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Westport, Friday. The steamer Matau ■ broke her back last night during a heavy sea. She parted just forward of the boiler. All hands were aboard, and they had barely time to scramble ashore before she filled. Greytown, Friday. Captain Thomas arrived at Greytown today. Some of those whose names had been advertised challenged him to sell, but he declined, and said he would sell in Wellington. Dunedin, Friday. The Provincial Executive are awaiting a reply from Government to last telegram, to determine on next steps.

BILLIARD MATCH. ROBERTS, V. WESTON, The champion made his second appearance at the Post Office Hotel last night, placing a match of 750 up with. Weston, of Dunedin, who occupies a similar in the colonies to that of Mr. Roberts at Home. ' There was a good attendance of lovers of the game, and play commenced a little after eight, the champion giving Ms adversary 850 points and breaking the balls. Each player commenced warily, giving a miss in baulk ; and Roberts at this early stage of the game made a mull of a very easy cannon; indeed all through the game it was a fact worthy of notice that no shot appeared too difficult for the champion; but if anything particularly easy was left on the board it was generally “botched”; perhaps, however, this may he accounted for in the fact that Weston was so much overweighted. For the first ten minutes nothing much was done by either party; but Roberts, after making two little breaks of 6 and 8, pulled together and rushed off with 85, making 25 consecutive spot strokes. After failing to score on one or two occasions, and making a 2 and a 5, he added 88 to his score, nursing the balls by the left bottom pocket for a considerable time, and making seventeen consecutive cannons while he had them in this position. At the close of the break he got into position for his favorite stroke, but after holing the red ball ten times from the spot broke down. For some time he failed to score anything of moment, once getting into the double figures with 17. He then made a break of 44, in which he nursed the balls with considerable dexterity, and at the latter end of it made a number of good losing hazards. The 44 was followed by a number of small breaks, and two 255, a 21,20,16, &c., and when the interval came Roberts’ score stood at 647. Weston played but poorly at the commencement of the game, but picked up as it proceeded, 39 being his highest break before the interval, when his score stood at 545. After the interval his best breaks were 20, 25, 16, and 21. Roberts opened with 40, following with 19. In his next break he made 18 consecutive spot strokes, scoring 69. From that time he played moderately, running out with two breaks of 19 and 7, and winning by 103 points. Of course this criticism of the play must be measured by the well-known merits of both players. After the billiards were over the champion played four games of pyramids with Mr. Cole, his agent, who distinguished himself in Christchurch by hammering his rival in a most unmistakeable fashion. Roberts, however, took it out of Mr. Cole last night, beating him in all four games, although he gave him three balls to his credit. The results of the games are as follows :• — Roberts. Cole.

Roberts’ play was really magnificent, and we can only regret that we have not space to criticise it in detail. Mr. Roberts afterwards exhibited his wonderful skill in manipulating the balls without the aid of the cue, some of his feats exciting the intense admiration of the spectators, a Maori gentleman who was present not being able to restrain his feelings, and relieving himself by an occasional “Te maipai ” or “Te mainui.” All went away feeling that they had received ample worth for their money, and many expressed' their intention of taking advantage of Mr. Roberts’ farewell exhibition to-night, when he will play Mr. Weston 1000 up, giving him 500 points. Afterwards he will show some specialty shots with the cue ; and we can only advise those billiardists who have not yet seen the champion to take the opportunity this evening.

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