LINDRUM’S GOOD BREAKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 519, 23 November 1928, Page 6

LINDRUM’S GOOD BREAKS

BILLIARDS AT DUNEDIN Press Association DUNEDIN. Thursday. The billiards match between McConachy and Lindrum was continued to-day. The finishing scores are:—• Lindrum. 5,585{ McConachy, 5,211. Lindrum made breaks of 265, 140, 159, 239 and 256. McConachy’s best breaks Avere 142, 193, 134 and 233.

Alister' MacDonald HoAvden first saAV the light of day in Rothesay, Scotland, just over half a century since, but decided to travel at the early age of fiA*e and brought his parents to Otago to settle, and “Allie” may noAv be considered a 100 per cent. NeAV Zealander. In -1892 he returned to England for a few years’ finishing education, and was a pupil at the famous United Seiwices College, WestAVard Ho, Avhich Kipling has made immortal in his Stalky and Co. The college stands on the Clifton Downs in Gloucester, and WestAvard Ho golf links rate Avith the Avorld’s best. The principal of the college in “Allie” HoAvden’s time was Mr. Townsliond, father of C. L. ToAvnshend, the Gloucester cricket prodigy Avho broke into first class county and test cricket Avhile still in his teens; and the familiar .bushy beaver of the Grand Old Alan, W. G. Grace ,avus also frequently seen at the school nets, AAhen he found an opportunity to send doAvn a feAV to the future Auckland and NeAV Zealand representative, accompanied by some sage advice. On returning to his adopted country A. M. Howden entered the service of the Bank of' Australasia, and later, joined the produce department of the Loan and Mercantile Company. Meantime “Allie” Avas making his mark in the Avorld of cricket and golf in the far South. He played for Carisbrook A in Dunedin and was selected for Otago, but could not obtain leave of absence. In 1900 he captained the Southland XI., and the minor province put up a great performance against a strong Otago side in that season, A FINE GOLFER The golf imbibed from the learned professors at WestAvard Ho Avon him the Otago championship in 1898, and in 1900 he pioneered the game in Southland, and Avas one of the founders of the Invercargill Golf Club. In 1902 “Allie” deposed Air. Jock Harold, Avho for seven consecuti\ r e years had been golf champion of Wanganui. The caddy for iClr. Howden that day Avas Mr. Francis, iioav Auckland manager of the A.ALP. In 1904 “Alfie” Avas transferred to Auckland and threw in his lot with the North Shore Cricket Club. The district scheme had just come into operation, and Howden (Southland), Hussey (Gisborne), Haddon (Sydney) and Hollinrake (Lancashire) Avere four very fine cricketers who joined up with Shore about that time: 1

and from being a third-rate club the Devonport team began to down allcomers and Avin championships. One of the main factors in the club’s success was “Allie” HoAA'den’s deadly leg breaks. He could bowl away for hours A\ T ith a perfect length and sufficient turn to beat both bat and pads, though most of his victims fell to catches on the leg side in lashing at something which looked extra fruity. Our subject represented Auckland for many seasons, and put up some splendid bowling performances; but probably his best feat for Auckland was taking seven wickets for 85 against Major Wynyard’s English XI. in 1906. In 1910 a long overdue place was found for the Auckland crack bowler in the New Zealand team which met the Australian XL In recent years “Allie” has retired from strenuous cricket, although the passing of the years has treated him lightly, and his hand has lost none of its cunning AA r hen he appears occasionally for one of “Curly” Beale’s casual elevens. At outer Takapuna A. AT. UoAvden has pioneered yet another golf club at the Pupuke course, an£ on Saturday last he opened the boAvling for a new cricket club and ground at Takapuna, taking four Avickets and whanging up a lively half-ceutury Avith the bat. The IToAvdens have always been a great sporting family, Dr. Ernest HoAA'den, of Waiuku, being another well-known Otago cricketer, while the head of the family, the late Afr. C. R. HoAvden, Avho died at a ripe old age in Auckland recently, was a familiar figure to oldtime golfers as a pioneer of the game here. His son, A. AI. Howden, now has several sons aaJio shoAV promise of having inherited the family sporting talents, and it should not be long now before the name reappears in the field of representative sport in Auckland.