£500 FOR A BALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 34, 10 February 1916, Page 2

£SOO FOR A BALL.

“What made our Australian soldiers but the cricket and football, in spite of all they say?” cried the auctioneer. “I am going to sell you some

relics that money would not buy except on on occasion like this.” ►Sport and patriotism, combined, had drawn a big crowd of men to the- vestibule of Scott’s Hotel- in Melbourne last week to outbid one another for die possession of rare cricket relics. The proceeds of the auction sale arc to form a crioktcrs' tribute to the Australian wounded soldiers. Mr. A. Yisillc was the honorary auctioneer, and the ■mb' had been organised by the ’Victorian Cricket Association. Bidding was very brisk; some of the exhibits, in a cricket dr’s view, had exceptionally historic interest. and brought back memories of hard-won victories -here and in England in the oeaco time of the past. There was W. L. Murdoch’s bat, with which, in the English, tour of 1890 he made 1,459 runs, and the autograph bat of Victor Trumper, th registered colours of the 1882 Australian Eleven —the only colours known to be in existence —a handkerchief containing a complete record of W. 6. Grace’s 100 centuries (186(5 to 1595). and many other valuable curiosities.

The ball which marked the victory of the Australians over the English team in 1882 at Kennington Oval, bowled by Spofforth and li old by Blackham, which is to be put in the National Gallery for a memorial, brought £1 contributions from all sides, and was put aside when £SOO was reached, for further auction later on. Murdoch *s bat went up by £5 bids to £7O. One of Thumper's bats brought 35 guineas, and another 55 guineas. The registered colours of the 1882 Australian team brought 25 guineas, and the buyer, Mr. H. Austin, gave them back to the giver, Mr. ,T. MeC. Blackham, the famous wicketkeeper. amid much applause. The historic AV. G. Grace handkerchief went

for.s guineas