CRICKET.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 356, 3 April 1889, Page 3

CRICKET.

At a' recent meeting' >of the • English Amateur Athletic, -Associatipu, .the .follow?: ing definition ofi.a tfi^iee. ?('qf -.adopted :. '• A novice- is one who" at. the fcjme of< com,ipeting had never won ,'9 '.jJrize in a similar class of compebition — i.e., winning a prize for 'Walking shall not disqualify for running, or vice versa ; but' winning a prize . for running — any distance — shall disqualify for running. This rule, however, shall not apply to sehool'and boys' races." From England comes the news that Wharton has accepted the challenge of Harry Bethune (champion, sprinter of America) to run 75, 100, or 120 yards for £200. Mr Thomas Bott, of Sheffield, wrote as follows : "On behalt of Arthur Wharton, of Darlington, I hereby accept H. Bethunes challenge to run 120ydf3 for £200 >a side, at Queen's Grounds* Sheffield, jwithiii six weeks' of ; signing articles— Bethune to be allowed"£'2.s for expense^." '"v" v Bishop totter, in' a recent number' of " Scribner's Magazine," in the course of an article says': I—'"1 — '" Let us understand, then, bhat competition— a strife to excel, nay, if you choose, downright rivalry — has

a just and rightful place in the plan of any human life. A prize fighfc is probably the most disgusting spectacle on earth, but it has in it just one moment which very nearly approaches -the. sublime j and that is when .the combatants shake hands with 'each other and exchange that salutation as 'old as the classic arena, • may the best man win.'" , Poor 'I Jack" Cosson. He was a really good ,all-round athlete, and the news of his unex^ peeled death at Melbourne must have been read with regret by all who knew him A good footballer at one time, when he was at hia best he did good service both for Ponsonby and Grafbon. It was aa a runner, however, that he was best known. He was 'one of the best mile men we have had in Auckland, and those who were so lucky as to see his great race with Shaw for the Championship t three years back will nob forget it. .Shaw, it will be remembered, beat him in the fast time of 4min. 27i t fiecs, i " Jack " coming in half-a-dozen yards behind.