MISCELLANEOUS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 383, 10 July 1889, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

It seems more than likely that we shall have a visit from a dark-skinned team of cricketers next season. By latest advices from Rarotonga I learn that Mr Bxham, agent for Donald and Edenborough, has offered a free passage for a team from that island to visit Auckland. lam sure that cricketors here will be glad to welcome them. They may not make much show against Auckland's best men ; but, considering the aptitude for learning of the natives of Rarotonga, we may expect that they will not disgrace themselves. All tho Southern Amateur Athletic Clubs approve of the idea of holding a championship mooting during the Exhibition season. I hear it is intended to ask the Auckland Club to concede a few points and give their members liberty to compete. ] think it is rather foolish policy on the part of our club here to hold aloof from union with tho other Amateur Athletic Clubs of the colony. At the present moment there may not appear to be many advantages derivable from such union, but wo should look to tho future, and a policy 'of solfifeh isolation now may load to troublo for us horeafter. It is not likely that many of our mon could got away for the proposed meeting at Dunedin, but if it were possible I think that such men as Lusk, Owen, Buchanan, and Clark would not disgrace us. Companies formed to promoto sport and mako money are all the rago just now. The big Australian sprinting handicaps are worked by limited liability concerns, and now the Melbourne Cycling Club Company has been regie t6ved, the object, being to hold throe or four bicycle raco meetings in the year. The first meeting will be hold in November on tho Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the largest prizoever given for a bicyclo race will bo competed for. The amount is stated at £500. Tho Company represents 20,000 £1 shares. Tho siv days go-as-you-pleaso contest at the Hibernian Hall, Melbourne, terminated on June 9th, in favour of J. Hackford, of Victoria, with a record of 450 miles 1 lap. Hariiman, tho American, did 438 tniles 19 laps ; Raynor, 352 miles 13 laps, and | Cioft (New Zealandor) 339 miles 3 laps. Hackford, after tho- match, stated his intention of making a match at an early date with Scott, tho Now Zealander ; butßayner, the ox-chauipion, claimed that Hackford should meet him first, when Hackford declared his willingness to do so later on. Dunn, the wrestlor, has Kenneth Bayne in hand for a six days' contest with Ross. Tho stakos are £100 a-side, and the match is to take place in Wellington or Christchurch eai-ly in August. Bayne will meet Joe Scott in November for a six days' match. Bay no is to go as he pleases, and givo Scott 5 miles a day, while Scott is to walk. Livingstone, the long distance runner, who visited Now Zealand some time back with Arthur Hancock, tho walker, after winning his match with Dunn at the Carrington Grounds, Sydney, on June Bth, declared that ho was propared to meet any man in the colonies, bar Cunn, in a match of from two to four miles for from £25 to £50 a side. O'Connor, the Canadian oarsman, cabled to London last week that he would leavo America on Monday to prepare for his rm.teh with Searle for the championship of the world, which takes place in September next. A cable from London pays Searle is in splendid condition. He thinks O'Connor will be a formidable, opponent, but he is confident of winning. Searlo is open to make matchos to be decided after the championship. He cdnsiders Stansbury is the coming champion, The Melbourne " Sportsman " states that "Slavin and his friends aie quite willing at any time to give Laing an opportunity to retrieve his lost laurels. Should the New Zealander come to -Victoria he will be certain of a friendly reception, a fair field, and a fighfe for a substantial stake." The sixth" 'Carrington Consultation Handicap was brought to a conclusion at the Carrington Running Grounds, Sydney, on June 15th, when tho final heat resulted as follows : — W.Kennedy, 25iydp.. £150, Ist : S. Robertson, 28yds., £25,~2nd ; J. W. Byrne, 29yds., £15, 3rd ; T. Budd, 27yds., £10, 4th. The betting wa'?— 6 to 4on Kennedy, 3 to 1 a&ainst Budd, 5 to 1 Robertson, 10 to 1 Byrne. This was one of the best races ever seen on the ground. It was won by a bare 6in ; the other men being so close together that it was difficult to assign their positions. Time, 12£ sec. All the winners of the second round receive -C 5 a-piece, for having won two heats. Mick Monnock and J. Goodlifle, the old Auckland runners, competed in the above handicap, but; were put out in the second round ; while J. Baker, from Mercury Bay, failed to win his heat in the first round. J. Goodliffe, the ex-Aucklander, ran second in the sixteenth Star Handicap, decided at the Tennyson Grounds, Sydney, on June 15. Surrey county have made a bad start this year, and look more like being at the bottom of the list instead of being the best county in the cricket field. They have already been defeated twice by over an innings. McAdams, tho Australian lightweight, who is now in America, has issued a challenge to fighb anyone in the world for the' light-weight championship.