NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 480, 14 June 1890, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES.

THEIR AUSTRALIAN VICTORIES. LUSK STAYS IN SYDNEY. Auckland, June 10. Amongst the passengers from Sydney by the steamer Rotomahana, which arrived here this morning, was Mr J. H. Hempton, one of the New Zealand representatives who went over. to Sydney to try their athletic abilities against the picked amateur talent of the sister colonies. The result is already known, but some details which Mr Hempton, who looks well and as if he had thoroughly enjoyed his trip, lias supplied in the co'urseof conversation with one of our reporters, should prove of some interest. Mr Ilempton belongs to the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club, and he is now on his way South. He leaves for Napier, via New Plymouth, next Thursday to resume his ordinary occupation. He was the only one of the New Zealand athletic representatives who returned by the Rotomahana. Of the movements of the others and their performances he had better speak for himself. “ Some of the others,” said Mr Hempton, “ were to have left Sydney to-day by the H auro to for Wei ling ton,and some proposed to return via Melbourne, taking their leave of Sydney on Tuesday. Cuff, Reeves and Woods go via Melbourne. White comes to Auckland by the Mararoa, due here on Tuesday next. Lusk has had some very good business offers to stay in Sydney, and he will probably settle down there. McKelvie also stays in Sydney, going on the •Referee,’ Morrison will probably leave by the Haurcto for Wellington to-day, Stych, who accompanied the team, returns by way of Auckland, and Cook and P. Wood, who went with us on their own account, go home via Melbourne. Most of the New Zealanders remained longer than they would otherwise have done, with the view of taking part in the Eastern Suburb A. A.C. Sports on Saturday last. Morrison was anxious to cut down his record in the mile. He expected to put up 4.30 on the grass track. “ What sort of form were the New Zealand representatives in ?” “We were in good enough health, but not in good form. Morrison was the only man really fit, and he was lit to run for his life ; indeed, he was fitter than ever he has been. I was in the worst of form, being really very weak.” “ What was the track like ?”

“ We ran on a grass track, and it was very soft. In fact, it had been raining for some time previous to, the sports, and the track had not had time to dry, and thero were big breaks in it. That, of course, made Morrison’s time in the mile, 4min 35 l-sth sec, all the more wonderful. McKelvie by his record of 6min 59sec in the mile walk has beaten all amateur standards. He made a wonderful finish, winning by about six inches.” “Did you find anything unusual in tho way of starting ?” “ Yes. They adopted the professional stylo. The men make a hole for their back foot, and, as soon as they are set firmly, the starter fires a pistol. There is no jumping about and, for my part, I found it a very good system.” “ Did you observe any other differences in the management of events as compared with the usual mode ?’’ “ There was nothing else remarkable except that they had a tape instead of worsted at the finish.” “ Were any of the Australian men specially good ?” “ None,with the exception of McPherson, but he is really a good all-round man. Ho won the 220 yards and quarter-mile in very good form. In the 220 yards, he led from the start, and won by 8 yards (with myself second), making the very good time of 23sec, considering the state of the ground. He got away very well, and ran stronger than he did in tho 100 yards. He also had a good race in the quarter.” “ How did Reeves fail in the quarter ?”

“ Ho thought he could run away from McPherson at the start, but reckoned without his host. He led from the 50 yards till 60 yards from home, and then collapsed. He was not in form.” “ What were the Queensland men like ?”

“They have averygood jumper inKellett, and their half-mile man (Fergusson) is very good. Kellett has jumped 21ft or 21tt 6in for the long jump, and he told me he highjumped sfc 10in. On this occasion, however, the ground was against him, and he only jumped sft sin. He was beaten in the long jump by Cuff (19ft), but did not come up to his best record. White expected to do sfb Bin in the high, but went out at sft 4in. Both ho and Cuff went over sft 4in.” <• What do you consider to have been the best performances ?” “ Really the best performances of the day were Morrison’s, McKelvie’s and McPherson’s. Morrison and McKelvie cut down the amateur records for Australasia for the mile walk and mile run.” “ What was the training ground like ?” “ We had exceedingly good quarters at Botany, but the track was not in good order.” “ Who brained the New Zealanders ?” “Goodliffe, of Auckland, and Orbell, who has also been in this city.” “ Was there much wagering on the various events ?” “ There was a little money on the hurdle race, but chiefly the wagering was on the 100 yards.” “ What about McPherson’s performance ? ’

“ Well, McPherson is supposed to have broken down, having strained a sinew of his thigh some ten days before the sports, but it did not seem to interfere with him in the 220yds and a-quavter.” “ How did Lusk win the hurdles V “ He won by only about a foot, and White pressed him very closely. He .led White over the first hurdle, and they jumped like that all through. It was really the prettiest race of the day, without exception. They both fenced pretty well. Lusk and White were handicapped at 20yds and 18yds behind respectively in the event for which they were to compete on Saturday last.” “ On the whole the New Zealanders did very well ?” “ Well, only one of the eight failed to get a prize. We got seven firsts and four seconds amongst the representatives, and Cook, who accompanied us on his own account, also got a second prize.” “ I suppese you had a pretty good time in Sydney ?” “Yes, we were very well treated. We were very well received, and the Sydney men did all they could for our entertainment. We were received by the Mayor of Sydney, and were, in company with the Queenslanders, shown over the Town Hall, Post Office, etc. There was no further entertainmont provided for us until alter the sports, but on the following Sunday the Darlinghurst Harriers took us round the harbour. On Monday the Metropolitan amateur team gave us a dance, and on Tuesday the Association entertained us at a smoke concert, at which the prizes won were presented. On Wednesday the Roslyn Harriers Amateur Club took us to the

Theatre, and gave us a supper afterwards, and that is as far as they had got when I left. On the Thursday Mr Wise, vicepresident of the New South Wales A.A.C., was to have entertained the New Zealanders at dinner, and on the following Monday they were to be entertained at a dance by the Eastern Suburbs A.A.CJ., so that on the whole they -would have a very good time.” “ What is Lusk going to do ?” “I believe he is almost certain of a position with one of the leading legal linns in Sydney ; and in any case is almost certain to remain there.”