THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 120, 12 May 1908, Page 3

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

NKW ZKALAMTS KEPKESEMATtO.\ Those who take uiiy interest at all in :uuatour athletics in Sew Zealand will 10 greatly pleased to hear that Guv Uaskiiw, ot Pennsylvania University, has decided to represent Xew Zealand at the Olympic Games. <J U y llaskins is a native of I'hristchurch, but for some years lie has been studying in the •Mate*, whore he lias built up a splendi' l reputation as a runner. Ilaskiiis' entry <i> a .New Zcaliimlur lias been for.'.urdcd to London, and .Mr. fc. Green, seentan of (lie .YZ.A.A.A., lias communi™te<l wit]! the liev. K. S. do Courcs secretary to the British Olvmpi'o . Association, on the matter, Ila.sk'inM iline of the finest runners the l/nited Stales lias at the present time, and as J lie i H acquainted with the "tricks of the trade,lie should run into a goud place, oven if he does not currv the l'ern- | leaf in ahead of all. 11. Kerr left Xew Zealand on Saturday by the Ton'gariro to take part in the great meeting at Sheppcrd's Bush. 11. was fa re ue I led by a large liodv of enthusiasts on Friday, and a great deal I was said in his praise, but not a word too iniir-ji. Kerr is an athlete who .will worthily iijthobl the honor of the Do- < minion, .ami whether he wins or not he i< bound to do well. Kerr has been un- ' fortunate at times during his career as an amateur walker, and more than once public feeling ],as run high through his having been diKipialified at big meetings. And yet, 110 matter how loud the clamor, Kerr's own voice never went to wvell it. lie always recognised—as a sane man would do—that the judges were not actuated by personal spite or anything of tlmt nature, in calling him off the track, but instead he recognised that there must lie wrong with his style of walking, anil set to work to improve hi* metlmils, until now he is perhaps the best walker ever seen in the Dominion. Ken- should do well in the Old Coiinlry. 11. Si. Aubyn Murray, the Dominion * third representative ai the Olympic Game*, left Sydney by the Oriibn 011 Saturday. 2ml insi.. for England. Xow Zealand has a good contingent in Ilaskins. Kerr, and Murray, and one or other, if not all, should get into a first place. I lie New Zealand team is not a

large one. anil com|,:>red with that of some other countries—numb: Ting, as they do. about fifty in >OlllO instances—might almost Ix l regarded us caiit. Hut. alter all, it is i|iialitv, not quantity, which tells, aml if three Now ZoalaniliM's gain a lirsl place each i( will lie much lietter than if fifty men ran ill the black for nought. The three men from the Dominion are all good men. and if tliev have their fair share of the luck, and got through without accident, they should write the name of New Zealand largo over the annals of the great Olympiad of 1008.—Times.