MISCELLANEOUS SPORTING ITEMS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3515, 4 May 1912, Page 8

MISCELLANEOUS SPORTING ITEMS

' The departure of the Australian Eight has been advised, and their arrival will doubtless soon, be duly cabled. Much interest is centred in this crew, for, besides the fact that its members have many personal friends in New Zealand, it is the first occasion on which a "crew" has been, sent Home from the Antipodes- Further, their mission is to capture the world’s amateur eight-oared championship', and they will be pitted against American and Continental as well as English representatives.

The sixth Olympiad (19.16) is to be held in Germany, Berlin being the probable place of venue.

••Circle," of the Southland Daily Times, bewails the absence of referees. He says:—"'The hockey game would seem to be right up against the referee trouble, and unless someone demos to the rescue, there will be trouble on this account during the current season. The difficulty is that, as the game is a comparatively new one in these parts, there are no old local players to speak of. However, it is to be hoped that a number of new men will be unearthed, and that the game will not be retarded by such a serious disability. Probably, if they could be located, there are -a number of old players in Invercargill from othei places who might with advantage be pressed into service." He has not got that trouble “on bis own."

It is interesting to note that there is some prospect of a French Goccer team visiting the Antipodes. “The entry of AT’Sion into the athletic arena is of very recent date. Only the other day, so to speak, the utmost ambition of French athleticism was to defeat an English boxer in « contest between La Savate (in which the foot is employed and in which groat skill is attained) and "La Boxe." The exponent of Savate fell in deeply on that occasion, but time brings its revenges. A Frenchman lias beaten a crack English boxer in the ring (no Savate this time). France beat Scotland at Rugby, and now a French "soccer" team is looking for scalps in the Southern seas. The fact .is a tribute to the growing athleticism oi the French and the popularity of the Association game. If the team should arrive in New Zealand they will meet with a hearty reception. Meanwhile, players should take lessons in French pronunciation, making a - start with "Vive I’entente cordials." The "cordiale" in question, • by the bye, has nothing to do with alcoholic stimulants.

Arrangements have been made by which members of the Council of the New Zealand Football Association will keep in touch with The local associations on at least three occasions during the present season—-a plan which will prove- of very great value when the policy of promotion and development to be put forward at the annual meeting of the association has been adopted .

Lord De-sborough presided, on February 23rd, at the Holborn Restaurant, over a general meeting which practically celebrated the date of the Royal Life-saving Society’s'comnig of age, since its first meeting was held on' February 7, 1891. His Lordship was able to congratulate the meeting on the rapid growth of the society and its immense progress. Whereas in 1892 only eighty-six persons passed its tests, last year nearly 13,000 awards were granted, bringing the number registered since tlie society’s formation to the grand total of 83,000. As in former years many reports had been received of rescues effected or assistance in resuscitation, afforded by persons trained in the society’s methods.- Lord Desborougli handed to Mrs E. Syres a silver cup as a memento of her victory in the gi-aceful diving competition at the King’s Cup

meeting last July. He. also' handed on his own behalf to the lion- secretary, Mr W. Henry, ia cup to be forwarded to British Columbia for the encouragement of life-saving in'," that part of the Dominion of Canada, where a branch of the society has recently been founded. A special programme of events ’lias been arranged "for the King’s Cup Co-mpetitio, to he held on June Ist and 2nd at the Bath Club and Higligate ponds.

A national testimonial to Richard M. Owen, the famous Welsh halfback, has been proposed by Ids Swansea friends, and from what can be gathered this has met with general approval. From enquiries, however, 1 understand ..(says a Swansea writer), that the Welsh Rugby Union does not look upon the affair with a kindly eye at all. In fact, if has. been said in all seriousness that Owen

will be declared a professional if anything on a big scale is attemptedThere is, of course, a well-known precedent for this. W. J. Bancroft, also of Swansea, who held the record for appearances in international football prior to Owen’s recent game at Twickenham, was made a professional after accepting a testimonial on his retirement. Owen certainly deserves some recognition, but it. is difficult to see how a testimonial is possible.