The Western Australian Turf Club, the local governing body of the sport, is in a flourishing condition, and its racecourse would do credit to any of the capitals of the eastern States. The grandstand is built on the same lines as that of Williamstown (Vic.), which is admitted to be one of the handsomest in Australia, while the general picturesque effect of the course is brightened by the extensive lawn and well-laid-out flower beds. The progress made by the club under conditions that have not been altogether favourable, stands as a tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of those upon whom the management of the club's affairs falls. The present committee comprises: Mr. W. H. Strickland (chairman), R. A. Sholl (vice-chairman), F. Craig (treasurer), and the Hon. Geo. Leake, M.L.A., and Messrs. C. T. Mason, S. P. McKay, E. Darlot, J. M. Craig, W. B. Castieau, C. F. Glade, T. W. Hardwick, and A. Clerk. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Strickland) was born and reared in Perth, in which city he has always lived, with the exception of a couple of years spent in Albany. Mr. Strickland has been associated with racing all his life. He has been a member of the W.A.T.C. committee for many years, and the governing body of the local turf may be counted fortunate in having him as its chairman.

Mr. E. C. D. Keyser has only recently taken over the duties of secretary, after serving the Albany Turf Club in the same capacity for ten years. Mr. Keyser is a native of the State, having been born at the Vasse thirty-five years ago, and has been identified with all classes of sport at Albany for the past fourteen years. Some three years ago he started the Country Racing Clubs' Conference, which did a considerable amount of good for the turf.

Very few names are better known by Australian votaries of the turf than that of Mr. W. E. Dakin, handicapper to the W.A.T.C. The ex-Victorian sportsman had, up to the time of his appointment,

been the weight-adjuster for many of the largest Victorian racing institutions. CANNING PARK TURF CLUB. The Canning Park Turf Club is a proprietary institution, its directors being the Hon. H. J. Saunders, M.L.C., and Messrs. H. G. Stirling, J. Cole, and H. M. Saunders. Mr. H. G. Stirling was secretary of the club for a considerable time, but resigned in 1901, when the duties were taken up by the present secretary, Mr. E. W. Moberley, who had been Mr. Stirling's first assistant for some time. This club has one of the most picturesquely situated courses in Australia, while its lawn, grandstand, and appointments are excellent.

HELENA VALE RACING CLUB.

The Helena Vale Racing Club is-like the Canning Park-a proprietary club, the directors being Messrs. C. H. Axford (chairman), W. W. Berry, P. A. Connolly, James Cole, and T. F. Elliott. Mr. D. Turner is the secretary. The club's course lies about half a mile past Midland Junction, and, in addition to having a very fine natural track, the appoint ments throughout are good.

GOLDFIELDS HANDICAPPERS.

The leading goldfields handicapper is Mr. Reg. B. Peli, a gentleman who, since the early history or the fields, has been intimately associated with all branches of sport. Mr. Pell is the weight-adjuster for the Kalgoorlie, Boulder, and other racing clubs, and the exciting nature of the finishes in the majority of events run during the big goldfields carnival in August, 1901, unmistakably demonstrated his ethciency in the department. Personally, there is no more popular man on the goldfields than Mr. Pell. Mr. Peter Fox is the handicapper for the Coolgar · die Racing Club. He is an old Western Australian identity, widely known throughout the length and breadth of the State, and is a keen student of form.

FOOTBALL.

After horse-racing, probably the next popular sport is football. The Australian game has doubtless the greatest number of votaries, but both Rugby and British Association are rapidly becoming popular. A few years ago, attracted by the glamour of the goldfields, scores of the best footballers from the eastern States migrated West, and in 1896 and 1897, as far as the Australian game at least was concerned, this State could hold its own with any of its sisters. The ranks of clubs like Essendon, South Melbourne, Geelong, Carlton, and Collingwood were depleted just then, and some of the best men who ever played the Australian game-notably Albert Thurgood, Irving, Watson, Grecian, the Duggans, Rolfe, Marmo, McKenzie, "Les." Jones, Robertson, and dozens of others, were playing either metropolitan or goldfields football. In the 1899 season the game lost a certain amount of its popularity, but something of a boom took place again the following year. is played in one or other of its forms in all the public schools, and many of the leading citizens are assisting materially to encourage the game by donating trophies to the leading players. One

It

well-known supporter of football, who has done much to establish the Australian game in this State, is Mr. R. H. Barrett, who, even in the days when its popularity temporarily waned, stuck to it consistently, and to his efforts, in a very great measure, is due the position that the game now occupies. The leading senior clubs are the West Perth (winners of the premiership for the last season), the Perth, East Fremantle, North Fremantle, South Fremantle, and Subiaco. In British Association, the number of clubs is increasing every season, and there can be very little question about the popularity of this game, whose supporters are making successful efforts to introduce it into a number of our public schools. Rugby can scarcely be said to boom, though there are a number of strong clubs in the metropolis, and at the port of Fremantle.

CRICKET.

It is a somewhat regrettable fact that the greatest of all English outdoor pastimes, the game that has in a great measure been one of the chief connecting links between Australia and the mother country for years, is not in a more flourishing condition in Western Australia. The nature of the soil renders it very difficult to make suitable pitches, and whereas in most of the big centres in the eastern States it is possible to drive in the wickets and play with comparative safety and comfort on almost any level piece of ground, it is necessary, around Perth at least, to have all pitches carefully prepared, owing to the sandy nature of the soil. Against this great drawback, however, fonowers of the historic pastime have persevered in a manner highly commendable, and the playing arena, as well as the pitch itself, on the Perth and Fremantle Ovals, is now not far behind those of the other Australian capitals. The Association matches do not arouse the enthusiasm at least outside those immediately connected with the game one would like to see; but this has been due, probably in no small measure, to the migratory nature of our population. This drawback is, however, very shortly to be overcome, as settlement is fast becoming more permanent, and the majority of our young men-whose time has been for a few years almost equally divided between this and one or other of the eastern States-are fast settling down permanently. The 1900 cricket premiership was won by the ClaremontCottesloe Club, the well-known batsman, F.D. North, topping the batting averages with sixty-eight, whilst the bowling trophy was won by the crack left-hander, Bishop. East Perth were runners-up for the premiership, and young Ernest Parker, a worthy scion of a great sporting family, came out with the grand average (especially considering the wickets) of ninety runs for seven innings. The other clubs competing for the premiership were South Fremantle, West Perth, East Fremantle, and North Perth.

Junior cricket is advancing somewhat slowly, but shows promise of more rapid progress in future. The majority of the junior matches are played on the Esplanade ground, which fronts the Swan

River, and other pitches are being made in the various parks and recreation reserves around the metropolis. Though cricket cannot be said to have attained its merited popularity in this State, there can be no doubt that the many drawbacks which have, up to the present, retarded its progress will be steadily overcome, and the great game will, before many years, occupy the high position among our outdoor pastimes that it does in the mother country, and in the more advanced States of the Commonwealth.

matter of vital importance to secure an "option" or get some necessary document signed within a brief space of time, in order to complete the sale of a mine, or initiate the flotation of a company. Also, when new rushes were reported, cyclists were always employed to locate them or peg out leases, and many tales of heroism and suffering are told, which, if the events narrated had taken place in warfare, would have earned the Victoria Cross for those who took part in

them.

The following story, one of many, is true, and the narrative as told in THE AUSTRALIAN CYCLIST of December, 1896, is reprinted, as it will well bear repetition:

"

Another notable and daring rider is Walter Hamblin, who pioneered the first mail to Lake Darlot, a distance of 280 miles north of Coolgardie, over rough and almost impassable country He was also the first man to accomplish the journey between Coolgardie and Cue, a distance of about 600 miles This distance he traversed in about seven days.

"As showing some of the vicissitudes and dangers of special cycling, I will attempt to relate the experiences of Hamblin and two others on an exploring expedition, in search of a reported new rush, in the vicinity of Mount Black, about 400 miles N.E. of Coolgardie. The three-Messrs. Hamblin, Grant, and Underwood-left Coolgardie secretly at different times of the day, and all met, as per arrangement, at the Cattle Swamp, a distance of sixty miles north, the same night. Next morning they journeyed to Goongarrie (or the Ninety Mile, as it was then called), where they breakfasted on the usual tinned dog and damper A consultation was held at this point, and it was decided that the best route would be via Mt Margaret, and thence across the bush to Mt. Black. Two of the partyHamblin and Underwood-being experienced bushmen, the whole three started off in the best of spirits. The first watering place was twenty-five miles distant, and being under the opinion that the road was in good order, they decided that it was not worth the

trouble of carrying water; but this turned out to be their first grievous mistake. 170 tons of machinery had been hauled across the road just prior to their essay; and after the first five miles, which was in hard country, had been traversed, they came into the sandy stretches. This sand was so heavy that they found it almost impossible to wheel their machines through it, so that about one mile and a half an hour was the rate of speed.

"

The thermometer registered 110 in the shade. At mid-day the men began to feel the pangs of thirst. Hamblin and Underwocd being somewhat stronger than their other companion covered the ground quicker. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon they came across an abandoned waggon loaded with machinery, to which was attached a waterbag, with about three pints of water in it. This had been providentially forgotten by the teamster. After waiting here for some time, it was decided that Hamblin should go back with some of the water to their companion, who, through prostration, had been left on the road. At this moment some camel men hove in sight, and as they were going in the direction which Grant had been left, they offered to take the water-bag along to him However, he never received it. The men, forgetting their promise, left the road and went through the bush; for Grant saw nothing of them, or the water either. Being now almost exhausted with the heavy work, and thirst and heat, Grant drank the oil out of his lamp; and when at last his mates found He him he was in a desperate condition. was left in charge of Underwood, whilst Hamblin pushed on to see if he could either reach the rocks, and get water, or meet someone on the road He fortunately overtook Jim Caulfield, the prospector, who had sufficient water for drinking himself, but whose camels had not had a drink for nine days. Grant, who had been vomiting violently for some time from the effects of the oil, was somewhat revived by the water; and, although very weak, another attempt was made to reach the rocks, where they arrived safely, but very late that night. Some prospectors being camped there, flour was procured from them, which was soon converted into Johnnie cakes,' and greadily devoured by the hungry two Grant, however, could retain nothing on his stomach, the oil refusing to be friendly with anything in the shape of solids.

Next morning an early start was made for the Donkey Rocks, about forty miles distant, but when half that distance had been covered, Grant became so ill and weak, that he could not ride more than 300 or 400 yards without a spell, and by the time Donkey Rocks were reached he was in a fainting condition Here, fortunately, some teams were met with, who could carry sufficient water to enable them to reach the Ninety Mile. Grant was placed in one of the waggons in an unconscious state, and it was seriously thought by his two mates that he would not live to reach Coolgardie.

"

But what of his mates? Starting from the Donkey Rocks with a few raw potatoes and a gallon of water, they covered a number of miles when the joint of Underwood's back tube burst in the hot sand, and owing to the heat the solution would not hold for many minutes. As soon as one part of the tube was mended, another went bung Their gallon of water and potatoes (all except two) were consumed When night fell the two remaining spuds were cooked (or rather roasted in their skins) and solemnly eaten. At 11 o'clock the following day they reached

Pendinni, and here a supply of stores was obtained. From thence to Mt. Margaret was only thirty miles, and from that place there were no further tracks, A sound supply of 'tucker' was loaded on the machines, and a start made across the Spinnifex Desert. Skull Creek was the last place at which water was obtainable, and a three days' supply was laid on. From this uninviting spot nothing but sand and spinnifex country was met with; and this daring couple travelled two hundred miles by the cyclometer, through an arid waste, where no white man's foot had ever trod After two days of

The whole of this journey was accomplished for no purpose, for the mythical Mount Black has not been discovered till this day.

Hamblin is now a miner, and is one of three owners of the "Transvaal" leases at Mount Morgans, which is a good "show," crushing regularly for an average of about two ounces to the ton He was the original prospector of this line of country, which is about mile from a the now famous Westralia Mt. Morgans gold mine.

Other "specials" who earned reputations were Fred Wilson, Harry Sadler, Tom Nicholson, the Douglas brothers, Jack McCrae, Harry Yates, Jack Underwood, Frank Hope, Bill Brookman, Bob Gilmour, and Joe Sanderson.

Every town in Western Australia possesses its cycle track which generally runs outside the cricket oval on the recreation reserve. On the goldfields, Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, and Boulder, are quite up to date, and have properly banked tracks on which some good records have been put up Cycling in Western Australia was originally controlled by the Western Australian League of Wheelmen, but dissension arose between toat body and the Coolgardie wheelmen, with the result that a Goldfields' league was formed There was at that time, also, a Goldfields' association in existence. Ultimately matters were arranged by the appointment of a senate, composed of members from each organisation, but dissension again arose, and up to the date of publication, matters were at sixes and sevens. However, cycle meetings take place under the auspices of the govern

ing bodies in the particular centres in which they are run; but it is a matter for regret, so far as the sport is concerned, that no controlling body exists In fact, attempts have been made to complete a reciprocity agreement between the Victorian League of Wheelmen and the Western Australian cyclists, but this of course cannot be accomplished until the Westralians are themselves united. This reciprocity agreement is of great value, as it provides for-the recognition of the disqualifications imposed by the different leagues; the right of members to compete in races with the same rights and privileges as members of the colony where the races are taking place; makes provision for touring members; the compilation and road guides and collection of information cf value to cyclists Mr. R H Hall, of Perth, is the secretary of the Western Australian League of Wheelmen.

Aquatic pastimes have their votaries, and the beautiful River Swan affords ample opportunities to those who enjoy yachting, rowing and fishing, to indulge in their favourite sports to the full.

YACHTING is controlled by the Yacht Racing Association of Western Australia, whose flag is a gold swan and Y.R.A, within a gold cable on a white field. Mr. FR Perrot is chairman of the association. During the season, which commences on October 1st, races take place almost every week. The following clubs are in active existence:- Royal Perth Yacht Club of Western Australia; Perth Flying Squadron; Freshwater Bay Boating Club, and Perth Corinthian Club Fremantle also possesses a sailing club, and many pleasant cruises are indulged in between the islands and the mainland, as well as longer voyages in the larger craft to Mandurah, and other seaside

resorts

ROWING is under the care of the West Australian Rowing Association, which was established in 1886, the Governor being the patron. The rowing clubs are: The West Australian Rowing Club, Ltd. (Perth); the Swan River Rowing Club (Perth); and the Fremantle Rowing Club. The first named is a company with a nominal capital of £1500, and is registered under the Companies' Act, 1893.

GOLF is the vogue in Western Australia, and there are clubs with links at Perth, Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, and Albany.

BOWLS-The progress of the ancient game of bowls in Western Australia is very satisfactory The game was only introduced into the colony of late years, and is controlled by the Western Australian Bowling Association There are four clubs: The Perth, Swan, Fremantle, and Albany, and all of them are making headway.

The Press.

December, the first printing press arrived from Van Diemen's Land, and a small newspaper, printed on letterpaper, called the Fremantle Observer,' was printed by Messrs. MacFaull and Shenton and issued in Fremantle. In a ched belonging to Colonel Latour the first newspaper was printed at one end, and at the other end of the structure the operation of grinding the first bushel of wheat in this colony was carried on. Thus, there was food for the mind at one end of the building and food for the body at the other. As there was a great dearth of news in those days, and it was difficult to get anything startling O new, the publishers enlisted the sympathy of a Mr. Lamb as a contributor. This gentlemen's effusions caused much consternation and excitement, especially in Fremantle, his literary efforts being more like the roarings of a lion than the soft and gentle bleatings of a lamb. This writing caused such a furore that it necessitated a speedy dissolution of partnership between MacFaull and Shenton. Mr. MacFaull contiued the production, but, in order to do so with some amount of security, he was compelled to go three miles in the bush, where he took the type and printing press, and settled at a place called Hamilton Hill. . ... The reign of the Observer' was of short duration, as it became defunct in twelve months, the cause being the inability of the proprietor to pay the weekly charge of £2 per week for the hire of the plant; the old type and press being worth, say, little more than £20. The owner of the press, a Mr. Weasel, soon after established a paper called the 'Inquisitor,' whose contributors were Captain Graham (formerly Governor of