ODDS AND ENDS. 207 



been taken in them of late years, and the inter- 

 colonial contests have fostered a spirit of rivalry 

 that has done much to advance the sport. Mainly 

 through the exertions of Mr. Richard Coombes, the 

 President of the IST. S. W. A. A. A., amateur sports 

 have become more popular. Mr. Coombes_, too, has 

 been instrumental in promoting harrier clubs, and 

 he has spent a lot of time and money in the interest 

 of his pet hobby — amateur athletics. 



Bicycling has made rapid strides, aud since cash 

 prizes have come into fashion the competition has 

 been keen. Mr. Kerr is, or was when I was there, 

 perhaps the best all-round man in the Colonies. The 

 Austral Wheel Race in Melbourne is worth a con- 

 siderable sum to the winner. I am writing entirely 

 from memory, but I fancy about a couple of hundred 

 pounds was Mr. Lambton's share when he won. I 

 saw some splendid races on the Association Ground, 

 S}dney, in April, 1895, when some hundreds of 

 pounds were given in cash prizes. Cyclists prefer 

 the solid cash to a trophy worth about a quarter 

 its advertised value. Trophies are seldom worth 

 much. 



The Referee Football Club members were highly 

 indignant when having won the Press Football Trophy, 

 the Secretary of the New South Wales Agricultural 

 Association, whose society presented the trophy, sent 

 them a cup that had been used to advertise some 



