Jottings of the Month

• Stevenson is giving W. J. Peall 11,000 in 22,000 for stakes of £100 a side. The spot stroke is, of course, barred, but nevertheless Peall has been doing well.
• Inman and Reece are playing for £250 a side at Liverpool. This will be followed by another match on the same terms at Leicester Square. The contests are each of 18,000 up level.
• The Club Markers' tournament at Leicester Square was won by J. Jevons (Royal Automobile Club) with 800, against C. Claxton (Constitutional Club), 604.
• "Red Winner," writing in Town Topics, says: "I do not think George Gray is at all likely to return, though he is supposed to open in Glasgow with Stevenson next September. It all depends whether they come to any arrangement with John Roberts over that £1,500 verdict.
• The final of the Mediterranean Fleet and Malta Garrison championship has been played, the result being a victory for Pte. Gates, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment, who met and defeated a very strong opponent in the final—Corpl. Fyfield, R.E.—by 500 to 419. The final took place in the Malta Garrison Institute, and was witnessed by a large gathering of all ranks and ratings.
• At the Newport County Court, on April 3, the proprietor of the Westgate Hotel sued Claude Falkiner, the billiard champion player of the West of England, for £100 damages for breach of contract and money due. The plaintiff said that Falkiner hired the room at £2 10s. a week and had paid £47 10s., still owing £52 10s. Owing to inattention, the room had depreciated in value. Judgment was given for the amount claimed.
• The hearing of a disputed claim against T. Reece in the Manchester County Court has been adjourned on application until June 16, the Judge (who probably enjoys a 100 up himself) remarking—in reference to the Reece-Inman encounter—that he did not know what effect a lawsuit might have on a billiard player, but it seemed to him probable that if there was any worrying just before a match it would affect a man's play.
• As a result of the Press Handicap, £75 has been handed to the Newspaper Press Fund, which has now been enriched to the extent of over £400 by these handicaps. The handicap prizewinners were E. D. Allen, S. R. Piggott, H. Pearce, and F. Thorogood, and the prizes given by Mr. T. A. Edge, Mr. R. Topping, Mr. G. Edwardes, and Messrs. Kendall & Dent, were presented at the annual dinner at the Salisbury Hotel on April 14.
• The final of the International Billiard Tournament was played at the Grand Cafe, Paris, on April 16, before a crowded house, between M. Alfred Mortier and M. Agassiz. As was generally anticipated, M. Mortier scored an easy victory, defeating M. Agassiz by 243 points, in a game of 400 up, with 18.2 baulk line. Last year's cup holder finished his game with a break of 190, his average having been just over 25 per cent.
• The Inman-Reece game at Liverpool had to be adjourned at one of the evening sessions in consequence of an accident to the scoring board.
• The Navy and Army Championship Shield was won on April 26 at Leicester Square, for the third successive year, by Private Thomas, 1st Leicestershire Regiment, Fermoy.
• An interesting amateur handicap, promoted and organized by Mr. J. P. Mannock, is proceeding at the Bedford Head Hotel.
• The Welsh professional championship is retained by T. Carpenter, Cardiff, who beat J. Ball, Pontypridd, by 7,000 to 5,944. A melancholy incident in association with this tournament was the death of A. Turner, Cardiff, who would otherwise have taken part.
• On April 28 the annual handicap was commenced at Soho Square for head markers of the leading West End clubs. There were no fewer than 39 entrants, and Messrs. Burroughes & Watts, Ltd., are offering no less than £50 in prize money. Three heats, each of 500 up, are being played daily, two of them being in the afternoon.
• At the close of the great professional tournament at Soho Square a cheque for £100 by way of first prize was presented to Inman, together with a handsome silver cup in recognition of his record break of 894 in the heat against Newman. The prize of £25 for the highest number of marks is taken by Smith. Fuller details appear on another page.
• At the Ryde Trinity Social Club, on April 2, a match of 1,000 up was played between Mr. H. G. Nutt, of Seaview, and Mr. Harold Evans, of Ventnor, for the Amateur Championship of the Isle of Wight. Result: Mr. Evans, 1,000; Mr. Nutt, 804. The champion's best breaks were 55, 66, 40, 54, 57, and 48, and Mr. Nutt's 41, 39, 37, 35, and 58.
• Billiard advices from Sydney tell of a flying handicap of 100 up, in which most of the leading Sydney professionals and amateurs lent a hand, in aid of the Scott Memorial Fund. George Gray was present upon his return from his tours, and gave an interesting exhibition of fancy strokes. Another "draw" was Miss Ruby Roberts, the professional lady champion, who, receiving 40, won all her heats and was proclaimed winner of the handicap.
• Amongst the passengers arriving in Melbourne by the German mail steamer "Frederich der Grosse" was Mr. John Roberts. Cardiacal troubles have caused him such ill health that he was ordered a complete rest and a long sea journey. He first went to Canada and crossed to Vancouver, with the idea of visiting Japan. However, the rigours of the climate with which his constitution would have been obliged to contend deterred him from proceeding with the enterprise. He consequently returned to England, and is now trying another route towards health. He will only remain in Melbourne for a few weeks.—Sydney Daily Telegraph.