A HANDICAP, confined to amateurs, was commenced at the Clarence Hotel, Oxford-road, Manchester, on Tuesday, the 25th ult., and continued during the week. The affair was brought to a conclusion on Monday evening last. The promoter was W. Harrison, marker at the hotel, and the prizes were, for first, second, and third, of the respective values of £30, £7, and £3. In the first round there were no fewer than four byes, in consequence of those engaged not being able to turn up at the appointed time, but in the second round there was only one absentee, and every evening during the play the room was fairly well patronised. Twenty-four players were entered, and the final heat lay between J. Davies, scratch, and W. Johnson, who received 35 points. Davies was made the favourite at 5 to 4, and getting level at 150, took the lead, and won by 33 points. The heats were 200 up. The following is a full return:- FIRST ROUND.-J. Gorman, received 58 points start, beat W. Wild, 105, by 4; W. Johnson, 95, had a bye, S. Hutchinson, scratch, absent; C. Fletcher, 83, had a bye, W. Wrigley, 90, absent; J. Davies, scratch, beat W. Cavanagh, owed 45, by 30; C. Moss, owed 50, had a bye, I. Carmichael, received 103, absent; J. McIntyre, owed 5, beat J. Mellor, received 68, by 2; J. Ricketts, received 65, beat W. Tetlow, 35, by 10; G. Martin, 5, beat A. Attenbury, 90, by 30; J. Harrison, 45, beat W. Wood, 5, by 7; C. Walker, 97, beat A. Finn, 112, by 3; E. Warren, 85, had a bye, W. Smith, 25, absent; and C. Coleman, 70, beat J. Bradshaw by 31.
SECOND ROUND.-Davies beat Moss by 25, Harrison beat Gorman by 4, Johnson beat Warren by 14, Coleman beat McIntyre by 36, Martin beat Walker by 22, and Fletcher had a bye, Ricketts being absent.
THIRD ROUND.-Fletcher beat Martin by 16, Davies beat Harrison by 46, and Johnson beat Coleman by 36.
FOURTH ROUND.-Johnson beat Fletcher, after an exciting game, by 2, and Davis had the bye.
FINAL HEAT.-Davis beat Johnson by 33. At start the betting was 5 to 4 on Davies, who gradually crept up, until the game was called-"150 all." From this point Johnson fell rapidly in the rear, and Davies, who had the greater share of luck, ultimately won by 33 points. Mr. N. Jones correctly called the game throughout.
A match, which arose out of the above handicap, was played on the same table on Tuesday evening, between J. Mellor and J. McIntyre, the former receiving 170 points in a game of 500 up for a piece of plate value £20 In the handicap McIntyre beat his opponent in the first round after a very close game by 2, and being still fancied, odds of 6 to 4 were laid on him. He went away with a well-played 32, when he became stationary, and Mellor, with 27, 12, 15, and minor contributions, reached 251 to McIntyre's 93. The former kept well in advance, and when he had totalled 300 to McIntyre's 153, odds of 3 to l were laid on him. The play now became tedious; but towards the close McIntyre somewhat improved, and considerably narrowed the gap, getting within one hundred of Mellor's score, but the latter eventually won by 80 points, the score at the conclusion being-Mellor 501, McIntyre 420. N. Jones marked the game, which occupied exactly 1 hour 45 min.
OXFORD JONATHAN, jun., having heard that J. Cook wishes to play any one in the late handicap, will play him 250 up at cannons, for £5 or £10 a-side, to be played on a neutral table, and within a week of first deposit. An answer through the BILLIARD NEWS will be attended to.