Here and There Notes

• There are over one hundred billiard tables in Church and Chapel Institutes in Leeds.
• It is estimated that there are at least 500 private houses in Edinburgh in which there are billiard rooms and tables.
• Billiards is believed to claim more active votaries than any other sport or pastime in or out of doors over all the civilized world.
• Victorian billiard room proprietors and lessees have formed an association which, it is hoped, will greatly advance the interests of the game.
• In advertisements F. Weiss is styled "Australia's undefeated professional billiard champion." One of Weiss's last matches of the season was at Brisbane.
• Mr. H. Siedeburg, amateur champion of New Zealand, has intimated to the Billiards Association and Control Council his intention of competing here next year.
• A former professional billiards champion, so far as Liverpool is concerned, has passed away in John Pearson, whose title was won by J. W. Collens, the present holder.
• J. R. Fraser Farrar, who went down so badly to Mr. Fry in the second heat of the amateur championship, challenged for the amateur boy championship of London a few years ago.
• The Stock Exchange Billiard Handicap Tournament is to take place this year at Simpson's, Cheapside. The hon. secretary of the Stock Exchange Billiard Club is Mr. W. Dryden Waite.
• A billiard tournament at the Lewisham National Reserve Club was won by Mr. Martin, who, having lost his right arm at Gallipoli, used an appliance invented by another member (Mr. Hal King).
• It is not so very long ago when it was impossible, even in London, to play other than home billiards except in a public-house, but Temperance Billiards Halls have now been erected in all directions to the not inconsiderable benefit of the community.
• Douglas Ainslie, writing in The Daily Express on "How to Enliven Billiards,"advocates the three-cushion cannon game for professionals, as long practised in America, and latterly, it appears, in France also. As alternatives he suggests a smaller D in professional games. But home billiards is all right.
• If the Licensed Victuallers' Handicap should be revived, the if following (according to"Spot Ball"of The Morning Advertiser) would probably enter:— Mr. W. S. Jones (the last, cup.winner), Mr. A. W. T. Good, Mr. George J. Calder, Mr. H. W. Moy, Mr. W. B. Marshall, Mr. Fred Morton, Mr. Frank Finn, Mr. S. H. Norton, and others.
• T. Newman's young brother Stanley is coming on. At the match generously given by them in aid of the fund for the benefit of Elphick in his illness, Stanley received 300 points in 800, and just won, improving upon his brother's best break of 189 with one of 194. The collection realized over £20.
• At Oldham a discharged soldier, found in possession of three ivory billiard balls, which he said he bought several years ago in Liverpool from a ship's steward, was proceeded against by the police on what they admitted was a rather thin case, and was discharged, the balls being again handed to him.
• Mr. J. R. Hooper has been called"the dark horse" in the present amateur championship, but another dark horse would seem to be Mr. Tony Truffas, the young Italian player of Bolton, who, in the middle of last month, made a break of 190 (more than anything done in the championship first round) in the Manchester Charity Handicap.
• A prominent member of the National Liberal Club is said to have invented a mechanical billiard player in which the theodolite and the vernier play their part; but if he has gone farther in exact measurement than Col. C. M. Western, author of"The Practical Science of Billiards,"and the inventor of the pointer, he has gone very far indeed.
• Perhaps the day may come when a famous billiard player will be included in Birthday Honours as actors and others have been. In France the marvellous skill of Vignaux with the cue was recognized by the French Government, who promoted him to the Academic Palms and awarded him the decoration of the Violet Ribbon of Public Instruction.
• Billiards as a spectacle comes after boxing as a sedative. The soft, musical click of the billiard balls and the attentive decorum of the onlookers form a welcome contrast to the vicious crash of the gloves, the heavy thud of flesh and leather in impact, and the raucous cries of an emotional crowd stirred to its depths by a spirit of antagonism.
• The Billiard Player cannot hope to rival The Sydney Bulletin in its description of Mr. J. R. Hooper as a billiard player:—"The Maorilander, J. R. Hooper, the Australasian billiards champion, has walloped the Victorian Luft, and is the first man from this end of the earth to enter the amateur pit in England as an accredited representative, and if Hooper gets sufficient practice and his eyesight does not give out he may bring home the bacon."
• The question of finance need not prevent the Billiards Association and Control Council from favouring the idea of an Empire Amateur Billiards Championship.This magazine, if reasonably supported all round will be instrumental in adding largely to the Association's membership. By the way, if the Empire scheme is formulated in detail and action is decided upon, Messrs Burroughes and Watts are understood to be prepared to subscribe the sum of £250 towards the initial expenses incurred in bringing the competition to an issue.