J.B. (Batham).—There is no rule governing the point, but in practice if the spot boy in an important game happens to touch the white ball when attempting to spot the red, the referee replaces the ball thus moved to the position he believes it originally occupied; but when it is doubtful whether or not the red ball can be spotted, the referee usually adjusts the ball himself to prevent any accident.
Snooker Enthusiast (Stoke).—When the cue-ball touches another at snooker, the rule is as follows: "If the cue-ball is touching a red or coloured ball when such red or coloured ball is playable, the striker cannot give a miss. If the cue-ball is touching a red or coloured ball when such red or coloured ball is not playable, the striker may play directly or off a cushion on a ball that is playable, provided he plays away from the touching ball and does not move it, and may score any points that be makes."
Interested (Bournemouth).—You ask for "some information enabling you to compare the performances of George Gray with spot stroke records." Very pleased to meet your wishes. Last season, George Gray scored twenty-two breaks of a thousand or over, and one of 2,196, his best. On November 5th and 6th, 1890, W. J. Peall scored a break of 3,304, and between the 12th and 17th of March, 1888, scored breaks of over a thousand on five of the six days occupied by the match. The actual figures are: 2,031, 1,498, 1,203, 1,192, and 1,125. It may interest you to know that the first four-figure break ever made in public stands to the credit of that fine, natural player, William Mitchell, who, on October 5th, 1882, compiled a break of 1,055 (365 spots).
Puzzled (Maidstone).—You say that you cannot understand why side acts in the ordinary way when the cue-ball travels against the nap with plenty of pace, but is reversed when the ball is moving slowly. A great deal might be written on the point you raise, but to put the matter briefly it may be said that the surface of a billiard cloth is covered with a nap running one way, and that this nap reveals under the microscope a series of projections almost like the teeth of a saw and all pointing in one direction. These projections are quite pronounced enough to act on a ball spinning with side and rolling forward more or less slowly. But when a ball is travelling at high speed its momentum is sufficient to force it straight over the nap, no matter what side it may be carrying.
Clubman (Manchester).—As you say, the time is fast approaching when in thousands of clubs all over the country, "some member with a good knowledge of billiards will be in great request as referee in handicap, tournament, or inter-club games." You suggest that a short article on the subject would be appreciated, and we are obliged for your hint which will receive our best consideration. For the present, however, you cannot do better than study the referee's duties as defined by the Rules of the Billiards' Control Club. It is there laid down that:
"The duty of the referee is to decide disputes between players in accordance with these rules. He shall, on appeal, if the players cannot agree, decide whether a ball is in or out of baulk. On similar appeal he shall decide whether a ball is fairly placed when about to be played from hand. He may require the striker, after having finally placed his ball, to defer his stroke to permit inspection. He is, moreover, responsible for the proper conduct of the game, and must of his own initiative intervene should he observe any breach of the rules. In case of dispute between players, should the referee fail to see what happened he may take the evidence of the spectators best placed for observation and decide accordingly.
The referee shall not give advice or express an opinion on points affecting play. The decision of the referee, or, in his absence, the marker on questions raised under these rules, shall be final."
You should also note the latter part of Rule 18, which reads: "For refusing to continue the game when called upon by the referee or marker to do so, or for conduct which, in the opinion of the referee or marker, is wilfully or persistently unfair, a player shall lose the game."