SINCE landing on Antipodean soil Roberts has not failed to charm those who have seen him play by his remarkable genius. Some go even so far as to say that he is playing better now than ever. Prominent among those who are so convinced is Charles Memmott, the Australian cueist, who has paid two or three visits to England. At first, naturally, Roberts, after his long sea voyage, did not show to advantage. Also the quality of many of the tables, find the condition they were in, would seriously mitigate against the employment of delicate manipulation. Without being able to bring the latter essential into play Roberts' form would lose most, if not all, of its effectiveness. Arriving at Melbourne about the beginning of June he played his first match within a week of setting foot on shore. This was a private function, at the Maroon Club, Perth (Western Australia). He contested game: of 1,000 up with a couple of amateurs—Messrs. Eales and Ogbourne— to each of whom he conceded a start of 650 points. He won both games; but in a bout of pyramids Roberts, owing six balls, lost two games out of three, with a Mr. H. A Carter.
Roberts' first public exhibition of his tour took place on the following day in the same town In this, at the Queen's Hall, he successfully gave a marker named Alec Stuart 550 points in 1,000.
So far as winning games is concerned, Roberts did not have a clean sheet in West Australia, for more than one defeat is up against him, partly caused by his not being in the best of health on his arrival. Amongst those who were victorious against him over yonder was a player named Teague, at Menzies, who, with 600 in a 1,000, won by 299, making breaks of 79, 56 and 44, to Roberts' 195, 96, 77, and 67. Alec Scott also downed him at Perth by 522, after receiving 600 in a 1,000. Then Roberts beat Power, in a game at Kalgoorlie by 318 in the 1,000. Roberts gave 350 start; but Power won two out of the three pyramid games with two balls conceded him. In a game with a well-known amateur named Lindrum, Roberts put up a splendid run of 321 in the marvellously fast time of 28 minutes, and altogether, played up to quite his best style, his speed being much admired. Billy Weslon, a veteran cueist, found himself unable to score more than 219 points, the while the English celebrity, giving 600 start, made his necessary 1,000.
Thence Roberts travelled on to Adelaide, where he gave two exhibition games at the saloon of the Selbourne Hotel.
A resident of the town said: "He does not look a day older than he did when we last saw him, and his play would seem to be as brilliant and consistent as ever." Roberts met a few old friends, one being Mr. W. N. Fagan, who played the crack's father in the first contest he took part in in Australia, at the School of Arts, Sydney, in 1864. Mr.
Harry Taylor, a local amateur, met Roberts in the afternoon, the visitor conceding 600 in a game of 1,000 up. The cushions were slow—a fact that told considerably against the Englishman. At one time it looked as if the amateur would win, for though it became apparent that the ex-champion had been somewhat trifling with his opponent, Mr.
Taylor got away with a succession of nice breaks, and when he reached 950, Roberts was 300 away. Roberts, however, got to work, and, with the amateur failing, he ran out with an unfinished break of 82, winning by n points. Roberts made one nice break of 78, and then he made another of 99, compiled in 9 minutes—slow scoring for him, however.
In the evening he engaged R. Devine, the manager of the billiard rooms of Tattersall's Club, giving him 500 in 1,000. Devine is a young player, and one of great nerve. He was in fine form, and beat the crack, as he did under the same conditions at the Austral Club on the occasion of Roberts' former visit to Adelaide in 1891.
Journeying to Sydney, Roberts received a most enthusiastic welcome at the hands of the members of Tattersall's Club there. Here he played the two most capable billiardists among the members—Messrs. Lyons and Ross.
To each of them he attempted, unavailingly, to give the big start of 350 in 500. A second game with the first-named gentleman, this time with 300 in 500, saw Roberts take his revenge. During its course he made a very fine break of 284.
The great match with Weiss, of which we have heard so much on this side of the globe, was also played in Sydney. It seemingly evoked tremendous interest, Roberts set himself to concede 4,000 points in 14,000. Roberts always travelled the faster, and finally won by no fewer than 451 points. Appended is a complete analysis of the game:—
| Innings | Misses | Points Scored | Total | Points won by | Averages | |
| Roberts | 363 | 43 | 13,957 | 14,000 | 451 | 38.44 |
| Weiss | 363 | 43 | 9,506 | 13,549 | 26.18 |
Roberts:—129, 109, 136, 202, 157, 124, 113, 171, 117, 340, 103, 156, 159, 126, 100, 138, 130, 153, 199, 131, 162, 198, 500, 263, 128, 100, 124, 186, 251, 188, 108, 107, 117, 137, 241, 161, 244, 120, 101, 128, 158, 125, 200, 107, 120, 163, and 272.
Weiss:—145, 147, 215, 167, 104, l01,103, 132, 152, 125, 187, 111, 203, 105, 144, 167, 124, and 76.
A rising young player named Frank Smith—who, by the way, has just recently been beaten by Memmott in a match for a large money stake—was Roberts' next opponent.
They met at Melbourne, Smith receiving a start of 6,000 points in 14,000 up. Roberts was all too good for the young Australian.
In Brisbane, Weiss and Roberts played by special command at Government House, before Lord and Lady Lamington. The game was 250 up, Weiss receiving 75 start. The table was not of the best description, the cushions being hard and the bed a trifle out of the level.
Under these conditions Roberts had little chance with Weiss, who excels under adverse circumstances, and he defeated the ex-champion by 113, Weiss made one nice break of 144.
After considerable controversy, Roberts and Weiss fixed up a third long game. The conditions of the game, which was due to be commenced on October 10th last, are rather novel ones.
The latest Australian advices state that Roberts took a trip across to New Zealand, where he gave several displays of his powers. Conceding Mr. R. Lewis 600 points in 1,000 at Palmerston North, Roberts beat him by 92 points. A local professional, F. Cullimore, was next encountered in a two-days match at the Opera House, Wellington. Roberts gave him a start of 1,250 points in 2,000 up. Even with this tremendous advantage Cullimore could make no show and he was eventually beaten by 345 points. An interested spectator of the play at Wellington was the Maori King, Mahuta. Faber, the champion of Wellington, took 650 in 1,000 from Roberts, who again won. However, he met with a reverse at the hands—or rather, the cue —of a Mr. Umfreville, at the Commercial Travellers' Club, Wellington. The amateur received a start of 700 points in 1,000.
Before returning to England, it is said that John Roberts, who is accompanied by his wife, contemplates visiting India, China, and, if the state of the country permits, South Africa.