Polo players during the past few days have been engaging in much speculation as @ consequence of Br. J. Noble's announcement that he! had been approached by 201 interested porting foreignbred polo ponies.
nat that local players woul object to having the real article under them, but it is a rule of all polo clubs out here that only China yenies shall be used. The clubs accept the broad definition of "China pony" and permit the use of the so-called half-breds provided they are within the racing height limits, but imported ponies fre barred absolutely. representative of the "Notth-China Daily News" called on Br. Noble and found that he did not know of this rule. However, he said, that did not affect him, Me: had' been making inquiries "as to! what he could do in this line and! as he was always ready to test the) market for live stock, he cabled) fan immediate order for four Australian polo ponies, properly brokea and trained to the game. He could not state a definite figure, but lie believed they could be landed in Shanghai for £80 and he had no reason ¢0 think he could not di ove of them even if they wore 1 allowed on the polo field. In an ease, as Australian racing and polo ponies often had been discussed here, probably sporting men Probably "Polo Notes" will have! something to say on the subject, but for the benefit of those whs have suggested bringing in there ponies, it might be stated that there is small chance of getting the rule altered, because it i obviously impossible to play mixed classes of Ponies. So long as we have all China ponies, there is no gambling. Tt would be the same if we had all foreign ponies and probably the game would be considerably im-Proved, but it would.have to be all foreign ponies and not half, and it] is not going tobe easy to persuade Shanghai to buy 200 or more special] Ponies for one pur po: at $600 did the sare, there would be an end to Interport matches.
Still, Mr. Noble is prepared to take all risks en showing us some of these much-discussed Australian ponies and for that we can. at least say "Thank you," and await develop:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.