The old path haß been picked np, and some lnngitudioal sleepers firmly fixed fire yards apart follow the direction of the course all round. Across these sleepers are laid the panels, or sections, of pitch- pine battens, which form the new surface. Each panel is 6 fe;t \n length, and 25 feet in width, ie, the width of the track. Each batten ia 1£ inch wide and 1 inch thick. A space varying between one-eighth of an inch at the inner edge of Ihe track at the carves, to three- eighths cf an inch at the outer edge, exists between the battens. la the straight this space is uniformly a quarter of an inch right across the path. The sections are mnde up by running gal vanised iron mis through holes io the aides of the battens, cork washers being interposed between the battens to pre serve the before - mentioned spacps. These rods are run through each section longitudinally at intervals of 18 inches, their ends being fitted with expansion discs sad bolts. The intervals between the bottom admit of the wood "breath ing" during variations of weather and temperature, wh-.lst the rods render any distortion of the surface impossible. A grout of cement loosely fills up the interstices between the battens. The wood employed affords a better grip to a i nbber tyre than cement or any other surface does. When wet there is no risk of side slipping. The banking ia not confined merely to the curves, but pre vails along the straight as well. The battens afford firm, fast, and uniformly even travelling without the slightest vibration. The "going" is so fast that most riders find It difficult to keep their pedals, a circumstance indicating that high gears will be indispensable on this track. The measurement of the new path, at a foot from the inside edge, is 3J laps to the mile. L. ' S. Meintjes, the South African champion, established a mile record on the Herne Hill track on June 29. h. doing the distance in 2mln 9j;ec, beatng the pre vious record by 35see. 