WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 149, 30 July 1914, Page 4

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

THE ENGLISH HOCKEY TEAM. WELCOMES IN WELLINGTON. From Our Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, July 29. The world of women to-day has been chiefly interested in the arrival of the English ladies' hockey team. When the Maunganui berthed at the Queen's Wharf at noon to-dav, there was a large and representative crowd to greet the girls, and the Executive Committee, with the hostesses who are entertaining the girls during their visit here, boarded the ship, and were duly presented to the visiting team. Mr T. Wilford, M.P., president of the association, w r as spokesman, and as the team collected on deck with their captain, he made a very happy little speech of welcome, to which Miss Gaskell, the captain, responded—she is, by the way, capable of making a most graceful speech, as well as being a "sport." There are fourteen girls, very jolly and attractive in appearance, and in excellent health. They are looking forward immensely to their tour, which extends from Auckland to the Bluff, and allows time at

Queenstown, Rotorua, and Waitomo, for sightseeing, much to their delight. At I 5.30 p.m. the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. F. Massey, accorded the girls a cordial welcome, in his room at the Parliamentary buildings, and once again j Miss Gaskell made a charming reply, j Mrs Massey was present, and in addi- ; tion to the team, other guests were Mrs W. F. Ward, Mrs Collins, Mrs Matthew Holmes, Mrs Findlay, Mrs Malcolm Ross, Mrs Birkett, Mrs Peacock, Miss Nora Brandon, Miss Harcourt, Miss Massey, Miss Coates, Miss Mills, and Mrs T. Young. Various functions have been arranged for the girls on Thursday evening. Mrs Fulton is giving a bridge party. The first match takes place on Saturday next at the Basin Reserve. The visitors' colours are bright strawberry red skirts, white blouses, and black and red ties. Interview-ed briefly, the captain, Miss Gaskell, said that when the invitation to send a team was read at the meeting of the British Hockey Association, they intended to reply and regret they could not accept, but a few venturesome players said "Let us advertise in the ' Hockey Field' for volunteers.'' So this was done, and the idea was so enthusiastically accepted, the rest seemed easy. The team had never played together until their first match at

Adelaide which they won after a hard fight. "It was so awfully hot," said the captain, "we were all panting, but although we lacked combination, I am satisfied that the team knows how to save its strength."