CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 202, 24 August 1904, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

i THE HOSPITAL. I (To the lOdUor.i i Sir. —The vigorous letter of your corI respondent. '\Rex" of this date, will, I doubt not. find echo in many minds amongst your readers. The threat of I the chairman of the Hospital Board to abolish the honorary staff is little short of an amazing insolence. Pray. sir. once supposing that such an extraordinary step were possible of accomplishment, what sort or a hole-and-r-orner concern would the Auckland Hospital be then? Which way would the public interest be. represented or conserved? The senior medical officer, his two youthful subordinates, still more subordinate nurs : ng staff, a very comforting conclave indeed in view of recent disclosures, from the outsider's point of new.— 1 am, etc., APIS. August 23, 1904. DR. BAKEWELL AND THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS. (To the Editor.) Pir,—When reading Dr. BakewelTs letter of the 22nd inst., re the recent visit of Great Britain's Rugby football representatives. I was surprsnd and disgusted to learn that a gentleman of such repute in Auckland should voice his opinion in what I consider so impulsive a manner. His remarks dearly indicate that when cornered he. would , prove himself to be anything but a Britisher in one respect, viz.. lack of broadmindedness. to take a defeat like a- man. No doubt this worthy gentleman, being a born Englishman, felt a little upset on account of the members from the Old Country meeting wl L ,h two reverses in New Zealand, but he. should not show such bad taste by giving vent to his feelings in the form of public abuse. Does Dr. Bakewell hold the opin ; on that "the late, victors were sure of carrying everything before them and return undefeated from all quarters of Australasia? If such was the case with the team why leave Home? Why enter into competition? It appears to mc the doctor looks at the affair in the following light: viz., that the Bri-'hi'sh team had no right, no authority, as it were, to allow themselves to be defeated. Taking into consideration their number of losses to that of wvns in the coloiiies, I venture, to say they have, most successfully represented Great Britain in Rugby football, which game takes a decided minor place ; as compared with Associat : on at Home, i and the combined team deserves praise accordingly. Honour to whom honour is due is a great, stepping stone to the maintenence of genuine sport,—l am, etc ENGLISH-BORN.