SECOND TEST BOOKINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 20

SECOND TEST BOOKINGS.

ALL RESERVED SEATS SOLD. DEMAND FOR ACCOMMODATION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Three hours and a half after booking opened this morning every available 6eat for the second Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks, to be played at Christchurch on Saturday week, had been reserved. Hundreds were unable to get seate and money which had arrived from many country residents for the reservation of seats was returned to the senders.

The seating accommodation at Lancaster Park is 6600 and prices of seats varied from 11/ to £1. More than half that total number, however, was not available for reservation by those who had waited patiently throughout Monday night in Casliel Street. About 3400 seats had been allocated to sub-unions and football clubs and, in addition, life members of the Canterbury Rugby Union, active referees and holders of season tickets were permitted to reserve seats on Monday. Many hundreds formed a queue which was waiting for booking to open at nine o'clock this morning, and several found their long wait profitable. Some of the "stand-ins" said later that they %vere being paid as much as 2/6 an hour for holding good places in the queue. No person was permitted to reserve more than two seats and those first in the queue, after reserving their maximum, rushed to the rear, hoping to be able to reserve more. Most of them were dieappointed, however, for the number of seats available just outlasted the waiting crowd and only three or four were able ,to make double reservations. ' When the queue began to move this morning it had to step carefullv through papers, bottles and tine which "had been strewn over the footpath by those spending the night on the pavement. The City Council's officers had expected such a result, and the accumulated rubbish was quickly removed in a garbage truck.

TRAINING FOR FINAL TEST.

ALL BLACKS AT TAKAPUNA. The New Zealand team to plav South Africa in the final Test at Auckland on September 25, will be quartered at the Mon Desir, Takapuna, for the week before the game. The Springboks leave Rotorua for this city on September 21, and it is understood that the players and reserves for the Test will train either on the North Shore or at Helensville. It has been announced that, although in the thermal district for two days after the game at Gisborne on September 18, the South Africans will not play a match at Rotorua.