OFF TO WIGAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 11

OFF TO WIGAN.

MR. H. SUNDERLAND. POPULAR LEAGUE OFFICIAL. WIFE INJURED ON VOYAGE A well-known and popular figure in the Rugby Tveague world on both sides of the Tasman, Mr. Hurry Sunderland is a through passenger by the Monterey, which ai rived from Sydney this morning. He i« accompanied by Mrs. Sunderland. On Monday night last Mr. Sunderland tendered his resignation as secretary of the Queensland Rugby League. He is now on his way to England to take up the post of secretary-manager of the Wigan Club, for whom J. Sullivan, famous English international, plays fullback. For 25 years Mr. Sunderland wa* a member of the board of control in Queensland.

"Next season will be the best in years for Australia," Mr. Sunderland said this morning. '"The League game is in a healthy condition in both New South Wales and Queensland, and it must progress. The League position in Queensland is unassailable, and both leagues are in good financial circumstances." Before he left Australia, old Brisbane "Kangaroos" gave Mr. Sunderland a rousing farewell. Mr. Sunderland has been to Auckland several times before, having been the last four Kangaroo teams to visit England. "Pacific not Pacific." Just before he left Australia Mr. Sunderland made the remark to a reporter that all he hoped after leavingSydney was that "the Pacific remained pacific." Unfortunately that was not so, for half-way through the trip Mrs. Sunderland was the victim of an accident which will keep her in bed for a time and prevent her from seeing Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland were in the lounge on Saturday afternoon when the boat gave a bad lurch. They were both hurled to the floor, Mrs. " Sunderland being badly bruised.

Mr. and Mrs, Sunderland will spend about a fortnight in Chicago and New York, where Mr. Sunderland hopes to see grid-iron officials and see some of the frames. They will leave for England on the Queen Mary on October 19.

On arrival in England Mr. Sunderland will go straight to Wigan, but his wife will spend several weeks at Oxford, visiting their son, Dr. Sydney Sunderland, who is lecturer in anatomv at Oxford University. Though only "27 years of age, Dr. Sunderland Jias had a distinguished career. Mr. Sunderland mentioned this morning that his son would be returning to Australia permanently ift 1940 to take up the position of professor of anatomy at Melbourne University.

STORY OP CONVERSION.

PREACHER TALKS TO YOUTH.

To hear Dr. Oswald J. Smith, of the People'* Church, Toronto, tell the story of bis conversion, a large rallv* of youth filled the Auckland Town Hall to the doors yesterday afternoon. The rally was held under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. James Tyler presided, and Dr. Alexander Hodge took part in the service.

Starting life as a country boy of delicate health and with little knowledge of the Church or religion, said Dr. Smith, lie had a strong desire in his heart to be what God wanted him to be. Though he attended Sunday School and cottage prayer meetings it was not until he was l(i years old that the event occurred that changed his life. This was a large ovangelistic campaign hold in Toronto tn 1000, when he and his brother travelled 100 miles to the metropolis and accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. After some difficulty he entered the ministry and was now in hie 30th year of service. The rally song leader was Mr. Vernon Drew, and the pianist Mr. Stan Conway.