The Press. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1888.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7123, 20 July 1888, Page 4

The Press. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1888.

We had occasion, some time ago to call attention to the fact that tha-preeeiit year" would be one marled in red letters in the annals of colonial athletics., The occasion was supplied by the visit of the English football team, the first which has ever met colonial players. The story of the team's progress, and the results for good which the matches played by them have already secured, fully prove the accuracy of the forecast we made as to the improvement iv the play of our local meu which would follow such a visit, aud the opinion we expressed as to its marking au era in the history of the game here.

* But, the present year is being marked by another event in the football world of scarcely less importance than the visit of the English team.. Chiefly through the instrumentality ot Mr J. Warbrick, of Hawke's Bay, a team of Native players has been formed for the purpose of touring'not only the colony, but the Old Country itself. Mr Warbrick, is himself a half-caste, and his original intention was to include iv the team only those who had at least some little Maori blood in their veins. Were ..this intention carried out in its entirety, the team would of course have been very fairly termed a Maori team. At one time it appeared likely that it would be so carried out. In the North Island the Natives have taken very kindly to the game of the Pakehas. Iv Hawke's Bay especially are to be found Maori players of the first rank, whilst Wellington and Auokl&nd Provinces both possess one or two of like strength. Thus, although there seemed little chance of the South Island sending more than one or two to the team, there was every prospect of a strong lot. of players being gathered together, who would satisfy the requirements as to the. possession of a strain of Maori blood. It seemed desirable, however, to the promoters of the team to modify the original conditions laid down. A somewhat heavy defeat by tlie representatives of Auckland finally decided them to this course • and three of the best players Irom the Northern city have been added to the organisation. It is possible that other additions may yet take place of a like kind. Although thus the original attraction attaching to the team has been lessened, there is no doubt that the prospects of a suocessf ul tour have been considerably enhanced thereby. Aud, after all, the football public in England will probably be quite as well satisfied, if not more satisfied, to see a good playing team, even though there be unadulterated pakeha blood in some of its members. As it is, we believe that about five of the players are pure Maoris, that four are Europeans, and the rest, to the number of about a dozen, are half or quarter-castes. The pure Maoris are well represented by one of the Taiaroa family, aud the genial Ihiniera, otherwise known as " Smiler." The half-castes comprise five Warbricks and others whose names, though less known to the general public, are very familiar to football enthusiasts. The four pakehas will certainly be considered amongst the best in the team. Possessing aplendid physiques, and a very fair knowledge of and skill in the game, which, with united practice and coaching by the undoubtedly efficient teachers they have with them, will certainly become larger as the tour goes on, there seems no reason why, unless the teams met are very strong, there should not be a decent show, made even against English players. Those who know the Maoris here have expressed fears that their stamina is not equal to that of the Pakehas in games like that of football, and the rigours of an English winter may perhaps be expected to try many of the players. But the large infusion of English blood in tho team will help to counteract these possible tendencies to disaster.

The tour itself has already begun. It is, perhaps, needless to say that the team play under what are known as the Rugby Union rules. The form which the game takes under these rules is claimed by its supporters as the oldest and best. So far as the first of these assertions is concerned, it would seem to be fairly warranted. The earliest mention of the game, by William Fitzstephen iv the twelfth century, shows that the essential points of the Rugby game were then adopted. Iv later times the Eton and Harrow forms, from which the Association game was derived, arose, and fully half of England follows this kind of game. Within our days, the Victorians have invented a game of their own, differing .largely from both Rugby and Association. But although this has succeeded in Australia, New Zealand clings to the Rugby game, deeming it the best; and this is the form played by the Native team. It may seem strange to find so ancient a pastime adopted so readily and played so well by the dark-skinned people of these Southern Seas; and doubtless to our Old Country friends it will seem stranger still. Instead of viewing the ruins of St. Paul's from London Bridge, the New Zealand era of this team will engage in friendly contest with the representatives of English athletics, and attract wondering crowds to watch their performances. That such should be possible is simply another evidence of the fact that young and hearty life will have its sports and show its quality, whether in old England or at the Antipodes, and whether it be the life of British or Maori youth. That which has helped to make British manhood so strong is the same kind of of stuff, as that which has made it possible for a number of young New Zealanders to be taken twelve thousand miles to try conclusions with the champions of a great pastime at Home. And we cannot but be pleased at the indications thus afforded that not only are we closely linked to the old land, but that here its old manly spirit moves in the rising generation. Canterbury people will have an opportunity to-morrow of witnessing the play of these Native representatives, and showing their sympathy with them in their great undertaking. They meet on Lancaster Park our own orovincial team.

Although we cannot go so far as to wish them success here—for local patriotism forbids that—we do trust that their best may be shown to ua,

"rar-hnw--by^opr ponents, win the reward it deserves: and, further, that the tour already begun may prove to be pleasant to the travellers and a credit to the colony ; _^m , wlp_ s tl»ey"_re going.