ENTERTAINMENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8584, 11 September 1893, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENT.

The two competing teams of Saturday were in the • eveniug entertained by the Canterbury Rugby Union at a fish aupjper, which was laid in the Chamber of Commerce hall. Representatives were present; from the affiliated Football Clubs, from kindred sports, and, including a number of the gathering numbered over 100 persons. Mr Geo. Harris presided, and was supported by Messrs Beadle and White, the captains respectively of the Otago and Canterbury teams. Dr. Jennings occupied the vice chair. The Chairman read apologies for absence from Messrs A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.tt., and F. Wilding, and the former forwarded a telegram of congratulation to the local team. Mr Harris also announced the result of the Australasian Cycling Championship which was won by Wilmott and was received with prolonged applause followed by three cheers. The toast of the evening having been loyally honoured

The Chairman proposed that of the Otago ! team (loud applause). He alluded to the ■ game as rather a disappointing one, from I a football point of view, and complimented the visitors on their forward display, the j forward department being the best from • Otago he bad seen for some years. It was I not altogether gratifying, he said to be. i winners of a match in which one of the opponents had been knocked oat in the first spell, still he felt that the position ) told as much against Canterbury as Obago, j for there was a general sympathy % with I Otago for the loss, they had .suffered." In j referrißgto the selected ] Armifc, Duncan and McFarlane as the best ; for Otago and Johnstone, MaKendry, Scott i and Cook for Canterbury. (Load applause). i Mr Beadle, in acknowledging the toast, I returned thanks for the very hospitable treatment the Ofcago players had received ] here, and for the great reception they were j accorded on Thursday evening, a reception I which showed that enthusiasm for the Rugby j game was not dying out. He made mention 1 of the refereeing, which was not as it Was in i Duneclin, and vice versa, and he suggested i that the two Committees should agree upon lan interpretation of the rules. He con- ( eluded by proposing the toast of the Can- ■ terbury team. (Applause.) • j Mr White briefly responded.

Dr. Jennings proposed the toast of the Otago Rugby Union, which he said was loyal to Canterbury—(Applause)—and that so long as Otago, Canterbury and Southland stuck together they had no need to be afraid of any New Zealand Union with all the North Island clubs at its back. (Applause). Mr W. D. Milne responded on behalf of Obago, and also alluded to the appreciation of the Dunedin football public at the reception their team had met with. He briefly touched upon the" so-called " New Zealand Rugby Union, and observed that to maintain their position Canterbury, Otago and Southland should not only feel themselves united, but everything should be done to strengthen the feeling in the three centres. (Applause).

Mr C'kesswell replied on behalf of the Canterbury Rugby Union, and said the interest and sympathy in football had never being greater ia Canterbury than it was to-day. All that required to be done was for the Clubs to remain loyal to their Union, which always did its best for football as a sport. (Applause.) The toast of " Kindred Sports" was proposed by Mr H. V. Styche, and acknowledged by Messrs C. H. Croxton (athletics), L. A. Cuff (cricket), W. B. Eyre (cycling), T. W. Reese (swimming) and W. Johnson (rowing).

In the course of the evening some appropriate and recitations were contributed, and a jolly time spent.