THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14899, 12 February 1914, Page 3

THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

A very large gathering of '■TJusincss men and bowlers assembled in the Council Chambers at 11 a.m. yesterday, to welcome the visiting Australian team of bowlers. The Council Chambers were packed to the doors, and the overflow, consisting of those anxious to do honour to the. visitors, extended down the corridors. His Worship the Mayor was chairman of the gathering, and .said that he was very pleased indeed to see that such a largo number of citizens haa been able to assemble there. The visit-ing-bowlors included representatives of the various Australian States, and he had great pleasure in extending to them a hearty welcome on behalf of the citizens of Christchurch and the Christchurch bowlers. He hoped that their friends would thoroughly enjoy their stay in Christchurch, and have a good t\me all round.. , Mr X. Young, president of the Executive Committee of the Christchurch Centre, also extended a hearty welcome to the visitors. This was the first time, in his experience, that Australians had.eoiue over to New Zealand, but he had met them in other places, and he knew that they were good sports and played the game in the right spirit. Mr Young was followed by Mr G. W. C. Smithson. , Mr W-. Hellewell. of the Christchuroh Bowling Club, and Dr. Thomas, another member of the Christchurch Bowling Club, and a delegate for Ashburton. who all cordially welcomed the visitors and expressed good wishes. Mr G. Rafian. president of the Australian team, in the course of a happy reply, thanked all tho speakers for the kindly sentiments expressed. He took it as a great compliment to see the very large gathering there that morning. Id was tho biggest reception they had so far received v in New Zealand, and was a happy augury of the time they would spend in Chri*t«hureh. The speaker detailed the leading events of their tonr through the north, and said that he was pleased to see that New Zealand was in an era of such splendid prosperity at the present time. He had visited the Dominion over a quarter of a century ago. and things were very gloomy then. He conld not but help admire the pluck and industry of tho New Zealanders who had struggled through their time of adversity to an undeniable and deserved , prosperity. He thought that such visits between Australia and • New Zealand as their

team was paying were of the utmost benefit to both peoples. They were aJI Britishers, and it would do them good to have a free interchange of ideas with their neighbours of the same blood. It would tend to extend their knowledge ot the great Empire to which they had the honour to belong, and it should in. crease their feeling of patriotism to the Motherland. The speaker dwelt strongly on thn necessity for loyally assisting the Old Country in her scheme of defence against outside aggression, pointing out that if England was ever defeated, it would ht> h terrible thing for the Pacific colonies. Mr Raffan concluded, amidst applause,with renewed thanks t.. the bowlers of Chris-tchurch for their ooniial reception. Mr W. D. Leslie, of Victoria, also spoke, and the reception concluded with loud cheers and.the singing of "For They are Jolly Good Fellows," to which the visitors musically replied.