CANTERBURY RUGBY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18970, 7 April 1927, Page 9

CANTERBURY RUGBY.

A :vr ONEER'S REMINISCENCES. FIRST MATCH AT ASHBURTON IN 1874. tar cable—i-assa ASSOCIATION—COFSRIGnT.) (Stdxby "SeV Suyici.) (Received April 6th, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. "It has always been a matter lor regret that tho Rugby code was not universally adopted throughout tho Dominions," says Mr Alfred St. George Hamersley, writing in the "Evening News.'' He participated in tho first International match between England and Scotland, and was the originator of Rugby in Canterbury and Vancouver. Ho says, "All who have seen the All Blacks realise Australia's and Canada's loss in not adopting Rugby." He recalls the first New Zealand match in 1874, played at Athburton between North and South Canterbury. The players travelled fifty miles, fording rivers in coaches, and returning that evening. [Air Alfred St. George Hamerslev, M.P., K.C., has had a remarkably varied career. Born in Oxfordshire in 1848, and called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1878, ho practised for some years in New Zealand, and married Miss Isabella Snow, of Wellington. In his day ho was one of the finest Rugby players in England, representing that country four times, and once captaining the side. While in this country he also took a keen interest In military matters and was a captain in C. Battery New Zealand Artillery When the war broke out he recruited and trained four batteries of heavy artillery, and in 1917, at the age of 69, saw service in France as commander of the Heavy Artillery Group.]