EVENING FOR SPORTSMEN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29626, 23 September 1961, Page 13

EVENING FOR SPORTSMEN

N.Z. Cricketers Entertained

Canterbury members of the New Zealand cricket team, which win leave early next month for a tour at South Africa, were entertained by New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., at a function last evening attended by about 25® representatives of major sports organisations. The cricketers were the guests of honour—in particular P. G. Z. Harris, a membar of the Christchurch Golf Club, which took a part in the organisation of the gathering—and it was a widely representative meetlßThe brief addresses, all of them in an entirely lighthearted vein, were given by the Canterbury general manager of the company (Mr L. J. Moorhouse), th* Christchurch Golf Club captain (Mr C. Suckling), the manager of the Cricket team (Mr J. G. Leggat), Mr Harris, Mr R. P. Thompson, and Mr O. A. Y. Johnston.

A bote of historical interest was struck by Mr Johnston, who brought with him the bat with which the great Australian player. Victor Trumper, had scored the first 170 of hie 283 runs against Canterbury at Lancaster Park in 1914. This innings is Still regarded as the greatest ever played on the ground. Mr Johnston, then a small boy, was given the bat one evening during the match. Trumper, who scored at tremendous speed during this innings, broke the bat when approaching his second century.