THE LATE MR. BASKIVILLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 210, 29 May 1908, Page 9

THE LATE MR. BASKIVILLE.

AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTES. ' . [I'EOM OCR; BPECIAI. CORRIiSFOKDENT.] Sydney, May 23. Whilst tlio "All Blacks" wore running, over a metropolitan team at the Exhibition Grounds at Brisbane oil Wednesday, and winning by '13 to 10, their organiser and secretary, Mr. A. H. Baskiville, of Wellington, was lying on-his death-bed in the Victoria Private Hospital in Brisbane. The liows of his death tljat evening caused.almost as great a shock in football circles in Sydney, as it must have.brought to his friends in .Wellington and other parts of tlio.. Dominion: He did not feel well when lie arrived ill Brisbane .from Sydney on Thursday, but ho'was better on tlio following day, and went out for, a training run. . On tlio Saturday, lie could not play in the. match against Brisbane, but was able to watch the game. However, on Sunday, lie was very ill with pneu- : mouia, and,'on tlio advice of a doctor who was called in. he was removed to a private hospital, where his condition, instead of improving, grew worse. When the team returned to their, hotel after the . match ■ on' Wednesday, one of tho members rang up to > ascertain how Baskiville was, and received the', reply that his condition,,was .extremely, precarious. . The team dashed over/to tlioV hospital, but the patient died just as they arrived.' On every., hand there are'expressions of sympathy, with the'widowed mother of tho' deceased;!, and with the- members of-; 'tlio team, to-' whom tho death of' their: organiser has como as; a great blow at tho end of. a successful tour in England.. Jt is'not only amongst League and officials, that his death is regretted, for though lie.fought the Rugby f Unions tho ficrce . conflict which lio initiatecl was not allowed to interfcro with tho personal relations existing between: the representatives of tho two hostile camps. ■ The "Australian Star" publishes tlio following reference to Baskiville:—Ho was the promoter and organiser of the professional Rugby movement in New-Zealand. Ho 'alone, made: all'arrangements for the great tour-just completed by tho "All Blacks." Ho fought unaided the powerful New Zealand Rugby Union. He, however, was not to be denied, and stuck to his guns, and formed up a team composed "of tho cream of New ■ Zealand football." He .was a fiiie stamp'of athlete, standing well on towards six foot, ,and splendidly proportioned. His weight in training was about. 13st. He was the ideal Rugby footballer; and one of the. best judges of the game in New Zealand, as well as a very able coach and writer.' His well-known book, "Modern Rugby football," has. been, and still is, widely read. . •« The " All Blacks " tour was an-unpreee-donted success 1 , and the movement started by. ■Mr.' Baskiville will serve to keep his memory green as long as professional football lasts in New Zealand and Australia. He gained many friends among those with whom lie had business dealings. Mr. Pratt, secretary of the' Northern Rugby Union, England, and Mr. J. J. Giltinan, secretary'of tlio New South Wales Rugby Football League, both said publicly that if Mr. Baskiville consented to a movement his word was sufficient bond. It is not only among League Rugby players that Mr. .Baskivillo's death will he'regretted, but among all who follow the game, for although ho took a • stand against tho New Zealand and other Rugby Unions as a body, lib "still retained the members of tho various unions as- fast friends. • The hotly was embalmed ill Brisbane, and brought' to Sydney by tlio train arriving yesterday, so that it might be taken to Wel~ lington by to-day's steamer, tho .Mouow.ii. Mr. Palmer (iiranager) and soveral members of the " All Black team accompanied it to Sydney. Tho funeral of tho late Mr. Albert Henry Baskiville left 'St.' Peter's Church at 2 •o'clock yesterday afternoon, followed by a largo number of mourners and friends.. Tho Rev. G. P. Davys officiated both at tho church and the' graveside. • The following wreaths were receivedTho New Zealand team, Queensland Rugby. Union, New Zealanders in Brisbane, Sirs. Hill and family, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Mr. and -Mrs. 1), O'Brien, Mr. and Mrs. J. Long, 'South Sydney League Football Club,.' New' South Wales Rugby Union,. New. South ■ Wale 3 League of Reforcqs, Pormanent Force, Post and° Telegraph Stores, Wellington Cycling Club, Ocean Accident staff, and about twenty others.