TEST MATCH CROWD

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 2, 28 September 1937, Page 10

TEST MATCH CROWD

Not Less Than 58,000

RECORD EASILY BROKEN By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, September 27. • Rugby Union officials are unable to give the exact total of the attendance at Saturday’s Test, but it can officially be stated that it was not less than 55.000, as compared with the previous record of 45,250 for the third Test against the British team at Eden Parkin 1930. The official gate and grandstand takings on Saturday last are not available, as the banks close m celebration of Dominion Day. Notwithstanding the great crowds, the week-end at Auckland was one of the quietest on record. There were only two arrests at Eden Park on charges of disorderly conduct while drunk, and five inebriates appeared at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. No cases of crime were reported during the week-end. CLEARING UP GROUND Task May Take A Week By Telegraph—Press Association.

Auckland, September 27.

The litter left at Eden Park by the crowd of 58,000 which attended the final Rugby Test on Saturday still covered 'the greater part of the ground to-day, and it is expected it will be the end of the week before the ground is restored to its normal order. Twenty-five men were engaged in dismantling the temporary seating and fencing, but the number will be reduced to-morrow. Flame-throwers lent by the Mount Eden Borough Council were used to burn some of the rain-sodden newspapers, but the ash blew into neighbouring properties, where washing was hanging on the line, so the attempt was abandoned. The paper and other rubbish will be buried on the ground. Had the newspapers been dry the Salvation Army would have removed them for pulping. Seagulls usually aid scavenging work by eating any scraps of food, but as this is the nesting season the majority of birds are away at the nesting grounds. The ground was searched for any articles of value as soon as the match was over. One boy found two £1 notes, but soon lost them. Another searcher, a man, noticed the boy's good luck, and immediately told him that he was an official, taking charge of the money and giving the boy 1/- for finding it. The man was not an official, but the boy was not quick enough to realise that.