Evening Post. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1882. THE FOOTBALL CONTEST.

Evening Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 19 September 1882, Page 2

Evening Post. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1882. THE FOOTBALL CONTEST.

An indirect attempt has been made to "whitewash" the Selection Committee, through whose inexousable bungling Wellington BUBtained so crushing a defeat in Saturday's match against Sydney. The apologist for the committee says:— "The weakness of the local players had its manifest source in the absence of that concert which mutual and frequent practice alone can secure." But that was exactly the point to which we took exception in the Sction of the committee. Whose fault but theirs was it that there was not " mutual and frequent practice?" Common sense answers thai the blame must rest with the committee who did not finally choose their -team until the middle of the very day on irhich the match was to be played. The ieam ought to have been definitely determined upon and in hard, persistent practice for days, if not weeks, beforehand; but they could not possibly practise together era

a Uu/n until they wero picked. If it be urged in extenuation of this unconscionahlL delay in deciding 1 on the team, that- the committee did choose the men a few days before, but that they were compelled by the grumbling which their choice had excited to make changes at the last moment, we can only nay that such a plea would bo co damaging' an admission as to make their case much wopse titan before, for. either 1 , they were bo weak and easily influenced as to be totally unfitior their position if they wero blown to and fro, and allowed their deliberatedecisiontoDe upset by every breath of popular opinion, orelse they gave way under the pressure of public disapprobation, because they knew they were wrong, and had grossly blundered in their discharge of tho duties entrusted to their discretion. Had they not felt their position to be untenable, and so lacked moral courage to maintain it, they needed not to donbt that the footballers generally and the public as well would loyally uphold their decision and support them in carrying it out. It was their self- consciousness that they were divided among themselves, and that a narrow majority, composed of the beaten clubs, had used its numerical strength to exclude the members of the victorious club almost entirely from the representative team — even though, by doing so, they deprived tho latter of some of the best Wellington, players, and substituted others of inferior calibre^ — that rendered them feeble and irresolute. The plain truth is the committee made a shocking mess of the whole thing, and all attempts at special pleading m defence or extenuation of their blunders only tend to bring these into more glaring prominence. We should be content to leave them to the punishment of the unpopularity which they have so deservedly incurred, but we decline to be told that Wellington cannot beat Sydney at football if Auckland can do so, and if Wellington can beat Auckland. We are satisfied that a properlyselected and duly-practised Wellington team is quite capable of meeting Sydney on equal terms, and we hope this will yet be tried ; but we freely admit that under such management as that of last week, Wellington might be unable to hold its own, even against an obscure country village. The Penguin, with the San Francisco mail on board, arrired in harbour this after neon. The postal authorities will have the offioe open at 7 this evening. for the delivery of the ban Franoisoo mail to the publio. At tho meeting of oreditors, held at the Supreme Court Buildings yesterday afternoon, in the eßtate of .Adam Armstrong, of Carterton. Mr. bkerrit (from Messrs. Buller and Gully's c ffioo) appeared for the debtor, and Mr. G. W. Deller waa appointed creditors' trustee. The Queen's Wharf presented an animated appearance betweon 4 and 5 o'clook yesterday aft° r noon, and at one time there oould not have been leas than 500 porßons on the outer end of the atruotnre. The attraction was the departure of the Manapouri for the South with the Sydney footballers. The team, acoompanied by several of their late exponents, oame down the wharf in carriages, and on arriving at the vessel's Bide a good deal of hand-shaking with the Wellington and West Coast footballers took place. The vessel wan advertised to take her departuro at 5 o'olook, but did not leave for some time after that hour, and during the interim the visitors beguiled themselves, as well as the crowd on the pier, by singing' snatohoß of comio ditties, to tha musio of [a month organ played by the wag of the team, and porforming a sort of Maori war dance on the upper deok. Their antics oroated considorab'.e amusement, and a very pleasant half-hour was spent by the spectators. As the Bteamer moved away from the wharf both teams sang "Auld Lang Syne," and then cheered eaoh other lustily. The old Telegraph Offica and Storo were sild by auction ye&terday by Messrs. Laery and Campbell for Mr. J. H. Wallace. Tho Telegraph Offioe was bought by Mr. O W. Clayton for .£IOO, and the store by Mr. J. M'Dowell for .£45. Our attention has been drawn to a dangerous peculiarity in the horse-trough* which are scattered abont the oity. The supply-pipes throngh which the water is opnveyed into thetrougha instead of terminating at the orifice in the side of the trough project soms distance beyond, and end in a sort of hook or bend. This forms a regular trap for horses, and when they are drinking is apt to catch in the bridle or headstall, so that on the animal withdrawing his head the blinker* ara suddenly torn off, causing him to take fright and bolt. This is a needless risk which ought to be removed, espaoially a* this could be done without diffionlty and at trifling oost. Soveral owners of horses and vshicles have brought the matter under our notioe, and we hope that no time will be lost in seeing to it. Mr. Hardcastlo, 8.M., leaves Wellington on Friday for tho purpose of presiding over the District Court at V\ anganui and Bubsequontly over that at Napier. During his absence his place will be filled by Mr. H: S. Wardoll. At a sitting of the Supremo Court in Bankruptcy this morning, before his Honour Jndg.i Richmond, Mr Hutchison applied for the disoharge of ft,. W. Watson, and eaid that the oase had been held ovor to enable a formal affidavit to be filed. 1 his had now beon done, aiid the trustee had given his certificate. The proceeding being regular, and no opposition being offered, the application was granted. Mr. Gully (Buller and Gnll}) made a similar application in ro?pect of W. 8. Scott. Mr. Brandon (i'raudon, Shaw, and Brandon), appoared for Mrs. Stevenson, widow, who was the principal credi.or (her claim of i 530 being for board and lodging), and asked for an adjournment of the case, on the ground that the necessary notice had not been given. Mr. Gnlly t-tated that the proceedings were rogular, bnt no resolution had been arrived at by the oreditors, a deadlock having token plaoi at the meeting called for the purpose. His Hononr ruled Mr. Brandon out of Court, on the ground that proper notice of opposition had not been given, and granted th 9 application. Mr. Gully also applied for the disoharge of J. L. Moffifc, and stated that all the oreditors belonged to Wellington. Mr. Hutosison appeared for the prinoipal oreditor, and held that it would not ba right to grant a disoharge to a debtor who had barely filed a month. The debtor had not been examined, and he (Mr. Hutohison) submitted that the application waa premature. His Honour concurred with Mr. Hutohison, that the proceedings had b6 en. rather rapid, and adjourned the oasa until the 26th ißstent. A similar application by Mr. Edwards (Edwards and Cufcten), on behalf of W. H. Pasooe, was granted. Tne football match arranged to take plaoe betweon tho West Coast team and a team selected from the oity players was commenced on the Newtown Ground thiß afternoon, but owing to the late hour at which it began we are unable to give any particulars Tho looal t«am is composed of the following :— Messrs. Brown, Oonnal, Cooper, Dumbell! Firth, Gibbes, King. Kirk, M'Cardell, Peat, Eoberttj, G. H. Smith, A. Thomson, and J. Thompson. The English telegrams a few days since informed us that a New Zealand olannant had appeared for the Earldom of Dervrentwater. The last Earl was beheaded on Tower Hill on the 24th February, 17 16, sinoe when the title has been extinot. The family name was Badoliff*, Sir Franois Badoliffe having married a daughter of King Charles 11. in 1687 was made Earl of Der went water. The last Earl succeeded to the title in 1705, when only 17 years of age. He was a staunch Boman Catholic and took a leading part in the rebellion of 1715, and was taken prisoner with several othor noblemen at Pr-eaton on 13th November, 1715. He was tried for high treason at Westminster on tha 19th February, 17 16, and was beheaded on the 24th. He left a Bon and a daughter ; tho former died at the aRBa RB of 19 in France a nd the latter married Lord Petre .m 1732. The estates in Cumberland and in Northumberland, yielding about .660,000 a year, wero confiscated, and afterwards conferred upon the Grseowioh Hospital in 1735. A few years ago, it may be remembered, a oraiy woman in England oroated some sensation by styling herself the Countess of Derwentwater, and by her extraordinary proceedings in that character. This person, we believe, died a year or two ago. Although a very fast game of football was played at Newtown on Saturday afternoon, only one or two alight accidents occurred during the progress. Mr. Campbell, who was conspicuous by his exertions throughout the" match, struok one of his fingers very violently against an opponent's chest and dislocated it The injured member was at once attended to by a.medioal gentleman on the around, and Mr. Campbell was able to resume playing in a few minutes. Mr. Cooper also received a severe knook on the face, from whioh blood flowed, but he was not inoapaoitated from work ; and about the same time one of the Wairarapa contingent sustained a similar injury. The game played yesterday was tot so rough, but, nevertheless, one of the players (Mr. George Bayly) of Hawera, met vtith an aooident whioh prevented him from continuing on the ground. He oleverly collared Baper as the latter was running lor touoh, and the two fell, Bayly'a forehead striking violently against the Sydney captain* held. A la*e lump immediately formed and for a minute or two the eufferer lay stunned on the ground. He soon recovered, however, but was unable to resume playing. In both matohea the New South Wale* men escaped almost without a Ecrateh. The annual me*ting of * h »£ h ?^ T P'?? a J Club is to be held at the Empire Hotel rt 8 o'olook this evening.

The comet appears. to be increasing in brilliancy, ita brightness now exceeding that of the evening star, Venus. It was seen with great distinctness in "the broad glare of noon-day to-day. Not only tho nucleus but the tail was dittinctly visible, and the unwonted spectacle attraoted the attention of crowds of people in the streets. It appeared to the left and below the sun, abont four or fire degrees, an apparent distance from that luminary. The celebrated High Church divine, Dr. Pusey, it, will be seen from our oable messages, has just passed away, at the advanced age of 82. Though Dr. Pusey's name has always been brought most prominently ferward in connection with the Tractarian movement, and has even furnished one of the designations of the remirkable revival of ritual in the Anglican Church which took pi we during the second quarter of the present century, it is well known by those who have studied the history of the reaction, especially as given to the world in Mr. Mozley's reoent book, that the real originator and leading spirit was the Rev. J. H. Newman. Neither Pusey nor Keble went so far as Newman, who, it is hardly naoessary to remind our readers, at length seceded to the Church of Rome, of whioh he is at the present time one of the foiemost lights. Pnsey was, however, once suspended from preaching for three years, by the Vice-Chancellor of his Univer. aity, for lia sermon on " The Holy Eucharist, a Comfort to the Penitent," whioh was held to savour too strongly of Tranrabstantiation. Pasey, it may be remarked, was always more tenacious of dootrines than of externals, in which respect he differed from other contributors to " Traots for the Times." Ho was an «loquent preaoher, his style being persuaehe rather than deolamatory. It may be added that he was the seoond son of the Hon. P. Bouverie, younger brother of the first Earl of Radnor, who assumed the name of Pusey. He was Begins Professor of Hebrew at Oxford, and Canon of Christ Church. That he waß a mon of blameless and saintly life is admitted by those who differ mast widely from his doctrinal viewa. Last evening another of the fortnightly entertainments in connection with the Webb* street Primitive Methodist Church was given, at whioh there was a larger attendance than ,at the previous gathering. The programme oomprißtd readings, reoitationß, and vooal 'and instrumental music Mr. Simma sang "Hearts and homes," and " Nil Desperandam;" Hiss Kate Wailaes, "He'll wipe the tear from every eye ; " Mr. Proctor, " Will, o'-the-wiip ; " Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Prootor sang a duet, " Flow on thon shining river." The last-named lady also played a solo on the American organ—" The Maroh of the Silver Trumpets " OViviani). The collection realised £2 4s 7d. Another entertainment is to be held a fortnight hence. The Nelson Colonist publishes a report "thai: the Union Steam shipping Company intend shortly to arrange a Bpeoial daily service between Wellington and Lyttelton, for which three boats are to be reserved. The trip is to he accomplished in ten hours, and the steamer leaving Wellington eaoh evening is to catch the morning express train from Lyttelton, South, the same vessel having Lyttelton for Wellington the same evening on arrival of the Southern train. Itisalso stated that the fare between Wellington and Lyttelton is to be fixed at £1." No advice of any Buoh intention has as yet reached the Wellington office of the Union Company, but everyone will agree that the idea is an excellent one, and will hope the oompany may see their way to oarry it out. We may have some doubts about the 175 miles of open-sea passage being done in " ten hours,' seeing that the Rotomahana, using all her boilers, found it a notable- feat to do it in 11}, bnt probably an average of 12 hours might be maintained by suitable boats. Mr. L. L. Harris, the hon. treasurer, requests us to acknowledge the following donations towards the Mansion House Relief Fund, raised for the purpose of relieving the distress amongst the persecuted Jews of Russia:— A mount collected at Reef ton, West Coast, £39 ; amount previously acknowledged, £593 3s 2d." Total, £632 3a 2d. Seven or eight members of the Wellington Bicycle Club assembled at Martin's monnment on Saturday afternoon, and opened the season by making a run to Newtown and baok. The machines are all of the most approved pattern, and were ridden along- the, thoroughfares in a very graceful manner. The next run will probably be towards the Hutt. The next carbine competition by the Naval Brigade, whioh will take place at Polhill Gully on Saturday next, will deoide the ohoice of representatives to fire against the 'various naval corps in New Zealand. The team to be ohosen will consist of ton men, and will fire against Nelson. Wanganni, Port 1 Chalmers, Auokland and Lyttelton, on the 28th instant, and against Dnnedin and Thames on the lUh ult. Several of the Brigades have already aooepted the challenge forwarded by the looal oorps, and it is expected that replies in tha affirmative will be received from the others some time this week. Dr. Newman is to give a lroture at the Working Men'a Club, on Monday, 27th September, on the aubjeot of "Capital and Labour." The Artillery Band will perform at the Mount View Asylum this evening. The Wellington Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society advertise , a lecture on " Eleotro-Biology, Mesmerism, and Phrenology," by Mr. J. W. Ffrost, in the Tara-nnki-street Schoolroom, on Thursday evening next, in aid of their Library Fund. The ceremony of presenting Mr. John Laughton, the late Corporation overseer, with a testimonial on his retirement from that position. waß performed by his Worship the Mayor on behalf of the employes of the Corporation, at 5 p.m. yesterday, at the yards, Clyde Quay. The testimonial consisted of a handsome gold watch and chain, obtained from the establishment of Messrs. Littiejohn and Son, Lambton Quay. His Worship, with a few appropriate wprds, presented the testimonial, and the address accompanying it was then read by Mr. D. Murphy, and after some remarks from Councillors Danka and Greenfield, the meeting dispersed with three hearty oheeta for their late and present overseers. There was an excellent attendance at the usual weekly parade of the City Rifles last night, and the various movements were creditably exeonted. At the oonolueion of tho drill the committee had a meeting, for the purpose of making arrangements for the coming matoh with ths Mutsrton Rifles. The team ee'eoted to r«present the corps comprises the following i— Captain Crowe, Sub-Lieutenant Ballinger, Sergeant Hale, Corporal Henn, Volunteers Ballinger, Bandall, Chuck, Crouoher, Rota, and Burton, with Volnnteers Bright and' Jackson as emergencies. The team, whioh is a strong one, leaves for Master ton by the late -train on Friday, and fires the match on the following morning, returning to town the same evening. On two previous occasions the country corps have suffered defeat at the hands of the City Rifles, bnt Bines the aooeptanoe of thoohallenge by the latter, they have been practising assiduously, and are determined, if possible, to score a viotory in the ensuing contest. A rifle match has been arranged to take pkoe on the 7th prox between the D Battery of A rtillery and the City Rifles. Last season the latter were beaten twice by the Artillery. We learn from the Wairarapa Daily that the footballers who went up to Masterton by Bpeoial train on Sunday, after lunching at Elkins's, were driven in the 'bussea and soveral buggies to the Te Ore Ore pah to see a little of Maoridom. The Maoris were most hospitable in their welcome to their visitors. For their amusement the younger members of the pah played a short bout at football, and followed this display with ft haka, whioh waß repeated on the New South Waits team loudly cheering the performance. Manihera, on behalf of the natives, expressed the ¦ pleasure witii which they received a visit from the New South Wales team, and only regretted that they had not a prior intimation of it, co that they might have prepared a suitable rooeption for them. He invited them to- come again in ten daya' time, when a dance on a largor scale would take place. The visitors gave hearty cheers for the Maoris before j leaving, whioh were responded to with equal vigour. They then proceeded to the railway station where the train was waiting for them, expressing them«elvea highly pleased with the journey to Masterton, and the manner in which they had been able to enjoy their three hours' stay in the town, j United Ireland publishes the following, which it describes as "an extraordinary announcement " :—": — " We learn from sources which, unhappily, leave noroomfor doubting the authenticity of our information, that at - the conferences of the olergy just held in at leait two diooeses— Tuam and Ossory-ia circular of a very remarkable character direc'el to ihe priests and signed by all ths Arohbishops and Bishops of Ireland waa read. It comists of a series of resolutions intended to regulate- the conduotof the clergy with respect to any future development of the ltnd movement. The first resolution directs the priests to give no support or countenance to th« Ladies' Land League. The seoond ferbida any priest to attend a public meeting without the consent of the parish priest of the place in which the meeting is to be held. The thud forbida any curate to attend any meeting, even in the parish to which he is attached, without the oansentof his parish priest. This aooords with a statement made by a number of tho Catholic curates who wero invited to attend a meeting in the- King's County. . They declared that they had rsoeived drreotiocs from the bishop not to attend any political Beatings without the permission of tha pnesta, and that they had asked pamuaaitn and hid been refused."

The Rising Star Juvenile Temple held its weekly session last evening at No. 9 room, Athenseum, when the chair was occupied by Bro. Toomath. After the routine business was gone through, the time was occupied by readings, &o. An addrees was Riven by the Superintendent. After the young people were dismissed, the Rescue Lodge held their usual session, when a fnrther addition waß made to the roll of membership. • Ninety acres of land, forming part of the Belvidere estate, Carterton, recently sold by Mr. F. H. Wood at auotion for j6450, was resold privately by the same gentleman on Saturday for iJ63O. Mr. Wood informs us that the demand for land in the Wairarapa is increasing. Messrs. Laary & Campbell will hold their uaual market sale to-morrow. Mr. Francis Sidey will sell to-morrow, japanned goods, tinware, furniture, Ac Mr. H. H. Lang will sell to-morrow, rabbitskins, sheepskins, hides, tallow, potatoes, flax.