THE AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 27, 1 February 1907, Page 8

THE AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS.

VISIT TO WELLINGTON. THE -FIRST TEST MATCH. The Australian bowlers who are on a^visit -to New Zealand arrived in Wellington from the north last evening, having come through from Auckland by way of the Wanganui river. They \\ere met by Mr. F. W. Haybittle, president of the Northern Bowling Association, and a large gathering of offi-' cials and members of the various city and suburban clubs, and conveyed in drags to their quarters at the Grand Hotel. The manager of the team is Mr. H. C. Evans, of Sydney, who expressed himself delighted with the scenery at Rotorua and on the Wanganui river, but complained that the transit arrangements had been far from satisfactory. Unfortunately the team has struck a spell of decidedly bad weather at ■Wellington, and the prospects are by no means improving.* This morning, when, the visitors and a large gathering of local bowlers assembled on the Wellington Club's green for the official reception, a howling norfch-^vest gale was blowing, accompanied by occasional, though slight, rain squalls— an unpleasant contrast to the beautiful weather of late. However, they had come to play, and play they did.. Mr. M'Lean, president of the Wellington Club, in welcoming the visitors, said he would have liked to see finer .weather, but if the Wellington men did not -win they would be able to blame the -wind. (Laughter, and a visitor, "So shall we!") On behalf of the bowlers of Wellington and suburbs, he extended to the visitors a very hearty welcome. (Applause). The president of the Northern Bowling Association (Air. F. W. Haybittle) said that on behalf of the association, and of the Wellington Centre, he had very great pleasure in extending to the visitors a very warm welcome, not only to Wellington, but also to New Zealand. (Applause). Since their arrival in Auckland they had had the opportunity of seeing not only some of our beanty spots, but, he hoped, the beautiful harbour of Waitemata, which, however, he was afraid, paled into - insignificance ■when compared with that lovely sheet of water that laves the shores of Port Jackson. (Laughter) . They had also had the opportunity of seeing some of our delightful thermal regions, and the wonders of the Wanganui. But to-day they intended to offer them something brighter and better ; they intended to extend to them' the hand-grip of fellowship, atfd a very hearty bowlers' welcome. (Applause). He regretted that their stay m Wellington was to be so brief. THerr visit hatl aroused, he could assure them, extraordinary enthusiasm, and he had received letters from Various centres under f*s control of the association — Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, JSelson — asking him to do all he possibly could to get them to pay a visit, and promising them a right royal welcome. However, that was impossioie, and they would leave for Christchurch to-morrow evening. He believed ihat these trips werp a real public good. (Applause). They prevented them from holding on to insular prejudices, and also fostered that entente cordiale ■which should always obtain between the bright Commonwealth of Australia and the colony of Xew Zealand. (Applause). He had really to apologise for the miserable weather. They had, as a member of the Wellington Club, the weather prophet, Captain Edwin, and one of their oldest and most highly respected members, and he seemed to have acted on this occasion in a manner -which was very unfair. Finding that the Wellington teams were extremely weak he decided to minimise their weakness by putting them in their own element — the wind — (Laughter) — and therefore provided this howling nor'-wester. It was exceedingly kind of him, but very unfair to the visitors. He had only to extend to them a hearty welcome to Wellington, and he hoped the remainder of their trip would'be unalloyed pleasure, j (Applause). j The gathering then, at Mr. Hayhittle's invitation, gave three hearty | cheers for the visitors, and one more for the ladies. j Mr. Crouch, in replying on behalf of the visitors, said they were fully satisfied with the sincerity of the welcome, and that they were meeting bowlers who were their friends in every sense of the word. (Applause). They had to tell the same tale morning, noon and night; they had received the most lavish hospitality, and been welcomed •with the utmost heartiness, and if they had one thing to complain of, it was too much junketing. (Laughter and applause). The visitors then gave hearty cheers for the Wellington bowlers, with one for the president of the Association, and play commenced.