THE BRITISH TEAM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1908, Page 6

THE BRITISH TEAM.

HEARTJLY WELCOMED AT ftiASTERTON. , RECORD ATTENDANCE EX4 PECTED TO-DAY. FBy Telegraph. — SrECLii. to The Post.] MASTERTON, This Day. The members of tho British team of footballers were accorded a hearty reception by the townspeople in the Drill Hall last evening. Mr. P. L. Hollings, Mayor, presided. The chairman stated that the district appreciated, the honour of being the first selected for the trial of strength with such worthy f oemen. He regretted they were unable to offer the visitors the attractions of a* city', but a programme of entertainment had been arranged which he felfc.. sure would make their stay here thoroughly enjoyable. Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., in a capital speech, said the crowd that had assembled that night to meet them demonstrated in no small way the true feelings of patriotism that existed in the Dominion. The colonies, although separated by thousands of miles, British to the backbone. Referring to the prospects of the match, he said the local «team would give the Englishmen « hard game, and, if beaten, they would 1 have iho consolation that the visitorswere the product of frozen mutton. j"but> ter, and 'cheese manufactured in the Dominion and exported to the Mother Country. ■ Mr. W. C. Buchanan, patron of the .Wairarapa Rugby Union and vice-presi-dent of the New Zealand Rugby "Onion, on behalf of both those bodies, extended the visitors a most cordial welcome to Masterton. He intimated that prior to the departure of the team from England a well-known journal had stated that it would give the * Maoris ! landers a "hard go." . He remindedthem, hqwever, of the famouSf amouS' All Blacks thatr- toured England, and said there were many more All Blacks in the Dominion equally good, if not better' than those that had put up such a fine 'record in England. .' Tho visit of the team would do more than, anything else to bind the Dominion and the Motherland together, and also to advertise it. Mr. Harnett expressed the thanks of the team for the excellent reception that had been accorded. They had only been six days in the Dominion, and had been the recipients of every kindness from its people. He felt sure he was echoing the sentiments of his colleagues when he said that when the time cam© for New 1 /•Zealanders to pay a return visit they / would be given a real good i.ime. It is anticipated there v.'ill be a record' attendance to witness, the game. People from the country commenced to' ' assemble in the town on Friday, and all, lodging accommodation is taxed to its utmost capacity. STRONG WIND BLOWING. (BY TKLBGBAPH.— FHESS ASSOCIATION } MASTERTON, Tnis Day. Both teams practised this morning. The ground is in splendid order. The wind is blowing pretty strongly, favouring the eastern goal, so that the opposite side players will have a heavy contract. The town is full of visitors, and the hotels are all crowded. A large number of special newspaper correspondents are awaiting the match." The Telegraph Office will be open continuously, as an abnormal pressure of work is anticipated. v VISITORS FROMWELLINGTON. [By Telegbath. — Special to The Post.] MASTERTQN^ This Day. The mail train brought up several hundred enthusiasts from Wellington, ' and they had a little rain on the way to temper their ardour. This element naturally gave pndless debates a fresh turn. The sky is grey and a brislt northerly . moans over tho flats, but ; 'the gusty breath is warm. The prospects are for a dry lield and a fast game. Local patriots do not highly price Wairarapa's chanco of victory. BRITAIN v. A MAORI TEAM. [BT TKLEGRAFH. — PKJSSS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, This Day. Tho New Zealand Union advises that the game Britain v. the Maori team has been definitely fixed to be played at Sotorua on 21st July. STOCKING LIQUOR. NO OFFENCE UNDER THE LAW. The information again Herman Sigurd • Pearson, fruiterer, Wellington, who last I week was convicted and fined for selling whisky without a license, was dismissed by Mr. Riddell, S.M., to-day, in his reserved judgment, on a charge of unlawfully keeping liquor for sale. At the j hearing of the charge, Mr. Wilford had submitted, on behalf of defendant, that thera was no offence under the Licensing Act of 1881. Section 159 of that Act, fcaid his Worship, made -the selling or exposing for sale of any liquor, which the defendant was not licensed to sell, an offence, and provided a penalty for eact act. But the section did not refer to keeping for sale as an offence in any way. Section 186. empowered any Inspector of Police to issue a search warrant for tlia detection and seizure of liquors kept for sale contrary to law, i and again in section 187, provided that • in the event of the owner or occupier of any premises being convicted of exposing or keeping for saie any ifquor which he was not .authorised lo sell, the liquor so seized should be forfeited. This section seemed to imply that keeping liquor for sale by an unlicensed person was an offence, but- in no part of ' the Act was such a fact actually stated. It was clear that the defendant kept liquor for sale without a license, but as the Act, in the opinion of his Worship, did not make this an offence, he could not be convicted. The information was dismissed.