CIVIC RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 20 May 1925, Page 7

CIVIC RECEPTION

A pleasaut function took place in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall Yesterday afternoon, when the Mayor (Ml 1. '(". B. Norwood) tendered, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, a reception to the Sydney University Rugby football team. Those present included councillors,- University and .Rugby football officials, and representatives of various branches of sport In welcoming the team, the. Mayor made reference to the fact that the tour Tyas being made in continuation of the long series of visits between tho representatives of the -universities in New South Wales and New. Zealand. At the present time New Zealand held the "ashes," but he understood that the visitors were desirous of taking them away.. His hope 'was that the team would have a very happy time, that it would produce its best on the field of play, that the visit would be benoficial from every point of view, and that at the end the visitors ■would leave with very pleasant memories of the tour. He could not hope, however, that the

'ashes" would be taken away. His i'.dvice was, "Go right iri, and do your best to win."

Councillor M. F. Luckie alsoi welcomed the visitors, and, in happy strain, he referred to the experience which was &••> be gained from contests between teams of different countries. New Zealand had'had experience of Australian wicket. (Laughter.) Regarding football, however, New Zealaiiders were getting into the habit of believing they knew how to play Rugby better than anybody in the.world, even New South Wales. The speaker had a suspicion liiat this Sydney University team hixl something up its sleeve. If so, it would be for New Zealand's good, perhaps, not in the meantime, but later on. Whatever the results of the matches, he hoped that the visitors would have thu happiest and the. best of times.

In expressing thanks for the welcome Mr. R. o'. Martin, manager of the visiting team, said that his players would like to win, and they would do their best to succeed. The winning or losing, however, was not all that counted; one object in view was to play the game for the game's sake. Mir. Hingst, captain of the team, also sppke in appreciation of the welcome, aiid predicted that in thp event of New Zealand winning it would probably, be on account of- the hospitality extended to the visitors. (Laughter.) .

Cheers were given for the visitors, who replied with cheers, for the local players and citizens. The gathering concluded with the singing of the 'National Anthem.

Later .the visitors were entertained by the Mayor in his room. Councillor W. 11. Bennett proposed the health of the visiting team, and Professor ]<\ V. Wilson also spoke. Both referred to tho good to be derived from participation in •healthy pastimes. Mr. ft. C. Martin replied, and also proposed the health of" tlie Mayor.

lie visiting team afterwards I rained ,-v. Ivelburn Park, and last evening attended the performance of ."Wildflower" at the Grand Opera House.