TO-DAY'S BIG GAME

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 11

TO-DAY'S BIG GAME

FPTTAIN v. NEW ZEALAND

IMMENSE CROWD AT PARK

,t& past j-sars there Has been evidence enough that Engby football is a national institution in New Zealand, but with a visit from a British team this season Rugby interest has been stirred to heights far above even those reached during the memorablo tour of the Springboks nine years ago, when New Zealand's .Rugby supremacy was at stake. The climax was reached to-day when Wellington staged the fourth and final Test of a series in which the Dominion again has been compelled to look to ite laurels, this time by a combination from the Home countries —a team which has made a strong appeal by its liking for the bright, open game and which has been an exceedingly difficult proposition for New Zealand's best by reason of its many excellent qualities, among which speed, sure handling, and intensive backing-up have been perhaps the most outstanding. The Tests, as well as other games during the tour, have provided great measure of thrilling and spectacular Bugby, not a little of which has come about through the enterprise of the visitors, and it was in expectation of a thrilling finish to the series of Tests that an immense crowd assembled at Athletic Park to-day, Although New Zealand faced this final Test in the favoured position of having a game to the good, there was still the prospect of Great Britain depriving its formidable offspring of a clear-cut "rubber victory, and the lion looked to the deciding Test with every bit as much confidence as its cub, now claimed to have grown up. Interest in the event ■was unprecedented; it was New Zealand's greatest Eugby date, not so much because of the many thousands ■who witnessed it, but on account of the •world-wide attention focused on the big encounter. For weeks past there has been a keen demand for accommodation at the match, and on each occasion that tickets were placed on sale the supply ■was far and away short of the demand. Thousands of extra seats were provided on the. green around the actual playing area, and tickets for these sold like "hot cakes." Those unable to secure tickets or preferring a place "on the bank" were early on the move to the Park; in' fact, it is stated that first place in queues formed outride the entrances to Athletic Park ■was occupied by 9.30 o'clock last night. Prospects of the day being fine ■were far' from bright overnight, but this made little difference. Enthusiasm •was worked up to a high pitch, and there were thousands wending their ■way to the Park early this morning when there were the elements of another "Springbok Day" experience. The gates, it had been stated, were not to be opened until about 9.30 a.m., tut, as hundreds were waiting to gain admission long before that time, the cates were opened earlier than was stated. Shortly after 9 o'clock much of the accommodation on the western bank and on other vantage points was occupied, and by 10 o'clock the number at the Park was rapidly approaching iivfl figures. LOOKING TO COMFORT. All manner of articles to make for comfort at tho match were carried by the thousands making their way to.the cronnd—rugs, boards, boxes, cushions, newspapers, and even foot-warmers. There were, of course, luneb and refreshments, many people travelling in parties, making a picnic outing of the period before the main attraction. Late in the morning nothing was more acceptable than a glimpse of sunshine,and with signs of the weather breaking fine and the atmosphere becoming warmer everybody was in much happier mood, especially those—the great majority—who were without cover. The early games and music from loud-speak-erß helped to keep the crowd entertained. , ... By 12 o'clock the attendance at Athletic Park was estimated at close upon 40 000. A little later the arrival of members of the New Zealand Army team provided an added interest o± note, those in this party being intro? duced to the spectators by means of the loud speakers. Many other players who have helped to make fame for New Zealand on Eugby fields were also present, not a few of them from the "old school" of 'eighties and 'nineties. Visitors were here from all parts of New •Zealand and from overseas. HEAVY TRAFFIC. By road, rail, and steamer thousands of visitors from outside have arrived in Wellington for the big match. As mentioned In last night's "Post," hotel accommodation was taxed to the utmost, and those who endeavoured to do their usual Friday night shopping last evening gained some idea of the extent to which the city has been crowded. The biggest influx, however, took place this morning, when from an early hour Eugby enthusiasts flocked into town by every available routed No, estimate can bo given of the number ■who travelled by road, except to say that the traffic was extraordinarily heavy. The Railway Department made Bpecial arrangements to transport those •wishing to travel by rail, and tho extent to which the public patronised the services dan be gathered from the following figures relating to the trains which arrived at tho Thorndon and Lambton stations this morning. The first train to reach Thorndon arrived at 6.3 a.m., from Napier, and brought 422 passengers. It was followed at 7.22 a.m., by ono from New Plymouth, bringing 600 passengers; one from Wanganui at 7.40 a.m., with 4C2 passengers; one from Palmerston North at .7 a.m., with 450 passengers,. and one from. Otaki at 10.15 a.m., with 150 more. A si)ecial train from Woodville, via the Wairarapa lino, arrived at Lambton station at 10.30 with 150 pas- ' passengers. The ordinary trains all arrived on time, and wore fully loaded. The Lyttelton ferry steamer Maori arrived at 7 o 'clock with about 500 passengers on board, and the Matangi, from Nelson, arrived at 6.10 with about 300 passengers. The Picton ferry steamer Tamahine arrived at 1.45 after ' a special trip, with about 300 passen- ' aers. It is expected that there will ba about 600 passengers on the Maori when she !uaves on the return trip to-night and tho Tamahine, which is to sail at 6 p.m., and the Matnngi, which is to sail at 10 0 'clock, are each expected to take about the same number as they brought this morning. In order to suit the convenience of those who arrived early this morning, special cars were run by the Coropration Tramways from before 6 o|clock. T4 was not 'long before the drift to Athletic Park started, and at about 8 o'clock the cars leaving Courtenay place were already full to overflowing. Traffic on the trams was particularly heavy at about 8.30, and remained ■fairly steady from then on until the majority of those seeking good positions on the "bank" had gone up, when tho traffic began to show a fall' ing-off. In more ways than in that of transportation the city was prepared for its

early visitors, who were agreeably surprised to find several restaurants open at which it was possible to get a welcome breakfast, which in many cases was to servo as lunch also.

At 2.17 the Governor-General arrived, the National Anthem was sung by 42,000 voices, and cheers for His Excellency reverberated over the dense crowd.

The crowd was now keyed up for the big event. There were hundreds outside the ground unable to gain admission, and the announcers at the loud-speakers appealed to those inside to squeeze up, if that were humanly possible, to make,room for the latecomers. • i

In spite of the rain which had fallen early this morning, the ground was in good order.