ARRIVAL LAST NIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 11

ARRIVAL LAST NIGHT

TOUR OF DOMINION

The four British athletes with their manager, ■ Captain Evan, Hunter, and the two Finns, who are to ■ make a short tour of the Dominion, arrived by the Wanganella last night from Australia, where they, took part in the Centenary Games at Melbourne. New Zealand's 'representatives at the Games returned by the same steamer.

The British athletes are G. L. Rampling (440 yards), J. V. Powell (halfmile and mile), R. Murdoch (sprinter), and R. M. Craske (mile and three miles); and the Finns, V. Persalo (high jumper) and M. Sippala (all-round athlete who specialises with the javelin). This morning the visitors and also the members of the New Zealand team were the guests of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association at morning tea.in the Grand Hotel. Mr. R. W. McVilly, president of the N.Z.A.A.A., referred to.the visit of the British team and the Finns as a.red-letter day in the history of the .association. He extended. a cordial welcome to the visitors and expressed the hope that they would' enjoy their tour. Mr; McVilly also, congratulated the '. New Zealand team on its' performances in Melbourne.

A framed- letter,' signed by Lord Desborough,'president of the English Amateur Association, was handed to Mr. McVilly by Captain Hunter. The letter conveyed cordial greetings and. good wishes and expressed the hope that with the constant improve--ment of travelling facilities the interchange of visits between Great Britain and New Zealand would become ever more frequent.

Later the visitors were .accorded a civic reception by_ the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall.