CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 14225, 26 November 1909, Page 4

CRICKET

RECEPTION TO MR MACARTNEY. A good many crickets and others In* temted in the game attended the reception this afternoon to Mv 0. 0. Macartney, the well-known Australian 'player, who has ■come to reside here.

Mr C, R. Smith (president of the Otago Cricket Aseoti.[h i!) presided, and introduced Mr Ah •, Before referring to him he wis’ ' - t*-,c opportunity of officially lh ■ many friends in Dunedin wiv, .;<•.«! I lie Association in their fiteaui.; ■ .. of late. For eeve-

ral years the .Aswuiatiuii, had been almost in the Bankruptcy Court, but with the assistance of a groat many citizens during the last few months they had managed to pub themselves into the' soundest position tho Association had occupied for many years* and he hoped that members of *tiio A&so* elation and cricketers generally would do their best to keep up the enthusiasm in the game that would merit the assistance given by the general public. He would also like to thank the president and the Committee of the Rugby Union for their co-operation and valuable assistance.—(Applause.) With regard to Mr Macartney, he was Sure they all hoped that he would make his home here. Of course, ho had come here to see whether he liked the place, and whether ho could make h : s business develop satisfactorily, in which case tho probabilities were that he would become a resident amongst them for years to come. But all that would be decided in tho future. His intention now- was to stay hero a few months and sec how lie got on. He had not come here in any way as a professional cricketo-r. He very wisely did not wish to develop into a professional cricketer, as he could sec that, generally Speaking, when a man was past his prime as a player he had not much to fall hack Upon. Ho wanted to make a business and a way in the world. His heart wan in the game, and lie had undertaken to give them all the assistance he could while ho was here,—(Applause.) Ho would like it clearly understood that Mr Macartney was nob a professional coach or cricketer at all, but that he would do all ho could to help them to develop tho game and bring it to that pitch of perfection it should occupy amongst them. He, thought that in Mr Macartney they had a man who should ho well able to do that. He was a little man, as they could sec by his inches, hub a lot, of little men, both on and off the. field, had proved very capable men as leaders in their own departments, and Mr Macartney’s performances with tlie Australian Eleven must naturally make them conclude that he wai going to be a leader hero in cricket.— (Appldusn.) He hoped that whatever op, portunity they had of assisting him in hj» .business engagements they would give him their warmest support. A great deal depended on that as to his permanently residing here. Ho had not exactly made up his mind yet as to what lines ha would run his business on, but he would make that known in the course of a few days.

Mr Macartney, in responding to the toast of his health, said that Mr Smith had put everything plainly before them. It depended on what happened in tho next three or four months ns to his future in New Zealand. Of course, if everything went all right, and there were good prospects, he did not see anything to stop him from coming back to Dunedin. Ho had good reasons for going Home next winter, but he supposed he would decide before he went whether ho would como back here or not. Nothing would bo wanting in him to help to push cricket ahead here, and ho hoped that all the matches played this year would result in wins for Otago.—(Applause.) The question of which club Mr Mac- , artney will play for will be decided by : the Cricket Association next week. It i. is understood that there is a likelihood of Callaway, the ex-Canterbury player, who j has also taken up his residence here, playing for Opoho. it