Touch Judge’s Flag Of 1905 All Blacks Offered For Test

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 8

Touch Judge’s Flag Of 1905 All Blacks Offered For Test

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. July 25. A touch judge's flag that was used during every match played in Britain by the 1905 All Blacks may be used again at Eden Park next Saturday for the final Rugby test match between the British Isles and New Zealand. The flag has been offered to the Auckland Rugby Union for the game and if it is thought to be in sound enough condition it will be brought out after a “retirement” of 45 years, The flag was brought back to New Zealand from Britain by Mr. George Dixon, manager of the 1905 All Black team. It is Ift. square and has a wooden handle 3ft. long. The flag is of the traditional New Zealand all black colour. On one side two gold bands running from corner to corner divide the face into four segments. In the upper and lower segments is the rose of England in white and in each side of the segment is an all black silver fern. The reverse side is completely black.

Mr. Dixon treasured the flag as a memento of the great tour and when he died it remained in the possession of his widow who lives in Remuera. Mrs. Dixon is now 83 years old and recently wrote to Mr. Jimmy Hunter, a member of the 1905 team, now a farmer at Fordell, saying that she still had the flag . ...

Mr. Hunter wrote in turn to his brother-in-law, Mr. R. G. Sellar, of Auckland. Last night Mr. Sellar called on Mrs. Dixon and collected the flag from her. He then offered it to the Rugby Union for use during Saturday's game.

Mr. Sellar said the flag was almost in a perishing state, but that-repairs were being made to it by his wife. The gold cross-pieces particularly were in need of repair and were to be resewn. Mr. D. B. Mulvihiil, secretary of the Rugby Union, said Mr. Sellar had offered the use of the flag to the union. If it was suitable he could see no reason why it should not be used on the sideline on Saturday.-