THE RUGBY TESTS

Grey River Argus, 17 August 1937, Page 3

THE RUGBY TESTS

SATURDAY’S CROWD Next N.Z. Team GETTING NEWS AWAY. [Per Press Association]. WELLINGTON, August 16. That the crowd for tne first Test was the greatest ever seen at Athletic Park is borne out by the gate receipts. Mr J. N. Millard, chairman of the Management Committee of the Wellington Union, stated the receipts totalled £Bl3O, compared with £7007 for the Test on the ground in >1930. The admission prices for the two matches were the same, and the seating accommodation within the enclosure approximately the same, but for comparison allowance must be made for the fact that more higher priced tickets were sold for Saturday’s match than in 1930. The estimated attendance was about 45,000. The Telegraph Department’s teleprinter service from Athletic Park, on Saturday, again resulted in a highly efficient transmission of press messages throughout the Dominion and overseas. In consequence of lhe success of the experiment, the Department has decided to instal teleprinters (if accommodation can ne obtained for them) at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland, for xe matches against Canterbury, New Zealand (second Test), Otago, and New Zealand (third Test). A message bov service will be utilised in other centres, where traffic will be leos congested, and where grounds are nearer to the telegraph offices lhe total number of words hanaled < Athletic Park on Saturday waBl6o of which 4373 words sent to overseas addresses, and 2332 u oris were lodged before , together, 114 messages were sent 218 addresses. RANJ<IN in HOSPITAL.

WELLINGTON, August 16. j G Rankin (Canterbury), who was unablo to play tor Naw Zealand ti-n firct test but who made inc trip to Otaki, and was in Wellington on Saturday, was admi . t^ d sham Hospital during suffering from tonsihtis.

MITCHELL’S INJURY. STILL TROUBLESOME. INVERCARGILL, August 16. Whether the leg injury of N. A. .Mitchell will improve sufficiently to enable him to take par . i ■ , t _ ther games this season is still ful S At the meeting of the Southland Rugby Union to-mght, Mi. H. S Strang, one of the Southland - - altoS. said he had Inquired about Mitchell’s leg injury, and had in formed Mitchell that, if he were desirous of “having a run before the second test at Christchurch, the South land selectors would be prepared to play ■ him in the Southland-Canter-bury game at Christchurch week before S the test. It was not known, however, whether the New Zealand selectors required Mitchell whose leg was still giving him trouble. MORRISON FIT AGAIN. TIMARU, August 16. A medical certificate that T. C. Morrison, the South Canterbury winder who was injured on the Saturday before the first test, is nowable to train and to take part in firs class football, has been forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby Union by the South Canterbury Union. RUGBY BIG WIGS. “MISS THE BUS.” WELLINGTON, August 16. Among the many passengers who intended to travel on the Limited express to Auckland last night and who were chagrined to toe .1 drawout without them, were Mr. V. R. Mere dith, Auckland Crown Prosecutor, and manager of the 1935 All Blacks, and R. McKenzie, a member o the present All Black team, of Palmerston North. * . . Mr. Meredith, who handed, his luggage to a red cap, was held up at the station barrier by a porter, who informed him that only holders , of reserved seats could pass. In vain, Mr. Meredith explained that he had a reserved berth, and his reserved seat was in the front of the train, lhe porter said he was sorry, but he nad definite instructions, and that was all there was about it. Mr. McKenzie, on the other hand, had not reserved a seat. He explained his job might be jeopardised in the post office/at Palmerston North, it he missed the train, and failed to report for duty at 8.30 this morning, but ms plea did not avail him. The stationmaster, Mr. E. J. Guthrie, interviewed, said the express was fully booked up. He repeatedly asked if there was anyone in the crowd who had reserved seats, and received no reply. . , Referring to McKenzie’s case, he said the Limited was essentially lor travellers for Auckland, and there were other earlier trains to Palmerston North. Craven’s Broadcast WHY IT WAS IN AFRIKAANS. WELLINGTON, August 16. Some curiosity has been expressed as to why Craven, the Springbok Captain, broadcast in the Afrikaans language after Saturday’s test match, match. The reason was that when called" to the microphone, he was invited to speak to South Africa, and he naturally spoke in Afrikaans, thinking that the broadcast was exclusively for there. When he heard that the broadcast was a general one, and that New Zealand was listening, he readily explained the position. His remarks to Africa were: ‘Hello South Africa! We are very sorry we disappointed you to-day, but we hope to do better next time. We are all keeping fit. The members of the team sent their regards to their relatives and friends over there.” Ranfurly Shield SOUTHLAND TURNS DOING CHALLENGE. INVERCARGILL, August IG. There will be no further challenge matches for the Ranfurly Shield this season. , At a meeting of the Southland

Rugby Union to-night, a special challenge was received from the Hawke’s Bay Union, but because of the lateness in the season of any available dates, it was decided not to accept it. MANAWATU DEFEAT SOUTHLAND. PALMERSTON N., August 16. Manawatu defeated the Southland touring rugby side by twenty-two .points’ to twenty to-day in a bright open game. Neither side fielded its strongest team. HIGH SCHOOL MATCH TIMARU, August 16. Timaru High School defeated Southland, High School in their annual match to-day by eight points to three. The game, though hard fought, was not bright, due to poor handling. The tackling of both teams was also weak. Mottram and Biooks scored for the winners, and Blue converted one try, while Muirson, the Southland full-back, scored. Seaman Fined JUMPED FENCE TO SEE TEST. IPer Press Association]. WELLINGTON, August 16. At the Magistrate’s Court, to-day, James Dunsmuir, seaman, was charged before Mr. Stilwell with obtaining admission to Athletic Park on Saturday without paying the 2/6 admission fee, and with obstructing a policeman. A constable saw him rush through the gate, and get about ten yards into the enclosure. He asked Dunsmuir for a ticket, knowing he had not one, as witness nad seen him refused admission. Accused made a rush into the crowd. The constable caught him, whereupon he started to punch and kick. At the Police station, he said he had no money, but wanted to see the game. He admitted climbing a fence in the first place. On the first charge he was fined 15/in default three days’, and on the second, £2, in default- seven days imprisonment.