Hockey Notes.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7533, 6 May 1903, Page 7

Hockey Notes.

(By Goalkeeper.)'

Monday evening saw tho initial meeting for the season of the Association, and judging by the paper reports a good evening's work ,was done. I am sure it is the sincere wish of the devotee of tho sport that tbe managing body may continue to exercise its characteristic* energy during the incoming season. Speaking of tbe characteristic energy of tho Manawatu Hockey Association it is with deep regret that I chronicle the absolute withdrawal of the secretary, Mr F. 11. Burbush. This action is due to increased business, and I am sure that overy hockeyite in* the district will echo my statement that he has well earned big rest from the management ol 'affairs. Thinking that the remin. iscences of the p'romoti'pn at the game in the district might prove interesting to the latter clay players, I waited on Mr Burbush tho other day and he courteously assented to givo any information I might desire Probably he will pardon me if the result of the interview is given in the first person, for no one who has worked with him in sport will accuse him of self-aggrandisement. Speaking he says :—

" You spoke of me as the pro,otei* of the game in this clis. trict. Ido not know that I am entitled to the credit, for twelve, months before I convened tbe meetincl that resulted so fruitfully Messrs Bruce Beale and E. Reid convened a meeting in Mr I_. Giorgis' rooms, and formed a club from which no result was obtained. Of course, to thoso not initiated to tho requirements of the sport the difficulties of tbe. formation of tho game in a now town are unknown, the principal abstuclc being to get the new men to buy their outfit. It was owing- to tho collapse of Wednesday football that season that I decided to attempt to form a hockey club, and a canvass resulted in a list of about sixteen names of gentlemen to form a

club, but at the meeting convened there was an attendance of three. Notwithstanding* tho small attendance we decided to form a club, which we called tbe Pioneer Club, and we elected honorary officers, committees, club oflieers, and transacted a quantity of business, the most important of which was a decision to obtain twenty-four sticks from Wanganui. The decision to obtain these sticks . did moro to mako the game in the district than anything else, for men would not pay a heavy price for a stick to play a game they knew nothing about. The first gamo played here took place on Mr E. Stevenson's paddock, Grey street. A week or two later it was found necessary to.move to Messrs Abraham and William's paddock, Church St., owing to tbe number of players becoiu ng so groat. About a

month later than the Pioneei Club's formation the Alhambra Club was formed, and were provided with sticks by the Pioneer Club. Hockey in thoso days played with a round oak stick by men who knew more about "rugger " was thrilling in tho extreme, and once tho ball got into tho diagonal ditches on the ground it was rather too exciting. Shortly afterwards the Palmerston Club came into existence, and availed themselves of the friendly offer of the Pioneer sticks. On the firm establishment of the Palmerston Club I decided to oncleavou to form an Association, and late in the same season wo had tho pleasuro of forming the Manawatu Hockey Association. At Lhe Meeting Mr "Davoy Scott represented tho Palmerston Club, and I have had great assistance from him during the time he has boon my colleaguo as Treasurer of the Association. Tho promotion of tho Manawatu Hockey Association marked the turning point in the gamo and gavo it a certain status amongst the sports of the district, and hockey itcs aro now recognised as men, and not by tho onetime appellation " old women." The first Manawatu Hockey Championship was fought out on tho sports ground, but tho management committee of that clay recognised that the sport could not thrive if still played there, and a deputation waited on the A. & P. Association to endeavour to receive their sanction for the use of the show ground, which was at first refused. Not to be denied at a later date another 'deputation succeeded whero the first had failed, the championships lately having been decided thero. The beginning of the second season saw the formation of tho Campbell St. Old Boys and the Drapers' Clubs, and early last season the Palmerston North Rifles formed their team The Drapers have since changed their name to tbe Midlands. Additional zest was given to the championships in the second season, owing to the Association being presented with a shield by Messrs Dawick Bros. Of courso when you refer to representative matches with other districts I cannot speak glowingly of what Manahas done. The most brilliant match our reps have played was on the show ground in 1901* against Wellington, when we were beaten by i gonl to nil The bt _ her representative games have, of course, done much good to our players, but locally there was much disappointment expressed when our reps, were beaten by younger Association rep. teams.

' I have during my term of ofTice been the recipient of much reflected glory, the.chief praise for the up-to-date manner in which I took hold of the Association's affairs ia clue to Mr "Walter Johnston, Pr o , .sident; of the Canterbury Hockey Referees' Association, who has willingly during the past four years placed every particle of information that I desired at my disposal. " JQvcnts that the players should take note of :—North v. South Island nt Wellington in June ; tho visit of the Wellington and Wanganui reps, this season ; awd tho probability or a Canterbury rep. team visiting Palmerston this season."