HOCKEY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 15 September 1909, Page 1

HOCKEY.

TO MARLBOROUGH. WITH THE KIA ORA HOCKEY TEAM. (Written for the "Evening Mail.") " I'riis trip, which has been looked for..ii..; id and' worked for for months, is ■:i vist au .accomplished fact,, and we have but one regret, and that is that it is not still to come. We were right royally treated in Marlborough, and thanks seem such a poor return. However, we hope and expect thai next season we may be allowed to make a more substantial return, when the Picton and Marlborough Hockey Clubs return, our visit. We left Nelson, on Thursday, Sept. 9, tin the Takapn'na, and Mr. Wragge was kind enough lo'allow-a glorious day, coni sequently no one .was ill and all able to I interview Pelorus Jack when he came along. Tho weather seemed to get into our blood, and all were in good spirits. All on board were very good to us, particularly the captain, his officers, and the stewards'. On our arrival in Picton we \\*ra met by the captain and the secretary of the 'Waitohi (Picton) Hockey Club, who had an invitation for us from the Picton Rowing Club to a dance which was to take place that evening. As noiw- of us was feeling any the worse for our trip w e went in full fore<>, and had a "real good time." Tho Rowing Club have lhe dances to raise funds to buy. a.boatso that the invitation to us showed- thai our visit was looked upon in a friendh spirit by the men as well as the girls. The next day (Friday) we played a matoh against the Waitohi Club, and were victorious by goals to nil, Mi.«s ! Robinson and ' Miss Greta Robinson i shooting the gons. The ground was not Al, and as there were no flags, it was hard to tell where the outer line was. However, thoy gave us a good game and something to do to get the goals. In the evening Mrs Allen entertainer the two chilis, and we danced, etc., nnti? the small hours. That same eveuinr there was a social and dance in aid of the hospital and we were invited by Di and Mrs Redman to attend, but we thought of the morrow's match, anc" went to b?d. The temptation was very Croat, for 'we could hear the music, ar v,. wrpl luni'O from Mrs Allen's, and ', ... , .;;•,.> vr,.| tli.. Picton music is a .-.-•. 'o dance" to. VY* wont to Blenheim by Satiirdav -mining's train, and were mot hy th •>-...).• hr'i's of tin--. Marlborough. Hockey Club, who took us to their respective h'-mrs. When we met in the afternoon v.? i.-;ie and all voted onr n?w homes sr jolly that wo woiild like to stay n month, Tiie gam» against tha Marlborough* was lost by one goal to nil, you could not say it was shot, for thero was a sort of scrimmage on the line, and the bail was poked in. The game was a good one nnrl played in a true sporting spirit. The girls took us to afternoon tea in the town, and 'in the evening, after a 'ook round Blenheim they treat etl Ut. Ie supper. Sunday was spent quietly at ow iesnoetivo homes. On Monday mornine wo all had a drive in one of onr old friends— a cast-off Nelson palace oar— and very delighted we w°re to meet- an old friend. We were seen off at Blenheim by the members of the Marlborough Club. !:. ti. ovenintr we looked in at the Hnll in Picton, where they were holdinc a public euchre party to raise funds for beautifying Victoria Domain. From Picton we' had another lovely trip back to Nelson. , . , , We all vote the Marlborough peopl. amongst the most hospitable we hay ever rubbed against, and only hope they will come next season to us so that wcmay make an effort to return some of it.

The pilfering sueak thief ia ir r>vi<louce again. Builders of two houses on Britannia Heights' Uavc-suffei-ed repeated losses of timber and on one occasion some piles wen , actually taken. The police have the matter in hand, and a careful sera ■ny is heing kept privately also, and it is hoped by this ?neans to abate tho nuisance. Tho character of sneak thieves of this nature needs no explaining.