THE RECENTS CRICKET MATCH AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6571, 8 December 1882, Page 5

THE RECENTS CRICKET MATCH AT CHRISTCHURCH.

[by tkleukapu.—own correspondent.] Ci!Rl<tciiuuc!i, Thursday. One of the evening papers has the following remarks upon the recent match with your eleven. They are from the pea of a gentleman who is himself a keen cricketer, and I can heartily endorse his remarks, having been present throughout the match myself:—"Were we asked to give offhand the leading features of the late very capital cricket match between Canterbury and Auckland, we should name something altogether outside the game itself. What we should point out would be the wonderful impartiality and general good taste shown by the excited crowd of onlookers. Not only is it not the least exaggeration to say that every decent piece of play on the part of the visitors was applauded every bit as heartily as similar display on the part of the local men, but the spectators went further than this. As a rule, an impartial crowd will cheer a tine hit, or clever catcli by one of their adversaries, but in the match under notice the ring shouted as loudly when a Canterbury wicket svaa bowled as when the like fate .befel one of the Auckland Eleven. In fact, several ol the Canterbury playera jokingly congratulated their adversaries on their superior popularity with the public. This, of course, was an exaggeration, as the frantic shouts of joy which announced Canterbury's final triumph very well showed. The onlookers wished well to

' our side' with all their hearts, but the said hearts also had a warm corner for the plucky Aucklanders who died so gamely, and all of those watching the struggle seemed to feel that they were our guests, and should be taken under special protection. Accordingly the Canterbury public are not Laodicean in cricket matters. Anything but it. They take a keen interest in the doing 9 of their champion?, and their impartiality above referred to, springs by no meaus from cynicism or lukewarmuess, but from a most healthy, proper, and sportsmanlike feeling of hospitality, and fairness. May our athletic contests ever be noted for this, and for a complete absence of that narrow provincialism which regards every opponent as an enemy to be treated by fair means or foul."