JACK AT PLAY ASHOEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 10

JACK AT PLAY ASHOEE.

SPORT IN MANY LANDS.-

NEW ZEALAND PRAISED.

DEER - STALKING SUCCESSES

ATTRACTIONS OF TOTALISATOR.

Sport in many lands, but principally in New Zealand, has been the special delight of the officers and men of the Special Service Squadron of the Royal Navy. Ceremonial duty, however, has demanded the greater portion of their time on board and ashore.

"To dance till- three o'clock in the morning four nights a week is hard work," confided a tall officer with a dancer's feet, but he did not recount his compensatory memories. "And it isn't quite the best training for test- matcnes, either," observed another. In a moment the wardroom became to i the interviewer a sportsmen's club. / Sport on the Squadron's Empire cruise has been varied, but British always to the core in every clime. It has ranged from the shooting of snakes and elephants beyond Trimcomalee, > "odd animals" in the East African jungle and among the gums of Australia to wild pig. plump duck and red deer in JSew Zealand. It has covered many a playing field before many different spectators and it has included the quick exchange of gloved hands to the point in roped arenas, the stir and thrill of gallops, and 'the more reposeful joy of whipping beautiful streams for giant trout Through it all and everywhere, the Royal Navy has played the game, enjoyed every moment of recreative tests with their friends abroad, and noted, as a serviceable lesson, the differences of play in different games arid pastimes and the comparative standards of outdoor sports.

Dominion's Sport Facilities. Representative officers directly concerned with the comprehensive recreations of the Squadron's companies speak in glowing terms of the facilities for sport in New Zealand, and particularly in the North Island, where they have been, as it were, most at home. They are too courteous, of course, to comment adversely on obvious defects, though here and there a fugitive word of pleasant criticism reveals their recognition of the fact that "we haven't got everything down in Judee." So far, they declare emphatically, New Zealand has provided the squadron with the best measure of recreation. This was principally because of the comparatively long sojourn at Wellington with a relatively easy ceremonial programme. There was thus more time available for seeing something of the real country and for securing some sport in the wilds.

Needed a Machine-Gun, An officer who was a member of a deerstalking party in the Wairarapa was enthusiastic about their experiences. . "The Wairarapa," he said, vividly, "'is simply stiff with deer. We got 50 altogether, but I must say that the quantity was more prominent than the quality. The heads generally were poor, although several ten-pointers were good enough for mounting and placing in our wardroom. But the herd needs culling. We used Service rifles with the end of the bullets filed, but what was really wanted was a As for the wild pigs, there is great sport in the Wairarapa for those with time to go into the thick scrub country. We saw one tusker, but he got away. He was as big as a bed." The party walked fifteen miles a day, dipped in the river, camped in a wham with hill shepherds, and had a delightful outing.

Racing and Rugby. It was clear in the course of conversation that the squadron's companies would have welcomed a demonstration of our national sport at Ellerslie. Many of them visited Trentham racecourse and enjoyed both the gallops and the manner in which racing is conducted. Their appreciation of the Dominion's system of betting was near to admiration. If the Betting Committee of the House of Commons were to take a referendum of the Special Service Squadron on gambling on racecourses, the result would do an overwhelming majority for the totalisator. "It gives jolly decent odds, too," remarked a captain to whom the machine had been very generous.

The men of the fleet are modest about the squadron's standard of " Rugger." They do not speak of Rugby at all, and make no claim to be expert players. But many of them have the seeing eye, and commented shrewdly on the" fine points of the All Blacks' trial match at Auckland last week. '

" It x was a fine display, in the circumstances," said a naval "Rugger" player, "and the final test team will certainly five England a brisk shake-up. The New Zealanders play a much more open game than our fellows play, but the superiority will not be as marked as it was on the occasion of the great All Blacks' triumpant visit to England. Since the war our teams have improved a great deal, and many of the clubs that could only raise two fifteens then are now able to put six teams in the field.. There will be some good test matches this year with the All Blacks."

Soccer and Golf. It was immediately pointed out to the "Rugger" enthusiast that the Old Country's long suit was "Soccer." In this game of real football the squadron possesses a wealth of talent, though the men. have little opportunity for efficient training. Each ship could muster half a dozen teams of more than average playing capacity. The Standard of "Soccer" in New Zealand is politely appraised. As a matter of fact, the style is still incomparable to that of the national game in the Homeland. No more need be said about it, except to mention that the naval teams thoroughly enjoyed their bouts with Auckland Soccer representatives.

There is no marked enthusiasm among the golfers in the squadron concerning conditions for the game in New "Zealand. The relatively easy facilities for playing have impressed the visitors, and t/hey keenly appreciate the good-fellowship of golfers. We have had some jolly fine rounds in Auckland," said a captain with a fine stance, "and the greens are ex ceptionally good. But the, rough is very irksome. There is no end of pasturage for sheep. It must cost a fortune to keep the Maungakiekie fairway under control."

The greatest handicap to the squadron's representatives in sport in New Zealand has been a general tendency to put oh "condition."' This has been the special experience of its best boxers. One of the feather-weight champions of the squadron was only 8 stone in weight on arrival at Wellingotn. When weighed in for the Auckland tourney he was beyond the limit of his fighting class. So with most of the men. New Zealand agrees with them.

"There is only one explanation,"'said an officer, gravely. "It must be New Zealand butter."

FINAL DAYS OF VISIT.

HOOD OPEN TO PUBLIC.

Following is the programme of events for to-day: — Morning.Officers' shooting trips. Officers and men return from Rotorua.

2.30 p.m. —Ship's company "At Home," H.M.S. Repulse. 3 p.m. Association football match, Squadron v. New Zealand, at Domain. 3 p.m.Rugby football match, Squadron v. Sacred Heart College, at Domain. 3 p.m. Hockey match, Squadron v. Auckland.

Afternoon. —Golf at Mlddlemore, Titirangi, or Maungakiekie links. __~ Evening.—Dinnpr, H.M.S. Hood. H.M.S. Hood open for school children from 10 a.m. to noon; open for public, 1.30 to 5 p.m. \ H.M.S. Repulse closed. 9 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Searchlight display by fleet. »