RECEPTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7222, 18 July 1884, Page 6

RECEPTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM.

perhaps, without parallel in the history of athletic sportf', the New Zealand Football Team arrive! in "Wellington early on Monday morning by the h.s. Wakatipu. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the career of the team through New South Wul-a ; upon tlr-ir decisive victories and play which called fo;tb general admiration in the colony where, ho to speak, they had a “ walk over” in every match they played. All New Zealand h doubtless aware of the result of every match, from first to last, which their representatives played ; and the surprise which follows—-for wo were modest enough to anticipate that what arc known as the chances of football would lose at least one match for the MaoriUnders is by no moans so great as the gratification felt at the conduct and the approbation of the play of the team. A great part of the success of tho New Zealanders is due to Mr R. 3. Sleigh, vice president of the Otago Rugby Union —a gentleman whoso interest in the game has only been equalled by the practical and business-like manner in which he has advanced the interest of football as a whole in the colony. As business manager of the team, Mr Sleigh has accomplished great things for them, and, as a fellow-colonist, adding to a thorough knowledge of the game an untiring energy and enterprise, he has still more to bis credit. Others there are, too—such as Mr Milltoo, of Canterbury, the captain of tho team, and, if individual names may be mentioned, Mr Taiaroa, of back celebrity. Recognising the desirability of affording to the team a reception commensurate with their victorious record, the footballers of Wellington decided to banquet the victorious footballers upon their return. Committees for this purpose were appointed, and it may be said here that the arrangements reflected great credit upon those gentleman and also upon Mr Lichtscheindl, of the Empire Hotel, who provided a magnificent spread. Arrangements were also made fur the reception of the team on their landing, but, the Wakatipu arriving early in the morning, there was not a large number of people to welcome the team home. In the evening, however, the banquet may be described briefly as a brilliant success in every way. In such case, the question of attendance, and consequently financial succoaa or otherwise, is usually tho very first and most important, and on this head there was no ground for complaint, for every chair in the room was occupied. His Excellency Sir William Jervois presided, and was supported on the left by the Hon. G. McLean, and on the right by Mr W, V. Milltoo, the captain of the team. The banquet was attended by a thoroughly representative assemblage, mauy of the leading public men of the city being present. The good things provided having been discussed, the usual loyal toast “The Queen” was honored. The Vice-Chairman'(Mr H. D. Bell) in proposing the toast of ** The Chairman,” said they had to offer their personal thanks to His Excellency for presiding at tho banquet. Wellington was the only place where the representative team could be received by a reptesentativo meeting, and it was a matter for congratulation that Sir William Jervois had consented to preside. He felt sure that he was only expressing the feeling of the entire assemblage when ho thanked tho chairman for his attendance, (Applause.) Sir William Jervois expressed the gratification which a representative of Her Majesty felt when he came among the people on such an occasion, over whose interests ho had been appointed to watch. Going about the country he had been struck with its prosperity, whilst he heard so much about its decadence. To say that the colony was on the downfall was preposterous. There might be causes of depression, but they were only temporary. If anything were wanted to show that New Zealand was going ahead, it was found in the success of the young men who had represented it in New South Wales. Now, he would propose tho toast of the evening—“ The health of the New Zealand football team,” which had done such honour to the colony. He ventured to say that nothing like the success of their team had ever occurred in the history of football. A tribute must be paid to the gentleman who sat on hia right—the captain of the team. On all sides he heard that Mr Millton was a first-rate captain and a first-rate footballer, and they might congratulate themselves upon having such a man to conduct the team. He would also refer to the great pleasure it gave him to notice that one of the kindred race played a conspicuous part in these matches. He alluded to Mr Taiaroa. He was pleased to see that those present, by their applause, reciprocated the sentiment he had often expressed, that Maoris, in all these matters, should run alongside of Europeans. He would also refer to the gentleman through whose instrumentality the team had been, got together. He called upon them to drink the health of the team, coupling the name of Mr Millton with the toast. (Applause.) The toast having been drunk, with tbs usual honors, Mr \V. V. Millton expressed the thanks, of himself and the team generally for the reception they had received. He alluded to the reception they had been accorded iu Australia, where the people seemed aa though they could not do too much to express their hospitality. The weather, too, had been as hospitable as the people. Perhaps be might, without boasting, explain a few of the causes which, in his opinion, had been instrumental in securing their success. One great point was their combination of play. Meeting us nineteen strangers, yet iu five minutes after the commencement o! the first match they were playing together as one man. He wished all representative teams would take a hint from this. The main features of the game in which the New Zealanders excelled were in dribbling, unselfish passing, and the splendid kicking of the back?. They had also advantages in having had better opportunities of practice than the New South Welshmen. He had also to thank the team for conducting themselves out of the field as they had, which bhowed that they recognised that they had to represent the colony. He explained that the team had not played a match in Wellington that day because some of them, being not very good sailor?, they might havo made aa exhibition of themselves. In conclusion, Mr Millton said if ever any team could have done without a captain, it was the one he bad commanded. (Applause). The Hon. Mr Stevens, M.L.C., in proposing “Athletic Sports/' coupled with the name of Mr R. S, Sleigh, said he believed the splendid success of the New Zealand team was thoroughly sympathised with by all athletes. The New South Welshmen had a strong advantage over New Zealand in cricket, but he hoped that, despite of weather,.Ncw Zealand would yet be able to send a team of cricketers that would “ put through ” the other colony. He hoped that in this case success would not breed failure, and that the members of the team would keep other men up to the mark, (Applause). Mr Sleigh said he could answer for football alone. He had at first been laughed at for proposing a representative team, and it had been said that there was too much jealousy to enable such a project to be carried out. With respect to the actual conduct of the team, he bad been told by good judges of the game in Sydney that they had never seen, since they left England, the Rugby game so well played as by the New Zealand team. He referred to the scarcity in this colony of ground?. They had their reserves, &c., where nurse girls could take their charges, but where were the grounds devoted to cricket and football ? The colony bad its volunteers, but when they came to take up arms they would come to the athletes, and the first of those athletes would be footballers, whose cry would be “forwards on the ball.”

“The Press” and “The Ladies” being duly honored, Hia Excellency left the room amidst cheers, and shortly afterwards the banquet terminated.