FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LV, Issue 9969, 2 August 1893, Page 3

FOOTBALL

THE RECEPTION OF THE NEW

ZEALAND TEAM

The general committee for tho reception of tho Now Zealand football team met yesterday at 5 p.m. at Parliament Build* inge, Mr George Fiaher, M.H.R. (President of the Wellington Rugby Union), in tho chair.

It was decided that tho committee should meet tho team at the wharf, but that if the Wakatipn arrive at a late hour at night, the formal welcome should take plaoe at the ship’s side at 10 o'clock on Friday morning, and that the team should then bo escorted to Thomas' Hall. On the motion of Dr Newman, it v/ns decided to ask His Excellency the Governor to formally welcome tho team at Thomas’ Mall on Friday. The Mayor said ho would have bunting hoisted at the signal station as a signal of the Wakatipu. It waa agreed that if Thomas’ Hall could not be obtained on Friday evening, the social gathering in honour of tbo team should bo held there on Saturday at 7.30 p.m.

On tho motion of Mr J. G. Wilson, tho following gentlemen wore appointed an executive committee ;—Hia Worship the Mayor, Mr 3. FMier and Dr Newman, M's,II.R,, Mcssra Field, Faehe, Binckiock, Patterson, Diddle, Thompson, Davy and Rath in

The Now Zealand representative team will play 18 Wellington players at Petono on Saturday. The match between the Press and Drapers’ Clubs h»3 been poalponod until Friday.

(press assooation.)

Christchurch, August 1

At a well attended meeting of the Cam torbnry Rugby Union, held to-night, all the resolutions carried at tho conferonce of delegates from the Otago, Canterbury and Southland Rngby Unions, held at Dunedin on Saturday, wore agreed to, the East Christchurch Club's delegate alone dissenting. Dunedin, August 1.

At a meeting of the Rugby Union tho suggestions of Saturday’s conference were adopted, and it was unanimously resolved to inform the Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, and Auckland Unions that the proposed tour has been abandoned ; and to Inform the secretary of the New Zealand Union that the Otago Union could not agree to tho request for a combined South Island eighteen to meet the team on Saturday.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As an old Canteibary resident I am in frequent communication with Christcharcb, and have just received from a footballer in that city a letter, in which he states that he has the best grounds for saying that the telegrams to tho Evening Poet and Otago Daily limes, from Christchurch, as well as the correspondence In the various local papers (almost without exception), emanated from one source, I am further told that tho same were In no way inspired by, or published with the knowledge of, any member of tho Canterbury Rugby Union, but were the effusions of some outside enthnslasts who wore eager to provoke a contest between the Northern and Southern Unions’ representatives. My correspondent mentions that tho Canterbury officials have bad no difficulty in recognising tho quarter from which the telegrams from Wellington have come, and have treated them with tho contempt which they consider such deserve. My informant tolls mo that at the Canterbury Rngby Union’s mectlrg on Tuesday tho subject of a match between North and South was not oven breached by a single delegate. Had the New Zealand Union communicated officially with tho Southern Unions the m-tter would, of course, have been discussed ; but it seems that tho latter are as capable of standing on their dignity as tho former, and until one or the ether noma off their stilts there Is not tho slightest probability of the respective teama mooting.—X am, &e,, Unity. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —lt is proposed to send the team South on their return from Sydney. Would it not be preferable were they allowed to root with honour, I find others that think with mo that the desire to engage with the returning victors la not one wholly in the interest of true sport.—l am, &0., ■ Matini.’