Here and There.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 3

Here and There.

Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the takings at the Bri-tish-New Zealand match, played here m 190-4, totalled _J2ioo. The experiment made "by the Wellington Rugby Union m having a salaried officer to discharge the clerical duties of the Union has worked out well, and m this , connection Mr J. Avery has proved his. thorough fitness for the office.- /The representative of ''Truth"! desires to place on record his appreciation of the unfailing courtesy extended to him by Mr Avery throughout the season just closed, Mr Avery has now got properly into his stride, and the Union should l6ok for even better results from his appointment, next season. The choice of Mr Stan. Brown as chairman has been a happy one m many- respects, and the' Union has alii served by committeemen of the stamp of Harry Mclntyre, Len Jordan and Billy Hales. . The Execin tive Has made blunders, 'tis true, but what athletic institution has been infallible m the course of its existence ? Tire projected Veterans v. Referees'

Association match has been cried off, the promoters discovering that many of the has-beens are disinclined to. comedy. j Mr Murphy, the genial and popular caretaker of the Athletic Park, deserves a line all to himself for the efficient mannci- m which he has attended to his duties during the past sea--son. There are few groundsmen m New Zealand who have better qualifications for their particular, work than Murphy, and the improvementhe has effected to the Park, from a Rugby standpoint, since he took charge a few years ago, have been highly praised by visitors as well as local players ami Union officials. Murphy is also courtesy itself to those who are compelled to frequent the Park throughout the football season and nobody is more aware of this fact than the "Truth" representative who has been the recipient of many . j kindly favors at his hands. I The season m Sydney just closed I was the best on record, from the point of view of public interest, the attendances being consistently good throughout. The Metropolitan Rugby Union alone cleared well over £2000 net. From the Goldfields, Nevada (America), "The two big Universities m California have adopted the English Rugby game, and are soon to commence practice. The twenty-fifth annual report of the Cardiff Club states that the past season was a wonderful one, the. only match lost being^hat with the New Zealartders. The total receipts were £5269, the gates contributing £4067. Visiting clubs took away as share of gate £1203, while away matches, including the trip to Paris, cost £6g3. Entertaining visiting teams, grants to school football and charities, left a balance of £912. A Cape, Town writer has the following to say concerning the South African Rugby Union team now touring the Old Country, and which started its journeying auspiciously by easily defeating East Midlands. "When the best men have played together a few times they will be a strong £$t. They will, I think, show plenty of dash, and there are among the twenty-eight already selected quite a number of men who understand every point of the game, and are --quite capable of putting their knowledge into practice. , Joubert has played one or two great games at back, whilst all the Western Province three-quar-ters and Marsburg and Andrew Morel are. bound to do great things on their day out. Krige i$ a y treat to watch when m form. The halves are all good, and Mare is a grea.t worker. He can take all the pounding it is possible to give him short of a knockout, and seems to play all the better for it. The forwards axe all wellbuilt men, all triers. Douglas Morkel's kicking will be something to look out. for. His place-kicking, at long distance, and punts are truly marvellous. This is the first time of a South African team visiting the Old Country. Many of the men will find the cold weather very trying, and the' wet, days',' with sodden turr and greasy ball, will, at times, I think search out their weak spots. Yet all the men are triers ', and" will, I think, i adapt themselves to the new condi- - tions fairly readily. I 'think 'l maysafely say they will win '-more than half their niatcfies, but I do not [prognosticate for them anything of I the astounding record of the 'All [Blacks.' "