FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 88, 23 February 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

(By "Pakeha.") Charley ' Seeling, of the ■•AllBlacks," is going to be hitched up shortly, jf, indeed, the knot has not already been tied. To mark their appreciation of the event, his comrades made him a presentation. The "Springboks" beat the "All Blacks" hpllow as orators. Sirjoe Ward • recognised the latter's weakness m the speaking line by giving them a little wholesome advice, to undertro a few lessons m oratory on the homeward voyage, but from all account_i.it was time wasted. The manager of the New? Zealand team always gave one the "creeps" when he was on his legs and the "don't cry, George" from "Gun" Garrard at the last -annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union just about sums up the "weep ful". attitude generally struck by Dixon when he is laboring heavily m his attempt to belch forth ..words of wisdom to his Rugby hearers.. The yarn goes, that C-.D. is giving Alec Laurenson private lessons m public speaking m anticipation' of the latter getting the billet as •manager of thc team to. visit Australia this seascn. One good turn deserves another, and as Alec; stuck, to George, so well- over -the English trip , .and intimated his < ins itentiori o£/£i.ving v _;his -*.pal rttlibi ;■ pre-, ference fori ■ the managership before 1 'even' the farce of inviting applications for the position from affiliated, unions was rung down, it":is now up' to , "wobbly" -George to repay the compliment m the shape /of this cheap v picnic to the Commonwealth. The conspiracy .was hatched, so it is al-: leged, m the back room of the*Lamb-^ ton ...Quay establishment several months ago. The glorious spectacle, of Alec returning thanks, on behalf of Ihe New. . Zealanders,- at' the functions tendered m their honor on the other side, would be worth a' hundred miles -journey on any day m the week. It would be funnier than all the combined talent that Fullers' vaudeville forges could muster. I-loxgan has intimated his intention of being back m Wellington before the season is under way. The red and blacks have secured the assist ance of O'Brien, a, Christchurch forward; while Tyne, the^ Canterbury , winger, is also likely to find his way here. this. season. - ' Poor Edgar Wylie appears to have, aged terribly since that staggering, set back at the. Wellington Rugby Union's social to the "All Black" trio _ last season. The tentacles of the climie, which did its level, best to keep / liim from obtaining the secretarysK "i cf the N.Z.R.U,. when Jack Norris went out of office, . have woven themselves round Edgar witha'deadlv grin, and he has been the tool for much of the "fishy" work that has. characterised the parent body's. Executive, . as ' witness the press incident on the occasion of the Inter-Island match, last season, and the advertising policy m regard to a certain paper m which a member of the Executive is pecuniarly interested. - „- - •'■■■■ There are so . few footballers of the calihre of' V. H. Cartwright, thb .English captain, that the announce- 1 merit of his ; intention not to participate in-V- any more international games came like a bolt 'h*om v the blue toHhe powers that be arid the football world generally, says the. "Athletic News." Bir Cartwright gives as his reasons the very feasible excuse, that he cannot spare the time, not only for playing, but 'also forthe proper fulfilment ol his duties as a member of the Selection Committee. He' also alleges that it is increas- , ingly difficult for- him to maintain his best form, and does not wish to lag superfluous on the stage. What is England's loss v/ill be Nottimgharii's gain, for it is said that he will probably assist the club of his "tiative city more or less regularly. Hq received his first International cap m 1902-3, when he played against Wales-, Ireland, arid Scotland. With the exception of the game against Ireland 1903^4, when hebad.an injured knee, he has represented England m every match, 14 m all.