SQUIRES IN CHRISTCHURCH

NZ Truth, Issue 174, 17 October 1908, Page 5

SQUIRES IN CHRISTCHURCH

0. RECEPTION BY THE SPORTS.

Hopes to Meet Burns Again. Would Sooner Fight than Talk. The religious city ol Christchurch believes itself to be the most enthusiastic patron of stoush m the Dominion, seeing that it is about to erect a commodious, expensive and up-to-date temple dedicated to biff and bruise that will be unrivalled m Australasia.- Of course m mere "boxing," as opposed to the fight to a finish, there is no brutality, and the natural pugnacity of the community rises to the surface whenever a fight is mentioned. It is not unnatural that m the centre where there are so many, practical enthusiasts, the arrival of Bill Squires, proved nghter, should excite considerable excitement^ so that when Bill drove up with the MacMahon brothers, who are running the Burns-Squires fight pictures, there was a large assemblage at the Dominion Hotel. Here the 1 camera fiend insisted upon snapping William and his immediate friends, and Bill, as he paused on the steps of the hostelry, stood the test with the courage that never left him m many a well-fought battle. Subsequently a little reception function awaited Burns's opponent m the Dominion dining-room, where AN IMPROMPTU PROGRAMME was , administered by, Dr. Thacker, who opposes Geqrge Laufenson for the Lytelleton seat. Australia's William was fatigued from over-travelling, and 'to 'ask him to hand-shake with the crowd was out of 'question, so that the Doctor, with a happy inspiration, requested everybody to stand up with bin, and consider himself introduced to the famous fighter. , ■-.■•■

Thacker, M.D.^ then made some, remarks to the effect that the crowd present—also the crowd that couldn't be accommodated—couldn't let Squires pass through the city without expressing recognition of his qualities as a sportsr man. The doctor remarked that it was a happy coincidence that Squires and himself should meet on the present occasion —not that the medical person was ' going to fight inquires (usual laughter), but because circumstances had permitted, him to sea Squires when he was training to meet Roache m the elderly country. The chairman advised those present not to judge Squires by outward appearances, which concealed his real physical proportions. He was practically, at present, a clothes screen, whereas the doctor had seen the fighter bathing • prior to the match with the British champion, and he had no hesitation m saying that William was one of the best-made men he had ever seen. The candidate for Lyttelton facetiously remarked that, he had better not say too much to the face of Squires, otherwise Burns's late adversary would imagine that the doctor wanted him to vote for hint at the next /election. tomary laughter.) Dr. Thacker made reference to a circumstance new. to some people, that' when m Hibernia, the Irish discovered that if sweet William were not Milesian, lie was at least

DESCENDED FROM THE . IRISH, -and their joy } at the discovery, coupled with appreciation of honest grit, gkul, and & Length, inspired :>them to" make a i prescrijiation to Squires ere he left the -autd sod. The demonstration which ac^ cunajpanied $& ' presentation was unparat' leJLeu m. the 'history ol any prize fighter's b'ls, and the travelled Squires had subset qvamlj acknowledged that he was more overcome by that spontaneous outburgt ol enthusiasm than by any function m his honor that he had experienced m his •Varied career. Dr.. T-hacker used to own a horse called Sir Hector, and to mat: •ters pugilistic h* likened Bill unto that speedy animal/ m that m a fight he was always eager to go. The figjht with the old world champion, Roache, was' ■ described pithily by the Chairman, from (hand-shake to the .blow that sent 1 William's opponent into dreamland. The doctor expressed his belie! that m the course of time Squires would overcome Burns, .and mentioned that it was a mere matr'ter of the Aiisfcralian- finding out his op|ponent!s weakness, his habits, and eccentriciti«s;

William/s health was drunk with enthusiasm and musical honors, Canterbury "Times" Atack leading off the famous "Ahe, ake.V N.Z. war cry at the close. Then, for the first time, Squires looked surprised and smiled.

The great scrapper, when he rose to respond, , looked a most unpretentious person ; some people thought 'he was even embarrassed, He was

BRIEF, FRANK, OPEN, and to the point. He remarked that he had travelled a bit, but perhaps the finest sportsmen he bad ever met were m New, Zealand. All going well, he expected to be m Sydney on Boxing Day, when he would challenge the winner of the fight between Champion Burns and Darkey Johnson, and he hoped to have a good chance against fhe survivor. Squires explained, with modesty, that he wasn't m best "shape", when he met the world's champion m Australia,, a statement endorsed, with applause, by the crowd, but he hoped to get there m the next fight." William is not a man of words, and the speech was all too brief for those present, so that when the resourceful A tack suggested that Squires should give an opinion of what he thought of Burns's lighting, the Australian arose with an indescribable expressions on his face. "Well, he's pretty touch," he said, and laiughter followed. "lie is recognised in -America as the fastest heavy-weight the world has seen," pursued Squires ; and he fights with, both hands." (There was a lot of expression m the last remark, which was duly appreciated.) Questioned as. to Burns's method ol planting his blows, William said that Noah Brusso was a'good in-fighter. His best point was in-clinching. "I knew nothing about that style of lighting when l landed m America," acknowledged Bill, "biit they teach you that over there and you have to learn it." The succeeding laughter was appreciative. One remarkable feature about the speech of Squires is that he has acquired a faint 'Murkan twang, which is said to be infectious, oven if one has been m America (sufficiently long obly . . . : TO KISS A PRETTY GIRL. Perhaps it is through association with Burns Thomas, who calls himself . "Tahmy." • Toasts followed, and some interesting things were said.- "Star" Mitchell , remarked, for instance, that a few years ago boxing stank m the' nostrils of the New Zealand people, and mention of light acted upon them as the word "drink" does now upon a prohibitionist, or "smoking" upon such well-known characters? as Dr. Russell and Hornibrook. Now, public opinion had changed completely. This was said m proposing "The Mew Zealand Boxing Council." Atack endorsed this. Ten years ago'it was not possible to hold a fight m New Zealand, but the circumstance was attributed by the speaker to the'boxers themselves, who introduced so many "fakes" into the contests that the public regarded them as things unclean. He made reference to the surprising fact tnat New Zealand was the only place m the world, where absolute control of the sport had been handed over to a private body like the N.Z. Boxing Council, which controlled both the amateur and professional branches of stoush. lie hoped that by the time next season started Ohristchurch Sports Club would have a building of its own which would be better m every respect than that of the National Sports Club m Sydney. Atack repudiated the insinuation that boxing was brutal, and stated that m football, ,a fine sport, there were greater evidences of brutality. The speaker said they didn't want . NAMBY-PAMBY SPORTS, and boxing and kindred virile games were better than that the. rising young man should hang round certain resorts at night ogling girls with amorous intentions. (Loud applause.) .Jim MacMahon, who is picturing the

famous fight, projfosed "The Ohristchurcb Sports Club" m » a happy, eulogistic speech, which contained the inevitable funny story. "Dicky" Dixon responded, and other toasts were got off, most of the speakers rebutting the allegation that there was anybrutality about boxing. The talkers' included Messrs Ashman, Grant, Waxmam and Dr. Moorehouse (a prominent local enthusiast). , ■ j • Before the meeting closed Dr. Thacker expressed the hope that they would 'have ,the pleasure of seeing Squires fight at ! the opening of the new Boxing Hall m Christchurch, possibly with no less a personage than Tommy Burns. In reply, the sturdy . guest of the gathering said that nothing would give him greater pleasure— either with 'Burns or Johnson. "I don't draw the color line," remarked William, amidst applausa. Cheers for Bill closed the proceedings.