COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO THE VISITORS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8596, 11 September 1889, Page 2

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO THE VISITORS.

The Auckland team were entertained by the Otago Rugby Football Association last evening at a complimentary dinner held in the City Hotel. The president of the union, Dr Coughtrey, occupied the chair, and was supported on the right by Mr Wellß, captain of the visiting team, and on the left by Mr Torrance, captain of the Otago team. Afttr ample justice had been done to the good things provided by Host Nixson, The Chairman proposed " The Queen and Boyal Family " in a neat speech. The Chairman then proposed the health of the Auckland team, remarking that when in the early part of the season it was doubted whether Auckland would send down a team, members of the union felt that the season would not be a success without a match between two such teams. Interprovincial jealousies were disappearing, and this happy result was to a large extent due to the visits of interprovincial teams. The good done by the visit of the English team was evident in every important match played since their advent, but in none so much as that played that day. He wished to specially drawattention to the fact that their visitors from Auokland had visited them aa an amateur team, paying all their own expenses, and he hoped they would soon send a team to Auckland on the same lines. The union had found the Anckland fellowß a sterling lot, and to entertain whom was a great pleasure. He hoped they would carry away pleasant memories of their visit. The toast,, coupled with the name of the Auckland captain, Mr Wells, was drunk with uproarious applause. Mr Weils, in responding, said he regretted that the task hud not been in abler hands. He was glad to be able to say that the contest was the most pleaBant they had ever played. He concluded by proposing the " Otago Team." Mr Torrance, in responding, endorsed the remarks of the Auckland captain regarding the friendly nature of the match, and said that although he should liked to have seen the Otago team win, he considered it no small honour to make a draw with such a powerful team. Ho wished the Auckland team no less fortune during the remainder of their tour. Eegarding a suggestion by Mr Wells that line umpires should be appointed in interprovincial matches, he fully endorsed the idea, and hoped in future to see it carried into practice. "The Umpires and Heferee," "The Eugby Union," were the other toasts proposed and responded to. During the evening songs and recitations were given by Messrs B. Towsey, Montgomery, Sonntag, Marchbanks, Eestieaux, Milne. Isaacs, and others.