THEM N.Z. FOOTBALLERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 3 (Supplement)

THEM N.Z. FOOTBALLERS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. AUCKLAND, March' 6. The New Zealand footballers who played in tho Home Country returned by "the Sonoma to-day, 22 of the 28 member*of the team being aboard. Of the remaining six, Glenn anil Harper are returning by the Suez route, Johnston and Seeling make the direct trip, and Roberts and Wallace come forward by the next San Francisco mail steamer.

Tho welcome accorded to the team was worthy of, their great deeds, a huge crowd pvceting tho men with tremendous enthusiasm. As soon as it became known that the steamer was sighted hundreds of people poured in from all part* of the city. By n quarter past 2, when the vessel dropped anchor, some thousands had assembled along the wharves and water front. At half-past 2 the health officer went out to clear the boat, accompanied by the Premier (who had come up from the south to welcome the team), Mr A. E. G. Rhodes (president of the N.Z.R.U.), Mr E. Wylie (secretary of that body), and Mr C. E. MaeCorinick (secretary of the Auckland Union). The team gathered on the upper 'deck, and as the launch approached three hearty cheers were given for Mr Seddon, ■who replied with the Native greeting, "Kia ora.''

On board (ho Sonoma the Premier extended a welcome home to the team on behalf of the colony, Mr Rhodes doing the same on behalf of the New Zealand Union. It was at once seen that the men were in line health. Every man carried more woicht than when h« went awav. and all looked fit and well. The players all expressed themselves as dcliuhled with the triii. and equally delighted at returning home. A couple of ferry steamers with large crowds alioard circled round the cteatner as she lay at anchor, the passengers sending up cheer after cheer as they caught, sight of the returning,player?. When the vessel was cleared, one of the steamers chartered by the Rugby Union ranged alongside, and a number of daring enthusiasts elamliered aboard to greet their friends. The men then tiled down tin gangway to the deck of the steamer to t'.d strains of ''See the conquering bo g comes." When they reached the louavjjj tiie crowd hail swollen to at, least iu,:—i; and to the accompaniment of continuous and enthusiastic cheering they regained Now Zr-aland soil after an absence of seven months.

Followed by cheering crowds they were driven 10 their hotel, whore further greet--111 frs were exchanged. Thence they wore 'driven at 5 o'clock to tin- Municipal Chambers, where, on Philson's stpiaro. the official welcome took place. A dense crowd of people numbering about 5000 or 6000 assembled here, and :i renewed outburst of cheering greeted flu; arrival of tho team. The Mayor (.Mr A. M. Myers) presided. The Premier was on Ihe platform, am) Admiral Fawkes. who had sent a message of reeliuii io the team when they were still on the mail boat, was also present. The [fathering could not have been more enthusiastic. I lie speeches of welcome being attentively listened to. and spontaneous ami hearty applause following references to the team and its work. Cheers were given for the individual members of the lea in as they filed on to the platform, the heartiest being, not unnaturally, for Gallaher, the popular skipper. The Mayor, in welcoming the team home, referred Io I lie privilege gained by Auckland in being the first to welcome the Now Zealand team on its return to Ihe colony, and lie congratulated the team on its splendid achievements. — (Cheers.) He. need not, fell them with what interest and pride their career had been Matched. Their successes brought credit to the whole colonv, and their doings were followed In- Iheir fellow New Zoalandors. The most sanguine could hardly have anticipated the phenomenally successful tour, which would never be forgotten. The team went to England unnoticed, but came away ns England's honoured guests, from his Maiesly the King downwards. The Premier, in rising to officially welcome the team, was very warmly cheered. 71c expressed appreciation of tho hearty manner in which Auckland had welcomed the team, a welcome of which the whole colony would be proud. Tho team went willi Ihe intention of playing the nationalgame. Teams had gone before, and the Native team had left its mark, but when the " All-Blacks." superseding the " Brown" riiid representing; the "All-Whiles." went Io the Old Country what a change their pla.y worked, fn the Welsh international the men had gallantly fought an uphill game to the limsh. They had not questioned theresult, but in their hearts, and in the opinion of most people, it was recognised that morally this was not a defeat but. a. try to a try.—(Cheers.) Me believed that, the Xew '/calandcrs bad desired to be genevou=. Nothing in Wales had happened for years that had brought it into such prominence as the. try against the New Zoaiandors. One read of them as being footballers, and one also read of them as being true gentlemen, and the generous cantain of ill" ve«?el on which they came out spoke of them in flie highest terms. In the whole course, of his experience he had never met a large body of young men who were so wll conducted. .Even on the last night aboard there was nothing to take exception to. At such a time it might haw been exrusfd, oven in such an old stager n.-s himself, to get-well, a little jolly. Tho Premier then read a letter ho had received fmm tho TTidli Commissioner, in which Mr Reeves, after mentioning the assistance given to the team, said this: "Of their athletic achievements I neod not speak, Itocause. these arc now known wherever football is a pastime." The High Commissioner bore, tostiinony to the admirable personal conduct of tho members of the team off tho field a- well as on. Something, the Premier said, was no doubt due to flie tact and firmness of thoir manager, Mr Dixon, and to the sportsmanlike example of Air Gallaher, the captain; but the main credit, of course, had been owing to the men themselves. He also spoke of the service; rendered by tho alisont members of Ihe team. With regard to the wing forward, he did not hesititc to say that in future their kindred in Ihe Mother Country would in all their important matches have their u-ing forward, whom they would remember as one of many things taught by the " All-Pilaeks."—(Applause.) He considered it not only a duty hut. an honour to be in Auckland and to participate in ihe welcome homo of the New Zealand representative Ruebv learn.—(Cheers.)

1/rd by Mr Soddon, cheers snob as perhaps have never been heard before in Auckland were given for the "All Blacks," and later for the Premier, Mr Dixon, and Captain Gallaher. His Worship then called unon Mr Dixon to reply, ami ( The manager rose amid another wild outbreak of cheeriiig. The members of the Xew Zealand team, lie said, appreciated to I!k> fullest possible extent the honour that h:v! been conferred upon iliem. They naturally thought that footballers would welcome them on their return, but did not dream that tlio whole population—men awl women alike—would become for the moment footballers. But that was what it appeared, lie expressed gratitude for the manner in which the team had been received, and for the appreciation of the efforts of the team to uphold the honour of the colony upon the football field. It afforded him the Greatest possible pleasure to assure bis Varcvs that their representatives had r-'ayed the game both on and off the field: had behaved, as the peonle of New Zealand would have them behave, as. men and Eonilemen an<l as Xew Zoa.lan tiers. They ronld lie sure that when the team was rereived by his Majesty the King it was not merely beoausp they were successful footballers. The King was. a very well-informed person, and knew what be was doing. Ho knew that he was receiving the representatives nf amateur sport, and rer.utablo representatives (no. He (Mr Dixon) thanked thorn very heartily indeed for the glorious reception accorded the team. They had travelled many miles and had met many yi'vinlfl. hut none like fliciM—their own folk. To a man I liny were delighted to a--' back to Xew Zealand. Th» X~w Zealand captain was then called on by the crowd, and again hearty ch"ors rang nut as be rose. Ho endorsed all that. Mr Dixon had said. When they started on tb"ir redouhiab'e career they had hopes of

•ivinnme every match, but. as the Premier ha'i said, thev were beaten bv the Welsh V'k. TVv did not go behind their backs to ini': -.b:mt the Welshmen, hut candidly said lh.it. o]l t], P Jay. the better team won. He b,i(i only on.' recommendation to make to the Nov,- Zealand Union if ever it undertook such another tour, and that was to play the WVsh matches first. He thanked thorn cue and ;i || f or the heartv welcome •mm H.. .„!,] „ \ r \\ m i<, to the X Z.R.U. for anno : nti'ig Mr Dixon, to control them. He called for three cheers for Mr .Dixon, which '.vi'vo very heartily responded to. The. rrcept : o<! concluded with all round cheering for the team, the Premier, the Mavor. and Admiral Fawkes.

In the pveninjr tli,> team wns rnWtsinpd at o hnv.c\wt in thf Drill Flail liv the NW Zr-alanc! Ris»bv Union, aiumi 200 pnwlf present, 'wlud''<? in the number lieinr the Premier, th" Trader nf tin o|.posHio" the Mayor, filonnl n,ivk Mi«sr= J. ,-\ Millar. 'MS Kidd. oiul F. K. R,nm--. M.H.P,.V and tbr onVn of (lie Ii.M.S. J-'ojvirr'ii Th» pmr<;-'<iinsr.; were characterised by extraordinary enthusiasm. After

an excellent banquet had been partaken o[ the toast list was commenced, there being close upon 20 speeches, interspersed with songs, sot down upon the programme. Each member of the team was presented with a medal commemorative of the victories over .Scotland, Ireland, England, ami France, each member being applauded as he stepped forward. Framed photographs of the team wore also presented to each, the Premier receiving similar presentations. AUCKLAND. March 7. Tho southern section of the New Zeafootball team, accompanied by Mr A. E. G. Rhodes (president of the Now Zealand Rugby Union) and Mr E. Wyllio (secretary), left for their homes by the Kotoiti to-day. A large number of enthusiasts gathered on the railway platform to bid them farewell.

This morning tho team voiced appreciation of their manager's efforts by presenting Mr Dixon with a handsomo silver teapot. Mr Wyllio made the presentation. Mr Dixon expressed his appreciation of the manner in which be had boon supported by tho team and of the assistance which they had on all occasions accorded him.

Tho southern members of the team wore officially received and welcomed at Wellington, Christchureh, Duncdin, and Inverea-r----gill as they proceeded to their various home* The Duncum representatives (Messrs Duncan. Casov, Booth, and M'Donald) and the Southland representative (Mr Stead) were welcomed by a largo and enthusiastic gathering of prominent citizens, politicians, and football enthusiasts in the Garrison Hall on the 10th iust. Appreciative welcome speeches wero delivered by Mi F. H. Campbell (on behalf of the Rugby Union), the Mayor, Mr Rraithwuiiit (on behalf of (lie citizens), and the Hon. Mr M'Gowan (Minister of Mines and Justice).

Mr Casey was accorded an enthusiastic welcome by his clubmates and friends in the Forbtiry School Gymnasium on (lie 14th hist., and was presented with a memento in honour of bis inclusion in tho team.