THE CHAMPION SCULLER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13983, 16 August 1907, Page 5

THE CHAMPION SCULLER.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

(Per United 1 Press Association.) ■ w ™IN«TON, August 15. \\. Webb, winner of tho sculling championship, returned by the Monowai this morning, ami was met by a largo number of enthusiasts, including many Wungatuii residents.

Webb was accorded a most, enthusiastic reception at the Town Hall thit; afternoon. 1 arhameiit had risen half an hour earlier than usual, to enable members to be present. Hugo crowds of people attended, tho utmost enthusiasm was displayed, iho Mayor (tho Hon. T. W. Ilislop) ox tended to tho champion seuller tho hearty congratulations of Wellington and Now Zealand generally. It was a pleasing feature that Hie champion wag a son of an old colonist, who was highly respected at lijttclton, where he had lived 40 years. He hoped Webb would retain' the chamP'onship for many years, and when advancing years caused him to surrender the lionouv it, would be to a New Zealander. Iho Pnmo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) expressed great pleasure thev nil felt at having; tho champion sculler of the world m their midst. He congratulated Webb on his win. It was to the credit of the umpire that ono little incident which had occurred was not allowed to stand in the way of the result,, while his opponent had generously acknowledged ill the spirit of a sportsman that, tho best man had won, oir Joseph agreed with Webb that, the next contest for the championship should be rowed on tho Wangamii River. lie hoped \icbb would long continue to hold tho cnammonehip. M.H.R., congratulated Webb, on behalf of the Maori race w n V ' H ' Fi^ d ' IIJ ' LR '> also Wpl)b was vociferously cheered when ho rose to respond. Ho said that but for his trainer, Barnett, he- probably would not have won. Ho also praised the sportsmanlike way m which Mr Tuck, of Wunganui, ea,mo forward and provided the. money which enabled the match to take placo. After Mr Tuck and Mr Barnett had 6pokori tho audience broke into 9 renewed cheering, waved their hats, and sang "follies a jolly good, follow."

(Fhom Odb Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 15. The House of Representatives, at the instigation of -the Prime Minister, adjourned this afternoon shortly after 5 o'clock to enable mombers to attend the reception to Webb, the champion Soulier. Only a very limited number of members of the House, however, attended Ihe function. Aft Webb walked on to the platform behind the Mayor and the Prime Ministor no was greeted with round after round of cheering from about 1500 people, who had assembled in tho Town Hall. Webb, in ordinary clothes, is jusc »about the last one a oasual onlooker would 1 pick out as the champion sculler of the world, and I was surprised to see that his hair was liberally streaked ivifch groy. Ha was welcomed in brief speeches by tho Mayor and tho Prime Minister.

Tho lattor said that during the lastfow weeks the colonies had been doing wonders. A South Australian had won the shooting championship in England. A Victorian had won the lawn tennis championship of tho world; and it took a Now Zealander to win the double event in tho same sport; while Webb had taken the sculling championship to New Zealand.—(Cheers.) Tho fift.li record was obtained in the boxing world, for, though Squires did not. win, he was blocked out by an American in record time.— (Laughter.) He hopod Webb would hold for a long time the huirols which ho now so modestly wore.—(Loud cheering.) An unique feature of the reception was a speech of welcome on behalf of the Maori people, delivered by Mr Ngata, one of the Maori mombers of Parliament. It was indeed the best, of all the speeches, being excellent in sentiment and perfect, in tho correctness of its English. He said that in e.very Maori settlement throughout New Zealand Webb's victory would be known as the event of the year. He cleverly applied a.n old Maori proverb-" When tho school of fish has passed Nakutaurua thoy do not go_ hack." This place, is well known as a point on the coast of tho North Island. Moderni-sinn that, old proverb, lie would say that Mr Webb, having brought tho championship to New Zealand, it would not go back.—(Cheers.) Mr Ngata concluded bv dramatically reciting the famous " Kamate" chorus, concluding with a free translation of the last line—" Tho sun shines on our victory," On resuming his he received quite an ovation. Webb, who was greeted with renewed cheering, replied in a very modest speech. It had been said when lie got to Sydney that ho did not know how he would ?et on against. OhaTlio Towns, but that if he and Georgo Towns were matched at speechmaking the winner would be hard to pick. —(Laughter.) Webb ' nevertheless now made a very sensible and modest' littlo speech. Messrs Bavnett (trainer) and Tuck (who found the sinews of war) also made speeohw, the latter hemp greeted with cries of " Speak up, Billy!" He referred to Webb's honesty and integrity. "He will never lack a man to hack him while I live," lie concluded, and tho audionce cheered attain. Mr Harnett'said they had had a hard bailie, but had come out on top, "and," lie added, "I assure you he will do it again."—(Cheering.) Afterwards Webb was the centro of an admiring crowd, and about a couple of hundred people insisted on shaking hands with him. This evening at the supper adjournment Webb was the guest of members of Parliament.

On being questioned by a Past reporter regarding the alleged foul, Webb ea-id'he did not regard it as vital to the race.

"Which coiueo do you liko the better— tho Parra-matta or the Wanjanui?" asked the reporter.

"Well, of course, you know. I am used to the Wangantii, and naturally profcr it. to the Paramatta, which has many points of difficulty to a stranger." " What aro your plans with regard to tho challenges?" was tho next- question. "Well, you'd better ask Mr Tuck about thai," was tho response. "I leavo arrangements to him; but I can assure you the next race will be rowed on th« Wanganui River." Hi- Tuck stated that thev had three months to dccido what to do in the matter of the chnllcntro by Tressider. The race would come off .almost [or a. certainly in February, and would, of course, bo rowed at Wanganui. With regard to the reported challenge on tho part of Oeonrc Towns to row the conqueror of his brother Charles, tho truth of the matter was it struck him as absurd. Ho wanted the next race to be rowed at Wanganui, in any case.