FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14283, 4 August 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

♦ O.R.F.U. COMMITTEE. ■JPhe weekly meeting of tho ■ O.R.F.U. Committee, held last evening, was presided over by Mr J Hutchison, Thero was a good attendance di members. Tho Secretary of the South Otago Subunion wrote that tho South Otago representative team would arrive in Uuiicdih on Friday evening, August M.—Received. The Secretary ot the Y.AI.U.A. Olub wrote that as tucy were not able to raise a full team they had had to abandon the Third Grade team.— Referred to tho Flag Committee. Tho Secretary of Uho Zingari-Richmond Club wrote asking permission to mako a presentation to A. Patterson, consequent uuon his being picked as one- of tho Now Zealand reprvaOirtaiie!3.~Urantcd. The Secretary of tho Ravensbourne Club wrote that Ravonsbourno Second would not be ab!o to meet its engagement on Saturday.—Received. Tho Secretary of tho Kaikorai Club wrote asking permission to make a presentation to 11 Thomson, who would Icavo for England shortly.—Urantod. Mr Haydon wrote intimating that'he liad had occasion to caution a Kaikorai player lor swearing in the Kaikorai-Zin-gari-Riehmond Fifth Grado match.—Namo to bo recorded in tho usual way. It was further resolved that the Referees' Association bo requested to tako strong action to put down tho use- of bad language among players. _ \ Mr H. Chapman wrote stating that he had had to caution two players in tho match between Kaikorai Second and West Taieri. A member of the West Taieri team had struok a Kaikorai player, but alleged that the latter struck him first 1 , Tho Kaikorai player had held an opponent after ho had parted with tho ball. Tho writer felt satisiiod that foul play was going on. At the conclusion o£-tho match a brother of tho West Taieri player had challenged a Kaikorai playvr to fight.—Names to bo recorded. Tho Railway Traffic Superintendent wrote re tho alleged disturbance in a train on Juty 4, and stated that tho football teams travelling by the 5.18 p.m. train did not give causo (or remark. The team whoso conduct had been commented on travelled 1 from Mo3gicl to Dunedin by the 7.36 p.m. train. It was thought that beer drinking openly while travelling in a train was displeasing to passengers.—Tho Chairman said he did not think thoro was any doubt that Mr Grant was right in tho last expression of opinion. There was a curious phase in . connection with tho matter. It ; liad been stated at last meeting by the manager of tho Dunedin team that ho had made inquiries, and had ascertained that tho gentleman who had. mado tho- complaint was a passenger by tho 5.18 trainj not the 7.36 av all; so that tho occurrence took placo in the train in which the traffic manager said there was no oauso for any remark as to misconduct. \ Thoso they had asked to attend that evening to givo evidence were actual passengers by tiie 5.18 train. Ho supposed they had bettor have them in — Mr Hairis: Is it worth while having them hi.—After somo slight discussion, a party of youths wore called in, and gave, evidence. —A member of tho Dunedin Fifth tcami said there was no drinking at all —only turnip eating so jar as his team was concerned.—A T;M.C.A. man said his team was in the 5.18 train, and was no horeo play, but.there was a littlo singing.— One of tho Dunedin Fifth Grade team v stated that there»was beer drinking. Thero were about six bottles of beer brought on to the train at Mosgiol. Tho T.M.O.A. had the beer. He waa suro of that, but did not know (lie names of tho players. His own team had no beer at all. Ho did not see the Ravensbourne team.—A, T.M.C.A. man said it was not, so far as ho knew, a fact that four rncnihers of his team had, been suspended.—Another witness, a Dunedin man, said ho smelt beer on somo of the Y.M.C.A. team who came into the carriage.—Another, a Y.M.C.A, player, said ho never saw Tbeer among his crowd, Tho Ravensboutno players > had somo beer in their carriage. Thoro was a r : ■ .' .»

bit of singing there.—Tho witnesses having retired, tho Chairman said . the evidence made it clearer that the trouble- was on board the 5.18 train.—Mr M'Laren stated that he was informed that the Y.M.C.A. Committee, had not stisocuded any players, but it had recently put four players out of tho club for misconduct—for swearing on the field.—D.r Crawford moved that the secretary of the Y.M.C.A. bo written to and requested that all tho members of tho Y.M.C.A. torn that travelled to Mosgiel on that day be. instructed to attend the meeting of tho Rugby Committee next : Monday evening; also that the players present, that evening attend.—Mr Campbell said ho would liko to know the position I the Rugby Union intended taking up in . the matter.: Was it going to say that beer , should not be allowed in a railway carriage. No one said there was objectionable conduct. There was no evidence of i that. There was evidence that the, teams ; had beer and turnips; but was this com- ■ mitteo going to punish them for. that?— Mr M'Laren: We should suspend any teams i found with, beer in their possession in the . train.—The motion moved by Dr Crawford ■ was then carried, with the addition that tho traffic superintendent be written to, i thanking him for his letter, and pointing i out that there was some misconception in ■ the matter—that, it was suggested that it i was the 5.18 train; not tho 7.36 twin coni corning which complaint was made, and - informing him that the committee was i further investigating the subject. ; The Hope of Caversham Lodge, 1.0. G.T., forwarded a copy of a resolution passed at s a concert—" That this meeting regards the i scandalous statement concerning Invercar- ; gill and Duncdin attributed to Mr Harnett i and endorsed by Mr W. Thomson as I cowardly and insulting, and. trusts the • O.R.F.U. will take steps to have the ' matters brought under tho notice of tho : English Union, with a view of. obtaining • an apology from Mr Harnett."—The Score- ' tary of tho Pioneer Lodge forwarded th© <■ same resolution, which had been passed by > it.—The Chairman observed thf.t one difficulty about complying with'the request of - the temperance lodges was that the English i •■<.tbv Union was in no sense, identified s with Mr Harnett's expressions of views on '• subjects in which it was not concerned. Mr > Harnett was not its mouthpiece on qucs- ' tions of temperance and morality in Now • Zealand, but merely gave his individual ' opinion.—Mr Thomson said he would move " that they notify the' lodges that they coukl • take no action at all, and this was seconded t by Mr Duncan.—The Chairman said lie did 1 not think that was tho position to take up. 1 He thought they might communicate with J Mr Harnett, and let him know of these reso- ' lutions that had been passed, and so place ' him in a position to take what action he " pleased.—A Member: I don't think so. Mr 1 Harnett is perfectly right in what he says v concerning InvorcargiU.—Tho Cliairman J said there was indisptuablo evidenco that • there was a good deal of drinking at Inver--3 cargill on the day the British team played } there, but it was possiblo that Mr Harnett ' Was misled by the occurrence, and formed 8 erroneous opinions about tho operation of " no-license in Invercargill. What seemed to I him unfortunate was that the publication f of Mr Harnett's N viows had been,reserved ! -, until the very eve.of his departure from II Now Zealand. With regard, to the other 1 allegation that had been attributed to Mr " Harnett—that affecting tho reputation of 1 Dunedin,—ho (the chairman) expressed tho 5 . hope that it was possiblo that iti this connection an injustice might havo been done to Mr Harriett. It seemed to have escaped 8 notice that the remark ascribed to Sir Har--1 nett was made in'the course of private con- • versation, that it was not intended for publication, and that, as a matter of fact, " it was not published until a fortnight after , it was spoken; and tho speaker questioned • whether it was altogether fair to judge a man upon a chance remark when there was _ no information before them, respecting tho ' context, and when it was quite possible that if the whole conversation was reproduced it would be found that tho statement ' in point was not an unqualified one. Ho j did not know what opportunities Mr Harnett had of judging of the morality of s Dunedin—he thought they wore very slight, —but, 6peakdng with the knowledge derived of the fact that he was, of necessity, a great deal about the streets at night—and late at night—he had a very clear convic tion that Dunedin was quite Temarkably free from public immorality.—Mr M'Laren said the matter was outside the union's jurisdiction. He wxm-ld not take a 'statement by Mr Harnett very seriously after what he had seen of him.' The matter did not come within matters the union had to deal with at all. Ho thought they should write to the ledges, and say it did nob come within the union's province at allMr. Macdonald also said he thought it was outside the jurisdiction of the union.—The motion was then carried in the form, that the lodges be informed that tho union could not see its way to toko any action, the committee considering the question raised was outside ita jurisdiction. Sattjbdaj'b Matches. The following matches have been arranged for Saturday:— • First Grade.—Dunedin v. Zingari-Ricb-mond, on the Caledonian Ground; Alhambra v. Southern, on Carisbrook No. 1; Kaikorai v. University, at Bishopscourt; Port Chalmers v. Union, on the North Ground • Pirates • v. Taieri Hovers,- on Tahtma No. 1. Second Grad o :—University v. Port Chalmers, at Port Chalmers; Southern A. v .Taieri Royers, on Forbury No. G; West Taieri v. Zingsm-P.ichmorjd, at Outram; Union v Y.M.C.A., on Forbury-No. 2; Pirates'v! Kaikorai, on Forbury No. 3; Aihambr* v. Southern B, on Tahuna No. 2; Dunedin v Ravensbourne, on Carisbrook No. 2. High Schools' Matches. The following will represent tho Waitaki High School m. tho annual matches with the Otago High School, on Carisbrook, on Wednesday afternoon:—First Fifteen: fhithio. Forbes, H. Marshall, Deans, Toswill, Hudson A. Marshall,' M'Lityre, Steele, Rout, On°ley ; (captain), Motloy, Charters. Carta, JoSes. Second Fifteen: Baxter, Hislop, Berham, Ronch, Tait. Pyle, A. Rout, Croft, Birdling Fisher (captain), Kaine, Moss, Sutherland, Thomson. OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. Chambers and Paton have intimated tliat they will bo unablo to go to Invercargill for the match Ote,go v. Southland tomorrow, and tho vacancies thus created have boon filled hy Don and Watt. Graham has been selected ai emergency. FOOTBALL IN VINCENT COUNTY. (Fsoji Ora own Cokmspondent.) ALEXANDRA, August 3. The flag fixtures under tho control of the Vincent Sub-union have }ust been concluded, and the Cromwell team has gained tne honour of premiers for this 6eascn, with Alexandra second. During the season tho play, taken all round, has been of a very creditable standard. Tho back display lias been, as usual) very good, whilst tlie_forwards havo shown a vast improvement, clearly proving that the institution of "country week" has been the moans of greatly advancing tho game in this county. The improved play is in no small degree duo to the services rendered to the Vincent team by Mr G. Thomson (of 'Varsity fame), who lias acted as, coach for tho team since "country week" was inaugurated. , "" On Saturday last a trial game—North v. South—was played at Cromwell to select the Vincent team for " country week." The ■game was a.particularly fast forward one, and closely contested, North winning by ft penalty goal (kicked by Dwyer)tonil. After the match the following! players were selected to uphold the honour of Vincent: Full back, Davidson (Clyde); tKreequarters— Richardson (Alexandra), Dwyer and Jollv (Cromwell); five-eighths, Va.rcoo and Cahiil (Cromwell); half back. King (Alexandra); forwards—Davidson (Clyde), Morgan and Pa-rtridgo (Alexandra), Thomas, Tiza.nl, and Talboys (Cromwell), Holdon (Lowburn), wing, Dcnnision (Alexandra). Emergencies —Back, Willson (Lcwburn); forwards, Crawford (Clyde). *■ Mr .7. Swarm has been appointed manager of the team, which is regarded as the strongest that has ever represented Vincent in Duncdin. The display of tho bach, tho majority of whom arc known to the Duncdin public, will be awaited with keen interest in these parts, more especially from the fact that tho forwards arc a powerful combination. The vanguard is far supe/ior to that of last year, and great things are expected of rhom. Every back is a splendid kick, and the throe-qiiartei line a tho fastest that lias dono battle to Vincent. SOUTH' OTAGO SENIOR FLAG. The final for tho South Otago Senior Flas wns played at Balclutha on Saturday be tween Clinton and Owaka, and resulted it a draw. Owaka therefor© wins the bannei for the fourth time in succession, as thej were leading before lry 1'" point. Tin ground was in perfect order, and there wn; o big crowd of interested spectators. Ii the first, spell no score was registered S though play was at all times most exciting and tries were just missed by inches Fifteen minutes after the start of the sneonc spell Kean scored a good try for Clintoi after a forward rush. Play then becann 1 even moTC exciting, and Owaka were all ou i for a. score. There were juet four minute, | to go, when T. V. Latta, the Owafei, win; forward, snapped up tho leather' near thi 1 ctaW

Timo was called shortly after, when play was near half-way. Mr P. 0. Hislop was a most capable rofcreo. Tho game was easily tho best seen on tho Balclutha ground this season, and some of the forward rushes were a treat to witness, the ball travelling from one end of tho field to thcj?ther with great rapidity.