CHEERFUL BAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27389, 15 May 1950, Page 4

CHEERFUL BAND

All-night Queue CARISBROOK TICKETS “The box plan will open on Monday.” This announcement has been displayed in the press for some days, yet to the thousands of Rugby supEorters who will be going to Carisrook next Saturday to see the match between Britain and Otago it has had little meaning. For them the prospect of getting a seat appears so remote that even an attempt is not considered worth while. Furthermore, many think there would not be sufficient compensation in any Rugby match for the ordeal of sitting out all night to make sure of buying four seats. A directly opposite view has been taken by a small band of enthusiasts who began to gather in the doorway of Begg’s at an early hour yesterday afternoon. When the Daily Times called on them at 10.30 last night their numbers had been swelled to 12 and none was going to be relieved from that hour on.

The first to arrive was a young man, who took up his post next to the door at 2 p.m. Two hours later he was joined by a young woman, who wasted no time in setting up a large deck chair and arranging cushions and hot water bottles so as to get the maximum of comfort. The prestige gained by the man in being first to arrive was lowered a few hours later when a friend who had been out tramping for the week-end came to relieve him. The arrangement was for the tramper to do the night vigil, for he would be

so tired after his efforts that it would be no trouble for him to sleep. The woman, on the other hand, came with the intention of staying a matter in all of 15 hours. Two other women were near the head of the queue and they also intended seeing the night through. One of them has been in every Ranfurly Shield queue for the past few years. “People think we are mad,” she said, “but we would rather sit here in reasonable comfort all night and perhaps sleep a little than stand for hours and then not see the match properly.” One of the men said that he would have taken a chance on the terrace but his ageing parents could go to the game only if seats were available. Four students took up a position in the next shop doorway. Included in their equipment were a cake and some liquid refreshment. One of them is celebrating his twenty-second birthday today, and his friends were.just waiting for the midnight chimes. At 12 o’clock, the girl in the deckchair was to provide hot tea for any who wanted it. She had arranged with a “place around the corner” for the supplies.

Because of the restrictions on power no lights other than torches were available. The majority were pleased with this state of affairs for. there was every prospect of a good night’s sleep. The first interruption would be the arrival of the less hardy enthusiasts who were expected from about 3 a.m. After that it would only be a matter of waiting for the doors to open.