THE SMOKE CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1921, 14 September 1888, Page 26

THE SMOKE CONCERT.

In the evening the teams were entertained at a smoke concert at the City Hotel. Dr Coughtrey, president of the Rugby Union, occupied the chair, and there were about 70 present. A number of capital songs and recitations were given, and a very pleasant evening was spent, the company breaking up about half-past 11 ; Dr Coughtrey, in proposing the health of the visiting team, referred to the good feeling that had always existed between Otago and Canterbury since they first met in the football, field 11 years ago. That good feeling had not got one whit less during all this time, but had rather increased. — (Applause.) Speaking of the game that day he could not say that he regarded it us au entirely satisfactory one, It was quite possible that the football season, owing to the visit of the English team early in the year, had been prolonged to such an extent that the men were now stale. That was probably one reason why the game was not so good as might have been expected. Another reason was because this ephemeral boom which was going on in the sister colony of Victoria had attracted some of the best players of Otago and Canterbury, so that each team was to some extent weakened. He was one of those who believed in New Zealand, and he , could not see why our young men, looking to the future life which this country possessed and its varied resources, should be attracted by what he might term the fictitious success which bad recently attended the colony of Victoria. In the long run they might look forward to their coming back again to take part in their various avocations and the different games in which they competed.— (Applause.) One thing they were now looking forward to, and from which they would no doubt gain a great deal of benefit, was the return of the English team. — (Applause.) And in this connection he might say that the good feeling of the other unions in the South Island had been shown by their cordiality in agreeing that the South Island match should ba played in Dunedin — a proposition to which there had not been the slightest dissent. The Otago Rugby Union felt deeply tne courtesy that had been shown in this matter, and this graceful act on the part of other unions would be remembered by Otago for a long time to come. In connection with the return of the Englishmen there was one reminiscence to which he might refer — namely, the loss of their captain. He had come a good deal in contact with poor Seddon during theu»isit of the team to Otago, and was struck with his modesty of character and teruperateness of life, and with the zeal with which he entered into the game of football. He (Dr Coughtrey) was sure that the sympathy which was felt among the members of his (Mr Seddon's) ieam was equally felt by footballer! throughout New Zealand concerning his Bad lo=s. He hoped that the memorial which was to be erected over his grave would bhow his loss was felt as much in New Zealand as iv tbe criony where his death occurred. To return to the toast of the evening, it would be their pleasure next year to return the visit of the Canterbury team. The Otago representatives bad always been received with the greatest

generosity and with the most marked kindness by the Canterbury Union — (applause), — and he hoped the same feeling would always prevail. On the present occasion Canterbury had done their best, and both sides deserved the warmest praise for the plucky manner in which they had contested the game.— (Applause.)

Mr Fuller, captain of the Canterbury team, responded in a neat speech, and Mr Morrison replied to the toast of the "Otago team."