COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO THE VISITORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1973, 12 September 1889, Page 26

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO THE VISITORS.

The Auckland team were entertained by the Otago Rugby Football Association in the evening at a complimentary dinner held in the City Hotel. The president of the union, Dr Ooughtrey, occupied' the chair, and was supported on the right by Mr Weils, captain of the visiting team, and on the left by Mr Torrance, captain of the Otago team. After ample justice bad been done to the good things provided by Host Nixoon,' ' ~

The Chairman proposed " The Queen and Eoyal Family " in a neafi speech. The Chairman then proposed the health of the Auokland team, remarking that when in the early part of the eeaton it was doubted whether Auokjand would tend down a team, members ot the union felt that the season would not be a suocats without a jaatoh betweao two »uoh teams., Interprovinoial

jealousies were disappearing, and this happy result was to a l&rge extent due to the visits of interprovincial teams. The good done by the visit of the English team r was evident in every important match played since their advent, but in none so much as that played that day. He wished to speoially draw attention to the fact that their visitors from Auckland had visited them as an amateur team, paying all their own expenses, and he hoped they would soon send a team to Auckland on the same lines. The union had found the Anckland fellows a Bterling lot, and to entertain whom was a great pleasure. He hoped they would carry away pleasant memories of their visit.

The toast, coupled with the name of the Auckland captain, Mr Wells, waa drunk with uproarious applause.

Mr Welis, in responding, said he regretted that the task had not been in abler bands. He was glad to be able to say that the contest was the moat pleasant they had ever played. He concluded by proposing the " Otago Team " Mr Torrance, in responding, endorsed the remarks of the Auckland captain regarding the friendly nature of the match, and said that although he should liked to have seen the Otago team win, he considered it no small honour to make a draw with such a powerful team. He wished the Auckland team no less fortune during the remainder of their tour. Begarding a suggestion by Mr Wells that line umpires should be appointed in ' interprovincial matcheß, he fully endowed the idea, and hoped in future to sea it carried into practice. "The Umpires and Referee," "The Rugby Union," were the other toasts proposed and responded to.

During the evening songs and recitations were given by Messrs B. Towsey, Montgomery, Sonntag, Marchbanks, Eestieaux, Milne, Isaacs, and others.

A telegram received from Auckland on Monday cays : " Tho local Ragby Union have arranged with Lecky, M'Lean, and Madigan to go south to jciu the Auckland footballers' team. The two former are intended to strengthen the forward division. Madigan will take the place of Jervis, who requires to return home after the Dunedin match. The committee are condemned for theie bad choice of forwards."