THE BRITISH RUGBY TEAM IN MAORILAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 37

THE BRITISH RUGBY TEAM IN MAORILAND.

THE TRUE STORY OF THE TOUR. The volume — whereof the publication has been awaited with not a little curiosity for some time by those who are interested in football — in whioh " tho true story " of the tour of New Zealand by the British Rugby team is unfolded is now in the press, and will be on sale next week. It will readily attract attention in the booksellers' windows by reason of the fact that it is presented in a striking cover, in which the colours of the British team are prominently displayed. In this particular and in other respects the design of the book calls distinctly for respect. , The work is printed in large type on paper of good texture, and is well illustrated with photographs and blocks. Given a suitable letterpress, it must be held to be a worthy souvenir of the visit of the British players. <. How should the letterpress be suitable? Surely not by an elaborate attempt to describe, as through a camera, every incident in eaoh one of the matches that were embraced in the team's programme. Such an attempt could only provoke disappointment and induce a weariness of the flesh. The author was better advieed than to embark upon it. He has chosen instead, and wisely, to offer an impressionist picture of the play in each of the team's engagements. A few vivid splashes of colour have sufficed in each instance to convey an* adequate sense of tho character of tho play and of the relative merits of the teams. , • It is to be suspected, however, that the true story" would not have been written at all if there were no more to tell than of the performances of the team on the football field. The reports in the newspaper press have supplied the true story of now the invaders fared in their matohes, and of how they failed in most of their important fixtures. But Rumour had busied herself about incidents of the tour other than those which were enacted under the public eye. And the author of " the true story," who, haying enjoyed such an. •opportunity of travelling with the team — in steamer, train, and coach,— and of living under the same roof with them as was afforded" unto no other individual in New Zealand, is enabled to supply a first-hand account of much that has been retailed, with more or less embellishment, in the smoking rooms and clubs and bar parlour* end afc the street corners of the Dominion. That a certain vagueness marks his references to tho " romantic " side of the tour. and that individuals are invariably veiled in the sidelights which he throws upon the doings of the team, is only natural. The law to which thfl press of the Dominion is subject applies al<o to the author of a book. Other bands than those of the author contribute to the composition of the book. Some are footballers, some axe not; but their, contributions . to the work notably enhance its value. As it stands, the book roakea a eapi'al -souvenir of the tour. It is published at the extremely reasonable ■jost of 2* (postage oxtra), and will b© in the ham's of the public in the course of a few days. Orders are now being received ■by the »mb" c hers, care of Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.