CROWDS COME EARLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1028, 19 July 1930, Page 10

CROWDS COME EARLY

700 WAITING WHEN GATES OPENED BOY BUYS FIRST TICKET “How are we going to get them out again?' 1 said the harassed officials to each other as the crowd at Eden Park grew bigger and bigger. At 6 o’clock this morning a small crowd of enthusiasts had assembled outside the entrance from Cricket Avenue. Soon afterward others began to arrive at the maiu entrance opposite the railway. Truly there is intense interest in today’s big Rugby clash between Britain and Auckland. By the time the gates opened at 5.50 a.m., there were between 600 anti 700 people waiting. A small and enthusiastic boy was the first to buy a ticket; and he rushed to take up a position on the boards which were laid on the grass to accommodate schoolboys inside the rattfngs round the field. From 9 p'clock onward the streams of humanity neter ceased. By 10 o’clock almost every available position on the terraces was occupied. There were even early-comers on the temporary and members’ stands. Unprofesslonally, of course, the tram conductors showed some of the best footwork and handling seen today on their way to Eden Park. Their little game, or series of games, started soon after 8 o'clock this morning, and all morning these moistbrowed men struggled with the crowds which thronged the cars —all eager to get to the park. By 10 o'clock there were over 5,000 people ’ assembled, and streams of humanity flowed into the ground from the three entrances. They came by tram, by motor-car, by taxi and motor-bus; they came on bicycle, and on foot—and several came on horseback.

Those on the terraces had provided themselves with cushions and rugs and blankets. One man arrived with a family of boys and two seats from a motor-car. Everybody had a lunch basket of some sort —but paper bags were mostly in evidence. Stalls provided food of every kind—pies and cakes, fruit and sweets. There was a distinct revival in trade. “We're getting the cream today,” remarked a taxi-man. “We've been living on. skim-milk for months.” Taking opportunity firmly by the hair, some progressive gentlemen were selling small fruit cases at Is a time. Others had made small stools from the cases and were doing great business. Vendors of flags and tokens could not take the money fast enough. Meanwhile the sun shone in its bravest winter manner. Everybody seemed perfectly happy. Here and there on the terraces people played earils. Near the rails groups of four made bridge tables from rugs and continued their quiet games. Five hundred and even euchre had their devotees in the morning sun. Even before midday the scene at the park was an amazing one. Everywhere rows of faces and busy officials. Policemen who had been on duty there since 3 o’clock this morning were taking an interest in the proceedings and mounted constables were ready for any emergency, as also were the St. John Ambulance men. Mr. Vernon Drew led the community singing and “ ’Way Down Upon the Swanee River" sounded magnificent on the still air, This was followed by more lively tunes. Then the Ponsonby Boys’ Band dispelled the aches and pains of those who had been sitting on hard concrete since early morning. Still, no one cared, it was a glorious day. Accommodation for hundreds of small boys was provided by placing boards on the grass, and there the lads sat in rows, as eager and excited as on the day before their school ho’idays. On private property behind the terraces workmen were busily hammer ing temporary stands together. Thoy had started In the early hours of the morning, and were still working at 11 o’clock. The owners of a photographic stand were taking no chances. They colled barbed wire round the hase of it after the manner of the soldiers erecting barbed-wire entanglements In France. Still the crowds poured in ceaselessly and Eden Park absorbed them like a giant with an insatiable appe tife. By noon there was little space left except the vivid green playing field.

Traffic was becoming congested on the principal routes from the City. But for the presence of traffic inspect r.rs and policemen, accidents would have been numerous. Motor-cars wore parked in every available side street Along Eden Terrace, the New North Road, and Sandringham Road the traf tic was like a huge and never-ending caterpillar, though moving much more swiftly. Much the same thing was happening at the Cricket Avenue sntrance, and the men in the temporary ticket boxes gathered in bags of silver almost as quickly as they were taken away. Altogether a special staff of 130 men had been engaged to deal with the crowd. Eighty of them sold tickets and the other 50 acted as seat and place ushers. Not for many a day has Eden Park accommodated such a compact mass of humanity Women and small children vied with men in the endurance test of patience. Some of them were among the earliest arrivals. As the crowd grew larger one thought seemed to he uppermost in everyone’s mind. “How are we getting out of this to go home?”