Welcome to the Champion Sculler.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 182, 11 December 1886, Page 4

Welcome to the Champion Sculler.

William Beach arrived by the R.M.S. Lusitania early on Saturday morning, and proceeded from Wiliiamstown to Melbourne by train. The champion was met at the Spencer street station at half past ]1, and driven round the city at a four horse drug, arming at noon at the Town Hall, where ho was welcomed by the Mayor, Councillor din. He was accompanied by Deeble, Kemp, Mattel son, and Noilson. At the Town Hall several hundreds assembled, and heartily cheered Beach on his arrival. The Mayor volcomcd Boach on behalf of the Corporation and ot all adnrirerd of athletic^ in Melbourne Ho also spoke for tlio /Anf-tralian colonies generally, lor, he remarked, though Be^ch wa 1 , not domiciled in thirf colony, Victoria shared his fame, and claimed him as the representative of Australia. It was a great thing for Australia, with 3,000,000 inhabitants, to produce a man capable 01 defeating tho representatives ci 3(5,000,000 of tho United Kingdom, and G0,000,0u0 in Amciica. The toast was drunk in a very enthusiastic manner. Bench, in reolyinp, assured them that ho had gone to Englanu dotermined to win, and had earnestly set himself to business, and to this fact he attributes his success. He and hia companions did all they could to upbold the honour and prestige of Australia. He was proud to bo back amongst them, for fchera was no place like the colonies, and ho looked on the colonies as his home, although when in England they wanted to claim him a« an Englishman ; but he was rowing for the honour of Australia, and for tho good of tho&e who had brought him forward to the fi.&t rank ot oarsmen. Councillor Gairon proposed the healths of Matterfon, Kc-mp, and Neilson, who briefly responded. In the afcernoon an aquafcicdcmonbtra'iorj took place on Alberl/ Park Lake. On the way theie Beach and his frionda were entertained by the Mayor of South Melbourne at tha local Town Hall. A very ljtrge crowd of spectators assembled at tho lake where Beach and the other bcullers wi met by tho reception committee and introduced to the public. Beach was accorded j an enthusiastic reception. The champion subsequentiy appeared in a wager boat, and gave the spectators an opportunity ot witnessing his stylo. In the evening Beach and hi«s party attended the Theatre Koyul, where there v»ae a great attendance. Mr George Coppin came on the stage with Beach and his party , and in n characteristically happy ppeoch, preseuted Beach with a handsome bracelet for Mrs Beach and a cheque for £25 for hitneelf on behalf of Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove. Beach made a suitable reply. Mr G. W. Anson on beb«lf of the company of the Threatre Royal, recited some lines of welcome, and presented Beach with a laurel wreath and a copy ot vorbes. As a rejoinder to Hanlan's pretensions to the sculling championship, Joseph Thompson has explicitly directed .Deeble to aond a cable message to England offering Hanlan £250 for expenses and £500 forfeit money as conditions of a match for £1,000 between Boach and flanlan, to be rowed on Parramatta River. Beach expresses himself prepared to resign tho championship when the time comes, as it must ; but he is anxious to row Hanlan, to beat; him, whether for the championship or not.