BANQUET TO THE TARANAKI CRICKETERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2248, 12 January 1876, Page 3

BANQUET TO THE TARANAKI CRICKETERS.

The Auckland Cricket Club, last night, gavo a farewell banquot to the Taranaki team, at the Star Hotel, Albert-street. At 9 o'clock sharp some 30 sat down to enjoy the catering of host Gorman, and after justice had been done to the feast the business of the eveniug was proceeded with by the chairman, Mr W. L. Bees, proposing in rapid succession the toasts of "The Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Koyal Family," " His Excellency the Governor," " His Honor the Superintendent." He then gave the toast of tho evening-" Our visitors from Taranaki." They had been vanquished, but ra|her by tho circumstances against which- they had liad. to contend than by the superiority df tho opposing teams. Victorious or defeated, thoy were equally welcome, and Auckland would not fail to return the com' pliment Taranaki had ..paid by either this season or next sending a return team. The speaker then referred at some length to the advantages to the individual, and to the body politic, of manly games, which' 5 strengthened not only the body, but also the mind.—The toast was drunk with musical honours.—Mr Davis returned thanks. The . present Taranaki team did not represent that province. They had merely come to have a friendly game, and. were perfectly astonished at the heartiness of their reception—a heartiness which could hardly, have been exceeded if they had been an Australian, or even an English eleven, He concluded by proposing " Success to tho Auckland Cricket Club." They had done much for cricket in Auckland, and if any proof of thafe were wanted, they need only look to the splendid cricket ground at Jillerslie. With the toast he coupled the name of Mr V. E. Bice, vice-chairman.—the toast was drunk with musical honours.—Mr Bice, in returning thanks, referred to the subject of a central club, for which he did not think Auckland as yet ripe. Though thoy had - been so unfortunate in their first match, it was by no means their intention to have been so, and they hoped to make up for it at their visit to Taranaki.. Ho proposed "Success to cricket," coupled with the names of Messrs Douglas (of Taranaki) and JQiinkham (of Auckland).—Mr 1 iankham responded, and gave a short history of the progress of cricket in Auckland during the last 30 years. He referred to the coming of a team from Wellington in 1862, arid to the trip of the Aucklan'd eleven to tho South last season. It was a curious, fact that the only province with which that team did not play was tho only one which had sent a team to Auckland this year. Mr Douglas also acknowledged the toast. In the course of his remarks he spoke in favour,of numerous clubs, as thoy tended to encourage and produce good cricketing hotter than did the existence of ono club in a place.—Tho Chairman called upon Major Tuke to : propose (he next toast, the " Ladicß."—Major Tuke briefly proposed the toast named.— Mr T. L. Wliito beingnamed for thetask by the Chairman, returned thanks in a humorous speech, which caused roars of laughter.—Mr Bice proposed "-3] he. Press," coupling with it the name of Mr A, King.— Mr King responded, and dwelt at.some length upon the advantages to be derived from.an Associated Cricket Club,—Mr Cotton having proposed " Our •worthy Chairman," to which Mr Bees oloqucntly responded, three, cheers were given for tho Taranaki team by the Aneklanders, and three for the Auckland cricketers by the Taranaki men, and the. company separated.—Cim