Obsequiously Grateful.

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 794, 17 March 1894, Page 2

Obsequiously Grateful.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club deserves to be congratulated • It is in luck's way. His Excellency the Governor attended the sports gathering on Saturday afternoon and ' handed over a donation to the funds of the Club. 1 lam indebted to the obsequious Herald for this item of information, but I am further informed from another equally reliable eource that the donation in question was £1 and that it has been gratefully accepted by the officers of the Club. No doubt. I can imagine Treasurer Esam bowing low before His Excellency with his hat in hi ß hand and hiß weather eye on that one pound note, and I almost fancy I can hear the meek and humble tones of his voice as he thanked His Excellency for the extreme condescension with whioh His Excellency was pleased to deign to extend hiß bounty to suoh a lowly and submissive body of men as the Auckland Amateur Athletic and 'Cycle Club.

Bah 1 It is sickening. I have hitherto been under the impression that the Auckland Amateur Athletio and 'Cycle Club was distinctive from other bodies of a similar character in this respect that it was an association of gentlemen banded together for the purposes of sport. Th 6 acceptance of Lord Glasgow's donation of a pound note shows me that I was wrong. But it would be interesting to know now in what light that pound is viewed by the Amateur Athletio Club. Is it a gift by way of oharity ? or is it payment for the entertainment afforded the vice - regal party last Saturday ?

Surely the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club can entertain its guests without the necessity of sponging upon them for subscriptions or looking for or accepting payment for the hospitality extended. Let us suppose for ose moment that the pound had been

offered to the Auckland Polo Club. Would that society have taken the note submissively and thrust it into its money bag with a cringing bow and a gladsome smile at euoh a substantial wind.fall into the exchequer of the olub. Certainly not. The donation would have been declined with courteous dignity, and His Excellency would have been made aware of the fact that he was the guest of gentlemen and waß not expected to pay for the hospitality offered to him.

* • • It is scarcely necessary to say that the popnd should never have been offered, but, being offered, it should have been declined with as much tact and dignity as the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club could command. But being accepted, it must be looked upon as the price of the Club's status or caste, to say nothing of its honour and dignity. The Club stands now in pretty well the same position as would a Booiety of wharf lumpers whioh decides upon a gathering of sports and canvasses the town for subscriptions wherewith to provide prizes for the competitors. The difference is not very great. It is true that the Club did not ask for Lord Glasgow's pound, but it was not above pocketing it.