Football.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6648, 12 September 1889, Page 3

Football.

— -«PA WORD IN OUR FAVOUR. The Maxoke's Bay Herald says: — "We notice that the N. Z. Herald reporter with the Auckland football team accuses the Rev Mr Hoatson, the well-known Canterbury Referee, of gross partiality, and both he and the Auckland Star representative accuse the Canterbury public of unfairness j and the Union of shabby treatment. This is contrary to the experience of the ; Hawke's Bay team, who were treated with the utmost courtesy and consideration by both the public and players of Canterbury, and who unhesitatingly pronounce the Christchurch spectators the most impartial 1 and cordial in the Colony, not even exj cepting Hawke's Bay, where the crowds are very fair to visiting teams. In Mr Hoatson, too, the team found a gentleman whom they can safely describe, without casting the slightest reflection upon others, as one of the most scrupulously just Referees who ever held the whistle in an important match. He officiated in three of the Hawke's Bay team's matches (South Canterbury, Canterbury, and the Natives), and every member of the twenty left tho South holding him in the highest esteem, and with a very high opinion of his j knowledge and judgment. The Christj church public and the Cbristchurch footi baliers, coo, were most thoughtful, genial, j and kindly to the Hawke's Bay mnn, both ! on and off the field. i ,