RUGBY TALES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21304, 24 December 1940, Page 9

RUGBY TALES

AIR HARE’S EXPERIENCES EARLY FOOTBALL DAYS 111 reminiscent mood at a meeting of the Hamilton Primary Schools’ Rugby Union, Mr F. W. Hare, retiring headmaster of Whitiora School after 21 years, told - 1 ms years in Nortnern Wairoa and Kaipara schools as master from 1U95 (wnen he joined the teaching service) for ten years, and 14 years thereafter as assistant master in Auckland City and suburban schools until his appointment to Whitiora. Mr Hare said that in the Northern Wairoa days a team with which he was connected was preparing tu travel by launch, to play a match, when the district constable appeared with the announcement that a member of the team, a native, was to be arrested on a charge of theft. This caused some consternation, for the player referred to was, in effect, “the hope of his side.” Representations were made by Mr. Hare, and a gentleman later to achieve prominence in guiding the destinies of the Dominion, with such effect that the Maori was allowed to travel and play, conditional on the team manager undertaking to deliver him at the end of the day to the constable. The match was played, but the return journey was a very arduous and protracted one, during which the launch ran on to a mudbank and the Maori carried several of his teammates ashore to a native pa, and home was not reached until the early hours of the morning, when he was duly taken into custody. Mr Hare said, with a smile, that the alleged delinquent was subsequently absolved of the charge of theft!