THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS' VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1682, 9 July 1875, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS' VISIT.

Ak article devoted to the subject of the propoied visit of a mixed team of Victorian and lew Sou^h Wales cricketers to New Zealatd, appears in the Atistral a.ii an of the 26th June, ju«t to h»nd by the Mikado. It is thefir&t really official notice of the project V>y this influential sporting journal, and it is very far from encouraging for the success or even ihe probability of the expedition. The following are the introductory remarks :— "From certain paragraphs which have lately appeared in the papers, it is evident that some persons in this colony have opened negotiations with some cricketers in New Zenl.ind with a view of arranging a series of mafxies to be played in that colony between an Ajstralian eleven and a New Zealand team br teams. We believe it is the intention of the promoters here to play matches at theprincipal cities in New Zealacd, an'l that the speculation i<? entertained as much or more with a view to making a profit than tapromote intercolonial cricket. We have good reason to know this is the case, and that the promoters in this colony may love cricket much, but that they love -money more, and hope to make a good thing out of this New Zealand cricket tour." The Audralasian here denounces the action of the promoters of the trip for the very cause which has throughout the negotiations been steadily denied existence. We know that the Dunedin and Ohristchurch players have placed upon rpeord their determination to have nothing to do with the affair at all, should it turn out that the Australians want to make money by their visit, and a similar intention was given utterance to at the recent committee meeting in Auckland. If the above is a true statement of the motives which are actuating our transpontine friends, then we may simply consider the visit as not likely to eventuate. But although it may appear presumptuous to question the grounds for assertions in such a journal as the Australasian there is internal evidence in the article which would indicate that a little spite from some cause or other has much to do with the tone of the writer. The expressions—"some persons" and " some cricketers" —point this way, while what other explanation can be given of the following passage : "No doubt a trip to New Zealand during the hottest part of a I "Victorian summer would be a very agreeable change for some of our cricketers—particularly for those who are getting rather blas6 and worn out, and are anxious to do a little in the starring line once more before they are laid on the shelf for good" ? 111-nature is here very palpable. The article then, proceeds to give reasons why it would be undesirable for the trip to come off. Among these are the following : That the marches could not be called intercolonial being got up by private individuals : that there is no recognised capital of this colony where an intercolonial match even if arranged properly could be played ; that there would be no interest attaching to the doings of a combined team of Sydney and Melbourne cricketers : " that they (the Aus tralasian) have good reason to believe the best eleven of either colony could play the strongest fifteen or even eighteen players from the whole of New Zealand, and that so a match between a United Australian eleven and eleven of Christchurch or Dunedin would be absurd ; and that lastly the Victorian cricketers have enough to do at home without running away off to New Zealand. The articles goes on to " protest against a private speculation b^ing held forth as a national affair, or the New Zealand people being misled into believing that the Victorian cricketers outside a small clique have any interest in such." In place of the vi3it of the Australians to New Zealand the article proposed that a New Zealand team should travel to Melbourne and there give the Victorians a taste of their quality, in which case "no doubt the committee of the M.C.C. would make very liberal terms." It then suggests that perhaps Sydney could be included in the trip, and adds, "and we think the proceeds of the matches would, enable the islanders to have their trip here and take a lesson in cricket without any expense to themselves. With remembrances of what sort; of cricketers the hard-hitting Fowler and the loquacious Eees were, we are disposed to pay every respect to cricket in Maori land, and shall be delighted to find the representative players as good as the above." Advices from the gentlemen with whom Mr Mears, of Dunedin, is in communication on the subject of the proposed visit, will soon bring us word whether the above strictures are in any way correct. Meanwhile it is very evident that the expedition will not receive much support from the Australasian.

We have been favoured by Mr I) « I McDonald, C.E., with the following extri!*B from a letter which he has receif^-^in $ B famous Sydney player, E. J. /0».. 8^1.,Tm -•'" " Moore Park, Military Ground, June 9fi 8 My dear D. E. McDonald,—Touchis' I the New Zealand matches, I cannot giy! ■ you any information, for I am not positive E yet whether they will come off.. The only fl communication I have had about it is a letter ■ from Mr Goldsmith, in which he desired a c Ej to act in concert with him in getting our r team together. If the matches come off, \ H taink you will have the pleasure of seeing fi gome first-class cricket. Our play hjjj fl greatly improved these last two seasons; ■ our bowling, is very good, and very dodgy', fl our fielding about the same as it used to be; [■■■■ and our batting haa vastly improved." j