FOOTBALL DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1801, 14 July 1913, Page 8

FOOTBALL DINNER.

On Saturday night the Wellington Football Association, tendered ,the Taranaki visiting team a dinner at tho New Zealan'der Hotel. Mr. J. B. Paton presided. Tho chairman proposed the health of "The Visitors," and remarked that although Taranaki been beaten, they had. put up a very good fight, considering the. adverse conditions that they had to practise under. Ho lwd been told that this was the first mat<;h in which the team had played together. If that were so, they certainly played a fino game. Mr. Paton also remarked that he was sorry the shield did not leave Wellington. Certainly i-t was an honour to hold it, but lust as certainly it was a loss financially. Interprovincial club matches might not promote so much interest, probably, as the shield matches, but they would pay tho Wellington Association far better. He also wished to thank Mr. Dobson, tho caretaker of the Basin Reserve, for th;o caro ho had taken over preparing tho field. Mr. J. J. East replied. In his opinion, Taranaki had lost to a superior' team. He was pltaased at tho admirable sporting spirit shown throughout the game, and although ft had ended so decisively, Taranaki wore by no means discouraged. Tho speaker pointed out some of the difficulties that wow experienced .in securing practise in Taranaki, in many cases the men having to lose a whole day to play ono match. Association, on tho whole, was making steady progress in Taranaki, the game being introduced as much as possible among tlia schoolboys. Mr. M'Gowait proposed the health of the referee, and that official responded. . The diimer was brought to a close with a vote of thanks to MV. B. Wauld, tho Taranaki delegate, for the good time •which he had given the visitors ,