ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET.

.DOMINION TEAM FAREWELLED. —f— MR. ORCHARD'S MISSION. CHANCES OF REGULAR MATCHES. On the evo of tlieir depart tiro'for Australia last evening tlio New Zealand cricketers were fa revelled at- the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, whero over 50 sportsmen had gathered. Tlio Ma'yor (Miv J. P. Litke) presided, and among those present were Lady Stout and several other ladies.

The Mayor pointed out that, in going to' play ill Australia, whero cricket had reached such a high standard, the New Zealanders were undertaking a big task. He felt sure, however, that they would give a good account of themselves. It was now seme fourteen years since a team had gone from here to Australia, but prior to that time thero had" been a frequent interchange of visits. He thought that thoso visits were a- good thing for tho game, and lie hoped that tlio present tour would bo tno forerunner of others more regular. A scheme which might work well would be this: That a team from olio of tho Australian States should come hero every year until the fifth, when New Zealand could send a team from here to do battle in tho Commonwealth ; It was to be regretted that our esteemed representative, Mr. D. C. Collins, was unablo to make the trip on account of illness, as his inclusion would liavo undoubtedly strengthened ' tho team. ]Io advised thoso in tho team to smash any tondoncy to strike on the other side. (Lntighter.) In conclusion, he wished them a pleasant and successful trip. Five O'clock Keenness. : Mr. C. G. Wilson, chairman of tho Wellington Cricket Association, complimented Jlr. Orchard on the personnel of tho team which lie was taking away. It would be too much to expcct that we could produce a team hero that would beat New South "Wales or Victoria, but ho was suro that the men would give a good account of themselves. Ho expressed this opinion because, from experience, ho could say that tho batting and fielding in New Zealand had improved in recent years, and it was just a question whether our bowlers woro not as good to-day as they, were years ago. Ho exhorted them, however, to seo that their-fielding was just as keen at 5 o'clock in tho afternoon as it (was at 2 o'clock, because it was when tho field was lagging in the afternoon that tho big scores were put on.

Councillors 31. 11. F. Luckio and W. H. P. Barber, Dr. Robert Stout, Dr. T. D. Stout, and. Mr. C. R. Smith also spoke. ; The Manager. Mr. S. A. Orchard, manager of tlio team, thanked those present for tlio kindly send-off, and the speakers for the liico, things said. Members of the team were looking forward to the trip with pleasure, and were expecting to learn a good deal about cricket-' while away. He considered that they had the crickct instinct here, and that it only required developing. In regard to Mr. Wilson's remarks about fielding, Mr. Orchard promised that ho would be on tlio look-out from his position on the bank, and that lie would liavo something to say each evening if any members of the team showed slackness in this respect. Prior to his departure from Ghristchurch, tlio Crickct Council had given him full authority to arrange a series of matches with Australia, and he hoped to be able to arrange for at least a couple if tlio States to pay us visits during the next few years. The Captain. Mr. D. Reese, captain of the team, said that, since the last Now Zealand team went to Australia,-quite a new generation of' cricketers had como .forward, and in his opinion, this new generation was a good deal better than tho one which went before it. Although tho present tour had been arranged principally for educational purposes, hp considered that it would have been a mistake to send all young players to Australia because 110 one liero would have liked some of'tho matches, which might liavo. been won, to be lost simply 011 account of tho youth of the players. 110 was optimistic as to tho results of tho tour and, while it would always bo admitted that when playing in Melbourne and Sydney they were playing against better men, yet he hoped that tlio people here might wako up somo morning and find that the team had done something which it was never expected to do. When the tour was completed lie trusted that tho reasons for sending the team would bo justified. When the speeches had concluded, three cheers wero given for the departing crickcters.