"BELL-TOPPERS" AND "SIDE-BOARDS".

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2251, 10 September 1914, Page 7

"BELL-TOPPERS" AND "SIDE-BOARDS".

0 PATRIOTIC CARNIVAL AT BASIN RESERVE YE OLDE TYME CRICKET PLAYERS i A SUCCESSFUL GALA It was perhaps unfortunate that the weather was not a little more genial yesterday, when a public half-holiday was observed in honour of the monster patriotic' carnival hold in the Basin Reserve to augment the Patriotic War Fund. Though the northerly wind had a wintry edge, and the sun absolutely declined to' lend his kindly presence to the occasion, there must have been between 5000 and 6000 people round tho verdant square, and all appeared to take a lively interest in the proceedings, which were calculated to amuse in quite a unique manner. What the crowd was particularly eager to witness was "Ye olde tyme cricket matche,'' which had been so arranged, not so much, perhaps, because it was to be played in the style' of our great' grandfathers, but on account of the personnel of tho teams. Most of the players— representatives of Parliament on the one side and of the local civic government on the other —were those who have long since laid aside the willow for the graver affairs. It. was delightful to witness the fine spirit with which all concerned ontered into the game.

j Very Early Victorian. Without exception the teams turned put in "bell-toppers" of all shapes and sizes, some of whioh might have becu worn a hundred, years ago without evoking any comment jn the fashion notes of the day. Two, at least, wore genuine old beavers, with a rough furry nap. and perfectly straight-out rimß, whilst others wore the genuine "chimney-pots" of other days. And underneath this queer array of tall hats were faces adorned with "sideboards," Dundreary ."weepers," and such-like hirsute appendages that blended harmoniously with the high-pointed collars and huge black stocks. Sir Joseph Ward appeared in an all-white costume, including a lone flannel sac coat, in which he was mistaken for tho umpire on more than one occasion. 'Mr. F. Townsend, the Mayor of Miramar, appeared in a Lord Dundreary make-up, and carried a large reading-glass in order to. detect the ball. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.,' was gorgeously arrayed in a get-up that was a cross between Beau Brummel and John Bull, and with other playora was kinemato(.'raphed in company with Mr. Hugh Bucklor (who was responsible for his ."kit"). Those players who are accustomed to wear full beards, such as Messrs. J. P. Luke, C. M. Luke, J. W. M'Ewan, and 0. Cathie, wero well within the frame of the picture, whilst tho younger players very' presentably represented tho bucks and blades of the period. Except for the modern dressing and vivid colouring of the lady spectators, tho soene oould be said to bo distinctly reminiscent of "Ye olde Englysche common."

How Thay Played. In the match tie bowling was solely underarm. 7 Tho Parliamentarians batted iirst, Sir Joseph Ward opening to' tho slow grubbers of His Worship. Sir • Ocseplr Ward, hitting out boldly, nearly flung himself,to the eartli by; missing a-tempting "lob", from the "Mayor of .Rotorua." (Mr. Ben Wilson),, hutsuccumbed in the third over to a lowdown grubber from Mr. Luke. Dr. Pomare is a slogger in the pure. Ho lifted one to the long field, jbut disdained to run for running's sake. Ho was'just about to lift the -ball to Island Bay when, by a curious chance, he missed it, and being a yard out of his. crease, was smartly stumped by the municipal wicket-keeper, Mr: E. C. Kirk (disguised as a Petone 'possum). Mr. Wilford played carefully and with' a dignity born.. of. ekin-tjght shorts.. After losing a couple of buttons and making ten runs he retired unhurt. The demon batsman of the Parliamentarians proved to be Mr. A. S. Malcolm, who, with much grace and • vigour, slapped on 37 before he.. retired - not out. Mr. Ell played gingerly for his ten runs, and was then clean bowled by David M'Laren, who, with a Trades Hall twist, proved very deadly. In rapid succession he got tho wickets of Messrs. T. Y. Seddon, J. S. Dickson, and It. W. Smith. Mr. Atmore notched 13 (not out), and Mr. Charles M. 'Luke, full of vim, had made two Tuns when he failed to get home, before tho ball. Altogether Sir Joseph Ward's team scored 91 runs. The Mayoral team was weaker ; with the bat than in the field. They would hit the air, or their boots, or some floating idea —anything except the ball, with, the/ result that the ball got in its deadly work with fatal persistency. Tho only batsman who had a notion of repelling the enemy was Councillor J'rost, who exhibited' great reserve power, made thirteen,- and' was then run out. ' : The Scores. The detailed scores are as follow:— ,: Parliamentary Team., . Sir Josoph Ward, b. Luke 3 Dr. Pomare, st. Kirk, b. Wilson... 8 V; Reed, b. Wilson : 0 T. M. Wilfoid, retired 10 A. S. Malcolm, retired ;.... 37 I'. Ell, b. M'Laren ]0 G. It. Sykes, run but .....' 4 Dr. Buck, run out 0 T. Seddon, b. M'Laren 0 J. S. Dickson, b. M'Laren 2 H. Atmore, not out 13 11. W. Smith, b. M'Laren 1 C. M. Luko, run out 2 Extras ft 1 Total 91 Mayoral Team. J. P. Luke, b. Pomare 1 H. Baldwin, b. Pomaro 0 C. Cathie, b. Buck 1 R. C. Kirk, c. Pomare, b. Buck ... 5 C. Crump, c. Dickeon, b. Wilford 6 G. Frost, run out 33 B. Wilson, b. Reed 3 D. M'Laren, b. Reed 0 F. Townsend, b. Reed 2 W. Hildreth, c. Pomare. b. Reed 0 J. W. M'Ewan, not out 1 W. Organ, b. Seddon 2 Extra 1 Total 35 At tho conclusion of the match tho teams told each other what good sports they were, and how then was ai timo When they. could stay hi all day long against the best bowling. His Excellency tho Governor arrived during tho game, and was given three hearty cheers. General Sir Alexander Godley, tho Hon. W. F. Massey, and other members of tho Ministry were also present.

THE FOOTBALL MATCH. A DRAWN BATTLE. Whilst tlie cricket match was in progress on No. I pitch, a football match was played between two teams of accredited old-timers, who were nothing loth to show tho younger generation how Rugby should'bo played. For tho first ten minutes tlic play was very fast and not' in flio least degree polite. Roars of laughter greeted the efforts of a stout councillor to wriggle and twist ns ho was wont to do in his youth, but he still retained a knowledge of punt-

ing. Dr. M'Evedy (an ex-English representative) still retains some conditioii, and played with, his (head as well as ho did with his boot. Mr. John O'Sliea (City Solicitor) played soundly as full-back for the Blacks, and gavo advico gratis to others with unprofessional generosity. Among tho famous old-timers wero W. J. Wallace (who never showed out at all), W. Perry, Alec. Campbell, Oscar 'Kember, H. Wrigley, Elgar Wylie, and W. Roberts. The gamo resulted in a draw, oach side scoring a try. Dr. M'Evedy scored for the Whites ■ and Edgar Wylio for tho Blacks. Tho teams were as follow: — Whites —Full-back, H. Buddie; tlireoquarters, Dr. M'Evedy, J. C., Burns, and- W. Perry; fivc-eighthß, L. M'Kcnzio and W. Wood; half, j. Baumber; forwards, A. Pritchard, Osborne, O'Loary, C. Campbell, W. Terry, C. Mitchell, R. Carswell, and C. Rid ill nr. Blacks—Full-back, J. O'Sliea; threequarters, J. Burns, A. Lanrenson, and \V. Roberts; five-eighths, H. Wrigley and W. J. Wallace; half, A. Claridge; forwards, Oscar Kember, E. Wylio, D. Weir, W. Horiiig, J. D. Avery, T. W. Leslie, F. Warburton, and A. Tirrie. Mr. W. Baskiville acted as referee, and Messrs. E. Davy and D. Gage (two famous old-time Rugby players) officiated as line umpires.

MARATHON RACE. WON BY J. DOUGLAS, Whilst the cricket match was in progross tho soveu-milo Marathon race was started. There were twelve entrants, and each man as he was started by the watch did a couple of rounds of tho reserve before he left the ground on his long jog round Mount Victoria. The course laid down, was from the Basin Reserve, down Kent Terrace, Clyde Quay, Oriental Bay, Evans Bay, Wellington Itoad, Constable Street, and Adelaide Road. The result of tlio race, which was done in very good timo indeed, was as follows: — 1. J, Douglas (3min.). 2. S. J, iiiirrell (Imin. 4oeec.) 3. F. J. Kerr (4min. 155e0.). The fastest time in the race was that put up by J. F, Byrne (scratch), who covered tho distance in 37min. 29sec.. arriving at the tapo soon after it liaa been breasted by the first bunch, who were only separated by a few yards. Douglas was only four yardß ahead of Burrell, and only a couple of yards separated Burrell and Kerr: The men arrived back in excellent condition, looking lit to pace out another five miles,. The officials were—Judges, the Mayor and Councillor Frost; starter, Mr. W. Baf/antyne; time-keeper, Mr. W. L. Dunn; handicapper, Mr. A. C. Kitto. Three handsome certificates for tho placed men were donated by Mr. A. E. Al, Rowland.

LIVELV AUCTION SALE. OVER £SJ FOR A' PET LAMB. A feature of the afternoon's proceedings was the gift auction winch, was conducted from the band - rotunda by Mr. Herbert Seaton. A great variety :of articles had.'been sent in-for disposal, so many indeed t'hat there was not suificient time to offer them all for salo before t/he light began to fail, and another gift auction is to bo arranged for a future date (which will be announced ill due course). Mr. Seaton explained : that the whole of the goods had been sent in to be realised upon, and: the whole of the proceeds were to augment the Patriotic Fund. Ho then commenced to sell a wide variety of articles, ranging from oil paintings to parroquets, from an overmantel to a tiny White kitten (sent in by a child five years of age). One article • which will have an historio interest was the bat with, Which Sir Joseph Ward struck the first .ball in .t)he afternoon's mateh, embossed with tho Union Jack and New Zealand Ensign (with crossed staffs), and an inscription indicative'of the occasion, with tho autographs of every player that took part in the game. Tho much-covetcd hat was ( finally' knocked down to Mr. C. G. AVilson for £5 ss. 'Hie burlesque double-sized football, which was used for the commencement of the football match, and which had, in addition to the autograiflis of tho players, a: caricature of the Kaiser ratlier neatly executed, was knocked , down to Mr. Luxford for £3. : , A new zest was added to the proceedings when Mr. Moody (of Messrs. Dal-: gety and, Co., Ltd.) came forward to auction a beribboned pet lamb. . He proclaimed that he expected the lamb to realise a hundred guineas/ and begged those to whom it was knocked down to allow him to put it lip again. Mr. Moody knew his business. The lamb was knocked down to everyone who bid, and up it would go again immediately, whilst the crowd roared with laughter as tho money came rolling in. A bid was secured ■ from ail the members of the Ministry (including tho Prime Minister), members of Parliament, and many prominent citizens, ranging from £5 ss. to a shilling, and finally, by consent 'of tlio bidders,' it was decided to send "Mary's little lamb" to-the Hospital. The sum realised was £84 ss. 6d. Then Mr. Moody auctioned a live sucking pig in tho same manner, with the result that another £11 ss. was added to the fund. In all £126 3s. 6d. was realised by the auction sale, and those concerned have every reason to be gratified at the result.

THE RECEIPTS. OVER £400 NETTED. The following are tho approximate receipts for the carnival:— £ s. d. Gates 230 0 0 Flowers 7 10 0 Aftornoon Tea 30 0 0 Aunt Sally 3 0 0 Auction Sale 126 3 6 Miscellaneous ; 15 0 0 Total £411 13 6 It is expected that fully another £30 will be received Irorn tickets of admission issued and not yet accounted for. If the receipts froiu the Rotorna Maori Choir's concert and the entertainment organised by Miss Flora Shaw are added the total money realised yesterday will amount to about £520.