GROUNDSMAN RETIRES

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 11

GROUNDSMAN RETIRES

RECORD OF MR G. MILLS SERVICES TO THE GAME After spending some 45 years of his life as a groundsman, and over 30 of this period at .Eden Park, Auckland, Mr G. Mills, a well-known identity in New Zealand cricket, has announced his retirement (says the Auckland ‘Herald’)- In his playing days Mr Mills was an outstanding slow bowler and was able to turn the ball both ways. He > has represented New Zealand, Auckland, and Otago with much success. He started his cricket career with Holland’s Cricket Club, and in one match for Auckland in 1887 took seven wickets for 36 against Wellington, his name being on the honours board at Eden Park for this feat. Ho then went to Melbourne, where for five years he played in senior competition cricket against some of the greatest stars Australia has produced. It was 30 years last June since Mr Mills took charge of Eden Park, and ho was then engaged by the Eden Cricket Club. He later continued in control when the ground was taken over by the board of control. Eden Park has vastly changed under Mr Mills’s management. When he first took charge the ground was in a very bad state, and The grass could be scarcely cut with a horse-mower owing to stones. The Sandringham end was then used as a horse paddock, was full of rocks, and about 10ft below the height of the road. “ In my first year in charge,” said Mr Mills in an interview, “ the ground was flooded with about a foot of water all over it. A few years later it was again flooded, there being 3ft of water on this occasion. The first time the ground was flooded a well was dug in order to let the water away and to try to find a river which was thought to be flowing underneath. The well was 20ft deep, but the river could not be found. Then the well was bored to a depth of 100 ft, but still there was no river. “ In the meantime the section with the well was sold, and I told the authorities they were making an error. However, it was bought bade again when the Rugby Union joined in with the Cricket Association. A pump was put down, and at the present time Eden Park is being supplied with water from this well. There has been considerable top-dressing to the ground during my period of managership.” Mr Mills will be remembered by Aucklanders when he took control of the North Shore cricket ground, but had to give up this position owing to the ill-health of his late wife. He then went to the Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin, for another five years, and eventually came back to Auckland to take control of Eden Park. While playing in Melbourne he had on offer to come to Hawora, and was groundsman there for 12 months. From Hawera he went as coach to the Napier Cricket Association, and afer a year in this capacity came as' groundsman to North Shore. It is interesting to note that Mr Mills’s brothers, I. and W., have represented Auckland, and that I. Mills played in the New Zealand team ■with him. His son, J. E. Mills,- is one of the best and most graceful batsmen New Zealand has produced. Ho was born at Carisbrook. The successor as groundsman at Eden Park to Mr Mills is Mr H. C. Watson, who has had considerable experience in preparing wickets, and has acted as groundsman in several centres in the Dominion. Mr Watson is also a wellknown former cricketer, having represented both Otago and Canterbury. While groundsman at Christ’s College, Christchurch, he coached such outstanding New Zealand cricketers as T. C. Lowry, R. C. Blunt, and R* O. Talbot. Mr Watson also played in Wellington as captain and coach of the Institute team, which included C. S. Dempster and K. C. James, who were playing in their first season of senior cricket. These Now Zealand cricketers owe much to his tuition. His knowledge as a groundsman resulted in his services being called upon in laying out the SI. Andrew’s College ground, Christchurch, and improvements to the Waitaki High School grounds, Oamaru.