Our Wellington Letter

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 117, 9 April 1889, Page 3

Our Wellington Letter

[from ouk own cokrkspondent.] Wei.t.tvqton, April 5. The news of. the < t«. i ible hurricane in Samoa, caused greu.*, excitement in Wellington. When the news first Teached tlie city, the newspapers were rather dubious about publishing it, as it was very near the Ist of April, and the peculiar fact that the English *♦ Man-of-War" was the only vessel mentioned aa havitg escaped destruction, gave colour to the belief that it was a similar hoax to the one recently circulated in Germany to the effect that a dispute had arisen between the Americans and Germai s at Samoa and th t the Germans had completely annihilated the Yankees. As further confirmatary news reached the city, much gratification was expected at our " Calliope" proving herself worthy to belong to the greatest naval power in the world, and that our " Tars" today are as good as they were iv the days of Nelson and Trafalgar. Among the hundreds of spectators who congregate at the " Basin Reaerve" every Saturday afternoon to witness the cricket matches, may be seen a group of gray headed old gentlemen, who take the heartiest interest in the noble game, and who delight to tell the young idea what "crack" players they were in their day and what awful " duffers" the wielders of the willow of the present day are ! Should any player be behind time iv arriving on the ground, or a batsman take two long app<-« ing befoie the wickets, he is sure to receive a rating at the hands of oue or other of these venerable players ! As the season is now at the close, and the warnings thrown out week by week, have uot had the desired effect and also with the idea of proviug the old timed adage that. " The young people think the old ones are fools, but the old ones know the : young ones are," an " old man's match" has been arraDged for . Saturday next, on the Reserve, the players rauginp in age from 50 years j ■■■■=•■ to 82, Who will play in high hate, ag k they did in the '• good old days." tfcifc' match ie. being looked forward to tfith great interest, as it.isfuily expected" that it will result in our present players receiving many valuable Mntß, and no doubt will have the effect o* making Wellington cricketer©,

f next season, equal to any English i Eleven ! 5 The " Pmieke" football club, which '' ha« met with phononitn.il suv ess, and has been the premier club there for [ the past three years, iutend to send a team round the colony and play all ! the principle olulir, starting at Ea t r for the north, they expect to be away übout a fortnight. This is a big undertaking, but when it is considered that uearly every Wellington repre* sentative team contains eigkt or nine of the Poueke Club, there is not much necessity to add anythiug more. Persistent rumors have been current in town that serious disruptions had taken place in tho Cabinet, which would result either in the retirement of one Minister, or lead to the resiguation of the Ministry. The cause of the dispute, so far as is known, is that Mr Fisher, who has always been the unruly member, acting in his capacity aa Commissioner of Customs, wished to exercise his individual authority in certain cases, against the wish of the rest of the Cabinet, in matters which they considered of vital importance and should be dealt with by the Cabinet as a whole. Mr Fisber appears to have resented this interference with his duties, with the result that Ministers have not been a very happy family for a considerable time.