On the War-Path

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 16, 6 August 1891, Page 2

On the War-Path

By Vigilance. After about seven months' seasoning the telephone poles have been erected to connect Feilding with Awahnri by wire. Now is your chance Feilding! While the workmen are in the place representations might be made with advantage for a Telephone Exchange in Feilding, and also a line to Birmingham. A heap of metal has been gathering for sometime in the Makino stream wnere it crosses Denbigh street, and turns the force of the water on to the western side of the stream. The banks on this side of the stream have suffered from floods to to the extent that only a small passage is left for traffic to pass from Grey street to Denbigh street. A considerable amount of metal has been taken from various parts of the bed of the Makino of late, to repair the roads in the Borough, but this heap has been left severely alone. Perhaps the reason is that it is " bad to get at." I do not think this is a sufficient reason when there is so much danger of the stream further encroaching on the roads, and thereby making the replacement, which must be made at some future lime, far more expensive. The great battle has been fought and the victory won. We are all proud of " our boys " for their victory on Saturday last, and rightly too. What would they be able to do if they trained properly ? Most of them did train, certainly, but they have not had a decent practice together since the Marfcon match. In large towns the players train as much as runners or any other class of athletes. When they are well-trained the exertions of a hard-fought game has not so much effect on them, and they are able to stand the fatigue without it being injurious to their health. I hope to see an exhibition of "football " when our reps and Wanganui meet, and will expect "the red haired boy " and " Carbine " to show them a wrinkle or two in at least two departments of the game. While on the subject of football, I would like to express regret at the unfriendliness and savagery displayed in Saturday's match (at Palmerston). The Palmerston men will, no doubt, blame Feilding, but any person who witnessed the match at Feilding between these teams would not lay the blame on " our boys." On that occasion the local men tried to play " football aa it should be played," but some of the visitors evidently took this for cowardliness and tried to knock manliness into them by " bullooking." Saturday's match was anything but an exhibition of football, anil was more a free fight than anything else. Perhaps the splendid training the home team (Palmerston) had was the reason some of them were pugilistically disposed, and caused them to forget for the moment where they were. One unfortunate visitor, coming too close to a player who must have fancied himself in the gymnasium taking part in a friendly bout with the gloves, received a " plug " in the ear and was knocked out of time. It would be of advantage to a certain class in Palmerston to cultivate friendliness and common sense as well as other branches of education. Another reason for complaint was the bad taste shown in disputing the decisions of the referee, who was always considered fair and above suspicion by the yery persons who disputed his decisions on Saturday. _ A number of the spectators on one occasion hooted him, and I wouldn't mind betting a brass farthing that these hooters knew absolutely nothing about the rules. I wonder what would please some people ? The footballers in Palmerston, together with the members of the Manawatu Racing Club, should take a lesson from the Palmerston B,oyal llifles and try to cultivate good feeling with their fellow-crea-tures outside their o .vn town. I would reccoasm nd these matters to theconside: avon of the working man's journal in that town.