AN EXPLANATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 21 September 1901, Page 3

AN EXPLANATION.

{To the Editor,)

Sib, —In your issue under heading of Thursday’s date, reference is made to my having apologised to the Bed Boses for some remarks I made at the Star social in regard to their team. This is erroneous, and as the general public apparently think I have made some outrageous remarks, and was called upon to account for same, I trust you will allow me a little of your valuable space, in order to show one and all the true state of affairs.

The facts are these, in the course of a speech, which I made on Monday night, I quoted the following : —“ Twelve months ago the Stars were an unknown quantity, and the first intimation the public had of their existence was when they beat the Bed Boses at the tail end of last season, yet this season already they (The Stars) held the proud position of runners up for the Junior Championship. On the completion of my speech I was astounded at the attitude the Bed Boses representatives had assumed, simply because they thought I had laid stress on their defeat in order to make their team look small, and all my protestations to the contrary were cynically repudiated.

Peeling very much hurt at the narrowmindedness of some of the Boses, I wrote to the Chairman of the Boses Banquet to to the following effect: "It is to bo regretted that the Bed Boses have taken an entirely wrong view of the matter, and my reference to the Stars first victory was merely an illustration to show the rapid strides the Stars had made.

Now Mr Editor I trust you will agree with me that even this note was not necessary, but as there is so much bitter jealousy in si foothill sense betwixt the two clubs, I took this step in order to try and keep both teams in check, and complete what I have baen endeavouring to do all season—-“ Treat another Club as your own should be treated,” but with so many young members in either club, I find it an extremely difficult task to carry out.

Never under any circumstances have I gloated over any victory I have participated in, but on the other band, have shown the following example to others: On being beaten give your hand in acknowledgement of having been defeated by a better opponent, in case of a victory, take it as though your better condition stood you in stead. It is now many years since I realised the public wero the better judge, and all talk after an athletic contest superfluous, uncalled for, and unjust, unless perhaps in a case similar to the reasons this explanation covers.

It does indeed feel hard on one after he has endeavoured day by day throughout a season to put his team on the highest pinnacle, to work amicably with other clubs, try to hold in check the small boy barrack nuisance, and above all treat your opponents as you would be done by, to feel yourself made the but for your opponents to have a dig at, and I am now beginning to understand why there baa

been a dearth ox athletics on tno uoast, as I am fully convinced no matter how enthusiastic one is in working up a club, no matter how hard one works in a straightforward and sportsmanlike manner, nor how conscientious he is in his scruples to bring everthing to a successful issue, there is always some one to be found, who, by his hasty deliberations, causes a person to throw up in a moment’s despair, what he has spent months perhaps years to achieve. J. M. Hamilton, President Star Football Club.