Page 1 Advertisements Column 5

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 895, 19 May 1903, Page 1

After dealing with the opening of the football season in New South Wales, and remarking that the future of the fine old game in that part of Australia is radiant, “ The Cynic,” 'in the Sydney Referee, goes on to deal with the approaching vis'itto Australia of the New Zealand team as- follows “At present, we are looking forward to a visit from the far-famed New Zealanders with keener anticipations of delight than N.S.W. v. Victoria at cricket, stirs within our breasts. Our friends across the sea are not our rivals at cricket ; they have scarcely reached the .standard of our swimmers ; in some other sports they are not yet able to take the Kangaroo down from his little pedestal. But in Rugby football the New Zealander is an adept. There'is something in his droughtless climate that encourages him to grow tall and broad and lusty ; lie has an inborn love of . foolhall, and particularly Rugby football On slushy grounds that seem impossible to the quick-footed Australian, lie is a champion. K'ach of the last two New Zealand teams that came this way was beaten in Sydney, as was also the combination of English, Irish, Scotch, and Welshmen which the Rev. .M. Muriineux brought along] four vears ago. It is well to dwell occasionally on our successes, for, if numerically small, they are bright, and the other side of the record reveals some sombre things, to think of which is not on our programme at present. The task our footballers have to face is to heat New Zealand. A hit ambitious ! Well, there is something to hack up the ambition, for Australian Rugby is improving in its scientific side. It is incomparably higher-class in the matter of concentrated attack than 'it was at the time of any other visit of a team from New Zealand. Whether we have correspondingly improved in defence, or even maintained solidity in defence, is a question on which men differ, and only to he answered on the field this season. REAL EIDERDOWN QUILTS.Cot size, from 5s Dd ; full size, from ISs each. Colonial and real Scotch Blankets : Best makes at lowest possible prices. Rugs from 5s 6d each. Splendid assortment and first-class value,—C. ROSIE <fc CO.