The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2156, 12 August 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1907.

A CHAMPION SCULLER. I The meeting which has been called to-night to consider what steps shall be taken in Gisborne to recognise the I magnificent achievement of William I.Webb in bringing the world’s sculling I championship to Maoriland is worthy I of generous support despite the fear lof the Auckland “Star” that this I kind of hero worship is one of the I worst signs of the times. Our Northern contemporary, to use its own words, “fails to see why a national I memorial is required to do Webb I honor simply because be has won a boat race.” The statement is really | a confession on the part of the “St'ar” I that it does not understand the signiI ficaiice of Webb’s victory’.. It is not simply that the young Wanganui athlete has brought the name of bis native land into prominence amongst all the nations where sporting events are chronicled—though that is something that every New Zealander may justly be proud of—it is that his performance is emblematic of some of the finest traits that can be looked for in national character. Webb’s win stamps him as a man of courage—not the reckless kind of daredevil spirit which may induce a man in a moment of "passion-blinded enthusiasm to spurn danger and earn a Victoria Cross, but the solid determination which rises superior to tired muscles throbbing heart and other physical weaknesses and enables him to persevere with bull-dog tenacity to the end of a prjtracted and bitter struggle. No cowartl can win a sculling championship of the world. The distinction of “simply winning a boat race” does not, as the Auckland “Star” possibly conceives, represent merely' a quarter of an hour’s sweat and a rub down in a dressing shed ; it involves a great deal of self-sacrifice on the part of the successful competitor. He must leave no stone unturned to attain perfect health and must devote many' months to the monotony' of special training. Briefly' William Webb, as victor in the Parramatta contest, stands for the courage that is inevitable in winning a gruelling contest, the clean living that is necessary to be fit for such competitions and the spirit of fair play which lias become synonymous with British sport. A community may properly bj judged by the statues and other national memorials which it raises and pays homage to, and viewed from this standpoint New Zealanders have nothing to be ashamed of in doing honor to their sculling champion.