BANQUET TO THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2163, 31 January 1881, Page 3

BANQUET TO THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

The banquet given to the Australian Eleven took place on Saturday evening in Messrs Ford and Newton's new rooms, which had been very nicely deoorated with curtains, hangings, mirrors, pictures, &c. An efficient band, under Mr Ohas. Coombs, was present, and discoursed sweet music at intervals during the evening. About sixty gentlemen, including the members of the respective teams and visitors, sat down to a very exoellent spread, which did great credit to the caterer, Mr Messenger, of His Lordship's Larder. Mr E. O. J. Stevens, president of the U. 0.0., ooonpied the chair, having round him the guests of the evening. The vice-chain were filled respectively by Mr John Ollirier and Mr A. O. Wilson. Mr Messenger's providing having been done justice to, The Chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts, which were drank with enthusiasm. The Chairman said the next toast was one which he felt sure they would all greet with enthusiasm. It was far from their thoughts some six weeks ago when their Australian cousins were enjoying themselves that they should see amongst them the splendid team that had that day been playing on their ground. [Cheers.] It was a great thing to have these visits, both as bringing together the people of these colonies, and also as cricketers and sportsmen to see so splendid a team, which would enable them to raise their standard of cricket and improve their young players. He only regretted that these visits were like those of angels, few and far between. They here had to rely upon themselves to a great extent in the matter of improvement in cricket, as they only had the match with their neighbors of Otago, or perhaps Auckland, to do this, and these partook somewhat of the character of county matches. Now, |however, they had amongst them the magnificent team whioh they had seen play that day 1 and whose progress throughout the old country had been a succession of triumphs—[Cheers) —showing the old country that we here in the colonies had not forgotten the manly sports of our Fatherland. He desired to thank the committee who bad bad the management of the banquet for the honor done him in asking him to preside that evening. Not alone was it an honor to preside over such a gathering and on such an oocasion, but what he esteemed far more even than this—though this was in itself an honor of no ordinary degree—was that he was brought into close proximity to a gentleman who was acknowledged to be one of the finest batsmen of the day. [Loud and continued cheers.]] He meant Mr Murdoch—[Renewed cheers] — the captain of the Australian Eleven, who had led them to victory on many a field. | Cheers.] He thought, es he had said, that these visits should be regarded as highly important in a cricket point of view, inasmuch as it gave them in Canterbury a chance of becoming aware of their defeots, and showed them their weak points. [Cheers.] He now gave them " The Australian Eleven," oonpled with the name of their captain, Mr Murdoch. [Loud cheers.] The toast was drunk most enthusiastically. Mr Murdooh, who, on rising, was loudly cheered, the enthusiasm lasting some time, said that such a demonstration as this was quite calculated to shake the nerves of a modest man like himself. It afforded the Australian team great pleasure to accept their hospitality that evening. He might say that the reception they had met with since they had landed in New Zealand was really splendid. They had, he might say, wherever they had played, done their best for the honor of Australia. [Cheers.] And in doing this be had always included in it New Zealand. [Cheers.] The present team had a South Australian amongst them, and be trusted that ere long there would be a New Zealander in the team going to England, so that it might be a thoroughly representative team of Australasia. [Cheers.] They had, it was true, one in their team now in the person of Mr Groube, who had been born in New Zealand, but had learnt his cricket in Australia. He did not see why New Zealand should not be represented. All her cricketers wanted was practice. He thanked them heartily for their reception and hearty hospitality extended to them sinoe their arrival in Ohristchuroh, and particularly for the kindly way in which their health had been proposed and so enthusiastically responded to [Cheers].

Mr Murdooh rose to propose the next toast, thot of the " Canterbury Fifteen." [Cheers.] He could assure them that it afforded sincere pleasure to propose the toast, as three years ago, when he was in Christchurch, he had a taste of their quality as cricketers, because at their hands they suffered the only defeat they met with in their tour through Australasia. They had beaten them on their merits—[cheers] —but he hoped that in the match now being played they would have ample vengeance. He had personally longed for it and waited for it, and he thought that, without any Anthony Trollope, so far as the game had gone, he might say that they were in it. [Cheers.] He might say that the members of the Fifteen whom ho had met when he was here some three years ago had treated them most generously. The gentlemen they were now playing with were cricketers in the truest sense of the word, and he desired to mention one thing which had occurred in referenoe to the matoh. It was the custom in Australia when a day intervened to have the wicket rolled, but no stipulation had been made here on the subject. Mr Ollivier had, in the most generous manner, anticipated his (Mr Murdooh's) request, and at once ordered it to be done. (Cheers.) This showed the true manly spirit of the Canterbury men, and he thanked Mr Ollivier on behalf of his team. He now asked them to drink the Canterbury Fifteen. (Cheers.) The toast was drunk with three times tbree and a tiger. Mr A. M. Ollivier, who was warmly greeted on rising, said that it had fallen to his lot to respond to the toast so kindly proposed by Mr Murdoch. It was quite true that so far as the game had progressed the Australian team were, as Mr Murdooh had said they were, in it. However, they did not intend to lose heart, and meant to play to the end. [Cheers. | He remembered a certain match at the Oval, on which occasion the Australian Eleven were not in it on the first day, but they persevered, and on the third day they were in it. [Cheers.] Stimulated by so noble an example as that shown them by their opponents, they intended to play so as to put themselves, perhaps, in the same position as the Australian Eleven on that notable occasion. [Cheers.] They must remember that cricket was fickle, and that sometimes the best player went out for nothing, and the worst player made a good score. They might say this, that two, at least, of their men had shown good cricket, and they hoped in their seoond innings that more success would attend them. [Mr Murdooh: " I hope not."] He thought this, that it was, in a sense, immaterial as to winning or losing so long as good cricket was shown. [Hear, hear.] As regarded playing fifteen, he felt that it was a game for a certain number, and if there were more it spoiled the game, and did not allow it to be seen to the best advantage. [Cheers.] He was glad to believe that they might expect to see a team from Eaßt Melbourne, from New South Wales, and from the Bohemian Club, and he hoped the public would support them, so as to enable them to give a good account of themselves. They had some good cricket in Canterbury, but it wanted bringing out. No doubt their opponent* re- ' oolleoted the time when their cricket was not

so good m it was now, and they in Canterbury only wanted time to bring out their cricket. They were npt, it was true, so far as the game had progressed "in it," but he hoped for better things on Monday. [Cheers.] Mr A. O. Wilson proposed the next toast, "Success to cricket.' 1 He thought that their visitors would allow that they had R good ground here. [Hear, hear.] There was nothing to prevent the Australian team getting four or five hundred runs on that ground. [A Voice—" What, nothing. "1 Well, if they oould. He could only trust that the best men would win, but there waa no doubt that Canterbury had let herself a very hard task when she essayed to meet the team which had almost licked creation. There was no doubt of this, that their visitors' splendid jl»y under difficulties at the Oval, a* had|been said by the Canterbury captain, should teaoh them how to play an uphill game. He would couple with the toast the name of Mr Boyle, who had accompanied the team through a hundred fights, and if he did not know anything about cricket, then he (Mr Wilson) was not in it. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

Mr Boyle, who on ri«ing was loudly cheered, said that be thanked them for coupling his name with the toast, and hoped that the game would flourish in Australasia. He thought that, with a few more grounds like they had in Ohristchurch, they ought to be able to turn out good cricketers, and he might ■ay that the ground they had played on that day had not been surpassed by any one the team bad played on. [Cheers.] As regarded East Melbourne, he oould assure Mr Ollivier that he should be happy to come over with a team from there, and try and wipe out their defeat. It would not be their fault if they did not. As regarded the game commenced that day, of course he trusted that it would terminate as they representing the Australian team hoped it would. {"No, no," and " Yes, yes."J At any rate he hoped the best men wonld win. [Cheers.] Mr John Ollivier proposed " Kindred sports." The Australians were now like the big boy at school, who was cock of the sohool, but nevertheless they in Canterbury would some day turn round upon them. If they could not beat them at cricket, let them try conclusions at football, or even at bowls. [Cheers.] It was a great thing to see men like their guests engaging in manly sports, because it was teaching the young men a great lesson, whether in the cricket field or elsewhere. Let them trace the career of their statesmen, and they would find that the men taking high positions were those who had exce led in athletic sports. [Cheerr..] He felt the greatest possible pleasure at being present at such a gathering as this to welcome men who had gone through the length and breadth of England, and had achieved such honor as would convince the old country that she had planted in these Australasian colonies men who had determined to show that they intended to develope to the fullest those athletic sports which had made the name of England so famous, [Cheers J There was so game whioh brought out to the fullest extent the athletic powers of mankind as football, and he therefore coupled the name of Mr Walter Stringer with the toast. That gentleman hod displayed marvellous powers in football, and therefore he gave them "Kindred Sports," conpled with Mr Stringer. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

_Mr Stringer, who claimed for himself the virtue of modesty, responded to the toast. He said that he intended next year to lead on a football team to victory in Australia—a Rugby Union team—who, he warned the Australian gentlemen present, would give them some trouble. If they could not beat them at cricket, they fanoied themselves—at loaet be did—some at football. [Cheers ] The other toasts given were—" The Ladies," "The Press," &c. During the evening some capital songs were sung by Messrs G-roube, Jarvis, Frith, Stringer, and bis Worship the Mayor.