20,000 VISITING CHRISTCHURCH FOR TEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 196, 4 September 1937, Page 5

20,000 VISITING CHRISTCHURCH FOR TEST

-Press AssociaMnr.'*

Road, Rail, Sea, Air / ORDERLY INVASION Some Walked the Streets Last Night MANY SLEPT IN CARS

'B.v Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. By road, by rail, by sea and by air, something like 20,000 people have arrived in Christchurch for the Rughy Test between New Zealand and Soutb Africa. Fourteen special trains averaging, at a conseiwative estimate, 400 for each train, brought 5600. Add to this those who arrived by rail yesterday, wben an extra expvess was run from Southland, and by to-day's ordinary time-table trains, and the total is 10,000. By sea, the Rangatira brought 1000 passengers to-day, aiid the Wahine brought 900 yesterday, a total of 1900. By air, tHe Union Airways serviees were booked out, for to-day. In addition, the company brought down as an air special the big Lockheed Electra from Wellington. Aero club and private machines arriving at Wigram include three from Invercargill, two from the West Coast and one from Dunedin. The total passengers were 50. It is reported from Dunedin that 6000 people have travelled by road l'rom Dunedin, Otago Central and Southland. A further 3000 have come from Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru. The roads from the north have also carried a fair volume of traffic, and the total may not be far short of 12,000 — a grand total of 23,950.Christchurch streets presented an unusual appearance this morning. Wcary faces and crops of stubble showed that some had been unsuccessful in the i'ev-erish'lust-minute hunt for beds. A few people were rcduced to walking the streets or taking refuge on park seats, but there were others who slept in their cars. Restaurants and hotels welcomed the unaccustomed bustie at a very early hour, Many of them were beseiged by woary travellers with the heart-felt inquiry: "What tiine's breakfast?" It was a most orderly invasion. The police report that all was quiet during the night. . Christchurch treated its guests with consideration; although the nigiht was eloudy and the weather fOrficast bad, no rain fell until after breakfast. There was little wind, and tlie chill of the early morning was not more than usually trying for this time of the year. Rugby enthusiasts in Christahurch watched tho weather .with more than usual interest yesterday, for it was recognised that playing conditions, especially the state of the ground and the dryness or otherwise of the ball, Wil! have a big bearing on the inatch at Lancaster Park. Though there was only an occasional very light drizzle yesterday, there was not much dl-ying either, and it is not likely that the ground will dry sUfficiently to give the Spritigboks tho conditions for which they are hoping. Beyond a light drizzle early in the morning the weather is fine, dull and cairn for the Test match. The ground, however is very heavy and likely to cut up rapidly. The opinion of the most competent observers is that the South Africaus will have an advantage in the tight play, that the New Zealand pack will be the more effective in the loose, amj that tho visitors' tlieoretical advantage in speed in the backs may be eutirely lost on the heavy ground that is expected. Well-Equipped Tean.,

In spite of the failure of B. M. McKenzie, Munawatu All Black^ to return his dapiaged shorts after the first Test, the All Blacks were well equipped today and they could faee a threat of damage to their most essential garments with equanimity. Yesterday a firm of outfitters in tho city received an urgent telephone call from the New Zealand Union that ten pairs of shorts were wanted in time for to-day's match, The order was most iniportant, and there must be no quesfciou of delay or failure to complote the cc-ntract on time. These shorts will be je&lously guardcd by the New Zealand Uuion. There must be no repetition of the regrettable incident of the lirst Test, when MeKeuzie failed to hund in his shorts tluit were toru off liiiu during the game, Tffe New Zealand Union does not waut again tox be put to the trouble of writing to one of its affiliated unione to find out what has happened to fragments of garments carelessly cast aside. Half-time: — NEW ZEALAND 6 SOUTH AFRICA 0 Sullivan scored a brilliant try. Five minutes after half-time: — NEW ZEALAND . . . 0 SOUTH AFRICA 5 Turuer scored and Brand couvented. Nine minutes to go: — SOUTH AFRICA 8 NEW ZEALAND 6 Brand kiclced a penalty goal. Four minufes to go: — SOUTH AFRICA 13 NEW ZEALAND 6 Bastard scored and Brand converted. Final: — SOUTH AFRICA 13 NEW ZEALAND 6