VISIT OF THE ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 145, 23 October 1863, Page 4

VISIT OF THE ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN.

[From the Daily Times, Sept, 29. j

There appears to be every probability of the proposed cricketing contest with the All England Eleven, being carried out. Since the letter of Mr. George Marshall was made public, very general interest has been created on the subject, and thanks to the spirited manner in which the Match Committee have taken the matter up, the undertaking has lost much of its previous formidable character. At the meeting on Saturday it was decided to appoint a number of gentlemen to can* vass the city in order to ascertain what amount of support could be calculated on, and we are glad to say that, so for, the result has been most en-

couraging, and we have little doubt that the requisite funds will be forthcoming. As showing how lib3rally the Dunedin residents have come forward, we may mention that the result of yesterday s canvass was subscriptions to the amount of between four and five hundred pounds. This is the more satisfactory, inasmuch as the town was only partially canvassed, many of the principal streets having necessarially been omitted altogether, and others only partly gone through. Over SJiUO was obtained in Princes-street, and only a portion of the residents having been waited upon, it may be calculated that fully as much more as lias already been obtained will be received when the city has been thoroughly canvassed. The Committee, very wisely, do not build too much on the anticipated contributions from the other Provinces, although we cannot doubt that the Otago subscriptions will be considerably supplemented from these sources. As the inajter now stands, what with the money already subscribed, and what may fairly bo calculated on from other sources, it ma y he concluded that no great difficulty now stands in the way of concluding an arrangement with Mr. Oeorge Marshall. We notice that the Committee, actuated, by the desire to afiord equal opportunity to all who may dcaive to compote for the privilege of bringing over the English cricketer*, and secure the monopoly of the cricket ground for the match, have decided to throw the affair open to tender, particulars of which may be found in our advertising columns. It is a source of satisfaction in many ways that this interesting contest is likely to be carried out, and it speaks well for the public spirit of Dunedin that the subject has received such hearty support. "When the financial arrangements are completed, a great deal will remain to be done to secure the complete success of the scheme. Not only will the Match Committee have to exercise great discrimination in selecting the antagonists of the famous English Champions but those selected for the post of honor will have to use ever}’ means to perfect themselves for the struggle. We believe a very good team can be formed ; Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Canterbury all possess very fair players, and although the war will prevent any assistance from the officers in Her Majesty’s service, we have no doubt a very large average twenty-two cau be raised in the colony. The committee, if it be designed to make the contest a really New Zealand affair, must not omit giving the other Provinces an opportunity of sending down their picked champions; and adopt such other arrangements as will impart a thoroughly colonial character to the match. But these details may be safely left to the good sense of the Committee, which we feel sure will neglect nothing calculated to add to the success of the undertaking. We hope that those who have not already subscribed to the object will do so liberally ; the untaking, although more immediately a simple public amusement, carries with it so many wider influences, and will affect so many interests, that it commends itself to the warm support of every class of the community.