BRITISH TEAM SAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1930, Page 2

BRITISH TEAM SAIL

ROUSING SEND-OFF:

'CAPTAIN’S STATEMENT.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 15. The British Rugby team left to-day by the Maunganui for Sydney. A large crowd was present at the wharf to farewell the players. A rousing send-off was witnessed. ,

The captain, Mr Prentice, in an interview with a reported, said that they all Felt the parting after the wonderful kindness shown all round by the people, of New Zealand. The barracking had been impartial, and the people had shown appreciation of good play by either • side '.in'‘a splendid manner. He took the opportunity of expressing thanks to the senders of letters and telegrams from all over the Dominion, sending good wishes. It had been impossible to answer them all. He added that the team had done remarkably veil, considering the amount ,of their travelling. Incidentally",'Air Prentice expressed the wish that they'had not been quite so tired in the Inst test.

PRESENTATIONS Tl> TEAM

WELLINGTON, August 15

The,)goixl will: Ithat has marked their . tour was expressed 'in a material form prior to the British football team’s departure,' bv each member of the side being presented with initialled rugs from the New Zealand Rugby Union', the presentation ,V being made at the hotel where the team was staying. There was a full muster of Rugby officials. ■

Mr . Dean, Dr AlcEvedy, and Dr Adams spoke in turn. Mr Dean said tha.tr,the had been a wonderful, sucjcjtksff a’ircc||he only regret wa.s that it [fehjd ftp, ja close.; IVHißaxtei 4 eaidiiin replying, that the! tenqnf idealised it; was its duty, wherever it ht|d :gone, to, play the . game as well audios' attractively as it could. He praised the hospitality shown on’ nil *VJF '*f ife ? tilings’ that had' struck him most had been the magnificent demeanour of the crowds. The crowd had always been ready to show appreciation of the play, and the pieces’of play which had brought scores had been applauded scarcely less vociferously than those of New Zealand’s own teams,

Ml* Baxter presented Mr Beall with an enlarged photo cf the team, to tie hung in the Bn ion’s office. Another ph%>yiutog;fapliecl :hv the whole team, to Mr who accompanied the .man since their arri- |||: ! ||3jree of the British forward's, 'pew, and Beamish! were seen to begMiearing Maori rugs. These were gj|p||them % Mr Tom Parata. in rethe valuable friendship.

ANOTHER, VISIT PROMISES

,WELLINGTON, August 15.. -

Mr Baxter, at a farewell function to-dav to the British ..’Rugby team gave an'assurance that another British team would probably visit New Zealand within the next ten years.

TIIE FINAL SPEECHES'.

SCENES AT THE WHARF

WELLINGTON, August 15.

Gaiety and sadness blended in the enthusiasm. of a crowd of over 2000 which thronged the Queen’s Wharf this afternoon when the British footballers sailed by the Maunganui to Sydney. When . all the farewell speeches in the shed were over, the last of them concluded amid shouts of “All aboard!” from the ship, the members of the team, filed from the platform to the gangway. Every yard found someone waiting for a final handshake, or, frequently, a more affectionate form of farewell. As each player at last made his appearance on the gangway, and came within view of the crowd assembled on tiie wharf, he was greeted with cheers and various remarks, more or less suitable for the occasion, and when, eventually, the team , was safely, on board, multi-col-oured? streamers flew to form a last material Mink with New 'Zealand’s shores.

Op./the call of M- Dean,' hearty cheers wore‘given for the team, and, as the boat slowly pulled out, a confusion of cheering, singing and farewell shouts arose.

Mr Bean presided \at the function in the shed half an hour before the boat’s departure, and associated with him on the. platform were Mr J. B. McEwn.n (Chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board). Br G; Adams (President,’of; Jthe New Zealand Rugby Union), Br P. H. McEvecly (President of the Wellington Rugby Union), and the members of the New Zealand and ■Wellington Rugby Unions. Mr Bean said that he was sorry the team was going, hut he was happy to know that it had enjoyed its stay in. New. 2otV

land. It was his hope, and that of all Rugby enthusiasts, that it would not be many years before most, it not all, would come back again. The team, said I)r Adams, bad endeared itself to New Zealanders by its scintillating, spirited performances on the field, and equally by its social attain menis off the field. Br Adams said that lie was sure the tour had 'done much to form the last link in the chain .of Rugby Empire unity, when, the same code would, be played in each, country within the Empire, and lie thought that New Zealand would do its part in .confronting that code.’ He wished the British team all success on its Australian tour. V',. :

The visitors had played the ’ game, both on and off the field, said Mr J. B. McEwan, who was confident that the team would add to its splendid record in Australia. Mr. McEwan, on behalf of the Harbour Board, presented Mr Baxter, the team’s, manager, and Mr , Prentice, the captain, with a copy of Air Lindsay Buick’s history of the port. , ■ Dr P. F. McEvedy said that the tour had done New Zealand football the world of good. He thought tTTat in the next few years the game as played in New Zealand would be ” remodelled, and would be played as the British team had demonstrated how it should be played.

“When we came here three months ago we received a generous and delightful welcome,” said Mr James Baxter, manager of the British team, “that welcome we have had everywhere in this great country of yours. We are going with feelings of .genuine regret, for we have had a wonderful time here.”, Mr Baxter was sure the tour had done a gread deal of good. “Thank you. one and all, for all you have done for us,” Mr Baxter concluded. “This is a day that lin'd to come, hut one we have been dreading ever since the tour started,” said Air Prentice. “We will never forget what you have done for us, and the wonderful time you have given us.”