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Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 39, 10 January 1879, Page 2

The "cricket" rage appears to have gro*vn to utterly abnormal proportions. At prescufc three teams are scouring 1 Auatiullii. first there U tins Australian Eleven who weuih.unc. Having done well in their lour home, and netted a thousand or two each, they continue ttie fuu, and are "doiug" Australasia. Then there is a team from England, under charge of Lord Harris, who have been unceremoniously thrashed by the Australian Eleven ; and lastly, there is the Canterbury Eleven, Who are "showing " in the neighboring colonies, and who, so far, have maintained the credit of the Cathedral City of New Zealand. Now, really, this is overdoing it, and while the effect; may be to raise, up a ho.-»t of namby painby " professors " of the art of cricket, it w .ll craate a contempt for tho manly English game, which is shorn of oue»half its pleasure^dii'cctly it becomes a business concern. The amount of money spent on these cricketing exhibitions mijfiit bo much better employed. Tlic latest " craze "is for a football team to come out from .England, an J the promoters are so modest that £100^ is to be the share New Zealand is asked to contribute towards their expenses .' It is proposed that the four cities of Auckland, Wellington, Ohriatchureh, and Dttncdiu,should each contribute £ia), in order to nee some English youths play football ! Auckland has guaranteed its share, and Wellington will go up to £200, ani if absolutely neccss-iry, tho other £50 can be raised! If tiie people of Wellington are so flush of cash they might spend it very well in improving their cricket field, and ornamenting tho city. Probably this will bo the beginning of a football " bininesd " similar to that in cricket now going on. There is art and skill in cricket, but in football it is simply a trial of bruto Htren-fth and eudurauec. It was once described as " a game for horses." The definition was uearly correct. Wo thoroughly believe in all wanly sports, and indeed recreation of every logirimate character, but it will ba simply fooli-lmess to encourago to tho colonies a host of professional *' kickers."