FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 875, 6 August 1910, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

On Saturday evening last a “welcome home” social was tendered to the returned Bevin representatives of the New Zealand Maori football team. The function was held at Bevin, Mr B. R. Gardener (Mayor Bevin) was in the chair, and there were over thirty persons present. In proposing the toast of he returned Bevin men (Messrs M. Winiata, W. Winiata, and J. Sciascia), the Mayor spoke in high terms of praise of the Horowhenua representatives, and said the fact of so small a union being able to place tour men in a New Zealand team reflected great credit on the.district as a whole. Mr Hankins also added a mead of praise to the local men, and said he regretted that this offer of a medal to the best Horowhenua representative was declined by the manager of the team. In replying, Mr M. Winiata thanked the Mayor and Mr Hankins tor their kind remarks, and said that he was proud to be able to say that the behaviour of the Horowhenua men, both on and off the field was beyond reproach (Applause). Out of the eighteen matches played, said Mr Winiata, Walter Winiata had played in sixteen, himself in fifteen and Sciascia and Rawiri fourteen, so that it will be seen that the local representatives must have been among the best of a good team. Mr Winiata also stated that Mr Cunningham (a member of the famous “All Blacks”), expressed the opinion that Sciascia was one of the best “hookers” he had had the pleasure of playing with; and that Walter Winiata was fit for any “ All Black ” team which left New Zealand. The health of Mr and Mrs Winiata, senr., was heartily drunk.—Chronicle.