Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 87, 1 March 1902, Page 19

Rugby Football.

Mr W. McKenzie letums to Carterton from Rotorua this week, after a three-m.on.ths' sojourn in the Sanatorium there, as he says himself without an ache or a pain. In other words, the treatment he has received there has practicalv banished the rheumatism from his system It will be remembered that it was at the end of the 1897 football season that he contracted the rheumatism which has had him under its thraldom ever since, and a previous trip to Rotorua, while doing him a great deal of good, was, unfortunately, followed by a bout of illness which left him weak and in much pain If his cure is a permanent one there will be many in Wellington — aye, in the colony — who will rejoice at the news, for '%ong Mac," despite his other sobriquet of "Off-side," made many friends, and no enemies, on the Rugby field, and his restoration to full and complete vigour is the ardent desire of many who regretted — 'and regret still — his enforced retirement from the playing arena Of the Sanatorium at Rotoiua Mi McKenzie writes m this eulogistic strain — ' The doctor and attendants have been most kind to me, and eveiything is done hi the Sanatorium which conduces to the w ell-being of patients Besides, Dr. Kenny is ever urbane and cheerful, and the matron (Miss Ferguson) and Nurse Larnach (daughter of the late Hon. J Larnach) have all the perfections of earthly angels I strongly recommen-d anyone who is really ill with rheumatism, sciatica or eczema to place himself or herself m the Sanatorium under the doctor and his efficient staff." Mr. McKenzie sends his kind regaids to the football fraternity of Wellington, expressing himself grateful for the many kindnesses shown him, and good wishes expressed to him. * * * Before another budget of notes from my pencil is printed Mr. W. Coffey will be back amongst us — to try his fortunes in another sphere of enterprise not journalistic. As a matter of fact, he should arrive in Wellington about Wednesday or Thursday next Mr. Coffey, though practically retiring from the role of recording angel, does not intend to completely sever his connection with the printing house for it is as a partner m the advertising firm of Tait and Co. that he will be known amongst us in the future. May luck attend him. It ought to, for he will do his level best to deserve it "William" got on capitally in the Scotch city, and in football circles and socially made a host of friends, and many there will miss the bustling figure that was keen on the hunt after news. When I was* South with the representa^ tive team last season, I was fully convinced of this, for, although he had only been there but a comparatively short time, Mr. Coffey was almost as well known a,nd as pooular in Dunedin as he was in our own city. * * * The newly-formed Palmerston North Football Club is having a ticklish job in reviving the Rugby game in that district. The first hurdle which the committee of the club had to face was a debit balance of £16 owing by the old club. Naturally, the guarantors of the amount to the bank wanted the liability taken over by the new club, and. yielding to the pressure brought to bear, that body has agreed to make itself liable foi the amount. I hope the Palmerston Club has not hung a stone round its neck that it may find very hard to vshake off.

It instated that theie is no possibility of forming a union m the City with tho Big Squat c lam intoimed the tiains won't suit \er\ well tor Horowhenua and the players won't heat of Rangitikei at an\ price because the\ net ci could get on with them. Hoi ow hernia and Rangitikei being thus baried, am effoit is being made to join the Buhli Union as the Palmeiston pla\oi^ could lirtiinov to \\ oocU llle and back in the one da\ To mv wa\ of thinking the oulj union the Palmeiston North players could join w-ith advantage is the Rangitikei one which is to all intents and puipoise<s the old Manav\ atu Union It the plaveis fiom Feilding, Mai ton and Palmeiston could not agree in tho past that is no leason for assuming tho'\ ma\ not do so now I take it there has been an infusion of new blood in the management or these clubs and that the lesult nuv be a fuendlv arrangement tending to the progress of the game The idea of affiliating to the Bush Union is far-fetched and foolish True the Palmerstan pla\ers could travel to Woodville and back m a day but what w ould it mean ? Barring one match w ith Woodville they would not be able to play any games m their own town and can they expect the sympathy of their own public if the latter have only one opportunity during the season of seeing their footballers playing in a cup match ? The original Bush Union has been sub-divided and is now know n undeii the titles of the Bush and Hukanui Unions The former is composed of only three clubs — Woodville Mangatainoka, and Pahiatua (two teams. I believe), and these teams are now only up to their own junior form of a fey years ago So, all things considered, if the Rugby game is to be revived successfully m Palmerston North it will only be bv reviving the old Manawatu Union or bv the club just formed casting in its lot with the Rangitikei subUnion of the Wanganui Union. * * • A few spicy football notes about thiee ex-Wellington players in New South Wales — Tom Pauling is a first-class referee according to one of the leading "whistlers" in Sydney who was on a trip through New Zealand a month or two back. Hardcastle has almost definitely retired from the ranks of the players and is mote than hkeh to view the matches from outside the touch-lines in the incoming season Billy Gallowa\ is well and chirpy, and the fatlher of two fine boys In years to come he hopes to cheer as his offsprings — ball in hand — career (as their father did in the days when the world was wide) from end to end of the S\ dnev Cricket Ground A reminiscence of Mullineux, the caiptain of the last English Rugby team that visited New South Wales —Mullineux was standing out from the scrum O'Donnell, of Australia, being directly opposite him Presently the diminutive parson said, in an injured tone — "I say, faive-aights, you are in my waili, ah Kaindly move, or I shall complain to the referee " Next please '