TO THE EDITOR.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 124, 20 January 1874, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,- —I have uot yi»t had an opportunity of answering Mr. Connely’s letter with reference to the proposed rifle match between Opotiki and Poverty Bay, but with your permission I will now do so. Mr. Connelly persists in saying that no challenge was sent through me to this place. Well, all I can say is that his notions of a challenge are somewhat peculiar. If I take off my coat and offer to fight anyone who will “ come on,” it is neither more nor less “ a challenge ” than the one sent by Mr. Connelly; and 1 have only to bolt round the nearest corner, is a chance of my being taken up, in order to complete the simile.

Mr. Connelly then goes on to say, “ I am certain I did not refer to any particular corps.” In this he is quite right, for the very simple reason that neither he nor I were at that time aware as to what corps were in existence in Poverty Bay, but in challenging “ any troops or corps ” (his own words) I imagine he did not mean to exclude the only one in a position to take him up. Again Mr. Connelly says “ you must take into consideration that Opotiki is a farming settlement and your challenge was received when we were all busy getting in our crops, otherwise we should have fired for the mere love of the sport.” I have nothing to say against Opotiki being a farming settlement, only that I would gladly see it more so; but on carefully looking over the names composing the recognized team (furnished by one of the members) I find that two only could, by the greatest stretch of imagination, be supposed to be “ getting in crops.” These two are Messrs. Armstrong and Dette. I am not personally acquainted with the former, but I am with the latter, and am quite certain that no one would more readily sacrifice a day for sport, and for the honor of his corps, than he. I am therefore compelled to jump at the rash conclusion (vide Mr. Levy) that the match was stifled—not by the one or two who might possibly have been at some little loss, but—through the mercenary conduct of a few who could well afford the time and to whom all seasons of the year are alike. But to take Mr. Connelly’s statement as it stands. Surely if any of the members were in such a position that they could not afford to lose a day, they could less afford to lose their proportion of a large stake as well; and I am not sure that their winning was a foregone conclusion; yet through Mr. Connelly they imply that all that was wanted in order to complete the match was something to make it worth their while, and then “ crops ” might go to the deuce. And now while I am on the subject I may as well give expression—not only to my own opinion—but to that of nine out of every ten who have given the matter a moment’s thought, and that is, that on no consideration whatever should volunteer corps be allowed to make private matches for money. -It lowers them in the eyes qf the pub!ic v by whom they are supposed to be supported”; and should the system be .allowed to continue will have the effect of transforming one

of our greatest and most patriotic institutions into mere shooting clubs. I may perhaps be mistaken but I have always been under the impression that volunteering and cricketing are very nearly akin. They are both manly auil national institutions, but a match at cricket for money is a thing unheard of, and I venture to say that any club proposing such an arrangement, would be scouted and cried shame ou by every other club in existence ; and I hope and believe that the action taken by the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry will be universally condemned by every other volunteer corps in the colony. In conclusion I can only say that I am extremely happy that myi’deas of candour and good-fellowship differ very considerably from those of Mr. Connelly and his supporters.--! am, &c., Leonard Simvson. Gisborne, January 16, 1874.