THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 61, 30 November 1878, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Nothing could better illustrate the kindly feeling which exists between the mother country and the colonies than ticdinner which was given on July 2:i. at Willis's Rooms, to the team of Australian cricketers who have demonstrated that our brethren of the Antipodes lose nothing of the national vigour and aptitude for sport by their translation to Australia. The banquet was got up by gentlemen connected with the several colonies, and the chair was occupied by the Duke of Manchester. After the dinner, which was enlivened by the performance of the band of the Royal Artillery, under Mr. Smyth,

The Chairman gave tho loyal toasts. He said : —" I have to propose to von to drink 'The Health of Victoria, by the Grace of Cod Queon of England, Empress of India, and Sovereign of the most populous and most widely-extended Empire that tho world has ever seen.' (Cheers.) There was a talk awhile ago of the diminution of that Empire, hut I am happy to see symptoms of its increase." (Loud cheers.) In proposing the toast of " The Prince of Wales" the Chairman said he had visited and appreciated ('anada. 11.. had not yet visited Australia or New Zealand hut it was to be hoped the day would come when His Royal Highness would be able to do so. (Loud cheers.) He had, however, set all who had not yet acted upon it a good example, for he had joined the Colonial Institute—(laughter and cheers)—and by so doing he had shown his appreciation of the colonies and of their value in extending the Empire over which his mother ruled. He (the Chairman) was proud to be there to meet so many colonists who would one day be His Royal Highness's subjects. (Cheers.) It was said that their guests had come to England to play cricket, but he believed they had come more for tho sake of seeing the Princess of Wales. (Cheers and laughter.) The toast was drunk with great cordiality. In proposing the next toast, the Chairman said :■ —I have now to ask you to drink the health of our guests this evening. (Cheers.) I am ashamed to sny that I am ignorant, disgracefully ignorant of the game of cricket, and as the eyes of so many experts are ou me, 1 will not venture to say much on that subject.; but there is one point to which 1 must sincerely advert, and most cordially re. mark upon, and that is the pluck and spirit which have induced the Bustralian cricketers to come half way round tho world to play an old English game on the soil of Old England. (Cheers.) I am happy to know that they have not been altogether unrewarded. (Hear hear.) They, of course, did not expect to come nil this way, encountering all tho risk of times and seasons, and" win every match they played in; but I am hnppy to hear they have won ten matches against live lost, while three have been drawn, (Cheers.) I tl.it.W that is nn ample success and reward for the enterprise and, I will add also, the patriotism they have shown fin coming to England. (Hear hear.) l|, o . s , m . it w |,; d| f, |)lV(< said 1 admire in them is precisely the same as that which induces the Canadian! to come every year to shoot at Wimbledon. (<».;crs) They and you come hj friendly rivalry in national kporta, but

the groom) of my admiration is that 1 take it M ■ proof ttmt our colonists are readv to share with m in any enterprise wliicli England, or any ("ortion of the Kmpire raav be called upon to undertake in more serious rivalry, if unhappily Wfl should have to enter the lists against a foreign euemy. (Cheers.) That is a spirit which \ie all admire in them, ami that is the spirit in which we all welcome them to " Home, sweet home." I beg to rive you "The Australian Cricketers, coupled with the name of their cnptain, Mr. Gregory." The toast was drunk with three times three, the company rising. Mr. E. W. Qregory, who was very warmly received, said : —" My Lord Puke and Gentlemen, —I have to thank you very much for the kind manner in which your Grace has proposed the toa»t of the Australian Cricketers, and you, gentlemen, for the extremely cordial manner in which you have accepted the toast. I am sure it will 1m- gratifying to our friends in the colonics that leading men from Australia should have done us so much honour this evening, by inviting us to this brilliant assembly, and i irn convinced that the recollection of thii festival will ever be treasured in the mind of every member of the team. We shall carry back nothing but agree* able recollections of our trip across (the ocean to visit the dear old country from which we all sprung, and we shall ever be grateful to our friend John Conway, from whom the idea emanated ; for but for his idea the majority of Us probably would never have seen Old England. Not that we lacked the good-will, and many Englishmen who have visited the colonies have told me that Australians are more English than you are hero (Laughter and cheers.) lam sure in one thing we are quite as English as you. and that is, in our love of cricket; and on that point I may say that we did not come here with any idea of defeating your best men, like the Gentlemen of England, or the splendid team we have been playing yesterday and to-day. Our idea was to measure our strength against

your county elevens, and against such antagonists we have mora than held our own. (Cheers.) I beg again to thank y hi very cordially, and I only hope in some future year we mav bo able to send teams to copo with tho flower of England not merelv at cricket, but in even - manly sport. (Cheers.) —European Mail.