When Cricketers Wore Top Hats

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 775, 23 September 1929, Page 13

When Cricketers Wore Top Hats

MEMORIES OF EARLY AUCKLAND

A UCKLAND still lias at least one man who wore a bell topper at cricket, in Mr. J. B. Graham, of Devonport. He was born in 1849 and took part in the matches at Albert Barracks (now Albert Park), when the usual games were between the military and civilians. Some of tho -latter were Hie late Mr. J. B. Russell, a well-known solicitor, Mr. F. L. Rees, and “Willie” Outhwaite (whose property has become a park on Park Avenue). The lawyers formed a club, “Tiie Eldon." which was later nicknamed the “Blackstones,” from the eminent legal authority. At that time a member of an /‘All-England Eleven.” a iMr. Lankham, was in the saddlery •business in Queen Street, and he was engaged to coach the “Eldons,” who won the five matches that they played. Some others who had been in the. “Elevens” got together a side to play ,Auckland, the latter team had in it ■C. C. Dacre, W IT. Armstrong and the men mentioned above. At a later time Mr. Rees and Mr. Dacre were presented with “champion” bats, and it was arranged that an exhibition match should bo staged at which .'the bats would be handed out., Mr. Rees took his stand at the wicket, and was

clean-bowled first ball! There was a great laugh and the batsman joined in it. The matches were played at the barracks when the ground was available: otherwise at Dilworth’s Paddock, Re mu era. Mr.' Graham had the honour of being in the first Auckland football team that “played away.” Football had lately been organised in the city by the late “Tom” Henderson, and the headquarters was a shed at Wynyard Wharf, long since ‘ obliterated by the Mechanics' Bay’ reclamation. It was arranged that a team should visit Thames, then a thriving goldfield. Only ./those players who could pay their own expenses were asked for. Mr. Graham, says that the rules of the game did not seem to matter much. Looking back, the game seems to have •been mostly scrum, or scrimmage as it was called.- Very likely few of the players knew many of the rules, but the barracking was intense and unending. Hughie O’Connor was reckoned the best barracker, better., than Mcllhone, who was well known to old Aucklanders. How and again O'Connor’s stentorian vo.ice could be heard desiring the man marking Graham ' “to smash the lamp post,” a reference to Mr. Graham's altitude. Mr. J. Sheehan, a well-known politician, finally induced O'Connor to moderate his', comment Bunlearv, one of the Thames team, had to be carried off the field, but was brought in a chair to the complimentary dinner given the visitors,' ’ and he got a great cheer from both teams. “Tom” Henderson, who was a fast runner, was very expert at dribbling and his cleverness beat the Thames men often.