Fancy Costume Football Match.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43376, 22 September 1908, Page 2

Fancy Costume Football Match.

Te A noii V shook ofF its wonted appearance of brisk business on Saturday afternoon and let itself off the chain to gaze in awe and admiration at the dresses, many of which were both fearful and wonderful, of the participants in the above match. The players assembled at Mr Wallace’s shop and, after the warm greetings, naturally consequent on the confluence of such a cosmopolitan party, were over, arranged themselves in single file, each armed with his or her appropriate national instrument (of torture). The harmony produced and the technique displayed in the handling of Such soul-soothing instruments as the kerosene tin, the mouth organ (without stops), the tin whistle, the horn, and the ary bugle will never be forgotten and will remain as an evergreen spot in the memories of Te Arohaites.

The procession proceeded down the main street, the sides of which were thronged with eager and interested spectators, to the Bridge Domain where a pho‘ograph was taken, at least apparently taken, for no one knows what the internal feelings of that poor dark box were and what lines of suffering may appear on its countenance when it is exposed to the light. Two teams were then picked and as the thrilling notes of the “ Charge ” from the referee’s bugle rang out the opposing sides launched themselves at one another with a vigour that threatened to reduce the individual players to a state of deshabille. The roars of laughter and the frequent cheering which went up from the spectators proclaimed that the boys were providing a real good afternoon’s sport, not only in the wonderful exhibition of Rugby but in the exceeding variety of methods of deportment some of which were certainly striking. The Referee was unable to decide, at the close of the match, which was signalised by the “ Last Post,” as to which team should carry off the honours, owing to his great difficulty in keeping his eve on the leather.

Perhaps it would not be out of place in consideration of the honour paid to Te Aroha by the presence of such worldfamous characters as Mrs Caudle, Kerekau, Tu Tuki, Buffalo Bill and

''aria, to mention a few of the dresses which graced the occasion.

The following young gentlemen represented the blushing debutantes of this season : —Mr McLean, daintily attired as a nursegirl ; MiHill, a member of the Khan of Kelat’s harem ; Mr.A. McCord, becomingly dressed in the national enstume of Timbuetoo; Mr J. Peterson, swathed in yards of asweetly pretty creme de voile ; Mr Popple, charmingly got up as Miss Rajah de Bhong ; Mr F. Devey, oh so nicely representing the dear wee maid of “ Sweet Seventeen and Never Broke a Mug;” Mr A. Johnson, our old and much beloved Maria, of Tui Pa ; Mr B. Everitt, the naughty boy, a Flirt ; Mr P. Pilkington, the officer in charge, most fascinatingly put together as a maid of doubtful age ; Mr H. Binstead, who acted as referee, and performed the arduous and responsible duties of chaperone to this bevy of beautiful maidens, was quaintly surrounded by the classical crinoline and Eton jacket with a dainty little toque from beneath which peeped out the dearest little kiss ringlets that ever Mrs Caudle wore. On behalf of the sterner sex. Mr Walsh, with the regulation chest and feet, officiated as a policeman in charge of an dangerous and criminal looking convict, No. 41, but familiarly known to us as D. Wallace. The gentlemen niggers were Messrs J. Johnson, J. Jennings and W• Brenan. Mr D. Brenan portrayed the character of our worthy friend Kerekau with magnificent verve. Another striking character, popularly known as Buffalo Bill, was cleverly sustained by Mr L. Donovan (not of half-feed covet fame.)