FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8022, 8 January 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE BRITISH MATCH. EXAGGERATED REPORT. r;;u i'bess association. Wbllixotos, January 6. Officials of the New Zealand Ragby Union have heard nothiug definite as to whether the New Zealand team is playing the United Kingdom to-day or not, but oxpress the opinion that the match is off. In fact, the manager, writing on tho ere of the English match, said he did not think the match would eventuate.

Mr Dixon writes that the feeling among the members of the team is most cordial, and from this it would appear that the statements as to dissensions hare been grossly exaggerated.

Referring to the Irish match, the manager says never before has he seen such brilliant rushes as those set up by the Irish forwards.

THE RETURN OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS, Rcaeived 7, 4.45 p.m. London*, January 6. The Now Zealand football team will return via Vancouver, leaving London on January 20.

THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT OF THE COLONY. The London correspondent of the " New Zealand Times," commenting on the necessity for advertising the Colony, writes:—" This year we are fortunate in having oTor here what is proving perhaps the best advertisement of all—the New Zealand football team. The " All Blacks " triumphal progress through the Old Country has excited a degree of attention and interest regarding New Zealand for which I know no parallel in previous years. They have brought the colony nearer home to the people here than eTcn the war in South Africa did. Their pace, their skill, their physique arrests attention whenever they go, and sot people asking for information about the colony which produces this type of vigorous young manhood. Through their triumphs on the football field the name of New Zealand has become a household word throughout the United Kingdom, and the fact that n man is a New Zealander is a better passport just now than a dozen letters of introduction. People look at a kinsman ol the famous " All Black " with a new interest, and almost invariably follow up their first introduction with the question, " Why is it that your follows wi» t'"