THE MATCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1921, Page 5

THE MATCH.

SATURDAY’S RECORD CROWD FOURTEEN TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND, i GATE TAKINGS EXCEED £lOOO. Football is still supreme in Taranaki! Fourteen to fifteen thousand —a record crowd for the province,, with a “gate” exceeding £looo—gathered in New Plymouth on Saturday and filled the air witli ’ cheers for eighty minutes while Taranaki battled against the chosen best of South Africa with such splendid success that neither side could secure victory over the other. The day provided a crushing answer to the pessimists—to the football critics who have wailed that the good old rugby game is mostly in memories of the past, and io those who complain that the recent world tragedy has sealed our restrained joy in youthful pleasures. And now it will go down into history that in 1021 there came into the land which was once the home of that called the rugby code big men and true sporty from far South Africa—the Springboks they were called—who declared, themselves to be “big bucks, verily”, to find that here in Taranaki were men like themselves, big and strong, and so well versed in the tactics of the game they played that the multitude was roused to wild enthusiasm to watch them struggle to an end that gave victory to no one.

Saturday was one of those days that will be remembered. As the coming of the Springboks drew nearer the day became an absorbing topic of discussion in every home, and as Saturday approached there was plenty to tingle the suppressed excitement. A day of spring sunshine out of season, then cold winds and rain, until the night before the match the elements were so wintry that everything that was worst was promised. But from all parts of Taranaki the great trek Commenced early on Saturday, and though the weather was doubtful a carnival spirit was about—there was the prospect of a holiday and a good game of football thrown in. Visitors from the country came into New Plymouth early, and the crowded footpaths soon gave the town a holiday air. while the townspeople, who went to business with more thoughts of football than anything else, found all restraint released by eleven o’clock. SCENE IN THE PARK. It was then that all roads changed their courses to Pukekura Park, and, first in patches, and then in a steadily swelling stream, the qrowd made their way to the park. Their lucky star was in the ascendant, for out of a mixture of doubtful weather came a morning with fitful sunshine sprinkling through the grey clouds. All day the sun struggled against a thick haze—it could not fill the day with sunshine, but it kept the rain away until the game was over, and what mattered then if it rained for a month?

'As the day wore on ihe terraces around the sperte ground rapidly filled. People made it a picnic. They took their lunches and newspapers—-women had the inevitable sewing—and so they settled down to while away the time before the match. It wds a crowd full of interest. There were many who must have witnessed stirring football on that same ground when the. tall pines which enclose it were bur. small saplings; there were the little chaps who were just tasting the really good things in life, and there was the jovial Maori in his best panama and wearing long streamers of amber tuid black. By midday there were only patches of green showing on the crowded terraces, and. these spaces were soon filled by the growing crowd. While the scene in the park was an animated one the, town also had its picture of bustle and activity, and. at the station, where crowded special trains came in, the scene was one of bustling movement. Splendid arrangements were macle by the Railway Department for dealing with the abnormal traffic, and it is a credit to the railway officials that the crowds were handled without delay or unpleasant incident. The inward traffic consisted of four special trains, the first from Hawera with 20 carriages and a total of about 1000 passengers. A special from Stratford arriving at 11.40 with 16 carriages brought about 500, and a similar number were conveyed by a train from Stratford and the Toko branch, arriving at 12.15. The last special, which came from Patea and Hawera. arrived at New Plymouth at 12.40 and also brought about 500 passengers. Altogether about 2500 people came to town by train. RECORD IN MOTOR CARS. On the main roads leading to New Plymouth there was more evidence of the great trek, motor cars predominataflg, but mingled with them were traps, buses, bicycles and many other serviceable occupants of the farm’s stable. The municipal authorities had made arrange-, ments to park motors in the raeecourse enclosure, and from an early hour motor-cars, motor-cycles and motor lorries, converted to carry passengers, began to arrive. By half-past twelve a steady stream of vehicles commenced to pour in, and by one o’clock 100 had been accommodated. As the hour of the match drew near the volume of traffic grew greater and greater, the last halfhour being particularly busy. By two o’clock, the hour of the match, the number of cars and other conveyances was estimated at between 330 and 340. Besides this number about 50 other cars were drawn up in Courtenay Street, and various parts of the borough, the total in New Plymouth being in the vicinity of 700; in fact, as one official said, it seemed as if everything on wheels had been requisitioned. The assemblage of ears beats all past records, even those established in connection with race meetings.

Great credit is due to the special traffic inspectors and staff for the manner in which they handled the traffic. Each car was allotted to its stand with dispatch and in such a position that each could readily get under way when the match was over. It was when the cars were leaving that the inspectors had the busiest time, for it is no light task to control over 300 drivers all anxious to depart for home at the same time. The motor cars were thoroughly representative of all parts of Taranaki. Fully half the number came through from Hawera. Waimate, Eltham and Stratford, whilst several Patea cars also made the trip. The district round New Plymouth, embracing the counties of Taranaki, Egmont, Inglewood and Clifton, also made a great showing. To come back to the park was to flhd it packed. The extensive special stands on either side of the playing area were full; the terraces were actually spilling, for the lip of each separate terrace carried the overflow from the densely packed terraces; trees were clambered

by enterprising youth. The many colors of the women’s costumes blended with the patches of black were men crowded to make up a pattern of a thousand and , one colors, and each side of the ground was jnet a 'hillside of faces. It was a igreat crowd, packed so closely that the ! very hillsides seemed to away uncannily when the crowd rose en bloc to j cheer. Then the game started, and from two o’clock until after half-past three Pukekura Park was the noisiest I hollow in New Zealand. The fast, dashling game thrilled the crowd from the ' start, their cheers were heard in the i distant suburbs, and again and again the rolling roar of a cixxwd applauding aljmofit pictured the progress of play to those outside.

Then the match was over, and the 1 emptying of the park was a sight more remarkable than its filling. There was ino vehicular traffic in Liardet Street, and as the crowd poured into this thoroughfare they filled it like a swollen stream discovering a new outlet. People were literally swept out of the gates, and for a long time Liardet Street was a dense moving mass, until the I crowd filtered into the by-streets and i made their way home. The motor trafI fie was a splendid sight, and the scene •at the station was reminiscent of a great city terminus at its busiest hour. The outward bound trains were all de-

spatched well up to time and without any undue bustling, although everyone desired to leave for South Taranaki by the earliest possible train. The railway officials showed efficient management, and only those having tickets for a certain train were allowed upon the station platform. The last special was despatched shortly affter six o’clock. An I indication of the sporting spirit of the Patea public was shown by the fact that a sufficient number of passengers were guaranteed to warrant a special train from Hawera connecting with the first return train .from New Plymouth. > By six o’clock the great day was over; a new page of Taranaki history had been written; and then the day was thrashed out all over again at the fire-