Excursion to Coromandel.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2559, 20 March 1877, Page 2

Excursion to Coromandel.

" She's not in sight yet" was the an-, nouncement with which each person who, happened to. walk in the direction of Curtis' Wharf on Sunday morning between the* hours of 8 and 9 a.m. was greeted, generally with the words " He's not come" added thereto. Neither sentence,was very intelligible to those who did not know that the fast and ; favorite steamship Lalla Eookh was ex-! pected from Auckland to take all who] wished to go to Coromaridel, and that the i fsaid: vessel was the " she " on board j which was; supposed to be the " he," viz., j "the Bishop of Melanesia. Glasses double and single were used, but used to no purpose as far as seeing the expected steamer was concerned, for though it was several Aimes averred that " she's coming," "yet the she was not the wished for one, but turned out jto be some small cutter or unpretentious yacht. The truth, gradually dawned on those who were waiting that the steamer had broken down, and the question asked was what was to be done. Fortunately the \Te Aroha was found to be available, and by dint of energetic services rendered by those-in authority "was ready to start at 11.23, at which hour a good number '.of^passengers started for Coromandel. The three hours that were spent m waiting seemed rather long, but there is no reason to suppose that all the clocks and watches were put back. Some passed the time -in' speculating, not in Moanatairis, but whether the owners of the vessel or those who chartered it could be •". had up " —that was the term used-— for breach of contract, and the fancy of others took wider flights, and enquired whether the incumbent of St. George's or his churchwardens could not be indicted for to • obtain money under false' pretences, for the advent of the bishop had been advertised, and it was : said many would go prepared to swell the collection and would be disappointed. Thus much for the ideal, now for the real. A start was really made, and at 12.41 (it is best to be exact) the romantic village of Hastings was passed, at which hour, some being occupied in eating sausages, the question was "asked, " Shonnie; were are de poodles." At Beeson's Island, reached at 3.10, three passengers were; disembarked, and; Cpromandel reached shortly after. ,\ When we say reached we mean the Bay was, for it was not until sometime after ,that the last passenger got on shore by means of a boat. The Naval Brigade boat was fast in the mud at the end of pier, which was thronged (the pier, not the mud) by our Coromandel friends who had come out to meet us. Not much time was let to waste before tracks were made for Mrs Boyd's, and as many as that very elastic mansion could accommodate secured beds there, and after testifying to the merits of Mrs Boyd's cuisine and spending the evening in various ways, an early retirement so as to be in readiness for the morrow was made. The rain' came down pretty heavily,. but the "morning broke finely, and all were up betimes, eager and ready for the enjoyable day tHey spent. There was nothing very, exciting to do -before breakfast time. Some went to bathe, and' the captain' of the team tried to catch a pig, which, indignant' at the treatment he received, attacked another pig with the obvious intention of doing him grievous bodily harm. At least two pigs were seen fighting, and it was supposed that one was the captured and released one. There were those for whom neither the chase of, pigs nor the cooling stream had charms, but who slumbered and slept. One of those who put in a late appearance said it was owing to his having •' wound up the wrong hole, of his watch," over night, the result of which was that having sent the,hands round about three score times he gave it up as a bad job, ,and woke in the morning to find, as he expressed it, that the time ;was 11 o'clock at night. Some perplexity was occasioned in the-.anxious captain's mind when, he heard that one, of his best players, ,a representative, r. England, was not to be lound, though it wanted but five minutes to the breakfast hour. It appeared that it was only supposed he was lost because he had not been heard making a noise, and he turned up in good time for breakfast and for

. THE MATCH, which was commenced at 10 a.m. The wicket was very good, and it was evident that great pains had been "taken with it. The CQromandel captain, Gatland, won the toss, and went in, sending in JBeeson and Woodward to the bowling of Robinson and: Steedman. As Crawford and Hewitt had not arrived substitutes, were allowed for themr-an old Thames man, Fenton, and W.. O'Keeffe being really efficient substitutes. An especial word of praise is due to O'Keeffe, who did what he was told, and did"it well, paid attention, and was always in his place,... In addition to this he stopped some hard hits and saved runs. ..-He was applauded by both sides more than once for the pluck he exhibited,; .„ It was soon seen that it was Robinson's'day out, and the Coromandel men found it very hard to. score off him, as .the analysis will show. Some of the balls he bowled were splendid, pitch, pace, and work being admirable.. Off the last ball of his second over Stoedman signalised him by catching Beesbn beautifully in the slips, and the first wicket fell for four runs. Cadman, who fallowed, made with Woodward' a baker's dozen, when both succumbed to Robinson, who also clean bowled the N next three men. Hornibrook hit him hard for 4, and Strongman got 11 before he gave a catch to WMtford at point. Hovell pulled the Thames Captain violently for 3, and tried to do the same to Whitford who had gone on at Steedman's j I end, he failed, was bowled, and the innings , finished for 42 runs. Strange as it may seem to those who have seen the matches lost by them, the Thames fielding was good all through, the backing up being particularly noticeable. Robinson and Curtis were the first two men in, Lublin and Hovell bowling. Runs came fast until Curtis,was bowled by Hovell' whom he had just driven to the on for four. Whitford played a nice, innings, batting in fine form- as well as getting runs ; he stood up to his work, played the bowling, and didn't potter about his crease; - with, Steedman he gave a good deal of trouble to the field. Paul with a bad arm played pluckily for 6, and Crawford with luck made the highest score of the "innings:. His 28 included two good hits for 4 each. All were out for 97', of which only 2 were byes, which says a good deal for the long-stop Higginson who fielded well. Coromandel had thus 55 to get to save the innings, and this they failed to do. The Thames fielding was loose at

first, and Woodward getting well set proved very difficult of removal; ifr improved towards the end, and though'a long score seemed imminent, yet Robinson mettled up and Paul coming to the rescue With his fast, bowling disposed of Coromandel for the same score as they made in their first innings ; the Thames thus winning by an innings and 13 runs. Paul got 3 wickets for 2 runs. The following is the score and bowling analysis:—

> COBOMANDEL—FIBST INNINGS* *

Beeson, c Steedman b Robinson ... 1 Woodward, b .Robinson ... ..".6 Cadman, b Robinson - ... 7 Lublin, b Robinson ... ... ... 5 Hornibrook, b Jtiobinson .... ... 6 Higginson, b Robinson 0 Gatland, lbw b Robinson ... ... 2 Bumsey, not out , ... ... ... 0 Strongman, c Whkford b Robinson... 11 Becker, b Robinson ... ... ... 0 Hovell, b Whitford ... ; 3 Wide ... ... ... ... 1 -Total ... ..; ... ... 42 THAMES —FIRST INNINGS. Robinson, c Cadmanb Lublin ... 14 Curtis, b Hovell ..6 Whitford, b Lublin ... ... ...13 Steedman, c Hornibrook b Hovell ... 15 Paul,b Hovell ... ... „. .... 6 Colson, b Lublin ... „.i ... 4 Crawford, c Cadman b Hovill 28 Crump, b Hovell 0 Macdbnald, hit wicket, b Hovell ... 0 I /West, not out ' ... 2' Hewitt, b Lublin ... ... ;.. 2 - Byes 2, leg byes 5 7 Total ... 97 COBOMANDEE—SECOND INKINGS. Woodward, c and b Whitford ... 19 Cadman, b X obinson 1Rumsey, b Robinson 3 Beeson, not out 0 Lublin, lbw b Robinson ... ... 5 Gatland, b. Kobinson 0. Hornibrook, b Paul ... ... ... 0 Higgmson, b Robinson ... ... 0 Strongman, b Robinson ... ... 0 Becker, c Robinson b Paul 1 Hovell, bPaul... ... ... ... 0 Byes 9, leg-byes 4... 13 - Total ... 42

After the match the Thames team and their friends were invited by the Coromandel team to dinner at Mrs Boyd's, and at 7 o'clock an excellent dinner was set before them. Major Keddell was in the chair, supported by the captains of the two elevens, and the Mayor of the Thames and Mr Woodward in the vicechairs. After dinner the usual loyal toasts having been proposed and duly honored, the Chairman proposed the Thames eleven coupled with the. name of Mr Robinson. Mr Robinson returned thanks and proposed the health of the Coromandel eleven, to which Mr Gatland responded. The following toasts were also drunk :—The umpires and scorers, The highest scorers (Messrs Crawford and' Woodward), Mr Lynch the proprietor of the cricket ground (this as well as the other toasts was received with great'applause), The Ladies, (responded to by Mr Whitford), Mr Macdonald, The Chairman, The Host and Hostess, &o. ,'A most ' pleasant evening was spent, our Coromandel friends exerting themselves to the utmost to make all things/pleasant, and in this they certainly succeeded; as all there agreed that the trip and match had formed one of the most pleasant outings they had' ever had. The Enterprise, whic.h.took. the place of the Te= Aroha, started on the homeward route between 9 and 10 p.m. Now the Enterprise is not a fast boat, but it was expected that it would reach Grahamstown^^harf before 2 o'clock a.m. She did not arrive l\jntil 3.30. and at that time not even theiwaterman's boats could get to the-wharf, so that it was 5 o'clock before a landing was effected. ■ ■

* i Overs Mdiis Runs Wckts Wides Eobinson ... 19 14 10 9 0 Steedman ... 16 3 30 0 0 Whitford ... 3 1 111 THAMES—FIBST INNINGS. " Lublin ... 19 3 45 4 0 Hovell ... 19 4 45 6 0 SECOKD' INNINGS. Eobinson ... 21 15 8 7 0 Steedman ... 11 4 15 0 0 . Whitford ... 3 2 4 1. 0 Paul 6 5 2 3 0

B0W1IN& ANALYSIS—COBOMANDEI—FIBBT INNINGS.