THE LATE MR ALF. BAYLY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9007, 17 December 1907, Page 5

THE LATE MR ALF. BAYLY.

BY TELEGKAMI—PRESS ASSOCIATION

NEW PLYMOUTH, December 16. The death of Mr Alf Bayly at Wanganui, on Sunday, removed one of the heroes of the football field in New Zealand. A man of ample means he was ever liberal.in assisting the Taranaki Rugby Union in its preafflup.nt days, and was mnay years President of the Union. As a player he was one of the brightest of many brilliant stars turned out by Taranaki when the province was at the height of its football fame. He was almost incomparable as a five-eighth or three-quarter, and was a wonderful skipper. He represented Taranaki every year from 1885 to 1901 inclusive, a record that will always take a power of beating. In his last match against Wanganui he had a leg broken. He had not intended.to play in the match, as he was the manager. The team, however, was a player short, and the veteran donned the amber and black rather than see his province undermanned. Cheers greeted the idol of the spectators as h 3 took the field. One offthe'-most painful incidents ir Mr. Bayly's football career was the accident which resulted in the death of Barney Armit in the match against Otago in 1899. Armit was running, with the ball. Bayly faced him to v collar him. Armit, always an adept at hurdling a low collarer, jumped. Bayly, too seasoned to be deceived, took Armit around! the ankles, A and the fearfivfall resulted in Armit being injured in his spine, and in a few weeks he died. Bayly was in no way responsible for the accident, but was terribly cut up about Armit's death, and is said to have wept like a child. This event made a deep impression on Mr Bayly. He was ever a changed man after it. In short, it hastened his end. Besides being a representative of Taranaki, Bayly was one of New Zealand's most famous backs. He was a member of New Zealand teams of 1893, 1894 and 1897. About a year ago the Government purchased his estate near Stratford, and he was entertained at a big valedictory gathering. In failing health some months ago he went to reside at Wanganui. The end was not unexpected.