TO-MORROW'S CONTEST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9095, 22 May 1908, Page 4

TO-MORROW'S CONTEST.

To-morrow will be a "red letter day" fur Masterton on the occasion of the football match between the AngloWelsh and Wairarapa - Bush teams. Masterton has been chosen us the scene for the first of many lights in New Zealand, and residents of the Wairarapa should feel proud o ? the honour conferred on them. During the brief time that will be occupied by the match business and all other matters will be cast aside, and the love of the New Zealander for his national game will be evidenced by a record 'attendance, no matter what the climatic conditions may bj. That the fight will be a stern one we do r.ot doubt, and the result of the match will be awaited with eagerness all over the dominion. A match of this description has a wider significance than what the actual result may be. It stimulates interest in a healthy, manly sport that has grown to be it part of our national life. The visitors will arrive in Masterton this evening, and rhey will be welcomed by the Mayor, and a popular demonstration has been arranged in order to give suitable significance to the arrival of the visitors. The visitor? in question are, practically, men of New Zealand blood, but they come to us from the Old LanJ, from whence we all come, but we are as accustomed to criticism as to endearing epithets. We know our weaknesses and we also think that we know our virtues. Among those virtues are physical pluck and endurance, and the well-beloved scienct of

manly sports. We welcome our visitors —we welcome them to the town and to every respect that can be conferred upon thpm, but our Wairarapa men will "play the game," and should the honours of the fight be their portion a throb of genuine joy will pulsate throughout the district, though in no wise will our regard for the visitors be diminished. The Anglo-Welsh footballers are more than welcome to the district, and should they win not only will they be genuinely applauded, but the whole spirit of the Wairarapa will bo with the victory of the victors.