THE ANGLO-WELSH FOOTBALLERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9096, 23 May 1908, Page 5

THE ANGLO-WELSH FOOTBALLERS.

WELCOME AT MASTERTON. A DEMONSTRATIVE RECEPTION. Last evening the Anglo-Welsh combination of footballers, which meets the Wairarapa Bush representatives, at the Showgrounds, to-day, arrived by the evening train from Wellington. The Masterton Railway Station was crowded with a dense throng of people long before the train bringing the visitors was due. The platform had been roped off from the verandah standards, the Master!on Fire Police assisting in keeping the crowd in order. There was probably a thousand people or more gathered on the platform, and at the rear of the station the Masterton Municipal Band being located at the exit end cf the platform. Among the prominent local citizens present to welcome the team were the Mayor (Mr P. L. IIollings), Messrs W. C. Buchanan (patron of the Wairarapa Rugby Union).',W. P. James (Vice-president), C. E. Dan- j iell (Trust Lands Trust), and the members of the Masterton Borough Council. The football representatives present were Messrs A. B. Charters, L. Williams and E. McKenzie (Selectors of the Union), J. Duggan, B. Chapman, and J. Lyall (Management Committee) and Mr W. G. Lamb (President of the Masterton Club). The train was well up to time, and as it steamed into the station continuous cheers were given, at the same time the Band, striking up an air of welcome, and general enthusiasm prevailed. The members of the team were met as they stepped off the train by the Mayor, who formally welcomed them to the district I through the Manager (Mr Hartnett). No public speeches were trade at the station, but the team were taken to a drag which was in readiness, and escorted by the cro'-vd into town, the Band heading the procession and playing a lively quick-step en route. AT THE DRILL HAU\

The Drill Hall was well rilled some ! time before the procession was due, and the "early birds" were justified, in taking risks about getting accord aa when the firrivad there wad I t»3i*enaOSs crush, and the hall was densely pflgßed in a very short time, many ,-iOfc HMi'i) ''■* admittance. A platform had bec:f3 itf'rtfnged at the end of the hall, and on till* tors aeommudaL-d the various speaker Hart-' nett, the manager of thv! f-Cfljity The Mayor, in a brief speech, that the district felt highly honoured .that Masterton had been selected as the first place in which such an important event was to transpire as the first mat"h with the visitors. Masterton could not,, offer the visitors the attractions of the cities, but the local team would do its best to provide the visitors with a good tussle on the morrow. (Hear, hear). He assured the visitors, amid laughter, that if they vanquished Wairarapa they would have a "soft thing" on everywhere else. Whatever the result they would be equally appauded. (Applause). The most attractive feature of a first impression of the team was, the speaker said, the red, and. blue colours they wore. (Cheers). Mr Hollings concluded by calling for three cheers for the visitors'.

Needless to say the response was deafening round of cheers, which concluded with an impromptu Maori haka by a auction of the audience. Mr W. P. James, the next speaker, ccnfessed to being at a disadvantage regarding 'his speech owing to the short notice given to him in which to prepare fur the reception. He repeated that it was a great honour to Masterton to be visited by such distinguished followers of the national sport, a sport which was dear to the heart of every New Zealande;' down to the youngest players. He felt sure the visitors would be shown the utmost hospitality, and every individual inhabitant of the district would, if necessary, put himself out lo give them a thoroughly hearty reception. (Applause). Mr Buchanan, the next speaker, eaid that when the guests of the evening left home a well-known English authority had said the team would give the New Zealanders a good "go," and the speaker said he hoped they would. (Hear, hear). He would like New Zealand to come out on top, but, if the visitors succeeded in so doing he was sure they would be appauded on all hand 3. The visit of the team would have a great effect in knitting closer together the dominion and the Motherland, and the visitors throughout, the tour would everywhere meet with British fair play. (Applause). Mr Hogg said the team would doubtless form a favourable impression of the district, as it was being afforded a reception hitherto unparalelled in Masterton. He asked the visitors to astonish everybody by letting Wairarapa win to-day, a remark which created much amusement. Various other remarks of a humourous nature provided the audience and visitors with merriment. Mr Hogg concluded by wishing the visitors a pleasant tour. (Applause). Mr Hartnett, on behalf of the team, made a cordial speech of thanks for the generous welcome accorded to them. The team intended to do its best to win to-day, but it recognised it had a hard task ahead. The visit of the "All-Blacks" to England had done a great thing for Rugby football at Home. They were followed by the "Springboks," another magnificent combination, and of the two tin; impression at Horn; was that, the "All-Blacks" were the better team, and a contest between the two teams would have been a splendid struggle. His team wei\± very grateful for the spontaneous and hearty ieeeption accorded to them, both at Wellington and in Masterton. He was pleased to say that the New Zealand Rugby Union had consented to play a match against a Maori representative team l.efore they left New Zealand.- (Cheers). Mr A. F. Harding (Captain of the Anglo-Welsh team) then made a phort speech, thanking the towns-people-'of Masterton for the warm reception that had been given to his men. The team would endeavour to give a good account of itself, and if it did not win it would be satisfied at having done its best to endeavour to do so. He concluded by reiterating his warm thanks for the 1

cordial welcome, and resigned his neat amid prolonged applause. Mr Charters also made a short speech of thanks for the reception on behalf of the Rugby Union. The Mayor then made a strong appeal to the business people to observe a few hours h'oliday, the request being vociferously applauded. The proceedings terminated with a haka performed bv half-a-dozen local natives, which greatly interested the visitors. The team wa» then taken to its quarters at the Prince of Wales I-lotul. TEAM FOR TO-DAY. The following is the Anglo-Welsh team to play the Wairarapa-Bush team to-day:— Full-back—E. J. Jackett. Three-quarters —R. A. Gibbs, P. F. McEvedy, J. Ponty Jones, J. L Williams. Half-backs—J. Davey, H. Laxnn. Forwards —A. F. Harding (captain), R. Dibble, E. Morgan, W. Oldham, J. F. Williams, G. N. Kyrke, L. Smith, J. A. S. Ritson.