NOTABLE VISITORS TO MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3054, 26 November 1908, Page 5

NOTABLE VISITORS TO MASTERTON.

JHREE RENOWNED ATHLETES. SOME INTERESTING FACTS. The visit to Masterton of two theatrical companies, in the "Kilties Band" and Macmahon's Pictures, has brought to Masterton within three days three prominent figures in the athletic world, in the persons of the two giant drum majors of the "Kilties" —Messrs Roderick B. McKenzie and Donald McCormick —and Mr*W. Squires, who unsuccessfully contested the pugilistic championship of the world with "Tommy" Burns in Australia last August. MR R. McKENZIE. In reference to to Mr McKenzie, when that personage appeared in the Age office last evening to interview the business'manager regarding the performances of the famous Band at Masterton to-day and to-night, bis appearance created almost a sensathe front office staff. The genial Scot stands 7ft 2Jinches minus his boots, and with the added height given by the cockade on the headgear of his Scottish regalia he is indeed an imposing "Son of Scotland." Giants are invariably good-humoured, kindly sorts, and Mr McKenzie, in a conversation with a pressman, upheld this trait thoroughly. He was induced to impart, however, that he has achieved considerable success as a wrestler, and also in putting the shot and throwing the hammer. Being magnificently proportioned, one can readily credit that Mr McKenzie is not overstating facts when he says that he has never yet been thrown at wrestling. Five times he has "downed" his man in Australia — leadingjwrestlers—and once in New Zealand. Mr McKenzie served in the South African war with the Gordon Highlanders, and bears many scars as a result of the campaign. He attained the rank of SergeantMajor in his regiment. King Edward has offered Mr McKenzie the position of bodyguard'in the Royal Household, and it is probable that after the tour of the "Kilties" is completed Mr McKenzie will accept the offer. He is an exceedingly affable persun, and possesses a fund of native humour. MR DONALD McCORMICK. Regarding Mr Donald McCormir-.k, who is an inch taller than Mr McKenzie, the sculling world already knows something of him, as he is recognised as one of Canada's best oarsmen, and he has rowed against men of the calibre of Gaudnur. The management state that to-day a cha ! lenge is to be issued on behalf of Mr McCormick'to the winner of the Webb—Arnst contest for the sculling championship of the world. "BILL" SQUIRES. A popular person is "Bill" ih his own country, Australia, and it is easily understood, ,as whoever has met the plucky pugilist has been forced to confess that a more modest and unassuming felloe never breathed than "Bill" Squires. He is the despair of reporters for this very reason, as no amount of persuasion will induce him to speak of his achievements. Nevertheless, some j interesting remarks were made by him to an Age reporter last evening, chiefly on the subject of the coming contest between Burns and Johnson, which takes place in Sydney on Boxing Day (December 26th). Mr Squires said he intended to be present at the fight, which he believed would prove to be one of the greatest pugilistic encounters ever seen. "Burns," said Squires, "is a very clever, brainy fighter indeed, and as for his opponent, he is a terribly hard hitter, and a good man." The Australian ventured to prophecy the result of the contest, but did not desire his opinion to be published,. Referring to his own last contest with Burns, Squires said he had himself had too short a space of time to get ready for so redoubtable an adversary. During his tour in New Zealand, however, he has been doing active training, and as soon as he returns to Australia he intends to go in for a thorough preparation, in_order to be ready to meet the winner of the Burns-Johnson match. Mr Squires remarked that he was in better fettle now than he had' ever been previously. Mr Squires remarked that Everywhere in New Zealand, he has been most cordially received by leaders in sporting circles, and considers that he has never met a better class and more enthusiastic body of spoilsmen in his life than in the Dominion. The best wishes of untold numbers of New Zealand admirers will go with the worthy "Bill" on his return to Australia, and especially his efforts to win for himself the highest laurels in the world of buxing.