CORRESPONDENCE

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 165, 30 September 1892, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

[The editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.] (To the Editor) Sir, —Kindly insert the following in reply to Mr Baynes’ letter, which appeared in last ‘ Advertiser ’ issue. Mr Haynes states that several officious and meddlesome people of Aratapu took upon themselves to mislead and make use of the Auckland team. I do not think that the Auckland Union would allow themselves to be made use of by any persons, and I do not think they were made use of in the present case. Tire Wairoa Union invited a team from the Auckland Union for a match on tlie 24th instant, and had made arrangements to play the game on the Mangawliare ground and to hold a banquet in the evening at Aratapu. Besides the banquet, arrangements had been made to provide a trip to the Coast on the following day. On the 19th inst, I received the following telegram from the Auckland Secretary : ‘ Team arranged stay at Baynes’, Dargaville being nearer to ground.’ On receipt of this v .re I saw several of the local delegates, and we thought it better to goad word

as to our arrangements re entertaining the team, and did so without calling a meeting as there was not any time to spare, and did not consider it necessary, as the minute hook will show how all the delegates approved of the action, with the exception of two ; ore from Dargaville and another from Maropiu. The following is a copy of telegram sent: : ‘ Match played at Mangawhare ; banquet at Aratapu. Will be very inconvenient for both parties if team stay Baynes’, Could you not arrange stay O’Connor’s, Aratapu ? Letter by post.’ On receipt of this wire the Secretary wired ; Have wired Baynes, asking him to cancel arrangements ; will let you know result.’ On the 22nd, after receipt of my letter in which I gave full explanation, I rocoived the following: 1 Have arranged team stay at O’Connoi’s.’ The Auckland Secretary was in the dark as to distance between the several places, and did not think it would make any difference by team staying at Dargaville, but'when he received my letter he immediately decided upon sending the team to Aratapu. I do not think that the up river people have an y cause for complaint as they had the match played on their ground, and as all the players, with the exception of one, came from down river I think it was only fair for the team to be entertained at Aratapu. Dargaville wants everything or nothing, but the W. Union cannot see its way clear at present to be governed by Dargaville, While writing upon the team and banquet I would like to mention that telegrams were sent from Dargaville to the Auckland team asking them if they would accept a banquet from the people of Dargaville, but they very rightly replied, they were the guests of the Wairoa B. Union. I may also state that the Auckland Secretary instructed the manager of the team to pay Mr Raynes in full for the time the team would have been at his hotel had they stayed there, as Mr Haynes complained that he had been to some expense making arrangements for entertaining them. The above statements are for the information of the public, who can form their own opinions. —I am. Yours etc., C. H, Matthews, Hon. Sec., W.B.TJ.