BEACH ON HIS ENGLISH EiNCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2492, 5 January 1887, Page 2

BEACH ON HIS ENGLISH EiNCES.

The following is W. Beach's re[ly to congratulations offered him the otlur day in Melbourne on his return. Miking allowance for "blow,"'it is decUedly vigorous and effectivel cannoj find words'to express my sincere thank for the very kind way 1 have been received on my return from England. As hii? as lam able, which I suppose will nit be for many years longer, I shall niiy be proud- to uphold the honor of Australia. And if I cannot always keep the chanpionship, 1 shall do my best to make sono of his brother Australian scullers fit toihold it.—(Cheers.) The reception 1 jhave received in all the colonies has beenlnost gratifying. In Adelaide, although they have never soen me row, and hlrdly know what a professional rower ii, as they have none of their own, tho ptbple were ready to tear me to pieces in heir welcomo. In England it was justithe same, the peopto seemed as glad th;t I .had won my races as if I had beer an Englishman, as they sought to makome out to be. I assure you when I wav in England I did not throw a chance a*ayi I kept myself as well as I possibly ccild. I knew that I had a pretty hard task to perform, and that if I succeeded I sholld have a warm welcome when Icamebsk. (Cheers.) I knew I could hot succeed f I did not keep myself well, I was onHin England five months, and for fiur months of that time I was in Btrict ti'ijning, bo I did not enjoy myself very muh. —(Cheers and laughter,) I waß aurpried when I got to England, for I thougltl might learn 'Bomething-and 'i I tivo always got a mind to learn a bifc-lm 1 found that the rowing men in En'glnd could not teach me how to row—(Cheers). I knew how to row better tlin they did; but when they saw me ira boat they laughed at me. I thoughfcto myself they wont laugh before I go awy. -(Laughter and cheers). There W only one gentleman in England who,m seeing me in a boat for the first tim, said that I could row, and that ma my old friend Mr Olasper, the He said 1 would make them go, and ! waß very glad to prove their wordß trii. —(Cheers). Of course you know th't | when I was in England I met ali-the be't rowers the world can produce but Hallan, and it was not my fault that I dl not meet him,-(Cheers) I went to En;* land expressly to meet him, and he pretended to make a match: but when [ went to cover the money he was allegd to have put up with the ' Sportsmen,'( found there wa'3 no money to cover.4 (Cheers.)" About" a fdrtniglifc beW I left England Hanlan challenged me t> row,' but I told him he was too late. Bj then got up to his old prataks, and wanfel a match. Wo got talking like : a pair a pugilists, but we did not come to blow}! I told Hanlan what. I thought of him,'art that was riot very complimentary. Aftc the. way ; Hdnlan • was treated' in' tl i colonies, 1 think the he could (i would.be to remember '[ dofotthjbg tl)e l ro\fing'men of Englaift and' Amenca' are'in'with Australians They row quite'differently to what we do They.have differently shaped boats, an< different Mulls, and they , get themselves :

lip differently in their boats altog It is mj* belief that their way is the* way and our way is righ. At any ■my way lias stuck to me, aiitl provt it is right, Two of: them,' Teenu Ross, have promised to como out ii to compete for some of pur prizes,' hope they, will go back beaten as I did,"—(Cheers.).