THE NATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2841, 7 March 1888, Page 3

THE NATIVE FOOTBALL TEAM.

As considerable interest is being taken in the formatiJfrjf the Native Footbill team, winch, after playing a number of watcira in this Colony, is to go to England, «:i(l there meet the leading Clubs and County teams in a series of matches, which the English Footballjk-ngby Union have been asked to iSrange, we, this morning, interviewed Mr J. Warbrick, who is organising the team in New Zealand, and who received us cuiirLooitsly, and gave u.s all information concerning the undertaking lie has in hand. That gentleman first referred to au impression that had got abroad, that in going Home, the team were going to combine a kind of "Buffalo Bill" show with their athletic enterprise, and asked us to remove the idea that anything of this kind was at all associated with the visit, which was intended to bo in the inters its of football only, and in which oven the fmaiif&prospest was quite secondary, ft™ people had even gone so iar, Mr Warbrick mentioned, as to ask liira if a Haka troupe was included with tho Natives he was taking Home. As regards the team itself, it may bo said that it is not intended to restrict it to purely Natives only, i for it to that iho inclusion of half-

castes will, from the splendid physique of the latter, and their past brilliant pevlormances, form one of the strongest teatures of I,he combination, and remove the extra chances of defeat., which would greet a solely Maori learn. It is intended to take altogether twenty - two,although, of course, only iiftceu will plfv in each match, bo far, the following may bo looked upon as certain ot inclusion, ]). <.) age, i Wellington): J. Y\arbi'ick, (Ilawkes Iky); Lee, (Invercargill); W. Warbnek, (East Const; &»ilcr (Ilawkes J-iay); ■]. Taiaroa, (Ilawkes Bay); T. Ellison, (Wellington)] il Taiaroa, (Otago); •I. liciiiiie (Nelson); ('-. Wynwarfl, (Auckland]; G, Anderson, (Thames); A. Y\'arbrick, (Ilawkes Iky); Karanria (Ilawkes Iky); Akitu,. (Wairarapa); Brown, ([nvorcarcjill). This leaves seven players to be chosen, and Mr Warwick's visit to Masterton has been made with theintention of seeing the local raen of football renown, chief of whom are Akitu, Kariatiaua, and Kcrnene, so that this d'strictmaybave an equal chance with the others in the making up of the team, which ic is intended shall be one as representative of the wiiolo of New Zealand as possible, and coming from as many localities as can bo arranged without any undue saeriiiee of strength in the selection. Akitu, who is considered ilia best mtivo forward of the Wairartot, lias expressed bis willingness to go if linaliy selected, and as regards the 3lhor two, Mr Warbrick, lias although here, not had an opportunity of seeing :hein. His object,it may be said, was mainly by meeting the men to have sonic idea of their physique and capability of sustaining the strain of a : lengthened trip, such as is intended, As a matter of fact, the Ilawkes Ikv District nliords a much better lield to : idioose from ,both in point of nnmberand of quality,but this is not being allowed to stand in the way of any locality ; which possesses good players, having llic opportunity of securing llieir inclusion, if they are really bouor than the others that are in view. But Mr YVarbriek assured us that quality ■ would be ilie iirstguide in all instances, ■ iiid no oilier consideration would be iliowed to weigh against it. The :caiu will finally be chosen at Napier, •viioro they meet in about a month, , md tbe practice which will be indulged v n will give a belter idea of their than a mere inspection of hem, or reports of their prowess von Id do. They then sail for England n July. Viith regard lo a match wiih ' Wairavapa, Mr Warbriek said lliat his Saliva learn would only be to glad to neeo I lie representatives of this < listrict later on, if it coyid be at all immged.

To again refer to iliat pSmtse of llic niioslioii in which the advantage of including half-castes is questioned, it may bo said thai if it v/eve i.itemled to run ;i shov," of purely .New Zoal;uid Maories, ami to make the exhibition of their Native dances and liabib ilic greatest attraction, football would have to bt entirely a secondary matter, 'i'be Jlaorios, in the iir.4 place, would not bo so strong as a team and then, too, the combination of two entirely different tiling;! would militate one one against the success of the ether, and the inevitable defeat 01 the the team in the field would ruin the exhibilional prospects of the show business, In short the idea of running the two conjointly is absurd, and as far as Mr Warbriek is concerned, was never even thought of.

young miss, »ge«l 10, whose sister had just b'jnotw; to a physician, Wi« seal-ad at tlio supper felJo with the family. There hia! been remarks wade and u>>hii'ms cx[nc'~;;ud absmt tie.) Til. D., whun the young mi;;:; gavo her opinion :;s foil')-,','.,:—"! think it will bo a very genii thing for the doctor, as he eaii now l«iv« Ins babies with C.iri-is, and not givu tlriin away to strangers." Supper was adjourned.