FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2907, 25 May 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Tjjejue was a fair attcndanoo at the Masterton Club's ground yesterday afternoon to witness the match between i]ie second fifteens of the Wellington and Masterton Clubs. As was anticipated, tlie city team proved too good for the looal men and won tho gatne by seven point's to'three. The Masterton forwards more than held their own, but their backs, with one or two exceptions, did not show to advantage, while their opponents behind the scrum were" all there." The match between the first fifteen of the Red Stars and the second fifteen of the Poneke Club also attracted a good number of onlookers. The game was keenly contested throughout,' and resulted in a, win for the Stars hy two points tq nil, R, Thompson secured both the tries, for the winners.

The Carterton Rivals journeyed to Taita and beat the Epuni by a goal to nil. The Carterton men went down two short, and made up with two Wellington substitutes, each of whom potted a goal, but one was disputed. The second fifteen of the Red Stars went to Wellington and got beaten by the second of the Oriental Club by a diapu ted try to nil. The arrangements for the visitors were bad, Tliey were not informed of the timeac which play was to start, and there was great delay in getting on the ground, They were therefore only able to play two spells of 2Q minutes each, instead of the usual 45 minutes, Members of the Masterton Club will practice to-morrow afternoon in

view of the forthcoming senior and junior cup contests, which commence on Saturday, June 2nd. The match between the GreytiMi and Athletic Clubs resulted in a neither side Bcorin

The return football match between the Auckland and English representative players took place yesterday at the, Tramway Company's ground, Epsom, and resulted in a win for the Auckland team by 4 points to nil. The public interest in the rnetch was very great, and it is estimated that 8000 persons wero present, including many country visitors. O'Connor was chosen captain of the Auckland te&m. Dr Brooks umpired for England, and Mr Arniel for Auckland, Mr T. Mackay being referee.

The Football Concert. g The Masterton Football Club's con- .. cert in the Theatre Royal last night ™ was fairly attended, the hall being a little more than half full, which for Masterton is considered by no means a bad audience, The evening's entertainment consisted of musical items lor.Parfcl, and a dramatic producjton entitled "A Home Jewel" fonpfc 11. As an overture and as Masterton String Band, under Mr Keisenberg, played " Figaro" and v " The Turkish Patrol," Both were well rendered, the violin playing in the former-being especially noticeable both for precision in time and tune, although in it we think the pianoforte part was made a little [forte throughout. The aceompani- | ments to all the songs were played ))y Mr Keisenberg with his accustomed ability. Mr Wickerson opened the vocal portion of the programme by singing the favorite ballad " Rocked in the cradle of the deep," and tom deservedly applauded. Mr Gaskill* followed with two comic songs, one of' them in response to an encore. The first was entitled " The Broken-down Tragedian, and the second "Binks' Ghost." In each Mr Gaslrill greatly pleased the audience, his make up in the first song being quite a triumph of art, and his singing and pantomimic expression in both being really eeellent. Mr Johnny Halford, wh®iso represented the comic element, which it will be seen was thus particularly strong oil the occasion, sang" The Silly Boy," and " What is it ?" with considerable success, the audience being emphatic in their applause. His first song was the better effort of the two. Mr Coleman was unavoidably absent, through a severe cold, and therefore one item had to be omitted. Mr Jackson in '• On the ball," a football song, showed a voice that would go at least down to "Z," ■ but some of the higher notes were ?u '; evidently not so digestible. His however took' very well, with present. Mr Gant who contributed' " The Scout" was heard to great advantage, the sentimental passage, especially, of that well-known song bsing rendered with much taste and expression, The popular contribution of the evening was, however, Messrs Bradbury and Gaskill's duet, intfftar-' acter, which though not mucOom music's aspect was everything in words. It was evidently the inspiration of a local heaven-born poet and it discussed our every-day topics in the most amusing manner amid the delighted laughter and applause of the audience. Among the subjects it dis-

posed ofwere: The Master ton gasworks loan; Pickering, the swan hunter, the Calitornian pump and water cart, tko Heathen Oliiuee, Masterton Town Lands Trust, while in the two following verses, our worthy Mayor and Borough Councillors were thus irreverently descanted upon There is a City Fathers'land. Far Far away, Where Councillors are a happy bnm?,&. Far Far away, There the Mayor without a flaw, Lays down Parliamentary law; You can hear his blessed jaw Far Far away. Where, alas, is our Water Supply, Far Far away, In the Mill Stream or the Sky Far Far away, The Council will that stream And bog the old man to scoop it ilQbr, When they're in that burning fire, Far Far away. The drama of which the second part of the programme consisted, was a kind of farcical domestic comedy, and it proved an ample source of fun for the audience, who were well amused from beginning tc end. Mr Gant, as John Anthony Bobtail, the tallow chandler, was the life and soul of the play, and oleverly represented the impulsive man of tallow, who, although he QQula bo severe, was not without his "meltiflg moments." Mr J, H. Kibblowhite, as Constantino Wagtail, was also successful, his get-up being admirable. Mrs O'Counor cleverly sustained her character of" Mrs Wagtail," her dialogue being especially clear, and her acting free and natural. Of Miss Kosie Beaufort, little neejiJjp said, her ability born of experience® so well known, and it was .again exemplified in the part of " Mrs Bobtail." Mr P. O'Connor, as Mrffiigford, hardly acted the part witlf the ease we should have liked, there being a stiffness noticeable at times. However, taken all round, the pieco went very well, and although several of the minor characters now and then had not words to express themselves, and had to apply to tho prompter to supply the deficiency, the audience were well Ontovtained and deoidedly gratified.