THE DINNER

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 807, 18 August 1877, Page 2

THE DINNER

Shortly after *7 o'clock, eh« bwo teams and a lafije number of influential apt leading oitisens ass«mbled at tue Albb?s Sail for dinner, whioh was provided to order by Host Keane, of the Thiet.e Hotel; and although covers were laid for 100, and a considerable number beyond that attended, there was amole provision for ail. The Hobaon Band was xtatioued m the Ha 1, and ontinuei to play lively and select airs during the evening. The spread was creditable to the catering abilities of the host, and the wines &o, were of good quality, added tj which a spirit of harmony and good fellowship prevailed, which tended to make the evening a very pleasant one, and justify the remark of the Chairman, Mr Robert Graham, that although he had frequently taken the chair at festive "• meetiugs, he had never had~ the pleasure of presiding over suoh a jolly lot of -fellows. After the viands had been disposed of, order was' called, and the Chairman pro* posed the " Health of the Queen and Royal Family," which was loyally responded to. The tost of "His Excellency the Governor" followed, and was received with due honours, as was also the toast of the Legislature. The Chairman on riwngSto propose the toast of the " Dunediu Team," said he had now to propose, the toast of the* evening. (Cheers.) All those who witnessed the football matoh that day would admit that two better teams oould scarcely be got together, and he was proud of the manner m which tha Auckland team behaved. He felt confident from the play, of the Duuedia una that they had nothing to fear m the four remainining matches which they had to play, (Cheers.) He had observed that they called at Taranaki, and offered to play for one hour, and from his observation of their arduous work that day they were wise m declining to play for two hours, for had they played the full time they would be unfit to meet their Auckland antagonists. (Cheers.) He made no apology for the Auckland team, but recent events had thrown a damparftm football play, m Auckland — especially the accident whioh resulted m the death if Mr Filling eariy m the season. The team whioh played . to-day was from liifbrent parts of the province, who had idt had the opportunity of practising liogethe*, but they had played well. Oheors.) He asked them t-> dmk tc The ; Health of the D«ne/iin Team." Tile tQaat. was. drunk with the greatest; 3nthußtaßm, • all preaenb rising to their >Uura aad oheerinig lustily, Mr'Disoh, captaia of the Dunedin ieam, responded. He thanked the oom<

pttny WWmly tbf'tiietm*na«r m whioh taey had responded to the toast, Mid for the cordial we^otteth^Kyhajl *sC§rded to the team. Although their stay ,ifi Anek* land wasshortj the ;AuokUnd ; people had made it sweet. The' game that 'day had been most, exojting, < and ttyt». Auckland teams had gi»en-tbem a lnwon it baok' play and collaring. He hoped it ' rould not be the last game betwe n Auo (land and Dunedin, and that they would si oitly see an Auokland team jo Dunedta, When he assured them they would do tbei ' beat to give them as cordiala reoetjtion a i. had; been accorded them here. (Cheer*) Ho proposed the the toast of '* the Auckland, learn," coupled with the name of Captain 1 Robtnson. (Cheers.) iv .U; 1 Mr Rouinson, m reipohding, referred to the splendid match i|iey had had, aqd ,he wished they had jrdn it He hoped jnext year their fdr^arcLjplay would be improved ; but no doubt, had the weather 'been better, the play would hare been 1 better on both sides. * ! . j I TheTioeiOhairnian(MrFAWhitaker) ! proposed the toast of "The Chinja of \ Football," wfaioh was loudly responded to, The toast of " The Committees "!w«b proposed from the obair, and responded. to by Mesira Cotton, Qplson, A Whitak*!^ Downing and Mills (Iganedin). The Chairman alaojfroposed the toast of "The UMpiw^^and~Mes»ra Shd© (Dunedin) and Sbarland responded. Mr 0 W Binuey " The Press," and Mr King reiponded^atod pro* posed "The Waikato and Thames Contingent," to. which Mr Wood (Waikato) responded, and proposed •* The Ladies," to whioh Mr Neville responded. "The health of the Chairman" was „ drunk m bumpers on the proposition of Hfkt Henderson. This bi»onght th^btit of yj toasts to a conclusion, and the meeting then became convivial. eeparat* ing, a number of songsfwere snng,; and " Auld Lang Syne " having b«ea sang by all present, the proceedings oonoluded.^— •Herald,' August 17.