A TRIP TO RAGLAN ON A CRICKETING- EXPEDITION.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 906, 13 April 1878, Page 2

A TRIP TO RAGLAN ON A CRICKETING- EXPEDITION.

Although our WbataWbata Cricket Club has been in existence but a very short time, it is not deficient in vitality and pluck. This was shown by the match to be played in Kaglan on Saturday last, the Ost inst., so on Friday afternoon eleven bold and adventurous spirits were ferried across the Waipa. all of them armed to the teeth with bats, gloves, etc-, As no one of course in Waikato has ever heard of the Raglan Road, it is of no use my describing it, but I may say that the innumerable bridges that have to be crossed are sadly in want of some planks, a few of them, indeed, require repairing with entirely new bridges, i The limestone rocks also which abound on the mountain track might very well be dispensed witb. It was here that the lime for the Newcastle Block house was burned. After reaching the Kaglan side of the ranges one of our horses broke down, but through the kindness of a settler another one was procured. A little further, and another horse gave out, but there was no kind settler this time, and one of ' our adventurous spirits had to take '

Shank's mare for the- remaining distance, about twelve miles, leaving his horse, in a .p.adJock with a good i 'ti-tre.e /;!; iiS ; '-it. We reached Raglan, however.' alAaat, and hero let ui6 pause to describe the reception, and I might pause for a considerable time, for .-there was noao. Wo rode through; township giving an occasional* waft' whoop, but without apparency rousing anyone. Wo rode on until we passed through a stable dooe, nearly ruuning over a cow that was peacefully ruminating inside. The Raglan Club evidently knew that we should have been embarassed. had there been any display of bunting or au address presented to u.~: However we determined to make ourselves comfortable, and did so. Our kind hostess knew that we were thoroughly sick offish, and gave us for a pica'sant change, mutton chops, indeed before wo left we might have sung ofmutton chops, what some celebrated personage is said to have done about patridges. lhe match was to commence at 10 a.m. and about that time our opponents began to roll up, and a fi Qe lot of they were, several of them coming from a distance to play us. They went in first, aud although our bowlers die their best, putting on steam occasionally, and then taking it off they ran up a score 0f:63. We went in calm and confident, but, alas ! their bowlers could put on steam also, and the ball would persist in avoidiug the bat, evidently preferring the stumps, We made about 43, this looked very blue, but the Haglanites only scored 5-1 in their next innings, and in our second ditto we gradually rose the score until we were within three of beating them. This of course was all that .was .wanted, aud our last man let the ball in. This closed a well contested game, and it would be unfair it 1 omitted to mention the friendly and gentlemanly manner in which the Ruglau cricketers treated us. A most substantial lunch was provided in the middle of the day, and in the evening our conquerors got up some dancing in Powell s new hall, which hall I may here remark has been papered and fatted up in a manner that would reflect credit upon any building in the Waikato. A very pleasant evening was spent, so much so, that it-was 11 a.m. on Sunday morning when we started on the homeward track, we reached WhataWhata ad right about dusk, without any incident occurring on the road worth mentioning, except that our friends horse had evidently found ti-tree disagree with him, for he had taken about twenty-four hours start of his master on the homeward route. I cannot couclude without stating that the whole of our party were pleased with the trip, and are unanimous in wishing for a return match, to be played in WhataWhata, it possible before the season closes E. C 5.,•