Sport and Colonialism in 19th Century Australasia - LA84 Foundation

newspaper in 1882, in its lyrical treatment of rugby, presents
a convincing rationale for the game's acceptance by the Maoris:
. . . every scrimmage is a hand-to-hand fight with all the
excitement of battle and none of the bloodshed. Young
fellows are trained to run swiftly, to charge with
bravery, to bear pain silently, and to stand cold and
wet and other experiences common in warfare with
stoicism. 21
V
The rituals, the Royal presence and the elitist traditions
of the Ascot race meeting are vivid examples of the manner in
which certain sports and their locations became considerable
symbols of status. To appear at Ascot's Royal Enclosure in
morning suit and top hat meant acceptance to the most aristocratic
and influential circles of London society. Participation
in the first eleven or fifteen at a "great" Public School
had enormous life-long social status. To win an Oxbridge rowing
blue was the acme of social achievement. Within New Zealand
there was a very real sensitivity to social differentiation.
This is not to make a facile case of "all men being equal" and
happy with their status quo. There were clearly differences in
education, income, and social aspiration. In the townships of
the 1880s and the 1890s there were hill suburbs and "choice"
locations that attracted a prospering, professional middle
class. Nevertheless, in recreation and sport, there was not
the snobbery, upper class English accent or exclusiveness associated
with British "status sport". There was, however - and
this is critical to an understanding of New Zealand society -
high status attached to athletic performance and administrative
ability in recreation and sport.
The British in the nineteenth century, lionised a number
of figures such as the Duke of Wellington, Deerfoot, General
Gordon, Lilly Langtry, Captain Webb, David Livingstone, Gladstone,
W.G. Grace and so on. In a far off colony, such as New
Zealand, these figures were equally revered, renowned and idol-
ised. The phenomenon is that there was a conscious rejection
of such deification for outstanding New Zealanders
in any field
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