It has been definitely decided to play the New Zealand match at Christchurch, in stead of against an eighteen of Canterbury. The team will be chosen on Saturday night. The official reception of the visitors took place at the City Council Chambers this morning. A large number of the towns people were present. The mayor (Mr Fisher) briefly welcomed the cricketers, and the Minister of Education (the Hon. W. C. Walker) also spoke. He expressed the hope that the next Australian team would in clude a New Zealander. He raised a hearty laugh by reminding his hearers that without New Zealand’s assistance Aus tralia could not have sent Home a Carbine team. Mr Smith, secretary of the Ciicket Council, thanked generously giving up their claim to the New Zealand 'match. The Australians would have been sorry to leave New Zealand with out playing it,'and so it had been arranged to take the dates originally fixed for the Canterbury match. The health of the team was then drunk. Messrs 11. Trott (captain) and Harry Mu sgrove briefly replied. The former caused considerable amusement by naively saying he hail had a good deal of practice in talking, but he had said very little, which he thought was the reason the team were so popular. Arrangements will be made if possible to play the New Zealand match on a Friday, Saturday, and Monday if the steamer can be put oil. The game began at 220 p.m. The wickets are soft owing to the recent rains. Wel lington won the toss and sent the Aus tralians in. At 2.3") Iredale and Darling were still in, there being no wickets down for 12—Iredale 3, Darling lb The scoring is very slow. The score at four o’clock was : Australians.—First Innings. Iredale, c Levers, li Ashbult... 11 Darling, not out ... ... ... 4(j Oitfen, b Smith ... ... --J Hill, not out ... o Extra ... ... ... • ■ • • t Two wickets for Late on Saturday evening, September If), the body of the son of William Lock wood, the Surrey cricketer, was found in the River Locn, Nottingham. The child had left its aunt’s house in the morning, and as it did not return search was made during the dav. 