SECRETARY RETIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 23 August 1930, Page 17

SECRETARY RETIRES.

PRESENTATION TO MR. R.

ABSOLUM.

BY 01AHUHTJ MEMBERS. « I long association with the SPORT. A very fine tribute was paid yesterday at the annual meeting of the members of the Otahuhu Trotting Club to Mr. R. L. Abeolum, the retiring secretary, following the merger with the-Auckland Club. In making- a presentation of two handsome chesterfield chairs, one m Mr. Abeolum and one for his wite. tlie president, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie said that it gave him the greatest pleasure to make the presentation to one who had for a long period of years been an esteemed and respected friend. No man, said Mr. Mackenzie, had done more for trotting in the interest* of the Otahuhu Club than Mr. Absolum. In the earlv davs when those interested had to battle hard, the retiring secretary had filled the positions; of judge, starter, chairman of committee, and lastly, secretary. He had always been devoted to the sport and had given .all his time to it. Always careful in the interests of the Otahuhu Club, Mr. A'bsolum had been meaner with the club's money than with his own. ■ "You are now retiring on a wellearned pension," said Mr. Mackenzie, "but it is not a parting, and we all hope to meet ae often and under the same happy atmosphere as ever. In presentincr you with the chairs I attach to them the very best wishes of the Otahuhu Trotting Club." (Applause.) Mr. W. C. Watts endorsed the remarks of the president. For 25 years he had been a member of the committee, and therefore was continually in toueh with the secretary. The fuuds of the Otahuhu Club in its first year amounted to £12 and the second year the amount had reached £22. Since then the club had gone ahead by leaps and bounds, and this success was greatly due to the untiring efforts of Mr. Absolum, He hoped Mr. Absolum would be with them for many years. ... Mr! E. V. Sutherland spoke in similar strain. Everyone, he said, had been pleased to number Mr. Absolum among their friends. There was no friendship like that of a "sport." Their friendship was cemented, and the finest people were among them. Whenever subscription lists were being canvassed the ones who gave most freely were the "sports," and in every sense Mr. Absolum was one. In thanking the members for their appreciated gifts, Mr. Absolum said that the meeting did not seem to him an annual meeting. It was 30 years ago eince he becamc.a member, and he had religiously stuck to fostering the interests of the club. In the early history of the club it was difficult to get business men interested, and to show that the biggest concerns arise from small beginnings he quoted the original . meeting of 'the Otahuhu Club held at Potter's, Paddock (it had several names at the time, said Mr. Absolum). Tliat meeting was on March 21, 1891, and the j programme was a. mixed, oue of .trotting l and - pony; The weather 'conditions were wretched, so much so that the last race, the Pony Trot, had to be postponed till the following Saturday. The attendance was between 400 and 500 -pecple", .chief .- , race was the Handicapl;. Trot,iwdnVby Maud S., and pwned by Mr.'P. ; .("Paddy'') Quinlan. The amount put through the totalisato'r for the day was It was following the holding of that gathering that he (Mr. Absolum) and Mr. Lockhart got bu6y and really formed the Otahuhu Trotting Club. They gave the privileges to an auctioneer to sell, and they brought £100, but the money was never handed over. Mr. Absolum went on to say that since he first became a member of the club he had filled the positions of judge, starter, chairman, for twelve years, and secretary eince 1919. He had been connected with the club for 36 years, and lie wished to thank the chairman, committee, and members for the manner in which they had met him at all times. The staff and Mr. Somers (caretaker of the Otahuhu track) he also wished to thank foy the assistance they had rendered him at all- times. He wished the amalgamation every success, but did not -\vant the feeling to grow up that Otahuhu had been deleted. "I arii going to do my best to see as many of 'Otahuhu's stewards on the Auckland Trotting Club as we have at present." .. Mr.' Absolum was warmly applauded as he concluded his reply. ? ? . A very fine clock which, had been presented to the Otahuhu- Club was also made a gift of to Mr. Absolum. ' ' '• * v AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. The Auckland Trotting Club has fixed the following prices for admission to ~ their , unemployment relief meeting:—Outside enclosure, 1/6; grandstand and lawn enclosure: Gentlemen 5/, ladies 2/6, children 1/6.