CIVIC GATHERING AT SUMNER.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17732, 7 April 1923, Page 11

CIVIC GATHERING AT SUMNER.

MISS SHAND AND MISS WATSON HONOURED. Last night a civic reception was tendered to Miss Gwitha Shand by the people of Sumner, when the, Town Hall was packed. The Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C., during the course of an address of welcome to the guest of the evening, said that some present might not be aware that Miss Shand had spent the first portion of her life in the borough., and the people of the borough had come to look upon her as "on© of tbeir own. For this reason they were proud of hei< achievements, and rejoiced at her successes. The great point which he admired in Miss Shand was that she had been gnint-eci & talent- and foiid not a.l- - it to lie dormant but had developed it to such an extent that she was able to show* the people in the rest of the swimming worla that they would have to develop a. little more if they wanted to get ahead of her. (Applause.) Mr O. F. Allen, speaking on behalf of the Sumner School, said that it was performances such as those made by Miss Shand that had brought the little Dominion before the world as a definite portion of the British Empire. They looked upon Miss Shand's connexion with the local school with great pride. . , Mr S. K. Bassett, representing the head centre of the Royal Life Saving , Society, referring to Miss Shand's ■ early performances in iife-sai ing work, ' said that from a round of successes in the Dominion she had finally swum against the world's best ladv swimmers at Honolulu, and in Australia had won the 220 yds and 440vds championship races. Ho thought : that not only she but her parents were ! to bo heartily congratulated upon the encouragement they had given her. On l>ehalf of her Sumner lady friends, tho Mayor then presented Miss Shand with a large framed photo of Sumner as it was about fourteen years ago, j and the poetical works of Shakespeare, j Longfellow, Browning, and Tennyson, j Miss Ettie Barber also presented a ! very handsome bouquet. The Hon. J. Barr then made a presentation to Phyllis "Watson, a scholar from the School for the Deaf. In asking her to accept from her admirers a gold wristlet watch, Mr Barr made reference to her bravery in'jumping into the water at the pier to rescue a 'small child. She had done her best willingly and promptly, and they wanted her to know that they appreciated her action. Miss Shand and Miss "Watson both suitably replied. During the evening musical items were contributed by Miss EVLiv Barber, Mrs F. Kerr, Miss M. Woodhouse, and Mrs j H. W. Heslop. The proceedings terrajinaited with the National Anthem j and cheers for the recipients cf the I gifts.