VETERAN UMPIRE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19202, 7 January 1928, Page 12

VETERAN UMPIRE.

A BIRTHDAY GIFT

[THE PRESS Special Service.l

WELLINGTON, January G.

Mr W. R. Bock, whose long and outstanding connexion with cricket in Wellington has made him one of the best known umpires in the city, was, during the luncheon adjournment in the Otago-Wcllington match to-day, presented with a birthday cake to celebrate his SOth birthday, which occurs to-day. Eulogistic reference to Mr Bock's connexion with the game was made by Jl r C. J. Wilson and Mr A. J'. Wiren, 'president and vice-president respectively of the Wellington Cricket Association" Mr Bock replied in suitable terms.

Mr Bock has every right to be termed a veteran of the game, for he is still in harness and to-day was out at the Basin Reserve umpiring the. representative match between Wellington and Otago. Mr Bock came to Wellington from Houart, Tasmania, oil years ago, and except for a period of live years immediately following his marriage has been actively connected with Wellington and Dominion cricket all that lime. He first played the game in Tasmania and since his residence in Wellington has played for Star, Phoenix, and Brittannia, three clubs, which are now defunct. Tor the past twenty-five years Mr Bock has been actively connected with the Wellington Cricket Umpires' Association of which he is now chairman.