AMERICAN ATHLETES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 56, 7 March 1914, Page 6

AMERICAN ATHLETES

PRESENTATION TO MR. PEIXOTTO

Representatives of the Council of, the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association assembled at the Empire Hotel yesterday evening to bid farewell to Mr. Peixotto, manager of the American athletic team, before his departure for San Francisco. Mr. A. Marryatt, president, in doing the honours of the occasion, paid a high tribute to Mr. Peixotto for the manner in which he had looked after the team, and also congratulated the team on its uniform success throughout the tour. When the Council entered into the project of having an American team of athletes visit New Zealand the visit was not regarded only fiom the athletic point of view. They knew early in the day that Mr. Peixotto proposed to give a series of lectures in New Zealand, and they hoped that great good would result therefrom. They believed that the tour would not only give an impetus to those at present in the game, but that his lectures would have a beneficial influence on the coming generation,- besides y awakening the interest of members of local bodies to the need of providing sports grounds for children. On ' behalf of the Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. he had much pleasure in presenting the departing guest with a mark of their esteem. (Applause.) The presentation was of New Zealand greenstone and New Zealand gold. From a flat base of the greenstone rose two inverted greenstone boar's tusks, suspended between which was a gold medal, on which was an inscription indicating the nature of the presentation. It was, Mr. Marryatt explained, designed by Mr. Crouch, an ex-member of the Council, and was entirely of* New Zealand extraction. Mr. J\ H. Pollock, in endorsing the chairman's remarks, .said that that afternoon the Hon. A. L. Herdman, who was present at the school sports at Newtown Park, expressed to him his high appreciation of what had been done in that respect, and mentioned that he had heard that a great deal was- due' to what had been conveyed to them, by Mr. Peixotto. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Herdman added that it would be of the greatest good to school sports, and he asked him to convey to Mr. Peixotto his appreciation of what he had done in that respect. Mr. G. S. Hill, on behalf of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, also paid a tribute to Mr. Peixotto for what he had done for the encouragement of school sports in New Zealand. . "A school inspector told me this afternoon that he and his people were more interested in this public school movement than we- are. That should be sufficient testimony to the value . of the lectures delivered by Mr. Peixotto, not only in Wellington, but in oilier parts of New Zealand." (Applause.) ■ In replying," Mr. Peixotio said he did not want to take any' credit whatever for the behaviour of his team, which had not given him the least trouble. Ac to the lectures; if what •he had said had been of any benefit he would feel very much gratified. He warned them, however, not to- let the enthusiasm fade, but to "strike while the iron is hot and while the pot is boiling." (Laughter and applause.) On his return to America ho • would be very glad to ■ render the N.Z.A.A.A. any assistance that lay in hii power. Mr. Marryatt also handed to Mr. Peixotto a memento,' similar to that which he had himself received, for Mr. W. Unmach, who had worked very hard for two years to bri*ig about the visit of the American athletes, but who was unfortunately prevented from accompanying them to New Zealand. Mr. Peixotto promised to convey to Mi*. Unmach the present, and to let him know all the kind things that had been said about him at this end— all of which, he added, were richly deserved. The proceedings concluded with three hearty cheers for the guest of the evening and the team as a whole. ;