HOME OF ITS OWN

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 5

HOME OF ITS OWN

WELLINGTON RUGBY CLUB

A NEW GYMNASIUM

"A home of our own after 66 years," was the cause for the Wellington Football Club's celebration at the opening of the club's gymnasium at Hataitai Park on Saturday evening. The Mayor I (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) performed the opening by kicking the football inside the building. The guests present included the Hon. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works and Transport), Councillors T. Brindle, M.L.C., J. Burns, L. McKenzie, W. Duncan, and Messrs. J. G. MacKenzie (Director of Parks and Reserves), W. H. Grant (deputy club captain Pirates Club, Dunedin), and J. Prendeville, chairman of W.R.FU..). The president, Mr. J. Thompson, in welcoming the guests and members, said that the day was a "red-letter" day in the history of the club, as after many years of struggle the club was now in the possession of its own gymnasium. He read congratulatory letters from the sister club, the Pirates Club, Dunedin, and the Auckland branch of the Wellington Football Club. Mr. Hislop, before officially opening the building, said that it must have been gratifying to the club members after their years of work Id settle in their own gymnasium. Tho building, which was of the finest of its type in the city, was the result of the untiring and determined efforts of the officers who had done everything possible to promote the interests of the club. "The Wellington Football Club is a club with a proud record behind it," said Mr. Hislop. He added that the City Council was glad to assist such clubs in their efforts to better their conditions. He congratulated the club and wished it the best of luck in the future. The Hon. R. Semple. in proposing the toast of "The Wellington Football Club," thanked the club for the invitation which it had extended to him, and said that although he was not very familiar with the club he knew that it had made its mark in the fpotball world. He stressed the principle of "give and take," saying that through the 66 years of its career the club had learnt this lesson, with the result that today it had a very fine and honourable record. In conclusion, Mr. Semme said that if members played the ganie in a sporting manner they w° u ;, c > mould their own characters ana lit themselves out for the battle of life. Other toasts included "The Wellington City Council," proposed by Mr. G. H. Weir, replied to by Councillor J. Burns; "The W.R.F.U.," proposed by Mr. F. D. Kilby, replied to by Mr. J. Prendeville; "The Director of Parks and Reserves," proposed by Mr. .T. Thompson. and replied to bv Mr. J. G. MacKenzie; "The Club Captain." proposed bv Mr. li. McKenzie, and replied to by Mr. G. H. Weir.