OLYMPIC WINNERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 September 1924, Page 5

OLYMPIC WINNERS.

CIVIC RECEPTION. TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. members of the Olympic team were given a great civic reception today.. by a large aarid . representative gathering. . , The Mayor (MpkWriglit) extended a cordial welcome to ! the visitors. Mr Wright remarked that Miss Shand had reached the semi-final at Olympiad, but had Mjeen unfortunate, j Outside the Olympic contests .she had been most successful, and had aLso won a gold medal at Purdy had Mot been at,-thft/right weight for his contests, and die had" to '.enter as a welter. He had'shown good form,, but had been treated unfairly, due to»the referee’s decisions. He spoke of P'orritt’s wonderful record. Porrit, at - the end of the Olympic Games, hadi returned to Oxford, wiiile Herd wa§-> spending some time with his family in England. The Australians had elected to. return in f,\yo parties, one via Suez and the other via San Francisco. Fortunately for the latter the party, included the principal stars at the games. Charlton had proved himself a world theater , and had won The 1500 metres ifrom A. Borg (Sweden), Charlton ' establishing three world records in the process. He referred to the splendid all-round athlete, A. W. Winter. His principal effort has been the Hop, step and jump, which he had won with a world’s record. Eve had won the plain diving, defeating Sweden by one point and establishing a world’s record.

Mr T. M. Wilford (Leader o.f the Opposition) expressed gratification at the success of the Australians, whose records had been wonderful. He also said it was' a queer thing that Charlton, Eve and Winter all came from Manly. They could imagine what a reception there would be there for them.

Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour Party) added a welcome. Mr Merrett (manager of the team) returned thanks on behalf of the athletes. He said Porritt’s performances were most brilliant. Purdy had been most unfortunate. Miss Shand had done very well, and had been awarded a special gold medal for being the most brilliant woman competing there. ; In the evening Charlton and others gave an exhibition at the tepid baths; which were crowded. The whole- team was entertained at a. ‘-smoko” later in the evening and much enthusiasm was displayed.