A VALEDICTORY GATHERING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 July 1929, Page 7

A VALEDICTORY GATHERING.

PRESENTATIONS TO MR H. G. b. Mcdonald. services to school football recognised. The services rendeied to the cause >•©£ Bugby football by Mr 11. G. B. McDonald first assistant master at the Levin District High School, who is going away at the end of this month, to become first assistant master at the JSouth Wellington school, were tangibly recognised when he was entertained at supper by members' of the management committee of the Horowhenua Bugby District Council in the Wistaria rooms, after the committee's meeting >on Tuesday evening. Mr McDonald ias been a member or the Horowhenua Schools Bugby Union and its representative on the District Council since 1925, when the latter position was inaugurated by the Council as one of the results of the formation of the Mana-whe-nua Union by the co-operation of the Horowhenua and Manawatu disAfter the toast of the King had been, honoured, the President (Mr W. ■C. Ilannan) said lie did not think he had met'a fine gentleman in connection ■with the jspoit cf football than Mr McDonald. He thought it was their .guest's way of putting a position that had enabled the Council to support school football to the extent that it had done. They eame.ljo know that in him they had'a friend to Bugby for ..all time in Horowhenua, because the betterment of football :n the district* would become very apparent in a few .years, as a result of Mr McDonald's at the school. A gentleman residing in the town and interested a-i spectator of the boys' games had come forward and stated that he would like t-> make a gift to Mr McDonald, to show esteem for what he had accomplished. Iu addition the management committee had their goodwill to •demonstrate, and in that respect Mr -J. Casey (secretary) and Mr J. W. Bimmer (treasurer), being married men, had thought that the token should ■be one that would be useful to Mrs McDonald as well as to her husband; they knew that the time that he had devoted to football interests could only have been given with the pleasure of Mrs McDonald, who had assisted him in all ways. In consequence of Mr McDonald's changing sphere of activities, this district would probably receive, at some time, a visit from a Wellington •school team under his direction. Horowhenua 's loss of such an enthusiast •would be the city's gain, because he "would see that a competition was held on right lines for school football. The speaker trusted that, in the future, the Council would have the privilege of welcoming Mr McDonald back to Xeyin, or at any rate that he would •come to see the fruits of his good work for fDotball in this district . In conclusion, Mr H'.muimil wished M-- and Mrs McDonald the best of health and prosperity wherever their lot might bj cast. ' Mr Casey (secretary) said he had ieen Impressed always by Mr McDonald's loyalty both to this Council and to the School Bugby Union. Occasionally their guest had not,found it con•venient to attend the management, committee's meetings, but was never at ease until he had acquainted the President of the fact. In regard to the Schools Union, the district was a •scattered one, and some of the meetings had th?refore been poorly attended, but Mr McDonald had always made .a point of being there and had carried on without showing discouragement. When Mr McDonald came to this district, there was nothing in the nature •of a regular football competition among the schools, now he was having it, with a standard of Bugby equal to that of any neighbouring district. The speaker wished to voice his appreciation of the relations that had existed between Mr McDonald and himself, of the h-3lp thf*t he had afforded at all times, and of his readiness to take up more than his own share of work if the need arose. Mr McDonald had a •very pleasant manner, and that had no doubt accounted in part for his success. To Mr and Mrs McDonald, Mr Casey •-extended the best of wishes for their future. Mr «T. W. Procter endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers. During Mr McDonald's term in Levin, he had endeared himself to all those with ■whom he had worked. His work as a master at the school had been of the very best, and whoever might be appointed in his place would have to put forth great efforts to follow in his footsteps. The speaker wished Mr and Mrs McDonald and family good health and all prosperity. . Mr F. Bobinson (Foxton) added a .-tribute to Mr McDonald's earnest endeavours in fostering Bugby amongst .the boys, the effects of which would 1 I>e felt throughout the district. The .speaker had witnessed a good many .matches and had seen some of the best schools in competition, and he could .say, without fear or favour, that he had seen just as good football in the school contests of this district as he •had ever seen in senior games. During the time of his association with . Mr McDonald on this Council, he had always found him very level-headed — he was a man of low words, but when lie spoke he always did so in the right direction, and exercised his vote where it was best needed in the interests of Bugby football. Speaking as the result of. 27 years' residence in the district, Mr Robinson claimed that school football was in a better condition than it had ever been in that time. He lioped that Mr McDonald would return to see some of the boys whom he had ■coached playing senior football, and eventually some of them would be All Blacks. Mr J. W. Eimmcr said that while he •endowed, all the sentiments that had been expressed in Mr McDonald's favour he realised also that certain activities were essential in the development of the race, and that, whilst Mr McDonald had rendered his services spontaneously, the race was benefitting as a result of his efforts. The speaker realised- that the .race could Qfily develop aa a result cf 'he training„pf its youth. Unfortunately the™ was at •pine'sent a>.gap between- the training re-. <ceived-at th. 3 school and the subsequent -entry of the boys into higher grades.

! He thanked Mr McDonald for what he had done for the development of the school boys. The health of Mr McDonald was drunk, with musical honours, after which Mr Hannan asked him to accept for Mrs McDonald and himself a crystal set consisting of a water-jug and half a dozen tumblers —a gift from Mr G. Ramsbotham, who had been very interested in the progress of the juvenile players generally and one boy in particular, and avlio wished to show his appreciation of the help that Mr McDonald had given them. From the members of the management committee, Mr Hannan presented Mr" McDonald with a large cut-glass vase. " In returning thanks, Mr McDonald said he had rather a difficult task to adequately reply to the kindly remarks that had been made. Reviewing old associations, he said that, shortly after his arrival in Levin, Mr Casey ushered him to a meeting wher.' the two Unions, (Horowhenua and Manawatu) were' combining, and li>j (the speaker) was proposed as schools delegate. There was no organised schools competition at the time,, which was in 1925. In the following year some of those interested got together and organised a schools competition. A little difficulty was experienced at first in running it, but after that it went along very well. The teachers I thought that, where possible, boys [ should take part in some active sport. Nowadays, every Saturday a hundred players were taking part in school foot/ball in this district, and before long arrangements would have to be made for a larger number; in the coming season other schools would be joining in. The teachers with whom he had had to work, in his capacity of secretary of the school football committee, had given, him every support. With regard to the play itself, very few injuries had occurred, there had been no protests nobody had been ordered-off the Held, and there had been no trouble of any kind. He would like to thank all those who had been associated with the teachers in the management of tha competition. From the school committees the movement had also had snpport; he had sometimes had to apply for a little money, and they had gracefully consented to hand over a little. On the Rugby Council he felt that he had been meeting with gentlemen who had made very great sacrifices indeed for the good of Rugby football — sacrifices that would call forth anybody's admiration. A year or two ago, when the finances were very low, the members of the Council did very fine woik to place it on its feet again. He regretted very much that the time had come for him to leave Levin, because, under the presidency of "Mr . Hannan, and previously under Mr J. J. O'Connor, he had spent very many pleasant evenings. He wished to thank jMr Ramsbothom very heartily for his handsome present. The speaker was already very much indebted to that gentleman, who at various times used to come to the schoolboys' matches and always bringing with him something very acceptable to the boys. Mr McDonald also thanked the members of the committee for their fine gift and for their kind wishes.