OKAIAWA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8934, 28 June 1905, Page 2

OKAIAWA.

FAREWELL SOCIAL.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The farewell social tendered to Mr J. O'Sullivnn on Tuesday evening, on the eve of iiis departure for England with the New Zealand team of footballers, was a most pronounced success. Visitors in large numbers were present from Hawera, Manaia. Kaponga, and Eltham, while as a matter of course Okaiawa and Matapu turned out en masse. Mr O'Sullivan has been the Okaiawa senior captain for several years, and has been extremely popular with everyone. Prior to entering the senior ranks Mr O'Sullivan was a member of me Okaiawa junior team when it carried off the championship some four or five years ago. Mr O'Sullivan then found his way into the senior ranks, and subsequently into the Taranaki representative team, and finally into the !New Zealand team.

At about 10.30 Mr McGuire, the club'i patron, announced that a very pleasant, duty had fallen to his lot — that of making a presentation, on behalf of the Okaiawa Football Club, to iJr O'Sullivan. Tho club had done everything in their power to make the affair a success, and he did not need to inform those present that the club had succeeded. Last year Mr O'Sullivan had been selected to do battle against the English team, and so well had he succeeded that he had l)een awarded a gold medal given for the best forward in the Taranaki team. Mr O'Sullivan occupied tlic proud position of being universally respected both on and off the field. it a considered that Taranaki occupied the promk-v position in the New Zealand team on a population basis. They had fivo representatives out of a population of 40,000. Auckland had six representatives, but their population was 200,000. Those present should be proud of the fact that out of the five Taranaki men in the team four cam© from this side of the mountain. While the New Zealand team was in the Old Country tho results would be eagerly awaited, and butter, cheese, wool and beef would have to take a back seat. Before making the presentat'on Mr MoGuirc called upon Mr T. L. Joll, president of the club, to make a few remarks.

Mr Joll said it gave him great pleasure to be present to do honor to Jimmy O'Sullivan. He (Mr Joll) was an old f«otballev, and in his day there avos talk of sending a .Noav Zealand team Home. Had that loam been sent, and had he been selected as one of the members, that would have been the proudest moment of his life. Kvcryone Avas pleased to see Jimmy at the top of the tree, and he Avas sure he Avould do credit to his province and to the colony when he was on tho other side. Mr Joll concluded Avith some humorous remarks.

Mr McGuire then presented Mr O'SulliA'an Avith a handsome travelling bag, dressing case, and a framed enlargement of the Okaiawa. senior team. He felt sure that Mr O'Sullivan would appreciate tho gift. Mr McGuire concluded by expressing the Avish that Mr O'Sullivan would soon be back amongst us, and called for cheors for the guest of the evening and for the New Zealand team, Avliich wore heartily given. Mr U. Johnstone. as a member of the, OkniuAYa team, made a U\\v remarks. He had played football Avith Mr O'Sullivan since, the latter had l>een a member of the Okaiawa Club, and he had always found Jim "a soldier and a man." Mr Johnstone called for cheors for Mr McGuire for (.he manner in which he had made the presentation, and these Avcro heartily given

Mr O'Sullivan replied in a short speech. Mo thanked the members of the club heartily for their valuable present, which ho Ayould always treasure as a memento of his association Avith the members, lie Avas naturally proud of his position in the N«av Zealand team, and hoped to bo. able to uphold the honor of New Zealand and of Tavanaki in particular. His remembrances of the club were of the pleasantest, and he had always got on very well Avith all the members. Again he thanked them for their kindness to him.

Dancing was the amusement of the eA'ening, and all present appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The music was supplied by Miss .Hughes, of Normanby, and Avas A-oted first-class. Messrs R. Johnstone, A. Carroll, and H. Crocker were the M.C-'s. and , carried out their duties in a most capable manner. The supper was in the hands of the ladies, and Avas excellent both in quantity and quality. The articles presented to Mr O'Sullivan Avere extremely handsome, and were greatly admired. The team were photographed by a local amateur, the enlargement being done by Mr A. Gungall, of Hawera.