HOROWHENUA UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 245, 14 September 1938, Page 15

HOROWHENUA UNION.

OLD PLAYERS PARADE. Perhaps the most fitting of the closing events of the Horowhenua Rugby Union’s queen carnival conducted in Levin was the reunion of past players on Saturday. Before the competition final the “old-timers” marched, from the main street to the Levin Domain ; every five-year period between 1895 and 1935 was well represented. There was an attendance of two hundred at the reunion social held in the Druids’ Hall after the match, and among those present were: Colonel G. C. Powles (captain of tho first Levin team of 189 S), Mr Martin Winiata (Horowhenua representative from 1901 to 1913), Mr H. Robertson (the oldest player), and member's of the Horo'whenua Rugby Union. Mr J. Gillespie, president of the Horowhenua Rugby Union, presided, and welcomed those present, particularly those _ who had come from afar—Rotorua, Feilding and the Wairarapa. JThe toast to the New Zealand Rugby Union was proposed by Mr J. Casey, who drew attention to the generous treatment of the New Zealand union to lesser unions during recent years. Sponsoring the toast to “The Old Timers,” Mr Gillespie paid a tribute to the fine foundation laid by such men as those present. In replv, Colonel Powles dealt with the difficulties of transport for footballers 40 years ago. Mr H. Denton endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks, and Mr Winiata traced the history of tho Levin and Horowhenua clubs since 1900.

Mr Gillespie proposed the health of the oldest player present, Air H. Robertson, who played as early as 1896.