A POPULAR CRICKETER

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3309, 1 April 1926, Page 15

A POPULAR CRICKETER

MR A. M. ROSIE PAREWELLED AT LEVIN.

On Saturday evening a number of friends and fellow-cricketers of Mr A. M. Hose foregathered in Levin to bid adieu to one who has been largely responsible for the higher standard of Levin cricket. By his unfeigned enthusiasm and sincere sportsmanship Mr Rose has (says the “Chronicle”), during less than a twelve-months’ residence in Levin, been a fine example as well as an immense benefit to the younger players of the district. In view further, of his approaching marriage with Miss Bettie Jamieson, of Palmerston North, Mr Rose was pre--sented with a fine chiming clock as a wedding gift, this beings handed over by Mr Claude Bennett, the skipper of the Levin Cricket Club, on behalf of fellow-players. Both Mr P. W. Goldsmith, president of the Levin Club, and Mr J. O’Connor, captain of Weraroa A’s, regretted the departure of the guest of the gathering. The latter speaker observed that, during the past season, cricket had showed a 100 per cent, improvement and Horowhenua never had such a good rep. team as this year’s had been, due in a large measure to Mr Rose’s enthusiasm and play, the latter being delightful to watch, both at the crease and in the field. All Horowhenua was sorry he was going away.

Mr F. Hudson remarked that prior to the war he had the privilege of Working under Mr Rose’s -father —a really fine soldier and a good sportsman—and if those present had known his father they would say that the son was a true counterpart. This year the Levin Club had held together better than ever he had known ,it hitherto, and this could be attributed to the sterling qualities of Mr Rose who, if he were transferred to a larger centre, should get into highergrade cricket. Mr D. S. Mackenzie added his quota of praise when he said there never haad been such a cricketer in the district as Mr Rose, so far as the speaker's 24 years of cricket entitled him to think, during which time he, had seen some very good men c6me and go. '

Mr C. Bennett observed that, all that had been said of their guest had been most emphatically carried but lh his performances on the field, and, in presenting him with the clock, the speaker echoed the felicitations *of previous speakers in wishing Mr Rose all good fortune and happiness in the coming years.

The recipient, in reply, said he would much rather be going in to bat than to make a speech. He had played for a good many years but never with such a decent lot of fellows. For his part, he would like to have stayed in Levin, but it had been otherwise decreed, and he must go. In after years his memories of Levin would be of the most .pleasant, and he thanked them all for their good wishes. The party then joined hands and sang “Auld Lang Syne” with a conviction that was unmistakable, the singing of which marked the closing of a very cordial little function.