RUGBY AT THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 14

RUGBY AT THAMES.

SPORTS GROUND PROPOSAL LARGE AREA AT PARAWAI. PUBLIC INTEREST ENLISTED. (BX TELEGJUPH. —OWN CORBEBPONX>BKT. J THAMES, Friday. There waz, a large attendance of Rugby enthusiasts and townspeople at a public mooting called to hear details of the Rugby Unions' scheme to a large playing area at Parawai. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. W. Bongard, presided, and had on the platform with him Messrs. H. Lowe, chairman of the Thames County Council, Darby and Rhodes, president and chairman respectively of the Thames Rugby Union. In giving a detailed explanation of the schome Mr. Rhodes said that drainage presented no special difficulty and had been designed on suggestions from widely-ex-perionced farmers. Tho union controller said there were 360 registered players and the limited ground accommodation prevented other fifteens from being formed. The new area would cover 22$ acres of which 15 would be set aside for Rugby purposes, one for a grandstand and sheds, and oue aero for the parking of cars. That left 5i for which the union was prepared to enter into a lease with the Hockey Association. Tho whole ground would be available for lease to the Cricket Association, and would bo given free of cost at all times for public school picnics, band contests, fire brigade demonstrations and agricultural shows. (Applaust.) As an evidence of its sincerity tho union was prepared to invest control of the ground for all time m tho Mayor of Thames and tho president and chairman of the Rugby union. The Mayor would be the people's reprenentative. Mr. Darby spoke strongly in favour of taking tho opportunity of securing the property and the following resolutions were carried: —l. That this mooting of Thames citizens having heard details of the proposal for the purchase of a sports ground, being part of Causeley's property, considers tho proposal a sound and desirable one, and congratulates the Rugby Union on its foresight in securing an option of purchase, and expresses its willingness to eo-operate in its effort to raise the nocessary purchase money. That an executive committee of 14 be appointed to consider ways and means of financing the scheme and report in a week. 3. That in the event of its purchase the president ard chairman of the Thames Rugby Union, and the Mayor of Thames Borough, be permanent trustees of the ground. The committee was afterwards set up and the meeting closed.