OTAGO ROWING ASSOOIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13860, 25 March 1907, Page 7

OTAGO ROWING ASSOOIATION.

PRESENTATION TO MR L. K. WILSON. Al 1110 conclusion of tins luncheon at the Otngo Plowing Association'* rcgnliii ul Waihola. on Saturday, Mr h. H. Wilson, one of the vice-presideiils of Ihu association, woe prrsciitcil with n handsomely gold, luoimlcd walking stick prior In his depurdiro lo Hid Old Country, which he visits 6l)orlly. Mr iHilin Mill, president of the associalion before calling- on those present to charge their gltir.se?, mentioned Illat apologies for absence bad been received from the Mayor (if Diinedin mid JJr M'Adain, and also read a telegram from Mr J. Janice, u prominent rowing man in Diiiicilin [or many years, wishing Ilio rcgnttii every success. ' Mr Mill paid the toast he had to propose wa.i one Hint would be heartily received— namely, the health' of thnir worthy and highly-esteemed friend, Mr Wilson." Hα had .also been nskod to make Mr Wilson a presentation. Mr Wilson had for a very long time bcou connected with rowing mutters on the Olago Harbour. Ho thought lie cDiihl remenilxH- him as far hack as 21 yenre ago. Mi- Wilson waa about to tnko his departure on a visit Home lo the Old Country, for flic benefit of his health, nnd he (.Mr Mill) trusted the trip might bo beneficial. They wero all indebted lo Mr Wihon for what ho had done in the past.-tApphuso.) He had helped them in many ways, and had always ctl fhi'in all a good example. They would bo glnd to sou Mr Wilson back again in* sound lieollh. lie had been a successful man of business, and was giiing away lo see for himself what the outside world was like, and Ilio way sport was carried out (here. He would, no dnubl, havn Hie p]ensure of Boeing (li<i|ii rowing at Henley, .and would lie nbl<> lo give Iceal men some wrinkles on his return. If it, bad not bo™ for eueh llleil US Mr Wil?o» they wmild novel- havu gnl Ilie championship broughl lo Olago two or (liree limes, and Iliey looked forward tn it Mug broiißlil buck again. They all wished Mr Wil.wn Hod-speed. He' had been a?kcd by (lie association lo present. Mr Wilson with a walking s |j,,|; o f x MV Zealand wood, inounled with colonial gold, und manufactured locally. Tin , (oast was drunk vititiicl enthusiastic cheers. 'Mr Wilson, wbo was received with loud applause, will lip did not know how to Iliank them sUfficienlly for the hearty mannor in which they had honoured Ilio toast, of his health, , and for the von- handsome walking stirlc they had given him. When Mr Mill -recalled Ihe fact that he had known him for 21 years in connection with rowing, it seemed hardly credible. If was in 1834 dial k> first luok up rowing on (Maw Harbour 86 a member of Ihe Olago Kowins Club, ami in tlio?<- days there woip very many drawbacks, lo rowing. They Md then lo do nil ilioir own work, lie thought be could claim lo have done his share'in rowing, along with such men as Mr Hill, Mr While, Mr .lames, Mr Cooper, Mr Uascoigne. Mr W. h Wilson. Mr W. F. Kdimmd, and bo must, not. forget to add Mr Provo. All these had llfllpcd to bring rowing in 01-ago lo the pilch it now enjoyed. Of lii.j connection with the Rowing Association ho bad always had I lie most pleasant, recollections. They had hid differences ami fights, but, the. fighl.s biid aluavs been for a good cause and <?arh individual had felt (hat lie was right in Ihe altitude he look tip. Rowing nml■ters were now in a very good state, and with Ihe men at (ho head of affairs wore likely to remain «>. The way to do was to keep coal heads ami lluusii out whatever was in their minds tit lite meeting, and not (jo talking outside about what they wero going to do or say. It was u great pleasure io him to seethe men from Southland present. They came up every 12 months lo support iho'rcgaUa. and hail iK'ijicd very considerably, ami Otago ha<i endeavoured to meet (hem by sending men down south. They had ako to thank the members o f the O'aimirit Club for coining along to assist, and he hoped tho time μ-iis not far distant when they would he able to go (o Oamnni and have a regalia there. Ho would be visiting Henley, and as many of tho rowing clubs as possible on (ho Thames, and would pick up nil the information he could, and would on his return impart, that information to Ihe cliils of Otagu and Southland. He thanked them very. much for the way (hey had honoured (he toast in his own and his wife's name, and be also thanked them for (heir hnndsome present.—(Applause.) Mr A. K (!ascoif>tio proposedjho liealMi o( (ho Southland Rowing Association, coupled with the names of the interpro. four. Ho was euro n<l one retjreltcd more (Iran they did that they were unable lo give (ho Southland compelilors a "go" for iho IMmoiicl Shield. For many years boiithhiml had retained il, and they* hi>l ken looking forward to getting it back

from (liem. If -the weather permitted they would endeavour to satisfy Southland lalor on by getting the event off. The toast, having liecif enthusiastically honoured, Mr Craig and Mr M'Gavock responded. Mr AV. J. Wilson proposed tlio health of the- president;, Mr John Mill, who, ho said, was ono ol their most enthusiastic supporters, and Jlr Mill having acknowledged the compliment, the company broke up.