KAIKORAI FOOTBALL CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16165, 29 August 1914, Page 3

KAIKORAI FOOTBALL CLUB

OOMPLIMKNTARY SOCIAL.

A complimentary emokn concert tendered to Urn Kaikorai IVirat Fifteen by the members of tho f:lul> was hold n the VVakan Drill Hall last night. Mv L. Komniiz presided,, and then? wus a large attendance, including many representatives of other flulw. A number of members of tho Expeditionary Force, who bolonpr to the club wcro ako iirescnl, and it wus mentioned during the" evening that 13 members of the club wen; in tho force.

Tho President,, in his opening rnm.irks, cxprosar-rl his ploasurn nt seeing so many rwrwf'iitiitivps of other clulx-!. prcswit. This occasion waa the first on which the club had won the premiership for 13 years, so it w:is unique." Ho was also ploa-sed to see so many who had, in former year?, upheld the honour of the club. It was gratifying to note that tho Empire was still in front, ami in this connection, to remark .so_ many present who were wearinp the Kinp's uniform. It was lileasant 1o think that in this distant part of the Knipiro they were ready to come forward, and gixo assistance to the Empire when it was needed. The speaker trusted that when the war was over it, would have no suocese|ir, and that it would result in universal disarmament.

In proposing tho toast of "The Ot.ago Ruprhy Union," the Ohninnan said that he could remember the time in Duncdin when there was no Rushy Union and only two elube playing the game. Tho union had been inaugurated by men who had worked on business lines, and they had been very successful. Tho union had been generous to bodies controlling other forms of the football same, recognising that there might bo quite genuine differences °£ opinion as to which .game- was the best, arid whenever it had had an opportunity ot helping another association it hud done so willingly. Its success was shown by the fact that it was now the strongest football body in New Zealand, in spito of a jroodi deal of opposition which it had had to encounter. As for Mr H. Harris, with whose name the toast was coupled, ho had been connected with, tho union for many years, and had been of great service to the gamo of Rugby football in every way. The Kaikorai Club had been very kindly treated by the union, which, indeed, had always shown the utmost ■willingness in doing whatever it could to further tho interests of any club.

In responding- on behalf of tho committee of the union, Mr Harris said +hat since ho had been on the committee, il had always endeavoured to do ifas best for all clubs, whether at the top or tho bottom of the tree. In fact, it always considered it to be its duty to bo more ready to help the clubs at tho bottom of the list. One thing tho eommittco was very pleased with during tho last season was tho absence of rough play. The speaker congratulated the Kaikorai Club on winning the premiership, and expressed the opinion that their forwards were the best he had seen for many years. With reference to one unpleaeant incident, lie waa glad to remark that members of tho Kaikorai Club were always ready to como forward and report any attempts made to "square" them by so-called "sports." He desired to wish Godspeed to the members of the cluib who wore going to the front. Regarding the sending of a team touring in the north, there had been a certain amount of comment, and the opinion had been expressed that the money that would be spent on this might, more fittingly be given to the Patriotic Fund. Wlien the war broke out tlie committeo wrote to tho various unions in tho north and asked them if they were prepared to receive a visit from an Otago team, or whether it would be better to put tho fixture eft'. Tho unions replied to the effect that they wished the team to make tho tour. . Tho committee could not abandon the tour 'wifchouT the sanction of the northern' unions, and considered itself, in view of their reply, to be bound to send a team. Tho committee had given the proceeds of a couple of Saturdays' matches to the fund, and had also given to the fund the maximum sum which it was able to devote to any purpose apart from football. When tho team was sent north a good deal of benefit would accrue to it, and no doubt a certain portion of the proceeds would be devoted to the Patriotic Fund.

Mr It. S. Menzics, in proposing tho toast of "Tho Kaikorai Football Team," congratulated the club on winning the premiershi'j. The forwards, lie said, deserved a special word of praise; but great credit was also ducjto the backs, who had done thojr best to dfevolpa their game, and 'with considerable fuccoMK The upholding of tho honour of the ''jpP& was, of course, a superior aim to thb gaining of the flag, and the club could always bo depended on to do its best in the former direction.

Mr A. M'Donald responded on behalf of the team. Other toasts honoured were thoso of The Referees' Association," "Supporters," and "Visiting Clubs." During tho evening presentations were made to Mr A. M'Donald, who has for many years been captain of the olub, and to Mr'W. Sinclair, who was for 26 years a member of the club, as player, committeeman, vice-president, etc. Mr M'Ponald was presented with a framed photograph of the successful team, and Mr Sinclair with a similar photograph, and also with a eilxer coffee service.

Songs were rendered by Messrs J. Paterson, Fogarty brothers, R. Bryant, J. Leech, J. M'Nish, and C James, a recitation byMr C. James, a tenor horn solo by Mr 11. Davie, a whistling solo-by Mr P. Ramage, and selections by tho Lyric Orchestra.