Presentation to Mr. G. Thomas.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 April 1907, Page 5

Presentation to Mr. G. Thomas.

When it became known that Mr G. Thomas, the representative of the W<-.<=horn SK'H' m this d : pMef., w?

oaving Of.auf a u to tfikc up :i, rnppoiiß-

ibln. position m (he ' Winton llecord ' office, it was but fitting and proper

that the various clubs of which lie had been a capable and energetic secretary should accord him a hearty send-off. A committee was appointed to draw up details for the social, with the result that a good programme was prepared for the function, which took place m the Otautau Town Hall on Tuesday evening, when there was a good attendance.

Mr F. B. King occupied the chair, and m his opening remarks said that the reason they were gathered there that evening was to say good-bye to Mr Thomas, who had accepted a lucrative position m the 'Winton Record' Office. iiWer since their guest had

been m Otaufcau he (the chairman) had always found him one of the best m assisting and pushing ahead sports of any kind. He was secretary of various clubs m Otautau, and under his guidance the work had been satisfactorily carried out. As others present would like to say a few words m reference to their guest he would close his remarks by "wishing Mr Thomas the best of health wealth and prosperity m his new sphere of life, and he was sure that what was Otautau's loss would be Winton's gain. *

Mr E. Matheson, on behalf of the Otautau Cricket Club, said he was very pleased to be present that evening. Mr Thomas and himself had been club mates together, and his experience, was that their guest had always made every post a winning post. He was sure he echoed the opinion of all present that Mr Thomas might one day visit Ofcautau with the Winton Cricket Club when he would be sure of a hearty welcome from his old club.

Messrs Coulter and Walker bore out the previous speaker's remarks, after which the toast of " Our Guest " was proposed, the company singing " For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

Mr King then called on Mr Ross to make the presentation which took the form of a cheque.

Mr Ross said that he felt it a great honour to bo called on to make this presentation to Mr Thomas. He had been associated with him m many ways, and more particular^ m the Ofcautau Gun Club, m one match of which he had suffered defeat at the hands of their guest by eight birds to one. Should he ever return to Otautau he would always find his old friends ready to welcome him back. He was sure the , departure of Mr Thomas from their midst would be a serious loss to the various clubs of which he had been secretary He had much pleasure m asking Mr Thomas to accept the cheque as a mark of appreciation from his numerous friends m OtaUtau.

Mr Gonley said that as secretary of the Ofcautau Hack Racing Club Mr Thomas had done the work faithfully and well, It was his first attampH m such a position and he was perfectly sure a more capable man could not have done better than their guest. About his other qualities no one could say a bad word, and he sincerely hoped that Mr Thomas would continue to retain the position of secretary to the Racing Club.

Mr Thomas, who on rising to respond, was received with app'auso said that he found himself m a new position that evening, and he could assure them that it was one m which he did not feel at home. He thanked them for their . good wishes r an<l pre : SQntation, which came as a great surprise.. A,s a member of the band, ho had done his best to push thiugs on. As regards the Racing Club, lie' did -not think. he could have done so well had it not been for the able assistance' rendered him by Mr Gonley and Mr McGavock. In the cricket* club he had met some of his beet friends. The club had not been as

successful this year as it should be, but what was wanted was more practice, and if they did this they would be able to hold their own with the best m the Western district. Mr Ross had said that he had beaten him by eight birds to one, and he might say m regard to this that he did not think Mr Ross had been a." trier" that day. For the two years he had been m Otautau, he had spent some of the happiest days of his life. In connection with his shift to Winton, he might say that he had given the matter every consideration before deciding on the step he had taken. He agajn thanked them for their present, and could assure them that he would always appreciate the manner m which he had been treated during his residence amongst them.

Other toasts proposed wero :• — " King Edward," by Mr F. B. King; "Sporting Pastimes," by Mr Ross, and responded to by Messrs Porter, Thomson, and Gunn ; " Local Industries," by Mr F. B. King, responded to by Messrs A. Gould, T. King and R. Walker; "Army and Navy," by Mr Gonley, responded to by Mes3rs Matheson, Porter, Walker and Henderson ; " The Pross," by Mr F. B. King, responded to by Messrs Geary and Robertshaw.

During the evening the proceedings were enlivened by songs from the following gentlemen : — Messrs Gardiner, Swap, Thompson, Ross, Glen, Dickson, balamo and Walker. In each case the accompaniments were played by Mr Glen m his usual efficient manner.

Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and Mr Glen, after which those present joined m the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."