POPULAR SWIMMER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18336, 2 March 1934, Page 6

POPULAR SWIMMER

ME. MILLER FAREWELLED DEPARTURE FOR HOME Success in athletic pursuits is not necessarily a guarantee of popularity, but Mr. "Jimmy” Miller, who left Gisborne by the Doric Star early this morning, is not only a swimmer of no mean order but also was one of the most popular members of the Gisborne Swimming Club. In the engineering department of the Kaiti freezing works, too, he was particularly well liked, and yesterday afternoon he spent a busy time receiving presentations from many wellwishers.

The first presentation was made at the freezing works, and later in the evening a very large number of members of the Gisborne Swimming Club gathered to bid farewell to . Mr. Miller before lie joined" the Doric Star as an engineer. Mr. J. S. Wauchop, president of the club, was,, unable to'''attend, and in his absence the chair was taken, by Mr. K. T. Chrisp. The speakers all referrod in the most eulogistic terms to Mr; Miller’s great popularity and ability as a swimmer, it being confidently asserted that had he remained in the Dominion lie would have achieved much in swimming.circles. Mr. Miller’s genial good nature,-and sportsmanship in the face of'defeat’or'adversity were the subject of "particular refer ence, and the gathering, joined in ..extending the l>est wishes to him for his success in the future in swimming and in anything which he might undertake. The speakers were Mr. Clnisp, Mrs. J. Heeney, and Messrs. H. F. Forster, D. W. McKeague, J. L. Srnaill, and C. M. Brown, and at the conclusion of their remarks Mr. Chrisp presented Mr. Miller with a handsome suitcase as a parting gift and token of esteem from the members of the club. Mr. Miller’s health was drunk with musical honoiji.

Mr. Miller, in the course ’of a briet but appropriate response,-referred to tin regret he felt in severing his connection with swimming in this district. Later, on behalf of a private tennisclub of which Mr. Miller - was a member, Mr. P. Wall presented him witli a handsome writing case, the gift being accompanied by the best wishes of Mr. Miller’s fellow tennis players.