POPULAR SPORTSMAN

Southland Times, Issue 20523, 27 June 1928, Page 4

POPULAR SPORTSMAN

MR. J. E. HAMILTON HONOURED. PRESENTATION AT GORE. (From Our Correspondent.) On Monday evening the Gore Celtic Cricket Club held a social gathering in honour of Mr. J. E. Hamilton, accountant of the local branch of the National Bank, who has been transferred on promotion to Timaru. During his residence in Gore Mr Hamilton has taken a very keen interest in several branches of sport and in addition to being one of the most enthusiastic and popular members of the Celtic Cricket Club, was a member of the Gore Tennis Club and of the Gore Golf Club. The gathering was largely attended and apart from the club members, representatives of the Lumsden, Pukerau and Gore cricket clubs, and many personal friends of the guest were present to bid him farewell and to express their appreciation of his many good qualities. Mr O. Howells, president of the Celtic Club, presided and in presenting Mr Hamilton with a silver cigarette case and an Eversharp pencil, said that the club members were very sorry indeed to lose the services of one who had done so much to help it along. In losing Mr Hamilton they were losing not only one of their best players, but also one of their most popular members. The club had been expecting great things from Mr Hamilton during the coming season and his absence from the field would be a great loss. All the members had thought a great deal of their guest and he personally had always found him to be the best of fellows. One and all would join with him in congratulating Mr Hamilton upon his promotion and in wishing him the best of luck. Messrs J. C. Abernethy, patron of the club, J. J. Parry, J. A. Edwards (Otikerama), W. L. McGoldrick and R. Heath (Lumsden) also spoke in appreciation of Mr Hamilton’s association with various sports.

Mr Hamilton, in reply, thanked the club for its token of appreciation and said that anything he had done for the club had been done willingly and out of a love for the game. It was with a great deal of regret that he said good-bye as he had made many good friends in Gore. He particularly regretted having to sever his connection with the Celtic Club as he had derived a great deal of pleasure from his association with its members. Other toasts honoured were: ‘‘The Eastern—Northern Cricket Association,” “Kindred Sports,” “Eastern District Rugby SubUnion,” and “The Visitors.”

During the evening a most enjoyable programme was given, items being contributed by Messrs G. Ing, A. D. Crawford, E. Ottrey, H. Brown and R. Burton, junr.