PARTY RETURNS FROM NORTH

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 6

PARTY RETURNS FROM NORTH

Southland Athletes And Supporters ENJOYABLE VISIT TO WELLINGTON The party of .Southland athletes and supporters which has been visiting Wellington during the past week returned by the express last night. The visit was arranged by the Southland Centre of the New Zealand Athletic, Cycling and Axemen’s Union to enable professional runners and axemen to participate in the centennial sports meeting held in Wellington on Friday and Saturday. Seven runners and two axemen competed at the meeting and although they did not enjoy great success they gave a good account of themselves.

The members of the party spent six full days in Wellington and, mainly as a result of the work of Mr A. H. Hamilton, organizer of the tour, they had a most enjoyable time. Visits were made to various places of interest and as much was seen of Wellington as was possible in the time at the party’s disposal. Maroon ribbons were prominently displayed by the visitors and these made it unnecessary for anyone to ask where the party came from. On many occasions the words “Good old Southland” could be heard as the party made its way through the city streets and judging by the hospitality that was extended to the athletes and supporters their visit was a popular one. The members of the party stayed at the Exhibition Hotel throughout their visit. EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS Before the party left a social function was held at the hotel and the opportunity was taken to extend to Mr Hamilton the party’s appreciation of the excellent arrangements that he had made. Several speakers said that the undoubted success of the trip was due in a large measure to the organizing ability of Mr Hamilton, who had done everything possible to make the visit a memorable one. During the evening Mr R. Anderson .proposed a toast to Mr A. E. Cocker, starter for the bushcraft events at the sports meeting, and referred to the excellence of the starting. Mr Cocker had been associated with bushcraft for many years, he said, and no competitive meeting would be complete without his presence. In reply, Mr Cocker said he was justifiably proud of his connection with bushcraft in the province and of his association with the province’s axemen ana sawyers. He also referred to the fine work of Mr J. McDonald as starter for the running events. A toast to Mr G. Blanks, Southland’s veteran axeman, in recognition of his fine performances in the past, was proposed by Mr Cocker, who said that Mr Blanks could still hold his own with the best in New Zealand. But for the fact that his saw was not suited for the soft wood used at the centennial meeting, Mr Blanks would probably have enjoyed several successes. A picnic was held by the party in the Upper Hutt Valley on Sunday. Many fine views of the surrounding country were obtained and the outingwas thoroughly enjoyable in every respect. In the late afternoon the. party went to the Newtown Park zoo. A visit was made to the plant ol General Motors (New Zealand) Ltd. at Petone on Monday morning and this proved very interesting and instructive. When the party had finished its inspection of the plant, Mr E. W. Stevens extended the thanks of the visitors. During the train journey to Invercargill yesterday a presentation of a pipe was made to Mr Hamilton by Mr Ellis Sutton on behalf of the party.