A POPULAR SPORTSMAN

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3766, 8 June 1936, Page 4

A POPULAR SPORTSMAN

FAREWELL TO MR J. D. SHEA. It was to be expected that a man w|ho has so generously assisted many local sporting organisations as has Mr John D. Shea would not be allowed to leave the district without some function expressing regret at his departure and appreciation of his unflagging support. When it was announced last month that Mr Shea had disposed of his interests in the Te Awamutu Hotel and purposed making his home in another district, there was at once an expressed desire among members of various organisations to publicly honour him. The desire found expression last Saturday evening when over 100 friends assembled for a social hour or two, with Mr Shea as the guest of honour. Mr W. McGill, president of the local R.S.A., presided, and practically every organisation with which Mr Shea has been identified during his residence in Te Awamutu of moire than five years, was represented. Musical and elocutionary items were contributed by Messrs W. Trenberth (Hamilton), Geo. Storey (Kihikihi), J. Oliphant, A. S. Wallace, E. H. Cucksey, and A. J. Sinclair. The chairman asked Mr Shea to accept fnom his legion of friends in Te Awamutu and neighbourhood, as tangible tokens of appreciation and heartiest good wishes for the future a beautifully-fitted travelling case, a leather kitbag and a Kaiapoi rug. Mr McGill’s remarks in making the presentation were supported by the Mayor (Mr G. Spinley), and Messrs A. S. Wallace, J. C. Montefiore, N. McAlister (R.S.A.), S. S. Preston (golf), J. T. Young (Waipa Racing Club), W. Perrin (Alexandra Racing Club), T. W. Gee (bowls), R. Sinclair (Rugby), 'and three members of Mr Shea’s staff, Messrs Les. Hallett, Smith and Mackay. All eulogised the recipient, who was accorded musical honours, so heartily that he was almost at a loss for words to express his own and Mrs Shea’s feelings of gratitude towards such loyal friends. Mr Shea said he was leaving Te Awamutu mainly for health reasons, but he regretted exceedingly severing such pleasant associations. All his life he would remember the friendships made in his five years’ residence here. Opportunity was also taken to introduce his successor at the Te Awamutu Hotel, Mr E. H. Cucksey (who is already well and favourably known), and that gentleman, acknowledging the boisterous tribute of goodwill, said he realised he had to attain to and conform to a high standard set by Mr Shea, but ho was heartened to do so by the many expressions of good wishes so neatly indicated that evening..