OKAIAWA FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 10

OKAIAWA FOOTBALL

RUGBY CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

SUCCESSES OF TEAMS LAST YEAR. There was a large attendance at the annual meeting of the Okaiawa Football club on Thursday night, when another satisfactory season was commented on by the chairman, Mr. W. Johnston, in his annual report. Financially the club showed a loss over the year, he said, the season commencing with a credit of £lB 16s 2d and finishing with a credit of £l3 7s sd, a loss of £5 8s 9d. During the year a further £lO was paid off the club’s indebtedness to the Taranaki Rugby Union for the cost of the training shed and the amount owing was only £l6 10s. The senior team improved considerably over the previous year’s performance, being runner-up with Stratford to Patea, which won the championship. The team was also runner-up at the Manaia and Kaponga seven-a-side tournaments. The junior team again won the Taranaki junior championship and the seven-a-side tournaments at Tariki, Toko, Manutahi, Patea and Opunake. The third grade team did not meet with a great measure of success, but played all fixtures and should be a much improved team. „ , The club congratulated R. Clarke on his inclusion in the North Island, team and A. Preston on his selection in the representative team and Ngaia and Awahou on inclusion in the Maori trial game. The club thanked the women for assistance at all social gatherings, the Red Cross workers, referees, selectors, coaches, auditor and Press for help given. Mr. Preston expressed regret that only six senior players had paid their subscriptions and that they were not to be compared with the junior and third grade players in this respect. Football could not be carried on in that manner. The subscription might be too high, hut. even if it were reduced it should be paid. The secretary said it was impossible to collect subscriptions from some of the members, although he had done his best to do soThe president, Mr. J. O Sullivan, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, commended the junior teams for the manner in which they trained, but he considered the seniors did not train as well as they should have done. Officers elected were: Patron, Mr. R. Roberts; president, Mr. J. O’Sullivan; vice-presidents, five; secretary, Mr. Don. Blair; committee, Messrs. W. Johnston, A. Guy, W. Davies, A. Preston, A. Thomas, R. Wallace and A. Mack; delegates to Rugby Union, Messrs. W. A. Guy, W. Johnston and J. O’Sullivan; auditor, Mr. C. E. Evetts; club captain, Mr. D. Johnston; selectors, Mr. D. Johnston (senior), Mr. W. Johnston (junior); A. Thomas (lower grades); coaches, Messrs. J. S. Johnston and D. Johnston. Members elected were: Pat Walters, E. Hughes, A. Thomas, H. White, Jim Wards, Gale, F. Lemm, J. Walker and R. P. Rakena.

Subscriptions were fixed at 12s 6d for senior players, 7s 6d for junior players and 5s for lower grades. It was decided to hold an opening practice on March 30 and the weekly practices on Tuesdays. Following the practice of last year it was decided to donate a football each to Okaiawa, Normanby and Matapu,schools.

The honorarium of the secretary was discussed, but Mr. Blair declined to accept anything for his services. Appreciation was expressed of Mr. Blair’s action and Mr. D. Johnston urged that this be recognised in some tangible form. A donation of 10s 6d was made towards the cost of putting in order the grave of the late Mr. Alf. West. The question of a match against Eltham on April 6 was brought up'by Mr. D. Johnston, and it was decided to settle the question at the first practice. A social committee was set up consisting of Messrs. R. Wallace, E. Guy, S.< Cleaver, H. Thomas, I. Tong and R. Thomas. AWATUNA TENNIS CLUB. Mrs. Niccolls organised a successful social afternoon in the Awatuna hall on Wednesday to raise funds for the tennis club. As the children of the district use the courts all the mothers were present. Mrs. Niccolls, assisted by Mrs. Boyd, organised competitions as follows: Hat making, Mrs. Lind and Mrs, Farquhar jnr., equal, Mrs. Farquhar sen., highly commended; music guessing, Miss Edna Coxhead 1, Mrs. Davison and Mrs. Coxhead 2 equal; word competition, Mrs. Roy Pepperell. Solos were sung by Mrs. Boyd senr. and Miss Carmichael played pianoforte solos. All items were encored. Mrs. Niccolls was accompanist. The sum of £1 Ils was realised. HARVEST THANKSGIVING. SERVICE AT MEREMERE. A harvest thanksgiving service was conducted by the Rev. Basil Metson at Meremere on Sunday, the church being decorated for the occasion with greenery and flowers. There was a good array of produce. On Monday evening there was an auction sale of the produce, preceded by an enjoyable concert by a party from Hawera. The programme was: Pianoforte solos, Miss Bell; recitations, Miss J. Knightbridge; duet, Mrs. and Miss Metson; yodelling songs, Harley Spragg; solo, Tui Jones; recitations, Mr. Metson. At the conclusion of the concert Mr. G. W. Williams thanked the performers. Mr. P. Trim then auctioned the produce, for which the bidding was very brisk. Mr. Trim’s conduct of the auction was enlivened by touches of humour which greatly amused the audience. Supper was served by the ladies of the district. MANAIA TALKIES. “THE LINE-UP” TO-NIGHT. Marion Nixon runs foul of the underworld and the law in her featured role ir the New, Columbia production, “The Line-up,” now playing at the Manaia Theatre. William Gargan and Paul Hurst appear in the picture as detectives, Gargan sympathetic and believing tile girl innocent and Hurst as a bullying “dick” intent on sending her to prison.