FAREWELL AND PRESENTATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14390, 4 January 1911, Page 7

FAREWELL AND PRESENTATION.

TO MB. J. P. KALAXJQHEB. SOME COMPLIMENTABI j SPEECHES. i In the Grosvenor Hotel yesterday morning representatives of the various Caledonian Societies in South .Canter-, bury, and prominent visitors ro ® other centres, augmented by tbe presence of several notable athletes, met together and took part in a very happy little function, tho purpose of which was to farewell Mr J. P. Kalaugher, who nest month leaves this part of the country to take up the position of agru/ultural instructor in Auckland.. As a hnndicapper ot unusual ability,. Mr Kalaugher is known to competitors from one end-ot New Zealand to the other, and the work he has done towards the assistance of sports meetings in tie province of Canterbury can only bo correctly gauged by those - who are intimately connected therewith. ■ ' T The. chair was occupied ty Mr "• Kennedy, of Geraldine, President of the New Zealand Athletic Union, who said that this position was an honour for which he had t<r thank those present and it made it evident to him i that the Societies recognised that the "Onion wad doing good work in controli ling a sport which had always particularly hard to govern., worked for tho interest of the sport and for -the benefit of the Societies, and also of the competitors, in. a sport which required ' a good government. Mr . Kalaugher had been amongst them' since childhood, and he nimself had known him since infancy. He was a gebtleman who has done more frKnn any.other m&ii in New Zealand for the benefit of sport, and it was for that reason they had met to. recognise his services in. some tangible- form» No doubt others present would wish to refer to the courtesy and ability of Mr Kalaugher, and now on .behalf of the sports bodies of South Canterbury .hp. would ask Mr Kalaugher to accept, a small token of their appreciation, a purse of sovereigns.—(Applause). Mr ffm. Gunn, speaking as an' exPresident of- the South Canterbury Caledonian Society, and also as a member of the Athletic Union, said that he was pleased to_hare the opportunity of. saying something in favour, of Mr ' Kalaugher, not that that gentleman required it. Ho: was. in the - proper sense of tie word a true sport, and the speaker oould say this because -he had experience of him in every department of it. . They did not always' agree, but in any small dissension it always turned out that both sides were working in 1 the interests. | of sport.. Mr Guim. concluded by referring to Mr Kalaugher's Hearty, genial manner with .competitors,. and .their respect

and-admiration for him. "I can endorse everything the previous speakers have said in-regard .to Mr Kalaugher's splendid abilities," said Mr ft. H. Ferguson, President of. the South Canterbury Caledonian So. oiety. "When he goes away we will miss him very much, and: it will be a difficult thing as fay as w« are concerned to fill 'liis ; place.' We have always been satisfied with what he has 'done for. us, and the competitors themselves seldom disagree with his decision, and we know it is * difficult' matter to please everyone. We hope; lie wiil be successful in, Auckland, and We will be pleased to sde him hdre any time he paya'us a visit; ; when New Year oomesround we know, his heart will be in South Canterbury, and he will be thinking about our Caledonian i sports."—(Applause). The Chairman then announced that apologies for . unavoidable absence had i Keen received from Mr South, Presi- | dent of the St. Andrews Society, Mr Creemer, President of St. Patrick's I Society, Geraldirie, from Mr:Macaulay of the Temuka Society, and from the President of the Pleasant Joint Society. all of whom expressed regret at Mr Kalaugher's departure Md' good wishes for his future, J Others present also spoke in complimentary strains of Mr Kalaugheir's excellent services. Mr AV. Priest, referring to his ability and courtesy, even outside of spport; Mr L. McLaotian speaking on behalf of competitors; Mr Walters on behalf of North Canterbury, where he 'said Mr Kalaugher's name was. almost a household word, and it was through him that the recent amalgamation had taken place, and that the next big rood race would end in Mr Collins spoke as one w"3iO had met Mr Kalaugher in various branches of sport, football, cricket, -etc., to all of which he had given valued and generous assistance. Mr H. Fraser and Mr C. S. Fraser referred to the great assistance Mr Kalaugher had given to them as secretaries, and theT work he put in without tlie knowledge of put-. siders in getting out handicaps. ; Air Kalaugher was applauded on rising to reply, and said that he could not tell them how pleased he was at being the object of such a meeting. It was said, a prophet had no honour ; n ' liis own oo;m±ry r but lie was -South Canterbury born and" bred, and this gathering was a fax higher honour than ever he had hoped for. He had heard many kind things said about himself,, •and he hoped some of theni .were 'de--served, for he had always ••'eal fairly with the competitors, g.ving each man a reasonable chance. He did not set up' to be an infallible handi-capper,-for it was impossible not to make mistakes sometimes. It had been said that his departure would be a loss to South Canterbury, but ho knew it would also mean a big loss to himself, for "he would have liked to stay in the district, but he had to do the best for himself. He was not an orator, and in conclusion he could only thank them for what they had said and for their good wishes, and he hoped the sports would continue to flourish. He appreciated the pre'ent meeting as the highest honour *.hey could have paid him.—(Loud »p----plause.) Before breaking up three hea-ty cheers were given for Mr Kalaugher, and three more for Mrs Kalaugher.