MARIST OLD BOYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 27 October 1922, Page 3

MARIST OLD BOYS.

ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT. A pleasant time was spent by members of the Marist Brothers Old Boys’ Associa tion and guests at the association’s annual smoke concert, which was held last night. There was a large attendance, the Rev Brother Phelan presiding. The chairman prefaced his opening remarks by extending a welcome home to Bishop Brodie after his trip abroad. He felt sure he was expressing the sentiments of all in stating that if there was oho place where they particularly missed Bishop Brodie it was on the football field, because they knew that in his Lordship they had a keen supporter. Looking bacic on the season just closed, said Brother helan, he thought he could say the club had every reason tn congratulate itself on its record. First of all he desired to congratulate the senior team on the way they had gone through the season and had come out victorious for the fourth time in succession. A referee had paid a tribute to the club by saying it was always a pleasure t.o control a, game in which a Marist 6 team was playing. The junior teams bad also done well, the fourths winning their grade and the fifth and sixth being run-ners-up in their sections. The school team had also won again for the seventh time out of eight, seasons. Brother Phelan concluded by extending a welcome to all the visitors, and said the club was always pleased to see delegates from other clubs present at such functions. In proposing the toast of the Bishop and Clergy, Mr B. J. M’Kenna made special reference to the great interest shown in the doings of the football teams by Bishop Brodie and the fathers. He said that the movement in favour of a clubroom. suggested by Bishop Brodie, was gathering way. and they hoped to see it established before long. Replying, Bishop Brodie expressed hie joy at being back in New Zealand and among his friends again. He was glad t.o hear from Mr M’Kenna that the proposal for the hall was being taken up. Good work might, he done in the schools, but it was necessary to keep in touch with thorn afterwards, and he hoped a forward move would be made in the near future. With reference to the interest, of the clergy in football, his Lordship said the priests did not lose their standing by associating themselves with clean sport. In regard to the season just passed, he humorously remarked that the week he returned to London from Ireland was regarded by him as a black week, for it was then that he learned the result of the Merivale match in the latest files. However, if Merivale had come out on tpp for the season he would have immediately congratulated them. He would like to see more enthusiasm in New Zealand in regard to sport generally. He felt that they had young men in every branch of sport who could hold their own on any field or in any event. They would be quite capable <>f repeating the performances of New Zealanders in the past, but a little stagnation had lieen allowed to creep in. The toast of the Canterbury Rugby Union was proposed by Mr J. It. Hayward, who said that body was certainly controlling the sport in a very efficient manner. Mr S. F. Wilson (president of the Rugby Union) responded and expressed the plea sure fejt by the executive and footballers at the return of Bishop Brodie. The sea son just passed was one of the most successful the union had had. He congratulated the club on their successes during the seaMr R. Britton also responded. Mr A. Fraser (Greymouth) proposed the toast of the Marist Brothers and paid a tribute to tho work of this Order iu equipping Catholic boys to take their places as citizens of New Zealand. Brother Phelan responded on behalf the Marist Brothers, and stated their best, reward was to see the boys doing well after they had left school. The toast of “ Kindred Clubs ” was proposed by Bishop Brodie, who said it was his ideal to see every team a good one, so that the competition would produce good football. With reference to “ barracking.” he said he saw no harm in good honest barracking as long as it was clean Responses were made by Messrs A. Barrett (Linwood), R. R. Masters (Albion) and A. Masson (Merivale). The toast of the Marist Brothers Old Boys’ Association was proposed bv Mr 8. F. Wilson and responded to by Mr J. M. Coffey, who said the work of a secretary of a football club was made easy by the courtesy of the secretary of the Rugbv Union (Mr J. O. M’Gillivray). Tn regard to the proposed gymnasium and club rooms he said they had an offer of a donation of £2OO from Sir George Clifford, provided another £2OO could lie collected, and the executive were active in endeavouring to make up this amount. Other toasts included Friends an '. Supporters.” “ The Referees’ Association ”. and ” The Press.”