WATCHERS OF THE TURF.

Wairarapa Age, 5 January 1926, Page 7

WATCHERS OF THE TURF.

VETERAN JOURNALISTS HONOURED. .A happy ceremony took place in tho press room at Ellerslie'racecourse on Saturday afternoon, when Mr J. Chadwick and Mr A. Bruce, two of the oldest, if not the eldest, sporting journalists in New Zealand, were honoured by their associates of the Press Gallery. Mr W. Morton, chairman of the gallery, mentioned that Mr Chadwick commenced his career as a sporting writer in 1869 and since 1874, had contributed to the “Weekly Prcss, ,, Christchurch, under the nom-de-plume of “Spectator.’ l Mr Bruce, “Phaeton’' of the “New Zealand Herald,” had written under that nom-de-plume. and .been in charge of the sporting Columns of the paper sincq 1880. Both those were remarkable records and the gathering had been arranged in' token of the great esteem in which

the veterans were held by the members of the gallery. The Primb Minister, Mr Coates, at the request of Mr Morton, then presented to Mr Chadwiek and Mr Bruce small gifts emblematic of the high regard felt for them by their associates. Mr Coates expressed his keen pleasure in making the presentation and referred to his knowledge of both recipients extending over a long period of years. The health of Mr Chadwick and Mr Bruce w=as enthusiastically toasted, and in their replies both gentlemen related interesting reminiscences.