WANGANUI FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12824, 14 October 1911, Page 8

WANGANUI FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT

A very large assemblage gathered at Dustina' Rooms on Thursday evening, the occasion being the annual smoke concert of the Wanganui Football Association. The President of the Association, Mr. W. M. Davidge, occupied the chair, and was supported r by representatives of kindred sports. Apologies ivere received from the Mayor (Mr. C. E. Mackay, who was detained in Wellington), Yen. Archdeacon Jacob, Mr. Chris. Aitken (ex-secretary of the Association), and Mr. Spriggens.

The tables were well filled with delicacies, which, needless to say, were done full justice to. '~.

Proceedings commenced with the toastof the "King," proposed by the Chairman.

The "Wanganui Football Association" wasentrusted to Mr. Walpole, who said that football in New Zealand was; played5: in; a:«; gentlemanly fashion: As & neiv chuni, he did not expect to fiiid r:tni,t4he Soccer, .game had attained such a high standard, .in •this Colony. In concluslonV Mr. Walpole referred eulogistically to. -Mr., Chris. Aitken, who had rendered yeoman services to the Association during /his term pi' secretary. Mr. Davidge, in responding, said, that he felt those present who had cqine in contact with Mr. Aitken, knew, that he had put in a .lot of time to the Association, and they all trusted that he would be back next year. (Applausfe). The Wanganui . Football Association was now irf*a fair way to go ahead. They had no gate receipts to draw upon, so that they had',had

1 a "hard pull." In regard to next • season, Mr. Davidge said that five | representative matches would be | played here, and one with the New < South Wales team, a busy season, inI dependent of Cup ties and other fixi tures.

j The next toast was that of the "Winners," proposed in a capital 1 speech by Mr. W. Herd, who referred !to the many excellent services renS dered by the Association's President

in the cause of Soccer football. Messrs Shewan (Wanganui Club) and E. Beckett (Eastbrook) suitably re-j sponded. *• . ! "Kindred Sports"' was the toast

proposed by the Chairman, and replied to by Messrs G. H. Powiiall (Rugby), King (Northern Rugby League), E. Marshall (Hockey), and Hodson (Trotting). The remaining toasts were the "Losers," proposed by Mr. Shewan, responded to by Mr.- Davidge. "Press," proposed by Mr. Herd, responded to by repi'esentatives. A very good musical programme was arranged, the contributors being Messrs DaviSj Herd, Wells, Healey, Puckeridge and Walpole. Mr. Stewart Austin made an able accompanist. During convenient intervals., the President presented the trophies won during the past season. Mr. E. Beckett received the Cup on behalf of the Eastbrook Club, and Mr. Shewan accepted the Shield on behalf of the Wanganui Club.